FL Sunset

We took these from our back porch. Not an uncommon view, either.

'nuf said...

What Easter Baskets Are Really For

Cecilia got a giant easter basket from Grandma Rose this year. So the day after Easter, as she was exploring the uses of her new toy.....

Easter at Our House - Polish Style!

This Eastertide, our family was blessed to have some very good friends and family join us. Katy, our cousin from Orlando came on down, and brought two of her - and our - friends, Megan and Jess. Since we've been here in FL, we've gotten to know both Megan and Jess pretty well - so it was a fun gathering!

So having a Polish feast is no small feat. At least not a Carly-style Polish feast - and knowing this, we kicked things off bright and early Saturday morning. Carly had her list all made out and each of the ladies worked and slaved through the morning. What was I doing? Watching Cecilia, of course. Oh, and packing our house into boxes (did I mention that we had just found a new place a week ago, and 6 days after our ridiculous feast we had to be completely moved out of our house? And that a day after that I was taking a (work) trip to OH for a week? And two weeks after that, our new little one was due to be born?)

On the menu: Kielbasa (polish sausage, flown from Chi-town), Kugela (polish potato casserole), Sauerkraut, Kolacky (jelly-filled cookies), Polish Lamb Cake (it looks like a lamb), and then some other odds and ends (like green beans, jello, etc).

Megan, Carly, and Jessica getting ready to dive in...

Cecilia, our little helper...

So after working through the morning, I gave Carly her B-day present - because it was her birthday (30th)! It was a note - with a gift card for a pedicure, redeemable right then. So the girls all packed up and headed off to the spa, leaving Cecilia and I to hold down the fort. Little did Carly know that she would be out for the rest of the day...

About an hour later, I headed off to the spa, and met the girls as they got ready to leave. In a pre-coordinated child swap, Katy, Jess, and Megan acquired Cecilia while I escorted Carly to my car and we wisked off for a movie, dinner at Mimis (our first date restaurant!), and then home. Meanwhile, the girls headed back home....

Pierogis!

No, they go like this!

Did I mention we got a picture cake from Publix? This is an awesome pic of young Carly. It was cropped from a larger pic where all of her sis's and bro as well ask Katy and her sister are sitting bored in downtown Chi-town as kids, waiting on their fathers who are having a great time at some museum, I think. Good story, huh?

Carly and I came back - to a surprise cake!

The next morning, we got all dressed up to hit the 10 AM Easter Mass!

Cecilia and Jess

Megan, Katy, and Jess

Cecilia and I checking out the bass in the pond - which were guarding their nests on the shore. Big suckers, like 15"-ers.

Noooo, I wouldn't open this without permission...

Uhh, I think it just fell down there.

Egg decorating

the Pierogis. Now tell me that don't make you hungry.

This is what we call too much energy.

Reading with the gals.

Kugela = AWESOMENESS

Lamb Cake. Can you guess which part was cut off first?

Kolacky

WISHING YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY AND BLESSED EASTER SEASON!!

Cecilia in the Morning

So, Cecilia definitely did not get her love of mornings from me. Me, I'm fully awake by 0930 or so, down a double cup of coffee. Her, well, let's just say that this photo was take at like 0545, and she woke me up.

Every morning, she gets a bottle this way, propped up on her cushion throne on the couch, sucking it down....

Doing her own Hair

Cecilia has decided that she can do her own hair in the morning when mommy is getting ready. I guess I do wear a lot of headbands....let's face it, they are easy and I kinda like my hair out of my face. But I guess she caught on. This is Cecilia wearing her own "pretty lady." So cute!

Ta-da! How do you think this looks Mommy?


Is she an aspiring stylist? I guess we will see!

33 Weeks and Counting

Not too long ago I realized that we haven't posted or even taken any belly pictures of me this pregnancy. I don't want Baby to think that we don't love her, or that this pregnancy isn't as important as her sister's. But seriously, it is fun getting all big the first time, but maybe not the second time, especially when momma feels like she is the size of a house!

That being said, I made Matt take a picture of me yesterday. I will technically be 34 weeks on Tuesday so its maybe closer to 34 than 33 weeks, but who's counting?!? I have officially been scheduled to have my c-section (for many different reasons) on May 12th! We need to be at the hospital by 5:30 AM! Talk about an early morning.....but I guess Cecilia was born at 2:30/3 ish, so it isn't too bad. Enjoy the picture and keep us in your prayers as we head into the final stretch, almost literally!