7/20/11

Special Visitors!

My younger brother & his beautiful family visited us at the beginning of July from Alaska. It was so great to see them and meet their newest addition, who turned one year old just two weeks before they visited. Gabby had SO much fun playing with Ellie. And, Rocco spent lots of time trying to get the girl’s attention. Ellie has a very similar personality to Gabby, and their 1 year old, Maia, is an absolute doll and so easy going and mellow. The kids acted as if they had known each other forever which made it so fun watching them together. We did a lot of playing outside with the kids, catching up and roasted marshmallows at night. Gabby and Ellie tried to do a slumber party in Gabby’s room… which didn’t work out so well. (Of course, none of the parents were surprised by this).

They were only able to spend about 24 hours with us because they had lots of other people to visit and a lot more traveling to do while in the lower 48. The last time we saw them was August 2009, just a few weeks after Matteo died, and at that time I was still in a fog and not at all social. So, it was great to see them, catch up a bit and watching the cousins play together was priceless.

7/15/11

4th of July















This year on the fourth of July – we decided to be social. We were invited to spend the afternoon and evening with our friends who also transplanted here from the Bay Area last summer. Their home is on Lake Washington, so the plan was to watch several different fireworks displays from their roof after dinner.

Since Matteo died sometime during the evening of July 4th two years ago – I never look forward to this holiday anymore. It seems all too easy to replay every moment and wish we would have done everything different that day and night. But, I guess the thoughts of spending time with friends who were such a great support system to us after Matteo died seemed like a comfortable distraction for me/us.

The kids had so much fun playing together… the girls dressed up in a million different outfits, wrote notes to each other, colored, etc. The boys played with legos, planes, cars and built a very long train with all of Giovanni’s lego cars and airplanes. Dinner was great, and Dan & I always enjoy our conversations with friends. The sunset was beautiful, the fireworks were fantastic - we must have watched 3-4 different shows from the roof of their house. And, the kids really enjoyed getting cuddled up in their sleeping bags to watch fireworks with their friends.

I’m glad the kids were able to enjoy and celebrate the Fourth of July holiday this year. Gabby & Rocco even got to do sparklers for the first time – which they REALLY enjoyed. I often wonder if they’ll have mixed emotions about the holiday as they get older since it’s the anniversary of Matteo’s death.

As the sun was starting to set, creating a beautiful orange sky… Gabby noticed the moon (see photo) and told me she thought Matteo was sitting on it, waiting for the fireworks with us.

Yes, Gabby… he was… sitting right on that moon… waiting for the fireworks with us. Sigh...

Just wish I could have been hugging him tight too.

7/8/11

Matteo's Dream Fund, Bay Area Benefit - JOIN US!!

Two years ago I swore that I would do something to pay tribute to Matteo's life and help other children who are sick.

Today, I am proud to announce that we have planned our very first benefit event. And, I am equally proud to unveil the most perfect, beautiful logo designed for Matteo's Dream Fund. Matteo's profile is used in the design, and it includes a balloon and the moon... both of which have significant meaning to our family and Matteo.

Here are our event details - please join us!!
WHAT: Matteo's Dream Fund - Bay Area Benefit, dinner & silent auction
DATE: Saturday, August 6, 2011
TIME: 6:30-9:30pm
WHERE: Pedro's Restaurant & Cantina in Los Gatos, CA
WHY: ALL proceeds from this event will be donated to Lucile Packard Children's Hospital in Palo Alto, CA, where Matteo was born 3.5 years ago, and where he had ear tubes put in 27 months ago.
TICKET DETAILS: Tickets are $42.50 and include a 3 course dinner, unlimited non-alcoholic beverages, 1 raffle ticket, access to an exclusive selection of silent auction items, and a $15 donation to Packard Children's Hospital. Cash bar. Tickets can be purchased at the door - but please RSVP!
Two options to RSVP:
1. Send email indicating # of people to: jodimartino2002@yahoo.com
2. RSVP quickly & easily by visiting the Matteo's Dream Fund Benefit event page on Facebook

The donations we have received for the silent auction are amazing!! It is so wonderful and heart-warming when people unite together to do something GOOD! I am so very grateful to each and every person who has assisted us in soliciting for donations, and for each person and business who has so generously donated something, whether it was a personal donation, their time, services, or products for this cause. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and soul. THANK YOU!

