Pumpkin Picking

This year Mike and I took the kids Pumpkin Picking on Columbus Day. We thought it would be perfect since school was closed for Jenna and daycare was closed for Michael. What a beautiful day it was! The sun was shining, not a cloud in the sky and it was warm, but still had the hint of fall in the air.

We headed out to the South Fork this year, to Southampton. I haven't been out that way in a while, my old college stomping grounds. We hit the big pumpkin farm and apparently everyone else had the same idea because it was packed! The kids had a lot of fun playing and picking out our pumpkins.

After a quick lunch, we walked around Southampton Town to window shop - only shopping I can afford out that way! Then we took the kids down to the beach. Again, not a cloud in the sky - it was so beautiful!

Heading home, we cut across to Riverhead so the kids could see the famous big Duck in Flanders. Jenna was amazed. The gift shop in the duck was open, so we got to browse around a bit. The kids were exhausted when we came home, but they really had a great day. Check out the pictures below.





Jenna and the big Duck in Flanders



Walking around Southampton.



We hit up a veggie stand on the way back.


Michael and his pumpkin


Everyone spread out and find a good pumpkin!


My 2 favorite sunflowers


Riding the cow


Riding the bus

1st Grade

So hard to believe Jenna started 1st Grade this year! She was very excited to be heading back to school to see all her friends. Many of the kids from her kindergarten class are in her 1st grade class. The first day of school was a beautiful day! What a way to start the school year. Michael and I walked Jenna up to the busstop and she was so excited to go. Even more excited that she didn't have to sit in the first seat of the bus since she is a big girl.



Out the door and ready to go.


Brother/sister shot


Getting on the bus.

Trip to the happiest place on Earth...

Well at least for the kids :) Though I enjoy going back each time!

This August we drove (yes drove!) down to DisneyWorld for a week of fun. My cousins and Aunt/Uncle met us there and we had a blast! The drive down to Florida was not so bad - though if you hear Mike tell it, it sounds terrible!! The kids were behaved about 90% of the time and honestly that's pretty good considering they were stuck in their car seats the entire way! We made plenty of stops along the way, including one to South of the Border. It was a much needed break from being in the car.

We made it to Disney late in the evening, so we all got a good night's rest and hit the ground running the next morning. We started with Epcot, visited all the countries and checked out some attractions before meeting up with the family for dinner at Universal Citywalk. The kids were so excited to see each other and were glued to each other for the entire trip. We hit Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios and it wouldn't be a Disney trip without some park hopping in the evenings :)

The last day came and everyone was sad to leave each other. It was such an enjoyable week together, that we didn't want to see it end. But unfortunately we had to head back to work and school was starting the next week. Plus I'm sure both Grandma's were missing their grandkids! The ride home wasn't too bad and Mike and I pushed straight through with no overnight stop. It was much easier to drive through the night with the kids sleeping then during the day with them wide awake and getting antsy in their seats.

We were all happy to be home, but sad to leave the Haag/Wolk family behind. Until our next visit/trip - love and miss you guys!

Of course I took way too many pictures, but here is a sampling of our vacation!

Heading out on our journey!


Stop at South of the Border


England in Epcot


The kids at City Walk


Michael and Krista



Rivera Family after dinner at the Swan


Kids at Finding Nemo in Epcot


Michael with Sleeping Beauty - he LOVED the princesses!


Jenna and Sleeping Beauty


Michael's first roller coaster ride


Sticking the dads with all the kids

What happened to summer?

I can't believe as I'm writing this that today is September 2! Where did the summer go? I feel like Jenna just got out of school and we had the entire summer ahead of us. We had a jammed pack summer. To fill up Jenna's summer, she attended camp at Michael's day care and she made some new friends. We filled up our days with bbqs, birthday parties and beach days.

Below are some pictures of our fun filled summer.



Train at Southaven Park


Simonetti Block Party


Madison & Colin Birthday Party


Sayville Beach


Jonathan's Birthday Party


Hidden Pond Park Pool


Holtsville Ecology Site


Coney Island


Jersey Shore

Neverending birthday....

June 14, 2004 - a day I'll never forget. It was the day the hospital finally admittied me (after 2 tries before!) to have my baby girl. 554pm my baby girl entered the world and my world was changed forever. It's hard to believe it's been 6 years already. It seems like yesterday she was a baby and today she is this little girl. Our little girl had a great year in Kindergarden - grades were fantastic and she was promoted to first grade. It was a very eventful year for her - moving to Long Island, taking dance classes, riding the school bus by herslef and being in kindergarden.

