Our Favorite Pizza Joint

The ESPN family has a favorite restaurant - Oregano's.  It is a fun "loud" place that is perfect for our family.  The girls request we go there almost every time we go out.  Since it is a favorite ESPN hangout, we like to take our friends and family there when they are visiting.  It was no different when Grandma and Grandpa were here. 

Some toys while we wait courtesy of the restaurant

Grandpa and the girls

I am not sure what is up with Bia and her smiles??

You can get an idea of the attitude Chatty has been giving us

lately based on her look in this picture. It isn't pretty people!

On the way home with her barking puppy.

Mr. ESPN killed the puppy in the wash this week-he's so nice!

Totally unrelated picture but just to give you an idea of how hot it is in the desert.  When I got into my car the other afternoon I looked at my dashboard and saw the following temperature.  Granted this was in direct sun (no shade) and there is very little humidity (which helps some but not a whole lot)!  It feels like sticking your head in an oven and that is no exaggeration!

Here's hoping Fall comes soon!  I can't take much more of this heat!

Doing it Alone

Last week Grandma and Grandpa were in town visiting.  The girls had a blast with all of the attention but I think Grandma and Grandpa were ready to get home to recover.  My children are a handful!  As if grandparent detox wasn't bad enough with both parents, I am making Mr. ESPN do it alone.  I left yesterday for hot and humid Minneapolis.  You betcha!  I didn't get a chance to dowload all of the pics from their visit but here are a few.

Know a good Doctor and someone who is channeling her inner Eminem??

Nana and Poppa came over for dinner one night while Grandma and Grandpa were in town - holy grandparent overload Batman!  Grandpa, Poppa and the girls.

Mr. ESPN's contribution to dinner - the wine (I didn't care for it but Mr. ESPN and my FIL liked it ... you can see the strawberry pretzel salad in the back groud and this to the left.  They were both oh so good and oh so not good for my behind!

Grandma and Bia

Nana and Chatty

The Girls

Tuesday Tidbits

• Although I am not a fan of mornings I am a fan of early mornings when I don't have to get kids ready.  It is amazing how much quicker I can get out the door.  The joys of Grandma and Grandpa's visit.
• Mr. ESPN has to go through Grandparent detox alone next week as I have to go to Minneapolis.  I feel a little bad for him but then I remember the those long 9 months of pregnancy with each of the girls and don't feel guilty anymore
• My MIL reminded me of how Mr. ESPN left me in Venice when we were traveling in Italy with them (a post for a later date) ... she asked if he was still paying for it.  Not really but it makes me feel even less guilty about next week.
• Bia loves white cheese and green stuff (not mixed together) .... aka cottage cheese and avocados/guacamole
• Neither of my children wanted to sit next to me at dinner last night or read them books before bed.  At least they wanted hugs and kisses from me when they went to bed - I was beginning to feel unloved!
• It's nice having dinner on the table when you get home from the gym ... and having your clothes ironed.  Yes my MIL does both when she is here.
• Strawberry pretzel salad is Chatty's favorite dessert (actually it is a family favorite).  Good thing Nana brought it over on Sunday night.  Chatty had two pieces for dessert on Sunday, two pieces for dessert after lunch and one piece for dessert after dinner on Monday.  She asked for another piece and I had to cut her off - that and I needed to save the last piece for Mr. ESPN who promptly finished it when he walked in the door last night.
• We had lots of fresh blueberries so I made homemade blueberry muffins from my Southern Living cookbook and this on Sunday.  They were both delish and not on my diet.
• Bia thinks dinner time is social hour and that she is a stand up comic, even more so when she has an audience (aka Grandma and Grandpa)   

Not Sure What to Title this Post

No I didn't fall off the face of the planet but somehow I managed to lose all ability to update my blog at work.  This is after they took away my ability to view Casey's blog!  What are they thinking - it's not like I spend my entire day reading blogs and updating mine ... only a few minutes hours each day.  So I still haven't heard back from corporate with an offer but I did receive a call from my boss' boss' boss - got that?  Anyway this whole thing is becoming comical and he made some comment that he may create a position to entice me to stay.  At this point I feel like telling them I will go to the highest bidder!  Nothing like feeling loved in this economy - seriously!  Hopefully I will get some information from someone this week ... we shall see.

So here are a few pics from our trip back east.  We didn't take many - mainly because I was lazy but also because I wasn't with my kids most of the time, plus when I was there they preferred Grandma, well except for when Bia wasn't feeling well and then she wanted her mama (I secretly love that!).  Anyway here's a few shots ... ciao peeps!

Bubbles with Grandpa

Grandpa and Chatty being silly

Bia lovin' on Grandpa

Chatty at the Pigs Ballpark (Phillies minor league team)

Bia having a fit - not sure why!

Dancing on the stairs

A happy moment -

probably 5 minutes after the tantrum pic

Playing the piano with Uncle P and Cousin R

Cousin R got bored with picture taking

Don't you love all of the expressions in the pic?

Mr. ESPN thought it looked like he was trying to cop a feel

Grandma and her girls

A bed time story from Grandpa

A Quick Post and some Pictures

So I am finally coming up for air after a very busy week. I should be working on something my boss requested, but wanted to write a quick post ... Chatty had another soccer game last weekend. Bia and I missed it as we had to grocery shop and get things ready for Grandma and Grandpa .... Mr. ESPN took a cute pic of Chatty striking a pose. Chatty's team won but she didn't score any goals so I didn't miss too much!



Here are a couple before pictures (which Chatty insisted on posing for) of our table and chairs we refinished. Mr. ESPN was smart enough to take before pictures but no after ones ... eventually I will get to that (I think...). Not sure why Chatty has the bug eye look in these pics ...

Sunday evening we had Nana and Poppa over for dinner. That meant we the girls had two sets of grandparents at one time. Lucky little girls. They know how to work it too - both of them had issues during dinner but still managed to get dessert ... took a few pictures outside playing on the swings. BTW - both girls got haircuts the other weekend. We are taking them to get Christmas photos tomorrow ... that should been an interesting ordeal!

Dessert - my mom baked cupcakes and brought them over on Sunday for an early birthday celebration for me (mine is next week). The girls sang and then helped blow out the candles. They love birthdays - anyone's birthday!

Inlaws visit is going well ... girls love all the attention. I am taking tomorrow off to get ready for the Big Turkey Day ... we will have 14 people for dinner. Should be fun ... I will try to blog later this week ... have a happy and safe holiday and remember all the things you are thankful for ... some (but not all) of mine are ... God, family, friends, job (even if I work in a dungeon now), health, good food, good wine, etc.