The Chunnel to France

After a busy day celebrating the 4th of July, we tried to get some sleep (tried being the operative word) but didn't do so well. 6:15 a.m. came a bit too early for all of us to rally and get out of the house. While we did leave on time, everyone was grouchy and tired. I managed to get Matthew and I dressed without fuss but when I went to wake up and dress Michael and Claire the drama began. The day before at the party, Michael was running and playing nonstop. At one point, he told me that his ankle hurt but because he was running around like crazy- I disregarded it. Well this morning, Michael's ankle really hurt him and was so swollen- I couldn't put his shoe on. I couldn't believe it! Wait! Strike that. Yes, I could totally believe that we were going to deal with more drama abroad! So shoeless, Michael rode to the Chunnel station with the rest of us.

The Chunnel (which takes you under the English Channel to the northern part of France) was better than I could have imagined it to be. It is similar to a ferry where you drive onto a vessel and park your car only on the Chunnel you are kind of locked into a section of a freight train. You can get out of your car but basically reside in the same area. You can look out of the window and actually see when you go from above ground to below. The ride (once we started moving) was about 20 minutes and a nice chance to stretch our legs and let the kids (mostly Claire and her cousin, Brennan) run around for a little while. Michael hopped around and did the best he could despite his injury.

We had to drive about two hours from their house to the Chunnel station and then drove another three hours to get to Paris. It was a long day but well worth it once we snuggled into our hotel. A quick story . . . we stopped at McDonald's for some dinner and afterwards the kids played on the play structure. Michael was tickled to hear people speaking French and he seemed to perk up after having a rough day. He was trying to talk to a little girl who was playing near him but was confused that she wasn't understanding him and vice versa. Then he turned to me and Damien and said, "If I was born in France, how come I can't understand her?" So cute. He thought that he would just automatically pick up on the language piece of it. Gees. If only it was that easy. We wouldn't have had such a hard time understanding the language seven years ago!!!

4th of July in England?

Okay- the first night in England went a bit like this. We all hit the pillow and were out within two minutes. We (Matthew and I) slept from 10:00 p.m. until 1:00 a.m. when Matthew decided it was time to wake up and hang out. Yes, my eyes were burning and I was a bit delirious- but Matthew and I sat in Jocelyn's kitchen wide awake from 1-5:00 a.m. in the morning. What a way to bring in the 4th of July! At least I won't forget it anytime soon!! Matthew got up at 9:00 a.m. but thankfully Damien let me sleep until 11:00 a.m. Damien and Matthew woke me up and that was when I noticed that he was burning up. After taking his temperature I realized he was 103.6 degrees. Great. What is with my kids being sick when we are abroad? I swore in that moment we were cursed! After a heavy dose of medicine (and a lollipop)- Matthew made a comeback and it was time to get ready for a huge 4th of July party Mark and Jocelyn were throwing for his work friends and their neighbors.

They were expecting around 60 people to attend the 4th of July BBQ. I had to laugh at the irony of the people of England helping celebrate our country's Independence from them. But they all showed up and enjoyed themselves so much. Mark and Jocelyn pulled out all the stops and had many of America's favorite pastimes. Potato sack races, balancing an egg on a spoon race, wine tasting, a soccer game, and a bouncy house. The kids had an absolute blast and really enjoyed getting to know some of the local kids who were really nice well-mannered children.

After we had eaten- and then eaten some more- it was time for the fireworks. Being as it doesn't get dark in England until about 10:30 p.m. - they started the firework show early. There is no law in England which prohibits the sale of fireworks. And I am not talking about sparklers or smoke bombs. These fireworks were worthy of a town gathering and didn't disappoint anyone at the gathering. They were amazing fireworks. I couldn't believe that anyone could just go and buy these! Let's just say I was happy Damien wasn't setting them off because one false move and I am sure he could have lost an arm or something.

After a long day of fun activities, we were all beat! Matthew (who was jet-lagged and pumped full of Tylenol/Motrin) had had it. The fireworks were just enough to push him over the edge. Besides, we all needed to go to sleep because at 6:15 a.m. the next morning, we were leaving the house to drive (and take the Chunnel) to Paris, France. I kept thinking in my head, Are We Crazy?- but I just had to keep moving on despite my tired mind and body telling me to do otherwise. Let's just hope Matthew lets me get a little more sleep than last night! Ha, I know better than to be so optimistic about sleep! Sleep, sleep? What is that?

England . . . Ready or Not- Here We Come!

Just over a year ago, Damien's brother Mark and his family moved to England for his job. For just over a year, they have been trying to get us to go out there and alas, we are going! We are spending just over two weeks there and plan to visit three different countries! They have two young children, added to our three- makes five kids under seven traveling around Europe. Sounds like fun to me! Let's go!