SILENT AUCTION ITEM LIST (and it's still growing!):

1. Courtside Club of Los Gatos, family membership initiation fee ($2,300 value)

2. FOX Racing Shox mountain bike suspension fork ($650 value/retail price)

3. San Francisco 49ers Experience, includes two home game tickets, two pre-game sideline passes to watch warm-ups, pregame activities and maybe meet players, and a parking pass ($500 value)

4. San Francisco 49ers Autographed Football ($75 value)

5. Hula Hooping Party (& Instruction!) at Uforia Studios in Palo Alto, led by licensed Hoopgirl instructor, Julie Greicius, includes 3 hours & space for 10 people ($50/pp or $500 total value)

6. San Jose Sharks, includes four home game tickets and free parking pass for 2010-11 season ($332 value)

7. 4 tickets to Adele on August 14 at the Greek Theatre in San Francisco ($250 per ticket value)

8. 4 tickets to the San Francisco Giants vs. Diamondbacks on September 14 ($value per ticket tbd)

9. Palo Alto Oshman Family JCC, choice of pool or sports party package ($450 value)

10. Flight around the Bay Area in a Cessna 172 ($250 value)

11. Cameron Hughes Wine, 12 bottles of 2009 Cabernet ($152 value)

12. Cassie Green Photography, photography session ($150 value)

13. The Mountain Winery, includes 1 Mountain Winery Reserve Chardonnay, 1 Mountain Winery Reserve Cabernet, and 4 wine tasting coupons ($83 value)

14. Villa Montalvo Winery presents Christopher Cross with Jenn Grinets - two tickets ($120 value)

15. Adobe software ($ value tbd)

16. Stella & Dot Jewelry , donated by Danielle Rowe ($ 142)

17. Bay Area Discovery Museum – 2 family visit passes, each admitting 5 people ($110)

18. Great America, two tickets for one day admission ($ 109.98 value)

19. Handmade Quilt by Sondra Horn ($300 value)

20. The Tech Museum, four tickets ($75.96 value)

21. San Francisco 49ers Autographed Football ($75 value)

22. Six Flags Discovery Kingdom – 2 tickets ($74 value)

23. Dance Attack! Studios, includes 4 dance lessons ($68 value)

24. Classic Car Wash, includes four $17.99 coupons ($71.96 value)

25. April Martin Designs - Jewelry ($ value tbd)

26. Winchester Mystery House, two tickets ($60 value)

27. Ace Photography - framed print of McWay Falls in Big Sur ($100 value)

28. Airborne Gymnastics – one month free membership ($92 value)

29. Children’s Discovery Museum, family four-pack of tickets ($40)

30. Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad, Inc., includes 2 cards good for 10 rides on the train or carousel ($40 value)

31. Aquarium of the Bay, two tickets ($34 value)

32. Asian Art Museum, two tickets ($34 value)

33. Cucina Bambino gift certificate – one parent/child class gift certificate ($40 value, including 10% discount off any additional classes)

34. Lesson Pros, 20 gift certificates for various instruments online lessons ($ value per gc)

35. $30 Wooden Horse Toy Store gift certificate

36. $35 Gymboree gift card

37. $30 Wooden Horse Toy Store gift certificate

38. $25 Hobbes gift certificate

39. 2 tickets to Happy Hollow Park & Zoo ($24 value)

40. Sharks Ice at San Jose – 2 skate rentals and 2 admission passes ($24 value)

41. StudioKicks gift certificate ($ value tbd)

42. $20 Main Street Burger gift certificate

43. $25 Petroglyph gift certificate



MATTEO'S DREAM FUND APPAREL:
I am hoping to have Matteo's Dream Fund t-shirts, ladies tank tops, fleece jackets, hats and visors available for sale soon. All proceeds from apparel sales will be put towards the legal fees associated with us becoming an official 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. This is a goal of ours we hope to reach by this time next year at the very latest.

More about Matteo's Dream Fund:
Matteo’s Dream Fund was founded in 2010, in memory of Matteo Tate Martino, who died in his sleep at 18 months of age. Matteo’s death was an unexpected, heart-breaking and overwhelming loss to his parents, big sister, twin brother, and unborn sister. In managing their grief, Matteo’s parents, Dan and Jodi, decided to establish a fund that would benefit sick and terminally ill children at children’s hospitals throughout the United States. While Matteo’s life was cut tragically short, the hope is that his story will forever impact the lives of others by encouraging people to remember just how precious the gift of life is and to reach out to those with less fortunate health.

