Brave New World

My child is becoming more and more brave as the summer days go by! On Thursday when I took him to Hawaiian Falls he decided to go on the Pineapple Express...this is a pretty big slide for a 4 year old. I told him that if he met the height req. I would take him on it, not thinking that he would...well he met it alright. Momma doesn't like big slides, roller coasters, etc....that is daddy's cup o' tea! BUT, I didn't want to discourage his new found bravery so we made our way up the stairs and down the slide we went. He LOVED it..me..NOT SO MUCH. However, I told him that was the most fun I had ever had! Anyway, we went back today with my brother Blake and his gf Ali, aka Alicat, and not only did we ride the Pineapple Express again, we rode the other "BIG" slides as well. He didn't meet the height requirement, but we managed to get passed the lifeguards and now my child is a little daredevil! I am so proud! We are going to Six Flags on Thursday...I wonder what's in store for me there! I draw the line on the Texas Giant!!! Here are some pics from our day today-

Blake, Ali, and Kade


Kade is coming down on the far right!


Big splash!

Sleep-over

Well, we are having our first sleep-over tonight with my best friend Paige's little girl Madison. Kade and Madison get along so well and really love hanging out. Today we met them at Hawaiin Falls and then we had to leave to see a another new baby. After we left the baby we headed to Paige's house and before we left Madison asked if she could come with us. How could I resist? At first Paige said NO, I guess b/c she thought I didn't want her to come, but I convinced her that I was completely okay with it! We started out on the couch watching Snow Buddies, eating popcorn, and drinking milk. Now at midnight, they are in Kade's room just giggling and being silly. I just told them to go to bed and Kade says, "Madison is on my side!" LOL!!! Here are some pics from our night and the new baby Kylie that we got to love on and hold. ALSO, check out Kade's mohawk. I have never been a fan of them, but I think little kids can pull them off and not look like punks! Kade has seen tons of little ones at the waterpark with mohawks and asked me if he could get one. I agreed for the summer. Once he goes back to school...it's gone! Keep in mind we don't have gel in his hair...I will post some other pics tomorrow after our day with Miss Maddie!

Kylie Clair Rawley




Chillin' watching Snow Buddies


Bedtime!

Simple Fun

I don't have any pictures from today, but we had so much fun! We took off on our bikes and were headed to get Kade a haircut, but they were closing when we got there...dang it! I guess the mohawk will have to wait a few more days! Anyway, we rode around the downtown square and then decided to get a drink from 7-11. While Kade and I were in 7-11, I thought, "Why not pick up some sandwiches and fruit?". So we did! We took our lunch to the county courthouse and had a nice little picnic on the steps in the shade! After lunch it was off to the nearby park. We played tag and wore that little booger out! His cheeks were so red, but I knew he was having a good time with mommy and daddy! He laughed, and laughed, and laughed...that's what I love the most! Once we got home, he took a shower with his daddy and now he is fast asleep. Tonight he is going to ASI for parents night out and he can't wait.

Dallas World Aquarium

Today I decided to surprise my little man. We got home from the gym and TJ MAXX around 11 and I got ready as quickly as I could. I changed his clothes and he wondered what we were doing. I told him that it was a surprise and he must have asked me that same question ten more times. I took him to the aqaurium two summers ago, but he doesn't remember...that's what I love about pictures! They remind us of the some of the good times we've had. Anyway we pulled up and I told him where we were. He was so excited and couldn't wait to see the sharks! SHARKS-YIKES! He said he wants to ride on the back of one in the ocean...uh, not in my lifetime! As I was paying for our tickets there was a sign in the window, "We are expecting 500 students around 2 pm." It was 1:38. We hauled booty up to the 3rd floor and began our adventure before the place was flooded with kids. He was fascinated by the flamingos that were fighting each other today, the royal blue frogs, and the hammerhead sharks. He could not get over the fact that we could stand underneath the sharks as they swam. We must have stayed in the tunnel for at least 15 minutes. We had a wonderful day together and as we were leaving the gift shop with his canteen, ant glasses, and t-shirt he said, "Mommy, I just love you." It doesn't get any better than that!