This year for her birthday, it seemed like it was never ending! It was hard to get the family together for one day, so we celebrated a few times! Below are pictures from each celebration. Thank you all that celebrated!


Cake #1 with Great Grandma and Great Grandpa


Cake #2 with Grandma Gladys, Aunt Susan and Uncle Thomas


Cake #3 with Aunt Kristin and Uncle Jason


Cake #4 with Great Nanny, Titi Iliana, Uncle Darren and Ryan



Cake #5 with the cousins at Adventureland

Dance Recital Time

June brings us summer, end of school, a bunch of birthdays and of course the famous dance recitals! This was Jenna's first year of dance and I have to say she loved it! She took combo for her first year - tap and ballet. We were a little nervous for the actual recital - we thought she would get stage fright or a case of the nerves, but did she prove us wrong!

Her first dress rehersal went great. She came out danced her heart out and exited the stage with a huge smile and waving. The only crying we heard that day was from Michael when his "JaJa" left the stage. He apparently thought she wasn't coming back ever.

The day of her recital, I could tell she was excited and a bit nervous. Recital day is a bit more hectic than dress rehersal and of course there are many more in the audience. Grandma Gladys, Aunt Susan, Uncle Thomas, Mike and I sat proudly in the theatre waiting for our girl to come out and shake her stuff. She strutted her stuff out on the stage to "Girls Just Want to Have Fun", did great and again exited the stage with a huge smile and big waves. We are so proud of her. Watching my girl up on that stage brings back many memories of me up on that stage.

And with those memories brought my recital. It's been 16 years since I've been on a stage. I had a great time and rocked out both shows in a tap trio number. Jenna was excited to see Mama up on a stage just like her tapping away. What a great recital month - looking forward to next year!

Welcome Ryan Sebastian - the newest member of the Rivera Family

I must say we were very surprised to hear that the newest member of the Rivera Family was arriving. He wasn't scheduled to make his appearance until June 7, so having him arrive on May 11 was a big surprise. Ryan Sebastian entered the world on Tuesday May 11, 2010 at 932pm, weighing 6 1/2 lbs. Mom, Dad and baby are doing well, just adjusting to life as a threesome. I was lucky enough to see my new nephew while he was still in the hospital. Below are a couple of pictures I took. Jenna can't wait to meet her new little cousin.

God Bless Ryan Sebastian and welcome to the world!!

Springtime

Springtime has hit Long Island and we have taken full advantage of the transition from the cold, snowy winter weather to warm, sunny weather! We've spent a lot of our time outdoors lately. We tried a new park down by Sayville Marina and the kids loved it. There was a park, beach, tennis courts and picnic area. The kids were having so much fun it was hard to get them to leave. They have also been running around the backyard which is great for us since they are completely fenced in. No worries of them running off. We even ate our first meal outside. Looking forward to starting up the BBQ soon!

Springtime also brings about Mother's day. It felt like Mother's Day weekend with all that was going on. Friday, Jenna's class hosted a Mother's Day tea and she was so excited that I could go. We listened to them sing, recite poems and received some great gifts! They had a plant for us, a cookbook that they made themselves and a self potrait of all the moms. And we were served cookies and iced tea. It was a fun afternoon. Saturday Gladys came out and we cooked a Mother's Day meal for both Grandmas and Jenna presented each of them with a plant she bought herself from the school plant sale. Sunday was a day of rest and family time for me. It was enjoyable to spend quality time with Mike and the kids.

Springtime also brings about unpredictable weather. Today we dropped in temperature and it has forced us to pull out the long sleeves and coats. The weather is more like fall then spring, but who is complaining - the heat will be here soon enough!

My baby turned 2!!

Two years ago on April 26, I woke up that morning to my water breaking and heading over to the hospital. What a surprise since he was 9 days early. Since that day, my little boy has not stop surprising me. I've watched him grow so much in these past two years that it is so hard to remember him as my little baby. He really is a full blown 2 year old and he never ceases to amaze me. Each day is something new, whether it's a new word or just the random things he does. His smile lights a room and constantly lights my heart.

Below are pictures from our family celebration. It was a beautiful day and the kids had a great time. Happy 2nd Birthday to my little boy!