Matteo’s Dream Fund will donate items, services and grant money to children’s hospitals and organizations that will provide recreational therapy, educational tools, and emotional support, assistance and services to sick children at children’s hospitals across the United States, as identified by the Board of Directors. Some examples include, but are not limited to:
• Purchase of new and unused books, toys, games, and art supplies for recreational therapy
• Purchase of new and unused educational materials and computers
• Purchase of materials and supplies for outdoor gardens, benches and/or play areas
• Working with local photographers to donate their time and services to capture photos of hospitalized children with their families and/or friends, and gifting them with photo CD’s and/or printed photos.
• Working with organizations that assist children’s hospitals in the development and construction of recreational therapy rooms (play rooms) within children’s hospitals where kids can play with toys, work on art projects and use computers.

7/5/11

Two years without Matteo...

Two years without Matteo...













It still hits me like a ton of bricks every day. So many memories and the very fact that Matteo is dead still knocks the wind right out of me. I often find myself trying to catch my breath.

It doesn't get easier. Or it hasn't for me yet, anyway.

There is always a very unsettled feeling that is a big part of every day. Something (well, someone) is missing... and there is nothing I can do to fix it. Nothing.

I feel like I'm in a constant mode of trying to find a sense of security or understanding as to what happened to our sweet baby boy the night of July 4, 2009. But, the more time that passes... I feel I never will. Rather, life will continue on for everyone else normally, and this will just be a constant part of my/our lives.

I laid our sweet Giuliana down for bed tonight in the same crib and on the same mattress that I laid Tato down on exactly two years ago. She is the exact same age, older only by a few short hours, that he was the night he died. So many thoughts and emotions raced through my head. July 5, 2009 was a nightmare I am still wishing I would wake up from.

The feelings and memories from that morning are still so incredibly strong - it seems like yesterday. Yet, I feel like the first two months after Matt died are a complete fog.

We spent our afternoon and evening with dear friends today, watching the Seattle and Kirkland fireworks from the roof. They also moved here last year from the Bay Area. I think it was probably a good distraction for all of us. The view was beautiful... a perfect little moon sat perfectly in a clear blue sky with the Olympic Mountain range back-lit by a beautiful pink and orange sunset. Gabby asked if Matteo was sitting on the moon. I said yes. Then she told me he was the small little star in the sky above us. I agreed and told her it was a beautiful star.

We sure do miss you sweet Matteo. And, we love you more than words could ever explain. Your loss will always leave a gaping hole in our hearts, family and lives.

Nigh-night, sweet Tato-buns. I love you.

The 3 photos with this blog post include:
1. Last photo of me & Matteo on July 3, 2009
2. Last photo of Matt & daddy on July 4, 2009
3. Last photo of Tato, Rocco & Gabby together (after they spilled cereal all over the floor and they tried cleaning it up together) on July 4, 2009

7/4/11

Please, no hugging or snuggling!

Giuliana does not like it when Dan and I hug or snuggle in front of her. If we're standing, and Dan comes over to hug me... Giuliana will yell "Heeeeeeey!" and she'll come running over and get right between our legs and start pushing Dan away from me.

If we're sitting on the sofa, Giuliana will come running over (possibly screaming at the same time) and will climb up on top of me and sandwich her bum right between Dan and I and then push Dan away.

It is the funniest thing to watch her get so possessive of me... or just not wanting Dan to touch me or hug me. Dan and I will sometimes hug each other just to see Giuliana's reaction.

The child is like a walking birth control pill!

Big Boy Undies.... All Day, Every Day!!

As of 6/26/11, our big boy is pull-up free! That's right... our little man is sporting big boy undies all day, every day, and we're so proud of him!

Every time Rocco has to go pee or poo, we'll get a very loud announcement, "I HAVE TO GO PEEEEEE!!" or "I HAVE TO GO POOOOOOOOP!!" And the loud announcement is followed by running footsteps in the direction of the bathroom. Often times while he is sitting on the potty, there is singing, or humming of the Batman theme song.

