Sarah's Big Birthday Weekend

This past weekend, we celebrated Sarah's birthday with family and a few friends.    

The birthday girl!

 After cake and presents, the girls wanted to play hide and seek.    When the girls started running out of ideas on where to hide.   So who better to ask but Daddy for help?

Hide and seek didn't seem to interest Gabrielle.   However, Aunt Leeann's bracelet sure seemed fascinating.

I love it when I can get a photo of the girls all smiling and looking at the camera.   

We Have a Birthday Girl! Sarah Is the Big 7!

Dear Sarah,

Today you turn 7 years old!   It just seems like yesterday that we met you for the first time.   You came one day before your actual due date.  My water broke at my doctor's office, and you were born just about two and a half hours later.  (Yes, two and a half hours).   Things just moved so quickly, there was no time for an epidural even if Mommy wanted one.  You arrived just in time for lunch.

Last year you had two really big milestones happen in your life:  (1) You became a big sister when Gabrielle was born, and (2) you changed schools in the middle of the school year because we bought a house.    Mommy and Daddy are so impressed with how well you've adjusted to both of these milestones.  You transitioned so well, it's as if you never left your former  school.  You've taken to the big sister role very well.  You are such a huge help to us and play with Gabrielle so nicely.  She responds so well to you and giggles whenever you're around.   Right after Mommy and Daddy bought the house, you were so excited to start full day school instead of half day.  Today, you are halfway through your 1st grade year and absolutely loving it.  You love gym and math lab at school.  At home, you enjoy your screen time and listening to music.  At your teacher conference recently, your teacher told us that you're excelling in reading and your addition and subtraction in math is becoming better and better.    You're also taking gymnastics as well which you really enjoy each week.

We have thoroughly loved watching you grow up and change everyday.  Each year you grow you add more freckles to your little nose.   You lose more teeth and your smile gets bigger and bigger.  Everyday is a new adventure with you.   You teach Mommy and Daddy everyday just how strong willed you can be sometimes but we thank God everyday that you are here with us.

Happy Birthday sweetheart.   Here's to many more celebrations with you.   We look forward to it!

Love you always, 

Mommy & Daddy

We Have a Birthday Girl! Sarah Is the Big 6!

This year for Sarah's Birthday, Sarah requested that we go check out the movie theater again.  As you may remember, Jeremy and I took Sarah last year to see Disney's Frozen in theaters for an early Birthday gift.

This year, our little family of 5 went to go see "Penguins of Madagascar 3-D".   (Yes,  I said family of 5!   Gabrielle slept the entire time all curled up with Daddy).

We Have A Birthday Girl! Sarah Is the Big 5!

Dear Sarah,

Today you turn 5 years old!  It's been awhile since Mommy has written a monthly update, so this will be quite the update.  We cannot believe that you are five years old today.  It just seems like yesterday that we met you for the first time.   You came one day before your actual due date.  My water broke at my doctor's office, and you were born just about two and a half hours later.  (Yes, two and a half hours).   Things just moved so quickly, there was no time for an epidural even if Mommy wanted one.  You arrived just in time for lunch.

Today, you are in your second year of preschool in the "Red Family" and absolutely loving it.  It's funny that you don't ever seem to remember what you did during the day, but you always remember when you are assigned a job.  Your favorite jobs are "Snack Helper" ,"Girl Line Leader" "Song Selector" and "Weather Girl".  Music is really one of your favorites.  Lately, you've been singing "5 Little Monkeys Hanging From A Tree", "10 Little Monkeys Jumping From a Bed", and Taylor Swift, Fresh Beat Band, and One Republic.  Your ability to memorize songs and their lyrics is just crazy (in a good way).

Speaking of memorizing, the amount of information you can store in your brain just blows us away.  You've memorized our prayers at church.  Just when we think you're not listening, you turn around and can recite the Nicene Creed, or The Lord's Prayer.  Even when we're singing our prayer responses, you sing loud and proud.  You certainly have been taking after Daddy's singing abilities!

You received a whole bunch of Legos for your Birthday and for Christmas, so planning your Lego houses on your days off from school occupy your time.  You still love the game of Memory.  Every time you play Mommy, Mommy seems to lose.

You've got quite the appetite, and love to eat your meals.  We need to work on food with flavor in them.  Ha ha.  You've got Italian blood in your from your Grammy Rose, and Italians are supposed to have flavor added to their food.  Ah well, I'm sure that will come over time.   It just makes us really really happy to hear you ask for seconds on things like fruits and vegetables.  

