Jack's way of showing Ruby and loves her...

As much as Jack likes to hide his love for his sister, she really has become his best friend. If ever one is awake without the other, they are trying to go into their room to wake them up. These moments are becoming more and more frequent, making me so excited for all the fun memories to look forward to. Ruby adores her brother, is his constant shadow, partner in crime ( more often than mom would like) and puts up with anything Jack can dish out.

Not quite sure, but I'm pretty sure the move jack is using to tickle Ruby's foot resembles some kind of submission move I've seen on Brian's ultimate fighting shows. Proof that I was right when I said he can't watch that stuff or else he going to start using them on his sis!

Jack's Preschool (well sort of)

Have I become a "home schooler!?" Since moving to Ladera, Jack and I joined a Co-op preschool group with 4 other kids his age. On tuesdays and thursdays from 9-12 Jack is starting to learn all the preschool essentials like the days of the week, his numbers, letters, using scissors (his favorite) etc. Each of the moms take turns having the kids at their house for 2 weeks in a row--then you get a nice long break (which you definitely need after having 5 soon-to-be 3 yr olds at your house!) I've really enjoyed the private time I've had to spend with Ruby.
We get ALL of the teaching curriculum and supplies delivered to us by this home school company--right down to all the little parts to the crafts they do. It's awesome. Jack loves his little friends and only steals their crayons and eats parts of their lunch occasionally...

Halloween 2008

The farkle family

This was the first year that Jack really was starting to grasp one of the best holidays in existence. Although this was not one of my more creative years as far as costumes go (we've been a little busy around here lately) we had so much fun trick or treating and going to a super fun party at Michael and Rachel's house.




I love this boy




Although my little monkey was looking a little haggard by the end of the night, she still enjoyed the reward of all her hard work!

1st annual gingerbread haunted house decorating party

Anyone who knows me, know I'm always looking for an excuse to party. This started out as a replacement for my annual Halloween party. I just figured its starting to get kind of hard on the actual day to get everyone home from work, dressed, kids rounded up & in the car....too hectic. SO I came up with this idea to have everyone get out their favorite fall recipes and have a haunted house decorating party instead. and let me tell you, it's a keeper! We had so many people, even more kids, tasty soups and breads (thanks all!) "fierce" competition--which is what I love so much of my friends, and did I mention, kids running all about?! I think it helped that half of our house is without furniture. We had some sparklers left over from our friend's wedding, so we busted them out and the kids had a great time. We managed to keep Jack from lighting the other kids on fire. We had a great time and there will definitely be a 2nd annual!!

Not sure Brian could ever top this one....

Buying a house has been anything but easy and anything but fun until now...our loan and how much we could quailify for kept changing from week to week so we put our house looking on hold until I got back from Las Vegas (steph and I did a trade show there--another post..). We got back late Thursday night--Friday night we met up with Brian's family in Ladera for dinner. Our agent called us & wanted to show us a house real quick before we left. It was a forclosure that just went on the market. It was a total fixer-uper & smaller than what we'd been looking at in the past. Brian proceeded to tell me that we no longer able to qualify for what thought we could. So I was trying to stay optimistic--it had potential. Our agent wanted to show us one more house--Brian said he wanted me to wear a blind fold so I wouldn't be distracted by the neighborhood and I would just see the house itself. I resisted and he insisted--so i conceeded. I was thinking it was in this area of Ladera that I didn't want to live in. We pulled up, Brian opened the door, helped me out of the car, handed me 2 dozen red rozes, and a key?! He took off my blindfold and my dreamhouse was in front of me with his whole family and our kids on the doorstep. Complete and utter shock. "Are you kidding me?" is all I could keep muttering between tears and a lot of kissing.

**side note** no way would Brian ever be allowed to do this but it was a house that we previously fell in love with and we didn't get--so he knew it was a sure bet!!

He knew that I had been having a hard time juggling all the change and uncertainty with the kids--so when the house we lost came back to us, he didn't want me to be disappointed yet again so he did it all on his own. I am shocked he was able to keep this from me. I'm notorious for having to know everything all the time and he's a terrible liar.

We ended up getting the house for $150K less than they were asking. I love a good bargin. All the drama and homelessness was worth it--we get to move in hopefully by Sat. the 27th. We're going to have a big Halloween party & everyone can visit our new pad. But don't expect any new furniture for awhile--we're poor... Here are a couple of pics--I'll post a couple of the big "surprise" as soon as we get them from Brian's dad. We will not, however, be posting the video that Brian's brother took of the whole thing--embarrassing.

It's around the corner from the other house that was on my blog forever & it has the exact same floorplan. We've got a guest room now so please please come stay with us!

Don't die of shock...

Did you miss me? You all probably stopped checking my blog long ago but I'm making an attempt at a comeback (no promises). Life in the Lombardi family has been crazy lately. Just a quick recap on the summer's major events: A trip to the river with friends, Ruby turned 1, Payne family vacation in San Diego, started potty training Jack, 4th of July, Lombardi Family vacation at beach house in Newport and river trip, rented out our condo, and moved in with the in-laws...i know....