The idea of packing for myself and the kids for a 15 day European adventure was less than appealing. Added to the stress I feel when going to Europe (a la Michael's birth) and worrying about something happening to one of the kids was enough to make me crazy! But somehow, the packing got done, I wiped Safeway out of their Children's Tylenol and Motrin, got preventative antibiotics should the kids get sick, and had enough snacks to feed the entire economy section of the plane. Feeling good and organized with a few days to spare before our flight- I relaxed and tried to enjoy the down time. Big Mistake. I let my guard down and what do you know? Matthew and I got ear infections the day before we were supposed to leave! Wonderful! He started fevering and couldn't sleep restfully. And for those of you parents who have given small children antibiotics- one of the most annoying side effects are the cha chas. Think for a second . . . a small fevering toddler on a plane, ears hurting from the pressure, repeated diaper full of cha chas, and ten hours to sit in one area. Hmmm. Suddenly my enthusiasm and bright cheery outlook was nowhere to be found.

Flight day came and we pulled it together. The packing was done, the house was organized, we had a full day of antibiotics in Matthew, and the car was here ready to take us to San Francisco International Airport. We all strapped into the car and just like that- we were launched! Damien and I have taken the kids to Europe before. Three years ago- we took Michael (then age 4) and Claire (then age 2) to Paris. It wasn't the most relaxing of trips, but I have absolutely no regrets about taking them. I kept trying to tell myself the same thing with this trip. It would be fine- our kids are troopers. We had to check in really early at the airport but better safe than sorry. Lucky for us, we were able to get four seats in front of the bulkhead so Matthew had some space to move around during the flight. Up, up, and away we went on our very own National Lampoon's European Adventure. Who knows what it would bring, but we were doing it!

The flight was pretty good. Damien and I didn't sleep a wink (but I did get to watch 27 Dresses), Michael and Claire each got two hours of sleep, Matthew napped here and there and slowly but surely- we were inching our way to England. Poor Clairey got sick when we were close to landing because her little body was so confused and tired. I felt bad for her. But she handled it well. Moving on- Virgin Atlantic was awesome! Everything from their service, to the food, to the in-flight entertainment was high quality. In everyone seatbacks, you had your own personal television where you could watch one of many many movies or TV shows or play video games (even play against other people on the plane). Michael and Claire were so content playing games and watching movies that we barely heard a peep out of them (except when Claire barfed). Matthew did well, too. He was quite squirmy at times, but between me and Damien- we were able to handle him. All in all, the flight wasn't bad. A welcome relief for us. Now, we just had to focus on trying to get the kids adjusted to the eight hour time change. Jocelyn and Brennan picked us up and whisked us to their home where we let the kids run around for a few hours before we all succumbed to a 2 hour nap. Jet lag on your own is hard but dealing with the kids battling jet lag at the same time was a little crazy. But we are crazy. Needless to say, we were happy to make it their home in one piece and settle in.

Visiting with the Great Grandmas

Longevity is no joke in my family. When Michael was born, he was part of five generations existing at one time. My Great Grandma Massa, my Nana (Grandma), my Mom, Myself, and Michael. Wow! That doesn't happen very often. And now, all three of my kids are part of four generations on both my Mom and Dad's side of the family. It is so wonderful that they are able to have relationships and memories with my Grandmothers who mean so very much to me.

When we visit my family, we always make sure that we see my Grandmas (also, the kids Great Grandmothers). How awesome it is that they are interwoven in their lives! We visited my Grandma (my Dad's Mom first). The kids love her house. The ritual is as follows. Give Grandma a hug and a kiss, run down her hallway to her back room where they pull out a little white table that is in a box. They put the table together, grab the 4 colored stacked chairs resting against the wall, position the dollies (that she has had since I was a child) and wait for Great Grandma to bring in the cookies the she so cleverly stores for visitors. While the motions are the same each and every time we go over there, the kids love it (and I know she loves it, too!).

My Grandma is an amazing woman. She has lived quite an outstanding life- seeing things that we only read about in textbooks. She is nurturing, caring, loving, sensitive (a true Sacco trait), and faithful. She helped guide us through our adolescence and supported us as all five of us have grown older. So many of my colorful childhood memories include her. We were over her house a lot as kids. After piling in the car, we would head to Seattle for the day to be with the family. After a day full of exploration, pasta and meatballs (yummy), running amok in her backyard, and tickling the ivories- I was spent! I love my Grandma so much and am so happy that my children have gotten the chance to know her, too!

My Nana was also a very important person to me growing up. She lived very close to us and was a great help to my Mom as she was raising her five girls! No matter what my Mom needed, Nana- with my Great Grandma Massa in tow, did it. A great deal of my childhood included my Nana, too. We would go over to her house often to just hang out or gather for big family meals. My sisters, cousins, and I would explore her basement (which we always thought was a little spooky), run around in her pasture and play make-believe, play dress up with my Aunt's cheerleading costumes, or just relax. My kids love their Nana. She is a light to us all and someone who we can all learn a lot from. She also is a woman of great faith and one of the most loving people I have ever met.