A few times I've noticed the little guy has put his undies on backwards. I've noticed this a couple of times and I giggle and ask Rocco why his undies are on backwards, and he points out the fact that the big picture needs to be in front. You see... with little boy under ware, the big picture (of L.ightening McQueen or B.uzz L.ightyear) is on the bum side. So, when Rocco puts his undies on backwards, it looks like he is wearing thong boy undies. Too funny!

The other funny and very noticeable difference about Rocco since he's been wearing undies is he's very much more aware of his man parts. It's almost as if when there is no diaper involved, little boys can feel their pee pees wiggle and jiggle much better... so they therefore need to grab them, subconsciously, quite often. I notice a lot of holding and grabbing going on... which of course prompts me to say "Do you have to go pee pee?" And, then Rocco looks at me and laughs saying "Noooo!"

He started jumping up & down one day last week and laughing... and he said "I CAN FEEL MY PEE PEE!!"

It's like the child is FREE... and so proud of his pee pee. Gosh. It sure starts young with men & their man parts.

Rocco has also taken advantage on this freedom on several occasions recently. I think he's pulled his pants down and peed outside in the yard somewhere near trees at least 4 times this week. I don't know how this started... not sure if Gabby dared him or what... but probably not a great habit to get started on. Yikes!

Regardless... so PROUD of our little potty trained guy!!

6/30/11

Our little graduate!

We attended our first graduation event for one of our children last weekend. Gabby graduated from pre-school and will start kindergarten in the fall.

The graduation ceremony was so nice. The kids were all wearing green caps and gowns, and they had a nice little processional in (& out) and all the kids had very big smiles. The kids sang and danced to three songs... Yellow Submarine, Tortillas (in Spanish) and The Adios Song. There was a really cute slide show that had a few funny photos of Gabby in it. Next, each child received their diploma and was asked what they wanted to be when they grew up. It was funny to see "trends" develop as the kids were asked this question. One kid would say something different... and if it got a good response from the audience, then the next two or three kids would latch onto that career choice. Gabby latched on to an interesting one... telling everyone that she wanted to be a horseback rider. This is the first time I've ever heard her say this, so it was pretty funny & cute.

So far, included on Gabby's list of what she wants to be when she is older are: horseback rider, stylist, teacher, doctor, scientist doctor, cowgirl, nurse.

Gabby is able to read all by herself now, and we're going to continue to work on this skill as kindergarten approaches. She does so well when she concentrates on it and believes in herself! She also wants to write everything... from her name to full letters to people. She is constantly writing words that she sounds out on her own and it's so fun to watch this interest and desire to communicate with writing develop in her.

She is SO EXCITED for kindergarten to start. She keeps reminding me that she wants to ride the school bus. To which I fret, of course... because how do you just put your kid on a bus and expect they'll be ok?! Freaky concept to me right now! What if she falls asleep, what if she gets off at the wrong stop, what if someone is mean to her... ugh! But, then, Gabby always quickly reminds me "Mom, I've waited my WHOLE LIFE for this!!"

6/25/11

Don't mess with Giuliana & the baby stroller!

We were at a fun birthday party today to celebrate the 2nd birthday of our friend's twins. It was a great time and the kids had no problem jumping in and finding kids and toys that they liked playing with.

Mid-way through the party, Giuliana found a baby stroller and a baby... and suddenly, she was hooked. She wouldn't go anywhere without the stroller and the baby. She pushed the stroller through the house, down the sidewalk, on the grass... everywhere. And, she would frequently take her baby out, hold baby tight, then sit baby down in the grass... maybe in a chair, then put baby back in the stroller to push her around again.

There were a lot of little babies at this party and Giuliana was fascinated with these real-life little babies. Every time she came near one, she would stop and stare at the baby... say "baby" and watch intently what the mom or dad was doing. She saw babies getting diapers changed, burped, nursing, cuddled, and crying. It was obvious that she was completely entertained and interested in all of these little people. Then, she would go back to pushing the stroller around.

Several times, other little kids tried to play with the stroller. Giuliana did not like this. A 4 year old girl came up to her and sort of took the stroller from her... and Giuliana wasn't happy. But, she didn't cry - she actually looked more shocked. But, she was not about to go away. The mom came over and told the little girl she couldn't take the toy away from Giuliana.

