Leeza gets to meet another Kaz cutie..Mieke!!!

One good thing about living in the Sunshine State is that a lot of people visit when it's cold in their neck of the woods. We have been so fortunate to meet so many Kaz cuties...and I am delayed in posting about our latest meeting, on Wednesday, April 15th (also Sean's birthday!) when we met Mieke and her mommy Kristi!

Kristi's parents were staying at St Pete beach at a time share condo so we drove down and spent from 11:30 to about 2:30 with them. We had a great time,but the girls are both pretty active, and Leeza, the Florida girl, thougt the pool was too cold (I agreed), so she loved the hot tub, but Mieke, (clearly not a wuss like us Florida babes), LOVED the cold pool. So, it was rather difficult for Kristi and I to have much of a conversation since our girls were in seperate pools and still need adult supervision. :)

Since it was necessary to have "all hands on deck" to save a very adventurous Leeza from drowning, I didn't get very many pictures. :(
The few I did get, as you can see, were of the girls RUNNING on the beach. :)
We spent most of the time at the pool though, and it was really fun, although hard for the mommy's to get much chat time in. However-we are still so glad we got to meet Kristi and Mieke and that they are , of course, even more adorable then their pictures can convey. :)












After seeing Leeza delight in walking off the steps and going underwater, I have signed her up for private swimming lessons at our home starting on June 1st. I am excited, because she seems to love the water, and her brazeness and "cunningness" scares me. Even though we have the pool fence, based on how much time we'll be spending on and near the water this summer, I would feel much better with her knowing how to swim. Yesterday, while she was playing, I went out to get the mail. I came back inside, and she had climbed up the chair and was sitting smack dab in the middle of the kitchen table, eating a chip. YIKES! It's amazing how much trouble they can get into in the blink of an eye..SCARY.

However-she sure can be cute.....

Happy 11th Birthday Sean!!!

On April 15th, "tax day", we also celebrate the birthday of Sean Michael Serra. He arrived a full 5 weeks early, suprising us even though he was not due to arrive until May 19th. He was a tiny lil thing-only 4.7 lbs, and his ears were bigger than his body. :) He has since grown into those ears, and he is no longer the tiny peanut he used to be. :)

I still remember coming home with "tiny Sean" from the hospital and the fear when Joe left for work on how I was going to take care of this tiny, helpless little baby. He was really a laid back lil munchkin-and a laid back toddler-the real attitude didn't start until he turned about 5. He can be the sweetest, most perceptive child...but then, there are days...when he is NOT SO SWEET. :)

We celebrated his 11th birthday by going out to dinner at Roy's-where he also chose to go last year. He thinks he's a big shot ordering a "virgin" pina colada and Tiger Shrimp. Jillian joined us this year since she was off work and lives close by. It was a nice time-Leeza had fun too-and we tried to keep her food throwing to a minimum. She really dig the edaname and the garlic mashed potatoes,and the bites of her sisters fish, but her favorite was sharing the warm banana cake with banana gelato with mom. Sean and Jillian shared the Roy's signature "Warm Chocolate Souffle" cake.......yum!















Joe went to the Ray's game and they were giving out a replica of the championship ring the Ray's players all received last year. They were really nice rings..and Joe gave his to Sean for his birthday. Sean is a huge Red Sox fan-and daddy is a Ray's fan. Mommy just goes to the games for the beer. :)





I asked Sean to "look nice" for dinner-and you can see what "looking nice" means to him...a Red Sox Jersey and basketball shorts. Long gone are the days of cute sweater vests and khaki's....

Thank goodness I have Leeza to dress up (for now!!)

Our first Easter with Leeza Grace

The Easter Bunny came!



Sean's stash...



Leeza's stash...LOOOVE THE POODLE PURSE. :) The Easter Bunny also understands the important of a fabulous accessory. :)




At Joe's cousin's Karen's house, and Karen's dog PJ giving Sean a kiss

We had a great Easter. Leeza woke up in time to go to Sunday school (well, the nursery at her age) but I like it when she comes with us because I think it's good for her to get practice playing with kids while Mommy leaves for a lil bit.

We decorated eggs on Saturday. Leeza helped, and she thought it was pretty fun.








She had her first taste of a Chocolate Easter bunny that Sean won at the rec center and shared with his sister...she loved that too..





She wasn't too happy when I said No more chocolate..




So, she did her new trick that she KNOWS bugs her mother...you don't give me more of what I want..FINE...PRETTY GIRLS DO PICK THEIR NOSES MOMMY!!





But, really, who wants to see THAT , when you can see how cute Leeza was dressed up in her Easter dress and her adorable lil lady bug bow!!

But, before we get to that....look how cute she is when she wakes up on Easter morning. :)







I hope that someday Leeza will appreciate all the time that it takes to take 293 PICTURES on Easter (and the day before) and go thru them all and keep her babybook blog updated. I really enjoy doing it, but it takes a REALLY LONG TIME. :)

Anyway--It's very hard to get a decent picture of Leeza because she runs away, won't look at the camera, throws her bows out, etc...but here are a few of our Easter gift. I do have fun doing the Easter bunny and the egg hunts, but we also celebrate the the reason that we have Easter, and the precious gift we have all been given in Jesus Christ. God is really, really, really good!