I can only hope that one day I will be able to know my Great Grandchildren. What a special thing to be a part of- four generations! Seriously- just stop and think about it for a minute. What a gift for my Grandmothers, but what an even more precious gift for my children. History is all around them. Strong women with such love and dedication for their families. Just amazing.

Look At Me- No Training Wheels!

For months, Michael has been asking us to take the training wheels off of his bike. With many distractions and a very busy schedule- we just haven't gotten to it. In the meantime, his friends have been cruising around town training-wheel free while Michael became increasingly frustrated. After much guilt for 'not getting' to his request, we finally took them off!

Michael assumed that because he was a master at riding a bike with training wheels that he would be able to just hop on the two wheeler and just roll! That, however, was not the case at all! Falling to the left, then to the right and eventually into the bushes was how the first day went. Damien spent a lot of time with him and got him to make some great progress. While Michael was getting most of our attention, Claire urged us to take her training wheels off, too. So off they came and now Claire was unable to ride her bike, too! Luckily, Heather and I helped the kids to steady themselves while Damien did the major part of what the kids called 'Bike Training'.

We were thrilled to have finally tended to Michael's request. What we didn't realize was that they were now unable to ride their bikes without our help! The entire next day all we heard was, "Can you take us outside for bike training?" over and over and over. I can't blame them for wanting to ride. I too remember how fun it was to do something that was so cool! By the end of day three, Michael was up and riding all by himself. Fast, slow, up small hills and down. While it made me way too nervous to see him zipping here and there- Michael loved the thrill of it and I was happy for him to be so successful so quickly. Claire is almost there. Just a few more days and I know she will get it. Matthew just thinks it is cool to wear the kid's helmets that are entirely too big for him. He just wants to do what his big brother and sister do. I can't blame him! Damien was awesome with teaching the kids to ride. So patient, so encouraging, so wonderful. They both enjoyed his instruction and he kept their frustration levels at a minimum. Summer is here and I am sure we have a lot of bike riding to look forward to!

Washington, Washington

For years, my parents have had a very limited view of Lake Washington. It was such a shame because you knew that just behind the 5 or so trees blocking my parent's view was a masterpiece even an artist would have a hard time capturing. This beauty was hiding until this past Winter when a number of wind/rain/snow storms ripped through the Pacific Northwest and just happened to knock down all but one of the 'view preventing' trees. Now look at the view my parents have from their deck! It is breathtaking and I love it! My parents have this view from their deck and from the kitchen window and side deck, you can see the Seattle skyline and the Space Needle. Who knew that with a new house they would get a new view? It is pretty amazing.

A lot of our trip was spent just hanging out with the family. We had a number of different events (my dad's bday, my uncle bob being in town) so we were never bored. The weather just happened to be absolutely beautiful. Generally, it would be overcast until about 1 or 1:30 p.m. and then the white overcast sky would disappear and show it's true blue. Of course this led to many nights on the deck admiring the skyline!

Last time we were in Washington, Matthew had just learned to walk and really wasn't that stable. But his time, he was on a roll! He and his cousin, Kyle, had a lot of fun exploring Nonna's house and getting into trouble! They did a lot of fun things together and got to know each other better. It was cute because Kyle, who in the past has been rougher and tougher than Matthew, really wanted to show Matthew some love. Matthew, being somewhat smart to his ways didn't really want to give him the time of day in the beginning. But as Kyle showed Matthew he was very loving and tried to include Matthew and share things with him- Matthew did soften a bit. It was really cute. Neither of these guys have a lot of language so it was funny to watch them mumble back and forth without making a great deal of sense!

Through our many many activities, the kids were pretty good sports. The only day that pressed our patience was the day my Mom wanted to take a very long walk from her house down to the water. We took the kids to lunch, went and played on this great big play structure, went to an outdoor market where we met up with my Uncle Bob and sampled some local delicacies, and finally ended up at his coffee house called Cafe Ladro where I had the BEST latte I have ever had in my life. My mom said I would love it and she was right! The day was great. We were headed toward home, or rather the bus station, as my Mom wanted the kids to have the whole 'ride the bus experience' when I realized we had forgotten a stroller at the coffee shop. Ahhhh! 'No problem' I thought. I called them and they were going to hold it for me. So then, still fulfilling my Mom's bus riding dream- we checked the schedule and wouldn't you know? We had just missed the bleepin' bus! We had to wait 25 minutes for the next one. The kids were starting to come unglued. We could have walked home, but it would have taken us more than a half hour so it was in our best interest to wait. You know- it was crazy and in the moment, I was a bit crazed. But it makes a funny story now. You should have seen the looks on Jill and my faces! Classic!