Kade told this guy next to us that this was the teacher from Finding Nemo!





Check out the Jaguar napping behind Kade.






Standing like a "mingo" two years ago....




Now he's a pro!


Look at that sweet face! He would move his mouth as if he was talking to us!


His Fire Ant glasses...SCARY!

Little bit of fun

Kade has had a great week and it's only Tuesday. Sunday evening around 7pm he asked us if he could jump on his trampoline...this requires going to Mimi and Bop-O's house of course. So we headed over there and dad had bought a new lawn mower...guess who just had to ride on it and then DRIVE it???? Of course my dad said yes!

My dad is the best Bop-O out there. He loves his Kade man and will do anything for him and pretty much lets him do anything he wants when I'm not around...typical grandparent. I really think my dad sees this as a second go at things. Here's a quick backstory on my pops. He is one of 17 children all born from the same two parents....natural and none in a hospital. That's what happened in East Texas many years ago! Anyway, my papa was abusive to my dad and spent some time in prison making moonshine...needless to say he wasn't the best role model. My dad took from those experiences and swore that he would always do better for his family. He quit school two months before graduating from high school and began working as a mechanic at Jim Alle Oldsmobile ( now Rusty Wallis Honda). This is where he and mom met. I was born two years later and was an only child for 6 years. We went on trips and spent many days and nights in the backyard on the toys he would build for me. In 1982, my brother Blake was adopted and 2 weeks later mom found out she was preggers! My bros are 8 months apart..probably harder than twins. I remember this as being the time that my dad started working alot. He went from having to feed 3 mouths, to 5 very quickly. We needed a bigger house, car, etc. Dad left Jim Allee and started his own business in Sachse..still there if you need an honest mechanic! Dad felt the way he needed to show his love was to give us everything we wanted, because he never had anything. We never went without EVER and I am very grateful, but it wasn't until I felt confident as an adult to tell him his time was more important, that he got it. My dad and I are very close, just as he is with my two brothers and I think he truly regrets the time he missed b/c he felt he needed to work. Now he makes up for that with my baby. I am teary eyed writing this b/c my dad is so special to me and I love seeing him as a Bop-O. I can't wait to see him with future grandchildren, whether they are mine or my brothers. Kade is a very lucky little man to have my dad in his life.

NOW, on to the pictures from this week and a few videos from the trampoline.

Riding with Bop-O


Bop-O better hold on...


I have some video clips of Kade jumping on the trampoline and showing us his new trick, but it's not uploading...I will upload them once Mike figures it all out for me!!!

Today when Mike got home I was headed to the gym. He decided to take Kade fishing at Harry Myers Park. I expected them to be done by the time I was headed home, but they were still there. I decided to see if any "catching" was actually going on and it WAS! Kade seems to be a master fisherman!!! I love this little boy!

Six Years!

Well folks...it's been six years since I walked down the aisle with my dad! Mike and I met on April 26, 2002. I was teaching at South Garland HS and also working part-time at Outback in Garland AND The Bone in Deep Ellum! Anyway, I had just started working at The Bone as the rooftop bartender and Mike was one my 1st customer. I had already made up my mind when I started working there that I didn't want to date anyone....just wanted to have fun and people watch. Low and behold, Mike asks for my number that first night. Honestly, I gave it to him not really having any interest...he knows this. He called me that night and left a message knowing I was still at work. We played phone tag until June....really I was just not that interested. But June came around and I had just gotten back from cheer camp with my girls when he called. We made plans to have dinner and watch the Stars play the Redwings (his favorite team). Dinner was great and we had the best conversation and THEN...he told me his last name. I don't think I could even pronounce it! I thought to myself, "I can't marry this guy, my students will torture me with that last name." The next day I was out with my friend Paige and we were talking about the date. I told her that Mike was just "too nice". At that point she had been married for a year and said...don't let him go! Guys don't get any nicer! So I called him up and we had our second date at his apartment. We ordered in and as he was showing me his apartment our faces got super close ( no kissing yet) and I know this sounds silly, but as soon as I looked into his eyes, I knew I was going to be Mrs. Spampinato! By September Mike told me he loved me and on November 8th he proposed at my favorite restaurant...PF Changs. We planned our wedding for July 12,2003.

