A dog hollering for Help.

"Maggie!" yelled Bandit Rose. "I thought you said it was a good day when you woke up as a dog. Look what she's doing to me! That headband is the wrong color for my skin tone!" "Oh, well."

Who will move this mulch?

Oh, yes, The children. And they don't even get an allowance.

Crystel blows her first bubble

A big day. The four hour drive to and from South Dakota gave her ample opportunity to learn how to blow a bubble. This is what we call a Mama Bubble. Antonio is still waiting to make his first - teeny -weenie - baby - bubble.

Traveling Tom

At the Prince and Princesses wedding Antonio was very happy to take a picture with Traveling Tom. He is the fourth person on the bottom of this cd jacket. Traveling Tom is a cousin of Jody's and of the Prince. Traveling Tom = Superman in Antonio's book. During the wedding, reception and at the breakfast buffet the next day, Antonio would holler, "There's Traveling Tom!" everytime he spotted him. Fortunately for us, Tom took it in good stride and acknowledged Antonio with a smile, a hug or a rub of the head.

Once Upon a Time

Once upon a time the di Grazia's went to Florida to meet the Prince and Princess. It doesn't get any better than this - when you only have to drive to Sioux Falls - to pose with Cinderella and her Prince. Antonio declined this photo opportunity. He is two years older - that explains a lot of things.

Heading to South Dakota

Crystel and Antonio with their phoneheads on - as they call them. We were off to a wedding in Sioux Falls where fairytales came alive. The bride was a princess, the groom was a prince and the church was the castle. During the wedding, Antonio said, "They can have babies now."

Crystel on a date with Tia Anna and Tio Scott

The morning after Crystel's date she asked me if I knew where they went. "No, where did you go?" I said. Very carefully she said - as if she was practicing all night in bed - Mi ni ha ha Falls.

Nokomis Beach

Crystel and Callipso. Callipso also does Tae Kwon Do. We happened to see him at the beach. He's the same Tae Kwon Do belt as Antonio. He really likes to see Antonio at Tae Kwon Do tournaments because Antonio doesn't care if he gets last place at sparring, or form, or breaking boards and his moms bring magnets for everyone to play with.

An Alligator. I guess you had to be there. Robbie and Danny sculpting a shark. Or is that Elliott? Elliott, Antonio and Danny. Or is that Robbie?

Summer is finally here.

Babysitting

Who is watching who? Andy Walker is escaping out the dog door. Happy Birthday, Tina. Jack Walker can't figure out why his cousin wants to regress. But he'll go with it. Crystel hasn't given up and by bedtime has finally figured out how to fit in the doll bed and watch television. Fortunately for us, she is a girl that never gives up. In her short life that has bode her well.

Climbing Fence

I don't encourage Antonio's climbing of the fence. In fact, this is the same fence I climbed and when I jumped to the other side, slipped, and ended up in urgent care with a badly sprained ankle. I haven't climbed a fence since. Antonio informed me that this was his second time climbing over. I was impressed with his ability to put his foot in between the links and lickety split be on the other side grabbing his superball and return before I could really get a grasp of the situation. I'm afraid my ending is his beginning.

Keeping a rabbit out

Jody, a fence can't really keep a rabbit out. It could climb up a tree and drop in. Love, Beth

What's In A Name?

"Antonio calls me Suzy cause it's funny and I say I'm not Suzy, Sally, but sometimes he calls me Suzy. But I call him Tony sometimes. All done." This was in response to my inquiry about why her brother calls her Suzy. He has done this for at at least six months now. To the point that he will introduce Crystel to others as his sister, Suzy. He has called her Suzy so often that there are occasions where he stumbles over saying, "Crystel" when he really wants to use her given name. Being called Suzy by her brother doesn't bother her. Crystel doesn't complain or remark about it or say, "Don't call me that!" She takes it in stride so I have concluded that - to all the Suzy's in the world - it is a compliment, and an intimate gesture to be so named.

Crystel's playdoh creations

Notice the petite, colorful items she made. Antonio calls his creation the Brain Teaser and something else that has totally left me.

The difference between a boy and a girl playing with playdoh

Meet Sun Razor Superwoman and Brain Teaser. Crystel made some pretty little flowers. A pink heart was in one that said, "I'll love my mother forever."

One dog said to the other dog

Not so long ago there were three fish. The two boy fish got whacked on the head and died. The girl fish disappeared. It's a good day when you wake up a dog.

Uncle Marty and Aunt Kathy

Every other week Uncle Marty and Aunt Kathy visit. Antonio and Crystel have to save up climbing the mountain until they see them.

Elliotts First Communion and Everyone needs a Ralph!

Elliott's First Communion. There is a Ralph under there some where. After a certain age you are really happy when a Ralph joins your family. No longer will it be you on the bottom of the pile. You can join the onlookers. The joyful, sit and watch people.

Mama Beth was born in a barn

"Mama Beth was born in a barn," said Antonio to Jody. She giggled. I tried to correct him. "No, I grew up on a farm. I lived in a house just like you." Andy, Jack, Tina, Antonio, Crystel and I visited the Zoo on Tuesday. We watched a cow get milked, tried to pet a rabbit, chased after chickens, and did brush a goat. The story of Mama Beth being born in a barn came up again. I have such confused children.

Climbing Walls

In our house things are a little different. Instead of mom climbing the walls the kids are. They have become so good at it that we have had to set limits. Once a day they are allowed to climb and hang on for as long as they can.

Two different shoes, two different socks, etc....

Crystel also wears two different earrings and has informed me that if she moves her eyes a certain way she can also see two of me.