On one of our last days, we went over to my Aunt Monica's house which is situated right on Lake Washington. It was a gorgeous day and the kids couldn't help but want to go out on the dock. So cautiously, we explored the dock, the water, and just enjoyed the view. Claire was just happy to be sitting out there relaxing. Matthew was going crazy over the boats and the birds. It was so fun to see him so excited, but also difficult because he wanted to jump right in the lake! Michael's attention to the water was short lived because he wanted to go inside and play Guitar Hero 3 with my cousin, Courtland. Monica's house is gorgeous and it was really nice to be invited over to hang out and enjoy family but also take in the lake front view!

Sadly, our week long trip came to an end. I must say, though- this was one of the very best visits we have had. My Dad, Mom, and sisters said the same thing. Nothing of real significance took place, but instead- there were a lot of family gatherings and just good quality time spent talking and enjoying each other. Can't wait to go back again!

My Dad's Birthday Party!

There are a few things you need to know about my Dad's birthday. For starters, he will tell anyone who will listen that his birthday is always the summer solstice (longest day of the year). He was also born one year and one day after his oldest brother and he also shares a birthday with one of my other uncles. His birthday has good juju because he was born on 6-21-49. These numbers probably mean nothing to you but in the sick heads of some of us Sacco people (who are number people)- none of these days are prime numbers, which according to my Dad are not the best numbers. By the way, try being pregnant and having your Dad say, 'Don't have the baby today. It is not a good number.' You may think this is kind of weird to care about numbers but these little quirks are what make my Dad, my Dad.

We were thrilled that during our week long visit in June, we would be able to celebrate his 59th birthday with him. I thought twice about saying 59th, but since I just disclosed his whole birth date- you could have done the math! My Mom asked him what he wanted to do on his birthday and he said he didn't care. She mentioned that maybe we could all go to a Mariners game, but he quickly poo-pooed that! Maybe we could go out to dinner? Nah! "Let's just get together with some friends and have dinner at the house." he told her. Done and done. My parents recently completed their extensive remodel and love having people over. To be totally honest, the house is very comfortable and inviting. So, my Mom started inviting some of my Dad's close friends and family and the ball was now rolling! My Uncle Bob (who is a Doctor in real life but I swear cooks in the finest Italian kitchens in the middle of the night) and his wife Barb were in town from Buffalo, New York so he offered to help my Mom with the dinner.

The family started coming in, the food was cooking, and my Dad was out on his deck sipping some of red wine he makes each year while enjoying the view of Lake Washington. Before you knew it, the house was packed and it was a party. My Uncle Bob outdid himself in the kitchen (one of the appetizers was deep fried sage leaves filled with fresh mozzarella and a hint of anchovy) and the dinner was amazing! My Mom and my Uncle Bob make a great team in the kitchen! People were laughing, talking, reconnecting and suddenly it became clear why my Dad would want to spend his birthday surrounded by this amazing group of people. We opened gifts, ate cake and then were serenaded by my Dad singing a song by Sonny Bono (it was so classic I can't even begin to explain!). It was a great birthday party and to see my Dad so happy was awesome. Happy Birthday Dad! I love you!

I Mean- Seriously. Chair Arms?

Michael is so sensitive. I love it, and at times- it can be challenging. He feels so much and so deeply that sometimes a seemingly insignificant moment can really hit home with him. This brings me to something that happened tonight. We had Damien's parents and his cousin over for dinner and it was really lovely. The conversation was great, the food turned out delicious, and all in all, it was just a really really nice time. Over dinner, the topic of furniture came up and I mentioned to Damien's cousin that we were no longer going to need our love seat. I asked if she would like to have it (she just moved into a new apartment) and she happily obliged! I thought it was great. We were ready to get rid of it (although it was in really great condition) because it doesn't have a place in our new house. When we moved this past December, not all of our furniture fit into our new place and the love seat was something that just didn't work here. She had brought a large car here and we were able to load the couch into the car and that was that. I noticed that Michael was upset and I asked what all the fuss was about. Through tears, he told me about how much he loved that couch and didn't want to see it go. Michael has always had feelings for things. He still talks about how upset he that we gave away our very first couch. If Michael has a memory with something- he doesn't want to see it go!

We loaded the couch and its cushions into her car and tried to think of what else we could give her. We had a great office chair that we weren't using and offered it to his cousin, too. Michael said that maybe we should take the arms off because they weren't in the newest condition- okay, they were pretty much destroyed from the kids pulling the padding off. Damien agreed and took them off before we gave the chair away. Michael seemed pretty calm about giving the chair away because he thought he was going to be able to keep the arms. I mean- what the heck?

