Summer Celebrations!

We just got back from a wonderful week on Cape Cod!  And, before I post about the fun we had, I wanted to share the special birthdays we celebrated this summer.

For starters, birthday's are BIG in the Nicholas Leone household.  Between me, Nick, Isabella & Massi we turn one year older across the span of July, August & September.  Which means, we celebrate each other all summer long and eat lots of cake!

We kicked off the celebrations with Daddee!  Can you believe he only turned 30? :)  I have to say my husband does a phenominal job at aging and I've already surpassed him with wrinkles and high blood pressure (I'll blame that on Google!).  We had a low-key celebration at our house, followed by a romantic dinner.  Nick's biggest birthday gift was earning the #1 spot in NJ for Men's Tennis!!

Isabella was next, and we went big!  I mean our princess was turning ONE!  Although she had no idea what was going on, we spent the afternoon with our favorite people and everyone showered our girl with love.  Some of her favorite gifts were a pink kitchen from Juju & Papa, Stella McCartney sneaks from the Cornell's and her purple plush "Isabella" chair from her Jeanne & Brooke!

Mamma Leone was just a week later!  I must say, as much as I love parties, a beach get-away beats any backyard bbq.  With my parents in tow, we made our way down the Jersey Parkway to a quaint little town, Spring Lake.  The weather was perfect and my birthday dinner was everything I could ask for!   My favorite birthday surprise -- an Elliptical!  I have no excuse to not workout now...

3 was a big birthday for Massimo, as this year is filled with new milestones such as pre-school, potty training, alphabets and more!  We celebrated with a small family gathering, which included a cake of Massi playing the drums.  The big adventure was a train ride to the pancake house in Ridgewood (a total of 9 minutes on the train!).  His eyes were full of amazement!  

Cheers to a another great year full of health, love & happiness!

XO

10 Months!

Our sweet Bella Bean is 10 Months old today!  Where has the time gone?  It was like yesterday you had black hair, a small frame, and fit into my arms.  Now you are golden blonde, a dead ringer for miss piggy and are breaking my back (sorry, I had to tell it how it is).  You are such a gift to us and we love watching you grow into a little lady everyday.

Some of your ways we just go crazy over... 

• Your cheeks & thighs are delicious
• You smile after everything we say
• You love your brother so much that he can't even take it :)
• You are a late teether, one of your bottom teeth is just starting to pop at 10 mths
• You are a cruiser, walking is in your immediate future and I'm scared
• You have mastered saying UH-OH
• Your eyes are so blue that we question who's child you are
• You love to dance and quickly catch on to any tune
• You are 20 lbs of pure LOVE

Overall, you are a dream child.... minus your sleep habits.  After 9 long months of thinking you were "teething" and putting off sleep training we finally caved in and made you cry for 2 weeks straight.  You lost your voice but have mastered the art of sleeping and we are so proud of you.  Mommy & Daddy are looking great and I thank you for allowing me to be a nicer & a smarter person at work.  I also look forward to that 6 a.m. "squeal" every single morning!  

Lastly, you and I have so much in common Bella... 

 You have a passion for shoes... 

You are super woman... 

You are so COOL and FUN! :)

You love your daddy "almost" as much as I do... 

Isabella you are our sweet little girl and we love you so much!

Spring!

In our 5 years of living in Los Angeles, I almost forgot how beautiful Spring on the East Coast is.  It might just be the hope we hang on to for winter to end, but something about the flowers budding, birds chirping and cool warm air makes you feel alive!  April brought on new excitement for us; trips to the park, bella's first swing ride, visits to Abmas farm, and the joy of gardening!

The kids are growing up fast, which is fun but unbelievable!  Massi speaks in sentences, Bella is climbing up stairs and Nick and l always seem want more date nights.  Life is good here in little ole' Allendale.

I feel very behind in blogging and just wish I had more time.  I have visions of the day when Bella asks me, "Mommy why did you have a blog for Massi and not for me"?  So, with that, I am going to give my heart to documenting her life more and highlighting the fun we're having together as a family of four!

April was a month of celebrations...

Red Sox Season Began!
*these are matching sweaters from Mrs. Brady up in Boston

 Our friends from South Africa came to see us... 

Bella turned 8 Months, learned to crawl... 

... and stand on everything!

We Dedicated Isabella at Church!

... and of course, ending the month with Easter!

May means summer's around the corner!  In fact, it's been so hot here over the last week that Spring seems like it came and went too quickly.  Regardless, we're anxious for Crestwood to open and the feeling that summer brings.

Some of my favorite May memories...

Hanging in our pj's early one morning on the front stoop

Massi loves to read... 

Pretty blue eyed Bella!

Memorial Day is tomorrow and we plan to celebrate early with the annual Allendale Parade followed by a fun day at Crestwood and a bbq with the family.  We are blessed to live in such a wonderful place with so much love around us.

XO

February Fun!

Wondering what the Leone's have been up to?  For starters, we're up to our ears with snow and have been finding relief with daily trips to gym class, lunch at "Darla's" the local kids restaurant and frequent visits to Juju & Pappa's house.

