Brittany's Update

Oh my goodness so much has happened over the years. I dont know were to start. Well my uncle is living with us now. Everyone is in the Christmas spirit right now. Even my mother! She is even counting down to Christmas, which is a major surprise for us. Like my mom always said she is usually all bah humbug about this stuff so its really weird. Also two of my Christmas wishes came true, I got contacts and my hair colored. What a gift it is i am still in awe on how much i have changed. Oh Brianne seems so mature now, she is starting to wear heels now! Its weird having my sister in heels especially when im in flats. She is nearly taller me which is so rare now. Wait that reminds me i left out something about my mom. I am way taller than her now and my sister is getting close too. School is getting so weird for me too. It is just flying by like the wind. I can't believe that second quarter is already over! Sometimes it feels like ill wake up and be graduating that day. Oh man i cant wait til next year. Eigth grade top of middle school baby! Also when i turn thirteen next year my mom and i are going to New York as our own celebration. I am so exicted! My mom says it will be really fun because of shows, the hotel, the food, and most of all the shopping! Mom says it will be even funner since I am getting my shopping bug. ABOUT TIME! It feels so weird to even be typing this its been forever since our last update. Oh My Gosh It seems like everything is changing too fast or not fast enough. I'm starting to act like a teenager and its really surprising me. I never thought teenagers acted that way not just in movies. Wow what a dum move of me to think that. Its really begining to look like Christmas in Colorado snow all the time, wind , and most important the COLD! Oh to much to say so little time but, Ill leave you with this MERRY CHRISTMAS AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!

I can't believe how long it has been!

I am truly not very good at this, I can't believe the last time I blogged was in October. Seems like the story of my life, just not being able to keep up with things as I should.

Seems like life is just flying by, which under some circumstances I would have no problem with. On the other had it is a reminder of how little time we have left with our kids. Brittany reminded us that she if finishing 6th grade and so she only has 6 years left with us at home until she heads off to college. This is so hard for me, my baby is going up so very quickly. I know every mother has the "I can remember holding her for the first time" moments, mine start much earlier than that. I remember sitting in a hospital bed starting at just about 20 weeks pleading for her to hold on and not come quite yet, days and weeks upon talking to her because I had nothing else to do. Now I have this amazing, talented beautiful daughter who by the way has grown taller than me. Brittany turns 12 this summer and I quite simply am not ready for it. This brings on a whole new world for her of boys and Young Womens at church and the joy and the heartbreak that comes with that. This is my baby that I still feel the need to protect from every bad thing out there, but yet I have the moments where I sit back and am able to watch her stand on her own 2 feet all by herself. I was reminded a couple weeks ago through a amazing blessing of how blessed and needed she is. I pray that I have been the mother who has helped prepare her for this very special mission she has here on this earth. I pray that I do not fail her, I have not always made the wisest of choices.

I am normally not quite this sappy, it just has been a very trying and long couple of weeks. I have personally struggled with groups and people that I have worked my tail off to help and to find out that there has been so much negative talking about me. To the point of trying to figure out why in the world do I even try? Then to have my sweet husband put his arms around me and remind me that I am loved by those that matter. I know in my heart that the cause and the kids that I am trying to help are worth it and not to quit. I have also come to learn that in this situation I seem to be standing alone, and I am now ok with that. I know I am doing what is right and I am doing it for the right reasons. As I remind my children often as long as you know you are acting with integrity the rest of the worlds opinion does not really matter. I trust and believe that things always have a way of working out and so once again I am putting my trust and faith in this.

Vince just started a new job, this was a job switch of our making. He has only been there a week but he has at least came home happier than he had from his previous job. We have had our struggles over the last month or so that have tested our relationship almost to its breaking point. How grateful I am for his ability to calm me and love me when I am not really even liking myself. We were reminded that marriage doesn't mean you go to auto pilot in a relationship, it takes work and fine tuning continually. We have made it through incredibly hard times in the past almost 13 years that I have to remind myself that we are good for each other. Vin, I love you and am truly grateful for this amazing life you have provided for us and the kids. You are an amazing father and feel very blessed.