After everyone had left, I went into Michael's room and saw the sharp metal arms lying on his hardwood floor. I had a bad feeling about them. I could just see Matthew walking along and then falling face first on them and knew we were going to have to get rid of the arms (which we just should have done in the first place!). "Michael- what are your plans for the chair arms?" I asked. "Um, I think I will just store them in the garage and take them out to play with when I feel like it." he confidently responded. "And what kind of games are you going to play with chair arms?" I asked. "Actually, I might keep them in my room so that I can remember Daddy's work chair that YOU just gave away!" he snipped. He promised that he would not keep them metal side up but coming from the same kid that sometimes forgets promises as soon as he makes them- I knew I had to take some kind of action. "Michael- I think we need to get rid of these. Someone is going to get hurt on them. Why don't you take a minute to say goodbye to the chair arms (am I really saying this?) and then you and I can walk them out to the garbage and you can throw them away. He thought for a minute and then agreed.

Through a closed door, I could hear him saying something to the chair arms. I wanted to laugh but I also understand Michael's attachment to things. He has never had an easy time letting go of anything! I knocked on the door and told him it was time. Ridiculous sobs started and he grabbed a chair arm in each hand and slowly made his way to the backyard. If you were just someone looking in on this situation- you seriously might have thought someone had died. He was devastated but I knew that these things, if not thrown away- would really end up hurting someone. He cried and cried and cried. He kept crying until we reached the big garbage can outside. I lifted the big lid on it and tried to let Michael take things at his own pace (which was snail slow). After a good long minute of silence in front of a stinky garbage can I said to him, "Mikes, you loved that chair but we got Daddy a new one for Father's Day and we have already made new memories with his chair. I know you loved that old chair but it was broken and now it has a new home and we can visit it whenever you want to. Was I really talking about visiting a chair? Someone help me! I think it is time to drop the chair arms in the garbage." I did everything to not laugh at the pure ridiculousness of the moment but when I heard his cries, I was shaken back to the very sobering moment that Michael was having. "Go ahead buddy- drop one in." I said in a hushed tone. He took a deep breath from his sobbing and bent down to pick one up. He looked at it and then carefully dropped it in the garbage. No sooner could you could hear the deep thud of it hitting the bottom of the garbage that you could hear Michael escalate his crying, again. "And the other one?" I said. Again, same dramatic sobs and a deep thud.

I reached over and hugged him and told him it was okay. Then I picked him up, cradled him in my arms, and brought him back inside. A huge part of me wants to shake him and say 'Why in the heck do you care about getting rid of those chair arms?' but the other part of me knows how deeply Michael is capable of feeling. In an effort to comfort him, I kept telling him it was okay and that I was proud of him for being a big boy. You know, if he wanted to keep a few of the screws from the chair (still a bit weird) or something that wouldn't gouge people's faces if they fell on it- I would've allowed it. But the fact that Matthew still trips over his own feet and could seriously get hurt on the chair arms- I had to make a decision to get rid of them.

It is times like these, when I am exhausted after a long day with the kids, after just cooking a big dinner for family, and just wanting the day to end on a happy note that absolutely kill me! But I have to dig deep to find the patience to deal with things that might not make sense to me, but mean a lot to Michael. While I do wish that he wouldn't always get so emotional when I give things away- I also value Michael's ability to feel deeply and I am not sure I ever want that to change.

A Day for Dads

I was raised by an amazing father. My Dad supported my dreams, helped me to succeed, comforted me when I failed, and still nurtures my competitive and loving spirit to this very day. When I was dating Damien, I fell in love with him for many reasons. Sure, he was cute (okay, really cute) and was ridiculously funny. But aside from all of this- I knew for sure he would make an amazing father. He had a lot to live up to, but I just knew my children's lives would be changed by the amazing relationship they would eventually have with their Dad.

We (the kids and I) were really looking forward to Father's Day weekend. We started out Friday with a great dinner in honor of their Daddy, at our house. Then Saturday morning, we headed north to the Swendsen's where we all hung out and relaxed for the better part of the day! It was an awesome day full of ping pong, great food, no schedule, and relaxation.

Sunday morning, we woke up and gave Damien a box of Fruity Pebbles (the kid's idea), ate breakfast, and then headed out to Mass. Afterwards, everyone gathered at the house and we had a wonderful buffet of all of the Dad's favorite foods. Each wife brought their husband's favorite food and it was delicious! One thing that was really cool about this Father's Day was that the kids really wanted to be involved in the gift giving. I went out and bought him a lot of cool gifts but the coolest came from an idea the kids had. They told me they wanted to go and get him a gift card to a restaurant. So- we went to Safeway to the big racks of gift cards and each of them picked out their own gift card at the restaurant of their choice. They made cards and then gave them to Damien on Father's Day and said that they wanted to take him out to dinner alone so they could have a night together! I thought that was so cute and a great way to give him face time with both kids by themselves!

