The verdict...YES, we made it to Storyland last week. As soon as Caleb woke up the next morning (after being real sick the night before!), he said, "Yeah, today we go to Storyland!". How could we not? After scrambling around to get ready (I really thought we weren't going!) we finally left the house. The kids had a fun time going on the rides and it was just a great day together as a family. Caleb felt fine and didn't feel sick one time. (He made me pray many times before bed that he wouldn't be sick so he could go to Storyland...I am glad God heard my prayers!!!) I think the day really kicked of the Libby summer. I have so been enjoying the last week with the kids. It's a whole different dynamic when your kids can get outside EVERYDAY and just run off all that energy! This week we will go to summer camp a few days, go to VBS for a couple of nights and enjoy a relaxing weekend celebrating the 4th. Happy 4th of July everyone!

Caleb and Josiah with Humpty Dumpty. Josiah still talks about how his eyes REALLY moved!

Mommy and Caleb riding in the Dutch shoe. All the rides were set-up so that you could ride with your kids...

...which presented a bit of a challenge with 3 kids. On some rides you could only fit one adult and one child so Dave and I had to take turns which meant waiting in line...twice. But soon enough somebody will hit 48" and be able to ride alone! I just love this picture of Josiah and Hannah watching Caleb on the ride...patiently waiting for their turns...

Daddy with his boys on the hot air balloon ferris wheel. They liked this one because they could see the whole park.

Hannah got to ride on a couple of the rides. This is her holding on for dear life on the hot air balloon ferris wheel.

This was the boys favorite...of course! The entire room was just balls...and five million ways to shoot them. You could sling shot them, shoot them out of a gun, suck them through tubes. It was really cool...literally too because the day was very hot so the A/C felt nice!

Hannah loved the "vaccuum" tubes. She was so funny to watch the first time she put a ball in because she was taken back that it just sucked up so fast. We couldn't get her away from it!

Tried to get Daddy and Josiah on the tractor ride but as you can see, the farmer was very focused on the task at hand...

That's right my Hawaiian friends...there is Hawaiian Shaved Ice right here in New Hampshire!!! And you are right, it is a snow cone...only WAY BETTER!!! I couldn't believe how fine they can get the ice...it was quite yummy and refreshing. But no worries, someday we will still get to Hawaii to try it too!!!!

Our three little pumpkins...

It's official...Caleb is a big Kindergartener now! He "graduated" from preschool last week and it was an adorable show that he put on with his class. He has come so far from his first show of not singing at all and just looking his shoes! He sang it all right out and did all the hand motions with his class. Yes, it was PRESCHOOLl graduation but somehow it still brought tears to my eyes just seeing how fast he is growing...he is becoming such a little boy.

The Little Graduate

Mommy and her little man...I just love this kid!

He did so awesome singing.

This is just the cutest picture ever. They walked boy/girl and had to hold hands. The girl he is walking with is one of the happiest girls in his class and I just love the way she is looking at him...I pray for a wife that will look at him the same way each day...

Ok, I was so busy trying to get Caleb walking across the stage to get his diploma (which you can't even see his face) that I missed him actually GETTING his diploma. My camera was wigging out...UGH! And look at him, he's totally giving a shout out to his friends on stage. In the meantime, Dave was videoing and he thought was turning the camera on when he actually turned it off so he missed Caleb's name...hmmm...sounds familiar, yes, my mother did this at my high school graduation! Oh well, we have a lot more graduations to go...maybe we will get it right by college!

What a blessing to have Nonna at all her grandkids' shows!

Don't you just love our family pics? Look at Hannah throwing a tantrum because she didn't want to take a picture...mama mia!

Last weekend, we had our annual yard sale. We were only able to have it for about 3 hours because it started to rain but we did real well. One of our goals was to make enough for our family trip to Storyland so it wouldn't have to come out of our budget and we did that plus more so I consider it a success (plus I cleared out some clutter!). I know I just said annual but I am thinking of having another in the fall. We have more to clear out and the kids were actually a big help this year. It was cute...they had their own table of items to sell with their own money bag and they had a lemonade stand too. Nobody could resist their smiles so they did good with their stand. They made about $11.00 for the day. I thought that was pretty great!

Look at businessman!

They look like 2 little old men in this picture...love it!

Little Miss Thing had to be right in the action...but see that face...quite common these days...Josiah has so graciously taught her the art of screaming when she is mad (like when I wouldn't let her run in the street) ..thank you Josiah!

We are supposed to be heading to Storyland tomorrow and have only had it on the calendar for about 5 months now. The weather is supposed to be gorgeous too. But as I update the blog, Caleb is sick in bed. I have been sick all week and apparently he has what I have. I feel so bad for the little guy. So we will play it by ear in the morning. I will be bummed because the kids have been so excited about it but if it doesn't happen, I think God is just giving us a much needed day of rest...it has been a long week of being sick...

Happy Anniversary

June 2, 2010...just another day to most. Maybe someone's birthday or graduation day but to the Picariello family it was a big day. My grandparents celebrated their 70th anniversary. I still cannot fathom it. This week when I reminded Dave it was their anniversary and how long they've been married, his response was, "WOW! I thought 10 years was long." But he said with that most irresistable smile that he has so I laughed along with him. 70 years...WOW! When I wished them a Happy Anniversary on my FB status (no, at 96 and 95 they are not FBers!) a friend commented that it's a rarity to even be married for 10 years nowadays. I couldn't believe how right she was.
It isn't easy to stick together when things get hard.
It isn't easy when you have to be apart for an extended amount of time for one reason or another.
It isn't easy to raise children together...nevertheless 4 boys!
It can't be easy when your husband gets called away in the middle of the night to deliver a baby and you are home alone with your own babies.
It can't be easy to watch your spouse have a heart attack or be in the hospital for an extended amount of time.
But these are just a few of the MANY things that my grandparents have gone through over the last 70 years. When you ask my grandmother what keeps them together for so long, she will tell you, "patience and overlook". I think there is a lot of truth to that. We need to have patience with our spouse and with God in our marriage and sometimes we need to overlook some of the battles and only fight the ones we are passionate about. Recently I fell in love with this song and maybe my grandparents aren't as affectionate as maybe they once were and maybe they bicker a little more than they used to but there is no way they can be married for 70 years and not love like crazy in order to stay together. And not just love each other but certainly everyone around them. Listen to these words...it's a great song and I know I am trying to make it a reality more in my life.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0f5g18EbG4

And do my grandparents own a computer? No. So chances are they won't ever read this but I couldn't let the day go by without acknowledging them. Happy Anniversary Mum and Papa!