Brianne just turned 9 in the last couple of weeks and I am humbled by how in tune with everything she is. She has had her fair share of disappointment in the last couple of weeks and how she in turn handled herself is inspiring. She did not make the cheer team she had hoped for and was devastated, instead of giving up she choose to work harder. She has decided that she will attain all the skills necessary for this team and work to shine on the team she was placed. She has been able to help me understand that "big" picture so much more clearly. In her very sweet way she reminded me that sometimes things happen for a reason and that you have to trust the people making those choices. I have a feeling she will be my sole support and motivation in cheer this year. She and kids like her are the reason you put up with so much nonsense.

As a family we have chosen this year to focus on becoming a stronger family. With that I know will come many trials, but also greater rewards. So off and away we go!

New Pictures of the Girls

I have a great friend how is an amazing photographer. She did my girls pictures and so here are a couple of our favorites.

Quick Update

I am so sorry it has been awhile. I really thought I would be better at this than I really am. We are all doing well, the girls are back at school and LOVING it. I was really worried about them this year. With Brittany going into middle school and Brianne at a new school. How grateful I am that they are both doing so well.

Brittany is still dancing and is on competition team this year and will be heading to Nationals in July, we are excited it is in Disneyland so we get to play also. She is now just about 5'5 and seeing eye to eye with me and it amazes me. She is doing well with keeping her grades up with all her dance and music lessons. She is trying desperatly to find the time to continue horseback riding, but it seems to be more and more difficult.

Brianne is on a Junior level Cheer team this year and is having the time of her life. She has found an activity that she has a passion for and wants for Halloween to be a "Diva Cheerleader" only because she is not able to have a "Diva" attitude in cheer class. She has met so many great friends at the new school, she is really loving also having some of her "church" friends at school also.

Vin is just about the same, it is football time and so out comes the Fantasy football web sites and magazines. I am so grateful that football is only 16 weeks long. I don't know if I have the patience to last longer than that.

As for me, I am the Treasure of Briannes Cheer Booster club and trying to keep up with the girls, really working on the metal business and have several shows scheduled from the next couple of months. My web site is up, still a work in progress but overall not too bad. I have had quite a few orders from it. I also have started working again. I have been at home for so long I was really afraid of how it would go. I have looked here and there over the years but nothing felt right. This last August I had several job offers and was considering a couple when I found a job with a local CPA, who also happens to be in our stake at church and everything just felt right. I have been here since mid August and love it. I am still able to be mom, the only difference is I am not picking up the kids and doing homework with them. We have a nanny that takes care of them for the hour or so after school before there activities begin and we love her!! Nanny Brittany, is someone we know from church and so I know without a doubt that my kids are in good hands. I hope and pray that one day others will think the same of how we raised our kids as we think of her and her parents. One really nice thing is there has not been 1 even moan about doing homework. They have it done right after school, and Brittany then takes them to dance, tumbling, or cheer depending on the day and I pick them up. Gives us the chance to have family time later in the evening and not having to worry about homework.

Well that is in a nutshell what we have been up to. We are looking forward to the holidays and next year as we will be traveling quite a bit. I really will try to get some pics on and do a better job and updating the blog.

Better late then never....

I know I said I was going to be better with keeping up on the goings on at the Rondello home. This last month has just been so crazy that I really haven't really even had time to do much of anything.

So since the last post Brittany has graduated from elementary school, she was so happy she also received the Presidential Achievement Award for her grades which make us as parents happy and her on top of the world. With her cast still on she danced beautifully at her recital and she loved every moment of being on stage. She is in her 2nd week of dance intensives for team for this coming year. So last week and this week Mon-Thurs. 9am-1pm she is at the dance studio. She did get her cast off last week and is slowly but surely building up her strength again. She is also taking the speed down on her scooter. She is starting to get a little nervous about middle school. I can't believe how fast she is growing. We go in for her yearly check up next month and I can't wait to see where on the silly charts she falls this time. She will be turning 11 and has already measured in at 5'5. She has inherited the Rondello(Blonda) family height gene.