I made Damien a picture book for Father's Day. For weeks, I had scanned in and uploaded pictures from the past seven years. It was so fun to see not only Damien grow as father, but to see the kids to grow up with him so close bytheir side. On the inside cover, I wrote something to him that was straight from the heart.

" To A Daddy Who Knows What We Need Before We Ask"

We love you so much and hope that you have a Great Father's Day Daddy. Thanks for all of the hugs, for baby kisses, for sneaking away from work to be a BIG part of our lives, for reading us books, for tucking us into bed, and for believing in us no matter the circumstance . . .

Damien is a fabulous father because he is in tune with what his children need. He is so present to them and knows being a father isn't about showmanship. He knows it is about the little things. To Damien, it is about being there for them on important days, for listening to them no matter how busy he is, for teaching them what is important in life, and living in the moment rather than projecting too much into the future. Man, these kids grow up so fast. No work is too important to have him miss out on their life. He wants to watch them explore, grow, and live life to the fullest. For instance, I cannot tell you how many times Damien just shakes his head as he watches Matthew walk around the house. 'Man, I love this kid!", he says. See, Matthew isn't doing anything important. It wasn't his first step or some momentous occasion. Damien chooses to look at every moment as a precious moment and knows that as his children grow up- he will never get these moments back.

Damien says he likes Father's Day better than his birthday. He thinks it is a day just to relax and be appreciated rather than showered with gifts and parties. I tend to agree with him. It was a wonderful day. A relaxing, peaceful day. It was a chance to reflect on his life as a father but also a day for him to truly appreciate his children. I am lucky that I not only have an outstanding father myself- but my kids have one, too. Happy Father's Day!

An Eerie Sky

On Friday night- the start to a fabulous Father's Day weekend, I made Damien one of his favorite dinners and we gave him the Father's Day gifts that were too big to bring to his parent's house the next day. We sat outside eating dinner when we looked up at the sky and thought it looked strange. Sure enough, when we went around the corner of our house where we have a better view of the horizon, we saw this amber colored sky in the distance. The sky was still blue above us- but we knew it was only a matter or time before we were covered with it, too. We knew that the color of the sky was due to a terrible fire in the mountains just south of us- but to see the way it affected the sky was incredible. The sky wasn't the only thing we noticed- you could also detect a faint smell of smoke. The kids thought it was amazing. And to be honest- I have never seen a sky that color, either! It was crazy!

These pictures were probably taken around 9:00 p.m. just before we put the kids to bed. As the night got later and later, the sky just stayed the eerie orange/red color. When we woke up the next morning, there was a big article in the paper saying that there were many many calls made to 911 and local police departments about the color of the sky. It threw people into a panic! We also noticed the next morning that our outdoor table and Damien's car was covered with a light layer of ash. One thing is for sure- it was a sight we won't soon forget!

Tooth #3 for Clairey

Tonight, I was trying to put Matthew down to bed. I had been walking him around for a while and thankfully, he was just about down when I heard Claire yelling from her bedroom. I thought of ignoring her cry because I thought she might be dreaming- but I thought better and headed toward her. When I got close, she turned on her light and told me that she was playing with her loose tooth and it really moved. When I got closer, I realized it was literally hanging on by a thread. Because Matthew was still kind of asleep- I couldn't really pull it out in that moment. I said, "Claire- you have to wait until I put Matthew in his crib." She said to me, "Mom, I think I can do it myself!" So, she went to work and in a matter of seconds, she had it out! Forgetting that Matthew was still sleeping, she started screaming. And as you can guess, Matthew woke up and joined in the celebration. Michael also woke up and Damien, who was at his indoor soccer game- walked in the door just in time to catch the tail end of the drama!

Claire lost her bottom left middle tooth and now she has a huge hole in her mouth where her three teeth used to be. Claire is totally that kind of kid that would be able to pull her own tooth out. While she is squeamish when it comes to seeing blood (which dates back to getting stitches in her forehead a year and a half ago), she is also tough as nails. I love the balance she has with her love for princesses but ability to wrestle with Michael for hours! She was totally excited about losing her tooth and demanded that she put the tooth in an envelope and write a letter to the tooth fairy (even though it was now 10:00 p.m.). She made a few phone calls to tell family about the news and went to sleep. Man, I love this girl. She is the best!

Vegas, Baby!

My sisters, Mom, and I have been talking about taking a 'Girl Trip' for a while now. Sounds great but it is tough to find a time that is right for everyone. Usually someone is pregnant or has a small baby or has work/school commitments. However, when we all looked at our calendars, we were able to come up with a weekend in June where we could all get together. For a good week, we debated on where we should go. At first, we were talking about Puerto Vallarta. Then San Diego, Idaho (Mom's idea) and finally, we thought about Las Vegas. Jill, Gina, and I went to Vegas together about three years ago but my Mom and Natalie had never been there. Even more convenient, Natalie would turn 21 a short five days before we would head to Sin City! After we debated (and I mean we debated!) we settled on Vegas and were all very excited. We booked a hotel room at Caesar's Palace, booked our plane flights and relaxed knowing in a few short weeks, we would be relaxing together by the pool in Las Vegas!

