We're Still Here!!

And we are loving life these days.  Our busy, crazy life!  When I previously discussed my "issues" with Blogger, it was about uploading pictures, and leaving comments on other's blogs.  I am not going to take the time to figure that out, so as long as you are okay with text, and no comments on your own blog, WELCOME BACK!!

To say we are busy is a bit of an understatement!  Now that Casey is in 1st grade we have nightly homework in 3 subject areas, soccer practice, karate, and play!  Casey loves 1st grade, and works very hard at it.  He is truly a "boy" in every way, and the fact that he's had 4 open-heart surgeries is amazing, because you could not tell at all right now!  We are so amazed, happy, and blessed with what he has been able to overcome in the last year.

Aubrey is now 4.  Yep...don't faint like I did!  It's amazing how fast the time flies with a child when you don't spend weeks on end in the hospital!  She amazes us everyday with how grown-up she wants to be, while still being our little girl.  So far we have had to argue over hair, make-up, clothes, shoes, and more!  She would make a great lawyer...one with good fashion sense!

Mike and I are busy playing carpool, making school lunches, doing "homework", and saying the phrases, "Time to clean up.  Be respectful.  Please get along.  Make good choices.  Less talking and more doing!", over, and over, and over, and over, and OVER again!  Lucky for us (and we remind ourselves of this), it just means we are busy having a very normal family life.

And we are even more lucky that you are checking in on us! Heart Hugs to all! 

Issues

ONLY with Blogger I mean! Life has been great. Casey has been so healthy and just finished kindergarten. I can't believe my little boy has lost 8 teeth, and will be a first grader!

As I type this, I now have a 4 year old daughter! We celebrated today with a few friends, all dressed in princess attire who were given Rapunzel hair. It was so fun to see all the little girls play together.

Now that I am off with the kids for Summer Break, my goal was to update the blog with furious speed. However, my laptop is not of the highest quality, and for some reason Blogger just doesn't like my laptop..or vice versa. So...I think the blog will take a sabbatical. Don't be upset...if anyone is even still reading this!

And you can picture me with my foot in my mouth, since I said years ago I would NEVER join Facebook. However, over a year ago I did, and I love it...a lot. So, until Blogger comes back to me, please find me on Facebook at Gina DiBlasio Dyke Heart Hugs Forever!!!

Let's Play Ball!!

A very exciting and emotional time for me! Not only is my son old enough to play TBall, but he is healthy enough that at this age, I don't even need to tell the team/coaches, etc. about his heart issues! Casey was "drafted" to the Pirates TBall Team. TBall is the way life should be; Everyone gets to play every position, there are no outs, and there is always a snack at the end of each game! Not to mention the fans are the best!!

New Year, New Post

Am I going to start every post in 2011 by saying I'm sorry that I'm "behind"? How about this? My norm is that I will be at least a month behind. It gives me time to get the pics off the big camera onto the computer, and then give myself the time to sort through them and upload them to the blog!

As soon as the holidays were over, we thought life would return to "normal". However, the older our kids get, the more we realize that every day is busy! Here's the highlights so far of 2011;
1. Casey turned six! How is that possible! Celebrated at school, and with dinner at Chick-Fil-A

2. My cousin Leah and her fabulous cookie company, Cookie Zen came to the Fancy Foods Show in SF, so we got to see her at dinner with her co-workers, and say hello to the sea lions :)

3. Casey started Taekwondo (sp?). He loves it. He has now been chosen to be on the Pirates T-Ball Team...practice to start soon! How amazing is this heart survivor???

4. Aubrey loves preschool, and has found that it's fun to trace her name, and draw people. She got to bring home Clifford the class pet last weekend, and boy he got a workout!

5. Mike and I were lucky enough to be invited to attend the Auction Dinner for Camp Taylor, a heart camp for kids. It was a blast with friends, even if we didn't win the 49er tickets, the chihuahua, the golf package, or anything else we bid on!

6. Casey lost his 3rd tooth last weekend, all by himself while Mike and I were watching a movie. That's the way I like it!

6. We are loving life! Hope you are too!

Day After Xmas

We were lucky enough to celebrate Christmas twice. Mike's side of the family came over the next day so we could celerate Christmas as well as Uncle Chris' Birthday (the 25th). Casey and Aubrey had no problem summoning the energy for a 3rd round of opening presents!

Aunt Mindy joining in on the Dart Gun Wars

Kids helping Uncle Chris celebrate!

Uncle Chris getting his "payback" from his niece Ashly!

And the war in on!

Wearing whipped cream might be the new Dyke family holiday tradition :)

This dude is tired from the holiday madness!!

Christmas Day 2010

Our children woke us up when they saw the tree full of presents, but lucky for us, they didn't open any until we all got settled.

Then the craziness begins!
Just what Aubrey asked for, a computer :)

Dogs deserve presents too.

The crazy kids with their parents!

Overjoyed at the homemade BBQ sauce he recieved.

When grandparents and aunts arrive, the second round of gift-opening starts!

New dress-up jewels.

Christmas Eve 2010

Yes, Christmas was "last year", but if you tune into this blog regularly, you'll know that's how I roll! December 24th started with Mike playing golf, so I took the kids to the zoo. It was a beautiful day and all the animals were out!

Later that night we went to dinner at McKormick and Schmick's

Followed by coming home to get into Xmas jammies...

So they could go out and sprinkle the reindeer food on the lawn...

And then put out goodies for Santa!