A very Happy Birthday to the girl with the smile that matches her hugs.  We are just so blessed and so fortunate that God has blessed us with you in our lives.  Keep giggling at the little things.  Be the best friend you can be to your sister, for she will always be there for you even when you grow older.   May you always be pure at heart.  A very Happy Birthday to our sweet girl.

We love you.  Thank you for being who you are.  Never forget who you are loved by.

Love, Mommy and Daddy.

Here is what you looked like on your past Birthdays

And here's what you look like today, 12/4/2014!

Happy Birthday Sarah!

Sarah turned the big 4 yesterday!  And what a day she had from beginning to end.

She started off the day with going to school with cupcakes in hand and was greeted with a crown made for a princess...a Birthday princess that is.

Then after the Madore-ables got out of school, Daddy took the girls to go Christmas tree shopping!

Then afterwards, we played some games and had Bapa over for dinner and celebrated with cake and ice cream and of course, presents ;).

This was Sarah's reaction to a new box of crayons.  I can't imagine what it would be if it was a new car.

Sarah is absolutely infatuated with the Llama llama series.

Samantha reading the title of the book to Sarah.

(Yes, Samantha is actually sounding out words now and reading short sentences).

Samantha asked Bapa if he could show her how to play the piano...

We Have a Birthday Girl! Sarah Is the Big 4!

Dear Sarah,

Today you turn 4 years old.  It's been awhile since Mommy has written a monthly update, so this will be quite the update.  We cannot believe that you are four today.  It just seems like yesterday that I met you for the first time.   You came one day before your actual due date.  My water broke at my doctor's office, and you were born just about two and a half hours later.  Things just moved so quickly, there was no time for an epidural even if Mommy wanted one.

Today, you are in your first year of preschool and loving it.  It really makes Mommy and Daddy so very happy to know that you're learning so much each time you go.  You especially LOVE getting assigned a job.  Your favorite jobs are "Weather girl" and "Song selector".  Each time Mommy comes home from work, you let me know right away if you were assigned a job, and if you weren't, then you've learned that you'll just have a turn the next time you go to class.  Music is really one of your favorites.  Lately, you've been singing "Acorn Brown" and "This Day Is Going To Be Perfect" from My Little Pony.

The amount of information you can store in your brain just blows us away.  You memorize songs and sing them all day long.  Some moments, you don't care who's listening and you just go to town America Idol style.  Not only do you memorize songs, but you have memorized quite the amount of prayers at church.  Just when we think you're not listening, you turn around and can recite the Nicene Creed, or The Lord's Prayer.  You don't just say them at church.  Mommy will be getting dinner ready, and I'll hear you in the toy room with your pretend toys playing church.  Mommy and Daddy are just so proud of you.

We recently drove about (a total of in 2 days) 24 hours from Boston, Massachusetts to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to visit Uncle Josh and Aunt Lindsay.  While we prepared our long journey, you moved the "car" along the map to find out where we were located.  So, instead of asking "Are we there yet?" you just looked at the map that Daddy made.  You slept a good portion of the drive down.  You shared and played very well with your sister.  You were content and complained very little.  Daddy and I are so impressed with your ability to drive in the car for long distances.  Which is ironic, because you're not so patient with your sister.  (But that is a whole other blog entry)...

Daddy has recently taught you the game of checkers.  In fact, we downloaded a free game app onto our iPad.  You're starting to get the concept of jumping your opponent.  Planning and strategizing your moves will come much much later.  You love Pokeno, Dominoes, Uno, and Sorry.  You ESPECIALLY love the game of Memory.  Every time you play Mommy, Mommy seems to lose.

You've got quite the appetite, and love to eat your meals.  Thankfully your throat issues never came back, so all is well in that department.  Daddy and I are still trying to figure out things, for example, you love tomatoes, but don't like tomato sauce.  I guess we can't complain.  You eat a great portion of veggies and your fruits. 

This past weekend, we celebrated your Birthday party with some of your friends.  I think you had more fun playing with the loads of tissue paper and tossing it into the air rather than the gifts.  Daddy and I hope you had a nice Birthday party.  Tonight, we'll celebrate your Birthday with Bapa, which I know you're very excited about.

A very Happy Birthday to the girl with the smile that matches her hugs.  We are just so blessed and so fortunate that God has blessed us with you in our lives.  Keep giggling at the little things.  May you always be pure at heart.  A very Happy Birthday to our sweet girl.

We love you.  We love you.

Mommy and Daddy.