We had planned to arrive within a few hours of each other in Vegas. Unfortunately, my flight was delayed, but somehow my sisters and Mom found a way to occupy themselves at an airport bar until I landed. When I finally landed and walked into the bar to see them, they erupted in cheers and just like that, four Sacco girls and our 'great sport of a Mom' hit the town! It was great to be with my Mom and Natalie and show them everything. As we approached the strip, they couldn't believe the hotels and all the hustle and bustle. We checked into our hotel room and settled in for four crazy and fun-filled days with all of us in one room! We put down our bags, changed into our swimsuits and headed down to the gorgeous pool at Caesar's. Despite a little construction, it was picture perfect and we relished the opportunity that we were all together in one place. My sister, Laura, opted to stay home with my Dad. The caveat being that we all bought her a little token from Vegas that my Mom would give her at the end. She was missed (as was my Dad) but the experience with all of us was priceless.

That night, we all got ready and headed out on the town. We ate dinner across the strip at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville and then later that night headed to The Venetian to go to Tao (a dance club). After waiting a really long time, we decided to not waste our time waiting and went back to Caesar's, gambled, and flittered around the hotel from clubs to lounges- just enjoying one another. We got up decently early and headed down the pool where we stayed for the next seven hours. Being roasted and drained by the sun, my Mom and I opted to retreat indoors and play some penny slots. We had the best time. Laughing and reminiscing, we passed a few hours and then met up with the other girls to get ready for another night out. This night, headed south on the strip to the MGM where we ate at Wolfgang Puck's restaurant. It was delicious! We then headed over to New York, New York, where we danced most of the night away at the Dueling Piano Bar! It was so awesome to be with my sisters and even more amazing that we had our Mom with us! The following morning, we packed Natalie up as she had to head home one day early to study for her finals. We shipped her out in a taxi and then spent a few more hours at the pool. Again melting in the heat, my Mom and I got dressed and walked over to the Paris Hotel. She was so moved by seeing the Eiffel Tower atop the hotel. It is a very realistic replica of the Eiffel Tower and the last time she saw it- she was in Paris when Michael was really sick. So that was kind of a neat moment for the two of us.

That night, we got all dressed up because we had reservations at Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill. Generally, you need to have reservations way in advance to get into this restaurant. Lucky for us, we were able to get in that night (albeit at 9:15 p.m.). The dinner was pretty darn expensive but so worth it. The food was exquisite and to die for. Nothing about the dining experience disappointed us and we all left there feeling full but so satisfied. Later that night (we finished dinner at 11 p.m.) we headed over to the Wynn Hotel where we danced the night away at one of their clubs, Blush. We loved that place because it played good music, but you could still hear each other talk! And that led us to our last day there where we spent the morning rehashing the trip over coffee and bagels by the pool.

Honestly, that was one of the best weekends of my life. Away from the kids- I got a chance to just be selfish and worry about myself. I got to enjoy my sisters and Mom without being interrupted and just threw my hands up in the air and did whatever the group wanted to do. And would you know that with five women in a room, four sisters and our Mom having a ball in Vegas, we had no drama? No bickering, no fighting. Instead I think we all looked at the opportunity as a precious chance to enjoy one another and make fabulous memories. Damien stayed back with the three kids and I appreciate so much that he recognized this opportunity as a chance for me to be out on my own and be an adult. He knows that each day I dedicate all my time to my children and this chance to be out on my own was something I deserved and he wanted it to happen. And you know what? I am a better Mom and wife for taking some time out for me! Woo hoo!

I speak for myself that I will never forget how amazing this weekend was, but I bet if you ask my sisters or Mom their opinion- it would be exactly the same. Viva Las Vegas . . . Until We Come Visit Again. It truly was epic.

Kindergarten Graduation!

We were all in the pews of the church, anxiously awaiting the procession of our little Kindergarten graduates. The music started playing and one by one, little white hats started popping through the church doors. At St. Christopher's, there are two Kindergarten classes so there were 60 children graduating today. I searched and searched to find Michael processing when suddenly, I saw his sweet little face emerge from underneath his mortar board. He looked so proud of himself. They filed into the front of the church where they received a roaring round of applause. It was so darling!

I had no idea what to expect from Michael's graduation. We were told to dress him in his 'Sunday's Best' and show up on time. Michael was pretty tight lipped about the whole thing although I caught him humming a few songs they had obviously prepared for the big day. The graduation was done so well. They sang songs, some said speeches, and for the 45 minute ceremony they all sat pretty still and were well behaved. Then one by one, their name was called and they walked up the altar to Principal Ivie, Monsignor Walsh, and the two Kindergarten teachers, Mrs. Filice and Ms. Lane. Michael did great! He gracefully received his diploma and then turned toward the audience for a photo opportunity. I have to admit- I did have to resist hooting and hollaring in true Sacco fashion when they called his name. Once all the children had graduated, they lined up on stage to perform their final song.

