New Year Thoughts...What to pass on for 2010?

Many of you I'm sure have been waiting on baited breath for my Top Ten of 2009, well wait no more!

1. Pediatric After Hour Hotline Number 474-4848 and how to make your own saline solution for lil' noses...1/2tsp salt + 8 0z water

2. Homemade cough syrup, this is nasty but it will make you stop coughing. Here ya go: 1/4 tsp cayenne, 1 TBSP honey, 2 TBSP hot water, 1/4 tsp ginger, 1 TBSP vinegar. Take 1 tsp every 15 minutes.

3. Registering your Starbuck's card = free soy (a $.40 saving!) This is basically it for me for coupon clipping.

4. Pilates...just do it. I, of course recommend Precision Pilates downtown!

5. Sleep sacks for infants- fabulous, you never have to worry that they are cold along with a white noise maker!

6. Date night with husband...love them. Twigs or DownRiver Grill and for a twist the Suki Yaki for sushi.

7. Jump n Party-just plain fun, a favorite of Joey's followed by Mobius!

8. Swiss Army 1 GB jumpdrive and laser light (you know I had to get a little technology in here somewhere!)

9. A latte and a good spot to catch up with good friends...The Service Station. Never forget the power of checking in with your girls...

10. Finally a little fashion, UGG's- how had I not had them until now? And Lululemon Athletic wear--amazing!

Happy New Year! Thanks to my friends and family for your support during 2009. We feel so fortunate for our health, family, friends and our children! xoxo

Merry Christmas!

Well, 2009, one word...WOW! A recap of the highlights: the birth of Kathryn Grace in February, a wonderful summer filled with visiting friends, cousins and family at Loon Lake, the finish of year one of my administrative credentials, traveling to California for my neice's 2nd birthday party, our eighth wedding anniversary, a successful salmon season for Tom, the start of kindergarten for Joey, a new job teaching kindergarten for me too, a fabulous trip to Kauaii with my folks and brother's family, and hopefully this will be a highlight later but the purchase of a four-plex (to keep Tom busy) that needs much TLC.

We feel very blessed by the support of our family and friends. This adventure called parenthood is quite the ride. Sometimes I wonder what it is exactly I did before adding these little sweeties to my life but wouldn't change it for the world. (okay, maybe a little more sleep!)

We hope you find the season to be one of blessings, time to reflect on another year, and the inspiration to begin anew. Happy 2010, God bless us everyone!

Love,
The Montecucco's

Santa Poem by Joey

S- Santa sat with Joey on his lap
A-All presents wrapped
N-Naughty and nice Santa will find this out
T-Ty gave me chocolate
A-All the people believe in Santa Claus and Jesus

Thanksgiving in...Kauai

Delightful, relaxing, restful, beautiful, lots of laugh, some sleep and lots of laundry at home to do! Thanks mom and dad for a wonderful vacation! Joey caught fish with daddy right off the beach!~

Katie loved "teething " on pineapple!

My neices Ashlyn, 2 and Kailey, 8 mo.My momma and dad!

We enjoyed lots of time in the ocean, walks on the beach and around the resort, swimming in the kid's pool, and good eats! Tom and I even snuck away for a little date night. It was fun to see my brother and his family...we were a busy group as you can probably imagine. A few highlights...a HUGE Turtle swimming right under me, Joey catching fish in the ocean, dinner at Keoki's, a divine dinner with my hubby, and a fresh pina colada served at the beach. When do I get to go back?