Here is what you looked like on your past Birthdays

(Mommy will blog soon about your actual Birthday).

Sarah's Big Birthday Weekend(s)

Last weekend, we ventured up to Maine to visit Jeremy's family for Thanksgiving and celebrate Sarah's birthday. It was a family get together where we gathered with cake and ice cream and Sarah and her cousins played billiards for a little while. Sarah helped her Uncle Isaac sink a shot right into the pocket :) We don't get to see Jeremy's family often, so when we do it's really nice to visit. The Madore-ables love it because they can play with their cousins.


This past weekend, we had Sarah's birthday party at our house with a few friends. Sarah had been talking about the party for over a week, so she was so excited when her friends came in through the door to celebrate with her. Dora the Explorer seemed to be the running theme this year. We topped off the meal with a yummy Peep and the Big Wide World cake.

We concluded the weekend (Sarah's actual Birthday) very casually, and quiet. We went to Church in the morning. Then came home and went to the playground for a little while. Hung around at home and played with Sarah's new toys that she received for her Birthday. After dinner, we had left over cake and ice cream and of course sang Happy Birthday to our Birthday girl. (Because you can never have enough cake and "Happy Birthday"). Sarah opened up a special present from Nanny.

Sarah really had a great time. Still cannot believe she's 3 years old!

We Have A Birthday Girl! Sarah Is The Big 3!

Dear Sarah,


Today as of 11:58 a.m you are 3 years old! Just seems like yesterday I was going in for my regularly scheduled weekly doctor's appointment the day before your due date and voila! My water broke, and the rest they say is history. You (just like your sister) were a very easy pregnancy. You never gave me (much) heartburn. You always seemed to be active during the day and let me sleep at night. You made it possible for me to work right up to the very end. And above all, you made the labor and delivery easy and quick. There was no time for an epidural, because you arrived within 3 hours after my water broke!


You've overcome quite a lot in the last 3 years. Your aspiration and throat problems have completely gone away. Boston Children's Hospital discharged you over a year ago from check ups and we haven't been back since! Now you have an amazing appetite. You aren't a big fan of chocolate, but love things like broccoli and other vegetables.

You've recently taken a liking to puzzles, as well as "I Spy" games. You've also been putting puzzles together by yourself as well. It's so cute to see your face light up after solving a puzzle. You're also doing a great job at tracing letters and identifying the letters of the alphabet. Papere and Mamere gave you this really neat Leapfrog toy for your Birthday. You're doing such a great job!

Daddy and I could not be more proud of you. We're just amazed at the level of determination, and the shear fact at how you just want to learn things. Having an older sister is also very helpful too to teach you these things. Always remember how much we love you and we are always here for you. Thank you for being the sunshine in our day and reminding us to take a moment to say "I love you". God knew we needed you, and you have made our lives better just by being here.

Love you always,

Mommy & Daddy

Here is what you looked like on your past Birthdays

And here is a look at what you looked like today, December 2011

Sarah's Big Birthday Weekend

Hi everybody! It's Sarah, Mommy's guest blogger of the day. Mommy knows that I'm blogging this time, so no need to worry about not telling her. I just wanted to say what a great birthday weekend I had. I feel so loved by so many people. Mommy told me that there were all sorts of Happy Birthday wishes on Mommy's Facebook page. That is so nice of you :) Even if I didn't get to see you on my Birthday, I was still thinking of you.

My birthday fun started Friday night. We had Bapa over for dinner and he gave me a new Elmo. This one is so soft and so much bigger than my other Elmo doll. Besides, my old Elmo has someone new to talk to in the crib, so it's a win win for everybody :)

Then while I took a nice long nap on Saturday, Samantha and Mommy went out to do some errands for my party on Sunday. I was so excited when they came home with balloons! Samantha and I had such a fun time parading around the living room. We had a nice yummy dinner, and then Samantha and I took a bath. It was such a fun time. Mommy let us paint with this fun special soap that "Auntie" Molly gave us a long time ago. Mommy said that our paintings are really good and better than Picaso's. I don't even know who Picaso is but I'm sure he was pretty good.

After tubby time, Mommy and Daddy & Samantha gave me one present to open. I was really tired after my tubby, so I was kind of cranky. But, luckily Mommy got some pictures of me before I started to get all sad and sleepy. I really love the crayons and the paper and a bottle of pink nail polish for my toes!