A few engagement photos-




My favorite of all my bridal portraits even though it doesn't show my dress.


We had two beautiful weddings. The first was in Dallas. We were married at Royal Lane Baptist Church at 10 a.m. and our reception was at Fairview Farms. I wanted a traditional ceremony and a TEXAS reception so that all of Mike's family that came could experience good barbecue and Texas wildflowers. Our second wedding was in Toronto. Mike's parents gave us an "Italian" wedding just like you would see in any mafia movie like Good Fellas! We had an 8 course meal including a roasted pig, and every guest brought us "envelopes" filled with money as our gift. It was GREAT. It was important that we honored both of our religions and we were able to do so with both ceremonies.

About to walk down the aisle...





Mr. and Mrs. Mike Spampinato



Toronto Wedding









The stuffed pig I mentioned..didn't eat a bite of it!


We went to Puerto Vallarta for our Honeymoon and it was amazing. I loved every minute of it and couldn't contain my excitement for being Mrs. Spampinato.



We settled into our first home in Mckinney and six months later we found out Kade was on his way! Everyone had bets that we would have a honeymoon baby b/c I wanted a baby so badly. We proved everyone wrong, by a few months! Here is a picture from our first anniversary....




I have to say that I am very lucky, but I also have to say that I haven't always been the most appreciative of what I have. I am embarrassed by that, but it's the truth. I love Mike very much and I know he loves me more than I deserve sometimes. The past year has been a tough one on our marriage, but we are working hard everyday to make our love stronger and be an example for our child. We also want our family to grow and know that we need to be solid. A blog buddy of mine, Taren Toth, mentioned a book called the Love Dare and it sounded like something Mike and I could greatly benefit from. I found the book last week at Sam's and asked Mike if we could do this together everynight. It's a 40 day challenge and we are on day 6. Since we started this book, it's like night and day in our relationship. I feel closer to him than I have in a very long time and we are TALKING more and on a deeper level. Thank you Taren! I am forever grateful to you.

So...for our 6th anniversary we made plans for Kade to stay the night with my mom and dad. Our friends Toni and Jeff celebrated the night with us. First we had dinner at my favorite Mexican food restaurant, Mi Cocina. I love the Lucychanga!!!! Once dinner was over and we were walking around the shops at Legacy, I told Mike that we were all staying in a hotel tonight..this was my surprise! Toni and Jeff got a room and we had one right next to theirs! We stayed at the ALOFT in Frisco. We checked in and then got into our swimsuits. We swam and acted like fools in the pool until 2 am. The guys then headed to Whataburger for some taguitos and diet coke...great mix, I know! I love you Mike and I know that what we have ahead of us is going to be amazing!

It's out, but where did it go?

Friday morning Kade woke up soooooooo excited...his bottom front/right tooth was loose. I thought, "How can this be at 4 years old?" Anyway, apparently this is normal, but I couldn't help but think back to him being 3 months old and seeing those first two bottom teeth breaking through the gums. After a full day of wiggling that tooth and eating from the side of his mouth we were really thinking it would just come on out...but NO..it took until today. At dinner this evening we were talking and all of the sudden he says, "By the way, my tooth is gone." WHAT?!?!?!? Where did it go? When did this happen? How can this be? We have come to the conculsion that he must have SWALLOWED it. I will never have my baby's first tooth...kind of sad about that. Of course my 25 year old brother says, "Just wait till he poops tomorrow." GROSS, but that is to be expected I guess. Kade's only question was how the tooth fairy would get his tooth if he swallowed it.

Tonight before bed, we decided to write the tooth fairy a note and leave that under his pillow. Hopefully she will oblige by his sweet request.

Florida 2009- Days 1-3

We are back and exhausted! We got home around 8pm last night, Kade had surgery at 7 am this morning and I volunteered my home for the team t-ball party. This is my first opportunity to really sit down and relax.