They started singing, "Start spreading the news. We're leaving today. We want to be a part of it, First Grade, First Grade!" And so went the song, and so started my tears. Suddenly, the past seven years rushed before my eyes and I looked at Michael so strong, happy, and confident. Next year he will be in First Grade! I will drop him off in the morning and then pick him up just before dinner. Never again will I have him hanging around the house during the day. This graduation was a big step for these little kids. Next year, I have a feeling they won't feel so little anymore. And as they finished the song, I dried my eyes and looked at him and felt so proud to be his Mommy. You did it Michael! Congratulations. We are all so proud of you!

Claire Says Goodbye to Preschool

I feel like it was just yesterday that I was researching Ballard Montessori School. I wanted a school that would be a great fit for Michael and a place where I would have complete confidence he was getting what he needed. Before I knew it, Michael had finished his first year and we were prepping Claire to enter school. When Michael graduated last year from Ballard, it didn't seem so bad because I knew Claire would enter again the following year. She was excited to be on her own in a school and to have a break from doing everything with Michael.

We started this school year on a roll! Claire adjusted to life at school alone beautifully, and Michael really was flourishing in Kindergarten. For the most part, Claire really enjoyed going to school. Sure, some days she didn't want to get up and get dressed- but once we arrived, she would bound into school with energy! She loved it! Every single aspect of it! Claire is very artistic and loved the sweet little projects the teachers had out for her. She is also very academic and appreciated the teachers making workbooks for her. When she would finish one, the teachers made sure to make another for her and keep her challenged. Claire loved recess. I would get reports every night about how she chased the boys and played tag with them. She also had some wonderful girlfriends who talked princesses and played house with her.

All in all, Claire's preschool experience was nothing short of phenomenal. It was a bit expensive $430 a month for Monday Wednesday, Friday 9-12 p.m. but it was well worth it! The year picked up speed and between running from Michael's school and then to Claire's- only to do it again three hours later, we found ourselves running out of time. The school year was coming to a close. Claire is so excited for Kindergarten. She told me that she is looking forward to wearing a uniform, to having homework, and bringing a snack to school. Claire exuded confidence when we were talking about Kindergarten, but I heard her sniffling in her bed that same evening. "What's wrong Claire?" I said. "I'm going to miss my school, my teachers, and the Guinea Pig." she cried. I grabbed her and gave her a big hug and she sobbed for a good five minutes.

Sometimes, the thought of something new is exciting. New routines, new opportunities, and a refreshing change of pace. But the truth is- in order to do something new, you have to say goodbye to the old. I think that while Claire was setting her sights on Kindergarten, she forgot that in order to get there, she had to say goodbye to Ballard. Not just parts of her school- but goodbye to it all. I told her that I would take her back whenever she wants but I also know that once she steps foot in her new school- her old school won't feel like home. Her teachers, Miss Ellen and Miss Melba totally loved Claire. They were patient with her and in the two years she was there- guided her and helped her develop into a more confident, secure, and well-rounded Claire. At the end of the year BBQ, I felt a bit of sadness myself. Claire, with a panda painted on her face, ran around and had a ball with her friends. It was only when we had to say goodbye that the tears started to fall. Claire said goodbye to her teachers, her friends, the Guinea Pig Charlie, and she bravely walked out the door. She cried all the way to the car but I told her that it was okay to be upset. She loved her two years there. I chose Ballard Montesorri because it was a great fit for Michael, but I am thankful that in the end- it was a perfect match for Claire, too.

Face Plant

You never like to see you children get hurt. But at some point, you just have to realize it is bound to happen! Matthew walked kind of late at 14 months and because of this, he is really a solid walker and falls well. A major problem for Matthew is that he is obsessed with sports balls and water balloons. He has them in his hands all the time and it poses a problem when he falls because he can't brace himself because his hands are full. Well, today was just like any other day where I basically gave Matthew full reign of our house. He wanders and explores at his own pace and generally checks in with me or I search him out if he is too quiet. I was talking in the kitchen with my sister-in-law Heather when I heard that cry where you just know someone got really hurt. I ran outside and found Matthew laying on the patio screaming. I picked him up and held him close, waiting for him to calm down, and then investigated. No serious injury but his face was all messed up. He had a cut under his left eye, a pea sized mass under his eyelid, and a giant immediate bruise running up the side of his face. Luckily, he is one tough guy! I still have no idea what he hit out there in the backyard. But whatever it was, it hit him hard! Poor Matthew!!!!