Then, we witnessed other little ones 18mnths-2yrs of age go up and try to push the stroller. Giuliana would quickly motor along pushing the stroller not allowing the other little ones to touch it. A little guy, nicknamed Lucky, came up at one point and started pushing it and Giuliana could quickly be heard yelling and screaming "HEEEEEEEEEEEY!! HEEEEEEEEY!". We had to go over to her and try to explain that he could push it too, she had to share. But, she didn't care to hear that. A few minutes later a little girl started pushing the stroller. Giuliana went up and grabbed the little girls arm and yelled "Heeeeeey!" and quickly swiped the stroller from the little girl, and strolled off quickly. I hustled over and tried to tell Giuilana that she couldn't take the stroller from someone else, she had to share. But she didn't want to hear it and continued crying and screaming after I picked her up to let the other little girl use the stroller.

We decided it was time to leave. As we were gathering all our stuff, Giuliana got her hands on the stroller again. Ugh. I knew this was a bad thing. How were we going to leave without her screaming her head off when we took her away from the stroller?

Let's just say it didn't go so well. She screamed so hard and was so upset... my heart was torn! She screamed all the way to the car. Dan put her in the car seat, and she continued sobbing, screaming and pointing out the window. She wanted that stroller! She wouldn't even look at Dan or I, and wouldn't let me touch her leg to console her. She was SO MAD that we took her from that stroller. Eventually, she cried herself to sleep.

So, being the sucker that I am... we stopped at Target on the way home and bought her an $11 baby stroller. The second she saw it - she smiled sooooo big.

Giuliana LOVES the baby stroller!!

6/20/11

Sugar & Spice... and PINK TUTUS!!!

Gabby had her very first dance show this past weekend and we couldn't have been more proud of her. In January, she started doing a combined ballet and tap dance class. She is constantly doing her dance moves at home and can frequently be overheard telling me how much she loves her dance class. She is also often asking anyone and everyone to watch her dance, and then she'll tip toe across the floor in very graceful form with a dreamy look in her eyes. It is so fun to watch her do things like this and know that she is truly enjoying and learning things at her dance class. This, of course, coming from the girl who at age 3 (just 2 short years ago) would not allow me to leave her alone in a dance class!

Anyway, we all went to Gabby show on Saturday night. He costumes were the pinkest of pinks, and her ballet tutu was the biggest, fluffiest tutu I have ever seen. Seriously. For her tap performance, they just had to swap out to tan nylons, tap shoes and a frilly 50's like skirt. I took a ton of photos and we also recorded each of her performances (3 total). It's fun to hear Gabby tell us that she was "SO nervous when the first curtain went up" and how "I heard you yelling my name and clapping for me". And, as much as she did a great job and impressed all of us with how much she remembered of her routine, we still managed to get a wave from her during each of her performances. And, we also had a good giggle during each of the performances when something silly would happen. So cute... I swear, the younger girls really steal the show at these dance show productions.

Rocco fell asleep shortly before Gabby's second dance and Giuliana did really well and seemed to enjoy the show until intermission and then Dan took Giuls and the rice-krispy-bar-treat-revived-Rocco out to the lobby to run around.

Gabby's performances were all complete prior to intermission, so she came into the audience with us but insisted on sitting in the very front row with her little dance classmates to watch the rest of the show.

After the show we gave Gabby flowers and took her out for dinner. It was a really fun night and she is already looking forward to dance class again next year!!
and has really LOVED it. This, of cou

Gym Jam!!

We are so proud of Gabby and her little team Mighty M.unchkin friends. They did such a great job at the Gym Jam last month. It was so much fun to watch the girls show off all their hard work, strength and the skills they've been working so hard at over the past year (actually, 6 months for Gabby since she started at this gym last November). All the girls received special medals and certificates at the end of the show. Gabby LOVES her medal and was so proud and happy about it.

I have been so impressed with this gymnastics program. They really work on a lot of conditioning, coordination and strength building skills with the girls. The instructors do a great job with keeping the girls focused and also making sure they have fun. Gabby loves that they consistently get to work on all of the different apparatus.

This might sound crazy, but over the past few months we've even noticed Gabby to have built a lot more muscle on her long & lean body. She's very coordinated and Dan & I both thought she did best on the balance beam (the teacher barely put hands on her to help her keep her balance).