Day 1- We left the house around 5:30 am and headed to the airport...mind you I had stayed up until around 2:30 to finish packing and making sure that my house was spotless and all the laundry was done and put away. I wanted to come home to a nice, clean house. After boarding the plane, Kade called his Bop-O (my dad) to tell him good-bye. It was so sweet. He started to tear up a little and said, "I'm going to miss you Bop-O". I knew my dad's heart was swelling at that moment and he must be grinning from ear to ear.

We arrived in Orlando around noon and took the Disney shuttle to our resort. We stayed in the Jamaica suites at the Carribean Beach Resort. It was beautiful. We couldn't check in to our room until 3pm so I took the guys suits out and they tested the pools! How do you like their matching suits???!!





Once the concierge sent our bags to our room, mom and I changed into our suits as well and we swam until 9pm that night, with a dinner break of course. From the pool you could see the fireworks that go off every night at Disney World. We had the best seat in the house.

Day 2- Off to Disney World!!! We woke up super early to dress and have breakfast before the crowd..then it was off to the shuttle to the "Happiest Place on Earth", except when you wait in a two hour line for a 1 minute ride!!!! Let me just say that the heat/humidity in Florida is RIDICULOUS. There is no point in fixing your hair at all...just a sidenote.

On our way to breakfast



Back to the trip..we made it to the Magic Kingdom and what really impressed me was that if you are staying in a Disney resort you get in one hour earlier than the general public. We were able to ride about 5 of the rides with little wait time before the crowd. Our first ride was in Tomorrow Land; the space ships and as soon as we got off we saw BUZZ LIGHTYEAR....Kade's favorite! His eyes got so big and it was the sweetest thing. By about 4pm we were ready to leave the park and head to Downtown Disney for some dinner. I wish we had more time to look around Downtown Disney, but Kade was pooped. His little body just couldn't go any longer. So we had dinner, which Kade fell asleep about 4 bites in, and then I made my way to Goofy's candy shop and bought the most amazing chocolate covered pretzels and chocolate covered peanut butter sandwiches. I could not leave without getting my little guy some cookies and the biggest lollypop they had! He was certainly surprised the next day when he woke up to that. Once we got back to the hotel, we made our plans for the next day...we were going to go to Animal Kingdom. Now, I am not a zoo person AT ALL so this was not something that I was too terribly excited about...but it wasn't about me, it was about a kiddo named Kade. I can't imagine what Kade must have been thinking while we were at Disney World. Seeing all of that through his eyes must be amazing. He studies everything he sees and the look on his face at times made me wonder what was turning inside of his mind. Oh, I can't forget to mention the DELICIOUS chocolate covered frozen bananas we had after lunch...nothing like 'em!

Shooting aliens!


Waiting for the parade on Main Street


Mike, Kade, and Buzz


My attempt to take a picture of the two of us on the rockets!


Mimi on the rocket ship!


Kade the fearful dragon


Action shot on the teacups!


My little guy at dinner



Day 3-Animal Kingdom

Did I mention it was hot and humid in Florida..UGGH! I don't mind visiting, but I could never live there. Like I mentioned earlier, I am not a zoo person and Animal Kingdom is pretty much a big zoo. However, there were a few things that I enjoyed. We went on an actual safari which was really neat. We saw all kinds of animals that could have easily walked right up to our jeep or could have just as easily attacked us..comforting isn't it??? There is also a section called Dino-land, with a huge "Dinosaur graveyard". It's a place the kids can run around, climb rocks, slide through a cave and play in the water. Kade really enjoyed this part and so we stayed there for about 45 minutes. Then we were off to stand in line for the Lion King show..this was amazing and air conditioned! I enjoyed this show more than the musical I saw at Fair Park last summer. We also saw the Finding Nemo musical. Quick funny story..we were on our way out of the park and the boy working the gates
( couldn't have been more than 16 years old) says to me, "I'm off at 6, I'll see ya' later" and winks at me. It was hilarious! It gave us all a good little laugh!



Crusin' Kade


We met Mickey!


About to go on our safari!



Dinosaur Graveyard



After sweating all day, it felt good to get our swim suits on and go for a swim...here are a few shots of Kade having blast in the pool.

Cannon ball..sort of!

He's so proud of himself for jumping in




What a little poser!


So, that's the first 3 days...I'll blog about the rest tomorrow sometime!