Brianne has also been busy, she finished 2nd grade and is ready to be moving on. She also did fantastic in the dance recital. This year she was in ballet and a musical theater class which preformed High School Musical. She LOVED it!!! With cheer leading they really don't get much of a break and so she has been there 3 nights a week since school ended. She has been really focused and is going really good. She is so excited for this competition season! She will be competing in her first National competition which will be held in Denver. Now she is working on being so cute and trying to find company's and people to sponsor her. Who can resist this face?

So if anyone has any ideas of places to send out sponsor letters please let us know.

We also had a few new additions to our household about 5 weeks ago. Our dog Abby had puppies. We were starting to think she might be pregnant and sure enough with in 12 hours of taking her to the vet she delivered. They are so cute and the girls and Vin have had soooo much fun taking care and playing with them. We will be very sad to see them go in a few weeks.

This is them at 1 day old.

Vince has also introduced us to the "wonderful" world of fishing. So not my thing but the girls love it.

For those of you who don't know I have started my own business making these metal signs that I just love!! I have done 1 craft show so far and have 4 scheduled for the fall and I am still doing orders from family and friends and also some from our web site which is kind of surprising seeings how it is up but still is a work in progress. If anyone is interested the web site is www.metalelegance.com this will keep me busy for awhile. Vin still has his normal routine of work, work, and more work. He as taken time off here and there to spend time with us.

So over all we are doing good. I will try to post more pictures in the next few days. For our family back east, please pass along our blog site address. I don't have every ones email and we would love to hear from you guys!!

Brittany's Curse!!

For those of you who don't know, about every 2 1/2 to 3 years our dear Brittany will fall or crash and break something. We have been joking with her that we are coming on 2 years and so she needs to start being extra careful. Well she was extra careful this last Monday night and not just broke a bone, she broke 2. She was riding her scooter, which I was against Santa bringing to her, but Vin felt she would be just fine. Anyways, she was riding her scooter, fell and ended up breaking both bones in her left wrist! She now has a cast on and we have to go back to the doctor next Thursday to see if the swelling has gone down enough to take more xrays. Vin is now upping the amount of milk she drinks and she will be put on calcium supplements. By the time this little girl is 30 she will be falling apart if we don't do something. Everyone keeps telling us her bone density looks good but come, 4 breaks in 10 years? This break has put our summer plans in limbo to some degree, swimming is questionable, volleyball is out, ballet still possible, horseback riding out, and Elitchs is a maybe.

I do admire her pain tolerance. After the xray the dr came in wanting to see if she needed pain meds. Brit said no, and then the doc looking bewildered told us she broke both bones and most kids would be screaming in pain. Brittany just sat there as if she was told that nothing was wrong and she could go home. Childbirth is going to be a piece of cake for this one!!

Only 21 days til schools out!!!!

I know normally it is the kids counting down til school is out but, this year I am the one counting. I can't wait for life to slow down a bit. No more daily commutes to and from school each day, dance will be done, life will be slowing down.

I did get teary today on the way to school thinking that in 3 weeks Brittany will be out of elementary school. My baby will be in middle school, this one is going to be hard. I remember sitting and holding her thru sleepless nights, dreaming of things to come. Now she is a beautiful young woman, who is slowly needing me less. This last week she let me know that it is ok if I don't sing to her at bedtime. I know she is growing up but I am not sure how ready for this I really am. I know she is a bit nervous about middle school, but I am sure she will do just fine. She is and always has been one of the very youngest in class an so we have been able to keep her sweet and inocent a bit longer than some of the kids and I am so greatful for that. I know next year that will change, but I know that she is strong in who she is. Both girls are strong that way. I remember in 1st grade Britts teacher being concerned that she would play by herself at times and talking with Brit and her simply saying that she didn't want to do what her friends were doing. She didn't see a problem and continues to be strong like that. I can't wait to see what her future holds.

Brianne will also be changing schools next year and is really looking forward to that. She will be going into 3rd grade. Wow, time flies! She is looking forward to cheering this year, she will be on the youth team and able to participate in a national competion.

This last few weeks of school are filled with field trips, end of the year parties,and dance recital coming up. I am looking forward to the fast paced fun and looking forward to a break.