If you asked Gabby what her favorite apparatus is she would tell you the bars. (She also LIVES on the monkey bars in our back yard... so no surprises there!) Gabby seems to really enjoy gymnastics, so we'll let her keep doing it as long as she's still loving it. She was in the twice weekly invite/developmental program, and has now officially advanced to Level I classes. So, we'll continue going twice a week to Level I classes throughout the summer and then see how it fits into our life when she starts full-day kindergarten in the fall.



























5/31/11

They need to have POWERS!

Gabby recently asked Rocco if he was going to marry some of the little girls we know. Rocco immediately said "NO!" When asked why he wasn't going to marry them, Rocco replied "Because they don't have POWERS!" We asked what kind of powers his future wife needs to have and he said "fire powers!"

Gabby thought this was hilarious, as did the rest of us. This little guy is obsessed with super heroes and powers. OBSESSED!! Batman is like the ultimate everything in this house and there is constantly background theme music playing in our house... not from the TV or radio... but from little Rocco's mouth... "Er er er errrrrrrr... dun dun dun duunnnnnnnnn". It is constant.

We've asked Rocco numerous times since if he might marry someone... mommy, Gabby, his little friends. But, he continues to stand strong that "no, I will not marry anyone who does not have powers".

So... little ladies of the world... please know that if you would like to ever marry Rocco, you must have powers. No powers. No Rocco.

Oh, and apparently Gabby is obsessed with weddings or marriage (probably due in part to the recent royal wedding!), because this morning Gabby told Rocco that she was going to marry Batman someday. Rocco got really upset about this and said very loudly "you can't marry Batman cuz he's my best friend!"And so it begins... let's hope there is no future "love" interest in each others friends 12 years from now!

5/25/11

Visit from Gammy & Papa in May


My mom and dad visited us at the beginning of May. It was my mom's second trip to visit us, and my dad's first. They decided to visit us over the Mother's Day holiday and my birthday. I think this is the second Mother's Day I've spent with my mom in the past 12 years.

We really didn't do anything special... but rather, just enjoyed time together in our new house and the yard. The kids were excited to take Gammy and Papa on walks, show them the forest, play with them on their new swing set, cuddle them while watching cartoons, they read lots of books together, and just enjoyed easy, unplanned fun.

Rocco got to ride the tractor lawnmower with Papa... Giuilana went on numerous wagon rides with Gammy, and Gabby showed everyone her dance routines and gymnastics moves.

Dan was in the midst of making chicken tikka for our Mother's Day dinner and the glass P.yrex pan he was using to broil the chicken literally exploded into a million pieces the second he took it out of the oven and set it down. So... we spent the next half hour cleaning up all the glass and keeping the kids away from the excitement. And, then we ended up getting takeout for dinner.

We also managed to get two half-decent photos of my parents with the kids. Seems like it is next to impossible for all of my kids to look in the direction of the camera at any given time.

5/10/11

A New Swing Set!

We got a new swing set for the kids... at the beginning of April. Yes, I am very behind in my blogging!

I have been very busy with the kids, being a taxi drive, being a wife, doing part-time contract marketing work, training for a marathon, interviewing for new au pairs, organizing our first ever benefit for Matteo's Dream Fund, and living, breathing and trying to get sleep when I can. It's been BUSY here!!

So, here I am.... trying to catch-up!

The kids love the new swing set. We got it from Costco and had them build it so we didn't have to stress daddy out since he's been REALLY busy with work these days too.

The kids LOVE IT!! It has a double slide, swings, a climbing wall, a fort, and monkey bars. Gabby's favorite thing is the monkey bars, Rocco loves the slides and swings, and Giuliana likes the slides best too.

The big kids love to hold their baby sister down the slide. Gabby is literally like a monkey on the monkey bars... it amazes me how strong this girl is. And, Rocco just recently was able to go all the way across the monkey bars without any help - he was SO PROUD of himself, as he watches his big sister do this all the time and constantly tries to do what she's doing. Rocco still makes us push him on the swing (for some reason, refuses to pump his legs... lazy?), but is the biggest goofball on the slide going down headfirst on his tummy, climbing up the slides and just being his usual clown self. Giuliana watches the big kids and laughs and eagerly tries to do the things that they're doing.

The kids still also use the old clubhouse (Giuliana now uses this most, of course) and the trampoline. But the new swing set has sort of stolen the show in recent months! It's nice to have the space to have a big play area for the kids right in our yard.

Here are a few photos of the kids having fun!