On Sunday, we went to church and then when we came home Daddy and Mommy started to get things ready for my party. Then after lunch everybody came over. It was so nice to see all of my friends: Shannon, and Branson and my older friends Kristina, and Melissa and Kerry & Jimmy and Molly & Rachael and Jim. I'm glad that Nanny and Uncle Chris were able to come too. I got an extra surprise from Uncle Isaac and his friend Elizabeth who drove down from Maine to help celebrate. He's such a cool God-father. My birthday cake was so yummy too. Mommy's friends Chris and Jackie did such a great job. Mommy said that it was so yummy that maybe Mr. Chris and Miss Jackie could make more birthday cakes for us. Uncle Isaac and Elizabeth stayed for dinner too, so it was extra fun. Mommy said that Samantha and I did a great job watching a movie after dinner so that Mommy, Daddy, Elizabeth and Isaac could talk too.

Mommy took so many pictures, so it's impossible to post all the photos. So here are some of her favorite pictures from my party:

Thank you for reading my post today. I love being a guest blogger for Mommy once in awhile.

We Have A Birthday Girl! Sarah Is The Big 2!

Dear Sarah,

Today we celebrate your 2nd birthday!! Happy Birthday sweet pea. I say this every entry, but where did the last 2 years go? I seriously feel like you were just running laps inside of my tummy. You have been through a lot in the last two years of your life, and it's so nice to see you accomplishing so many milestones so quickly. You have had an amazing year.

You were due on December 5, 2008. Mommy had a check up at her doctor's office on December 4th at 9:00 am to see if you were coming out to play anytime soon. Mommy's doctor said that you were on your way and would more than likely be here before the weekend! When Mommy stood up to get ready to leave to go back to work, my water broke inside the doctor's office. A very nervous Nanny came to pick up Mommy and drove her to Holy Family hospital in Methuen. That's where we met Daddy. Luckily, the contractions didn't start coming along until after Mommy and Daddy were checked into the hospital. It was probably only 5 minutes, but it seemed to take forever to get wheeled into a room. Things moved so quickly after that, you were born at 11:58 am. There was no time for pain medication or epidural. You already were just like your Daddy: not willing to sit still or willing to sit around and wait for something to happen. You just wanted out! Which was fine with me, because one look at your face and I was in love all over again.

Now, two years later, you're still smiling, you're even more beautiful and talking up a storm. You've even learned your ABC's and your 123's and say them not only in the correct order, but you can also identify them too. It's cute to listen to you count as you're walking up and down the stairs. We also love the fact that you get totally, mega excited when we sing the ABC's and you get all giggly when we sing the very last line, "...sing with meeeeeeeeeeee". You are hysterical to watch, and also remind us that we need to slow down sometimes. We no longer have to stop and smell the roses, instead just sing ABC's. We also love the fact that when we ask you to sing Train's "Hey Soul Sister" you start singing "Heey Heey. Heey Heeyyyyyy".

You're learning so much from your sister, and that's a good thing. You're vocabulary is huge right now, and you've even started putting 2 worded sentences together. Just recently you started saying your own name and "Sammy". It's very sweet to see you point to pictures and identify who everybody is.

You're doing such a fantastic job at showing your feelings and hugging everyone who is around you. You're especially doing a really good job at taking care of dollies and babies. In fact, I need to get used to the fact that when you come up to me randomly and say "SHHHHHHHHHHH" with a finger up to your mouth, you're not telling me to be quiet, but instead it's to let us all know that baby is down for her nap. That's very considerate of you to let baby get her rest in. It's very sweet to see you want to hold Samantha's hand. Just don't be offended that she may not want to hold yours hunny, it's nothing to be upset about. Sometimes you don't want your hand held. It's ok. We also appreciate the fact that whenever we mention going out for a ride somewhere that you automatically go to get our shoes and bring them right to us. That's very considerate of you to take care of our feet.

Your favorite things to do are watching Dora the Explorer ("Door-door") and Caillou ("Key-yoo"). You love to sing and as I mentioned before shout out letters and numbers. If Mommy or Daddy is sitting in traffic you keep yourself entertained by looking at the letters on all the tractor trailer trucks or the license plates if the cars are parked and we're walking.

You make us so proud. Just remember to be nice and play nice with your sister. She's just trying to help. I know sometimes she can drive you crazy, but you will be good friends someday. I promise.

Always remember that Daddy and I love you so very much. Thank you for adding excitement to our lives.

Love always,

Mommy & Daddy

This is what you looked like one year ago in December 2009 for your 1 year birthday

And this is what you look like today, December 2010

This photo, you were actually "yelling" out "C!"