 Meet our Snowmen... Mamma Leone, Pappa Leone & Massi! (sorry Bella, we got tired)

Mamma Leone is back to work @ Google in NYC and finds the daily grind of being a working mother challenging, exhilarating and overall rewarding.  Having family watch Massi & Bella is any working mom's dream, thank you Juju & CarCar!  Nick is consulting with several Foundations and is thoroughly enjoying his new adventure.  We are very excited at what God is doing in our lives!

Massimo & Isabella are what keep this house running... they are full of life and bring us so much JOY!  They enjoy each other's company and at times even share toys and books.

 

Massi is 2 1/2 going on 5.  He is 100% go, go, go from the minute he wakes up.  His favorite activity are still the drums and when asked what he wants to eat he states "boom booms".  Enough said!  He talks like an adult and is starting to come out with some great sentences; yesterday he told me his "sweatpants were way too tight".  My favorite part of the day is walking in from work and see him run to me!  His first comment is "Mommy, treat from Google"?  He fills us with so much love...

Sunday's @ church on stage!

 Celebrating Pappa's Birthday!

 Happy Boy!

Isabella is a piece of work!  She has a vibrant personality that makes you want to eat her up, especially those cheeks.  Her favorite things to do are play in the mirror, jump in her bouncer and splash in the tub.  Bella is always smiling and you rarely see her leave my side,  she's my girl!  When Daddy or her big brother walk in the room her face lights up at their voice.  A true fashionista from birth, Bella loves vintage gap, splendid and her velour juicy sweatsuit (thank you Giulia!).  We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of her first tooth and possibly crawling in the next few weeks.  My last comment... Bella is BLONDE!

Daddy's little girl...

 

Loving Life!

 Playing in the mirror with mommy!

We are anxious for March, which leads us to believe SPRING is almost here!  As Massimo says everyday...  "Goodbye Snow"!

Until next time...

XO,
The Leone's



 

Future Posts..

Hi Everyone!  I've decided to make our blog private.  If you're interested in being on the email blasts, please send me your email!

Home...

Dorothy was right... 
"There's no place like home"!  

Over the last 5 months, life for the Leone's has been filled with so much JOY (pardon the few month sabbatical).  With the unexpected, yet exciting move back East, the welcoming of our sweet girl Isabella and now the latest... a new home, we are truly counting our blessings this Christmas season.

In less than a week, we packed our boxes at my parents, called the movers and made our way just 1 mile from the home I grew up in.  For me, this was a dream come true... a vision I had for so many years and now it was really happening.  WOW!

In just a few days we were unpacked, fully decorated for Christmas and welcoming play dates and family dinners.  Massi called dibs on the basement and Bella has her own little suite!  Nick has turned his office downstairs into a wall street war room and I'm loving the big and open kitchen!  We feel at HOME, not only in this beautiful house but in town and the surrounding areas.  Everyday, we have special visits from our family, even if it's my dad dropping things off every hour.  We have found a great church and enjoy creating our daily and weekend "routines".  We are starting new traditions here as a family and it feels great!

December has been filled with cold days, indoor play and cuddling by the fire.  Massi loves running around the house, playing drums in the basement and sleeping in his big boy bed with his fish night light. He also loves to read "Goodnight New York City" and points out where mommy's office is... "Google" he says excitedly.  Bella is growing up everyday.  She loves to wake up smiling and wants nothing more then to be played with and kissed on.  Her cheeks are irresistible!  She is also boasting some blonde spiked hair in the last week.  This makes ME very proud!

 Massi & Giulia by the fire... 

4 Months Old!

First morning of snow on the ground...   

Visit with Santa... and yet another emotional experience! :)

Big brother reading to Bella!

We are busy getting ready for Christmas.  I'd like to say all my presents were wrapped, cookies baked and table set.... but, I need another day!  We're thrilled to be hosting both Christmas Eve & Christmas Day and cannot wait to spend more time with our family.  This year has been filled with incredible blessings and we are so thankful for each one of them.

Have a very Merry Christmas... 

 

Our Drummer Boy!

"Boom-Booms" are what we hear day in and day out!  We wake up we hear "boom-boom" we get out of the bath we hear "boom-boom" we go to a restaurant we hear "boom-boom".  I don't know anyone that loves his "boom-booms" more than our little drummer boy Massimo.  If you follow our blog you might recall Massi's 2nd birthday present... a 5 peice drum set, equipped with cymbals, stands, sticks and stool. 

Typically, birthday presents fade... not this one.  To this day, Massimo is our wake up call in the morning and our entertainment at night.  He cannot be separated from his precious drum set!  To celebrate his passion for drums,  I wanted to share a special activity we do with Massi every week...

...The Marching Band!  Every Saturday morning around 10 a.m. we pack the stroller with snacks and walk about 1/2 a mile up to the High School to watch the marching band practice.  This has become our favorite weekend activity.  In fact, Massimo has become the honorary mascott for his dedication and enthusiasm.  Typically, the band practices several sets together in a large group but this past Saturday was very unique, Massimo had 1-1 time with the drum squad.  Here is a short video of his big debut with his "heroes".  His cousin Cole is also an elite member of the squad and as Massi will tell you he holds "BIG drums on his belly".

Massimo & Cole

Being that tomorrow is Halloween, there was no better costume for our big boy... 

Meet our Drum Major! (more pictures to come post Halloween)