Drew's Bass Drum

As you probably know from my previous posts, Drew loves instruments. He has already trashed his Christmas drum set and I am not sure how much longer his Christmas guitar will last. Not that he mistreats them, but, well, he is still 2 and he loves to play them! Anyway, we recently watched the Rose Parade and I had to explain what all the instruments were to Drew, including the bass drums. A few days later, he was upstairs trying to play with another drum we have and kept getting frustrated. I couldn't understand why, you just put the strap around your shoulders and use the drumsticks, like a snare drum. FINALLY, I realized, he wanted the drum against himself vertically, just like a bass drum! I figured out how to rig it that way and he was such a happy little drummer boy. It was so darn cute, I just HAD to take pictures!

He is such a turkey!

A Visit From Friends

My friend Icel lives in Washington and I usually only see her about once a year on my girls' beach weekend. She wasn't able to come this year though, which was a big bummer. But last weekend she decided to pack up her three kids and come down for a visit since her husband is working out of state. I told her we would LOVE to see them and have them stay the night with us! Her kids are Hannah, who is in second grade just like Sadie, Logan, who is a little younger than Zack, and Lauren, who is 4 months older than Drew. Now mind you, our kids don't know each other because Icel and I just see each other. But they made immediate friends! It was so neat that they each had a playmate, and they played and played and played! I think they all are looking forward to the next time we can get together!

The girls - Sadie was excited to not be outnumbered for once!

Logan and Zack

Can you believe there is someone out there who loves their thumb and their bear just as much as Drew does?

Town Hall

Sadie's school has started something new this year. Once a month, the whole school has a Town Hall meeting, where special awards are given out. Two or three kids from each class get an award for whatever their teacher deems appropriate, like academic improvement, leadership, writing, math skills, being a good friend, etc. Sadie was getting one today, but she didn't know about it. Tony, Drew and I went to school and got to see her receive her award!

Here is a quick clip. Pardon the shakiness, especially at the end. Drew was in my lap, my arms were killing me, and I was trying to clap for my girl! :)

GO SADIE!!

The Big 100!!

Yup, this is my 100th post since starting this blog back in March of last year. Can you believe it? I can't. I had to go back and take a look so I could remember what the heck I have blabbed so much about! It's funny, the whole "blog world". I know some people who don't blog or really know what one is, some who just look at other people's blogs, some who have simple blogs for daily life happenings and lots of kid pictures (this would be me), and some whose gifts allow them to put together the most amazingly funny, encouraging and addictive blogs! I have to be honest and say I am a little jealous of these people. People who get hundreds of comments on one posting, isn't that crazy? But then I remind myself - I am not funny or witty nor do I have any talent for journalism. I started this blog mostly for myself to be able to get things down somewhere - pictures, stories, special moments in the life of my family that I don't want to forget. Of course I hope people look at and enjoy my blog and yeah, it would be awesome if multitudes of people were drawn to these pages. But I am just going to have to be happy with what I have done and will do and continue on enjoying the blogs of others.

My absolute favorite right now is the blog of MckMamma. She has four children ages 4 and under and is amazing. She is funny, smart, loves Jesus and has the most beautiful kids ever! Her baby, Stellan, was diagnosed in utero with heart failure among other things and they were told he would die for sure. He was born in October, completely healed. Yup, his heart is FINE! I started reading her blog before he was born so I feel in a weird way like I know her and like she is my friend. She posts really awesome photos and fun things about her kids, does contests, discusses her opinions about various topics, speaks openly of her faith in God, and does it all with humor and a refreshing zest for life. Here is the link to her if any of you want to check her out. Oh, and yes, I check her blog multiple times a day. I just can't get enough!

Now, so no one gets any hurt feelings, I want all my friends to know that I read your blogs daily and am always disappointed when there is nothing new for me to see. No pressure.

Thanks to any of you who take the time to peek into my life and I only hope that as we walk the journey together, this blog helps you to see me for who I truly am and The One for whom I live my life.

The Last Christmas Post, I Promise!

Okay, I know you are all probably bored and SO over Christmas. But I had to give all the grandparents equal rights here, okay?

On January 3rd we were able to head up to Washington (finally) to celebrate with my parents and brother. We had dinner at my favorite place in Federal Way, Burger Express, and then went back to Grandma and Papa's to open presents and have dessert.

Drew was very happy to receive his first golf set. And yes, his clubs have been taken away MANY times for hitting his poor defenseless big brother!

Sadie's beautiful new robe that Grandma Betsey made! (Not sure what I am doing...)

Drew was VERY excited about Papa Tom's See's candies!
We have three generations of severe sweet teeth here. I blame it all on my dad.

Me and my big bro, Tim.

Zack in his brand new made by Grandma robe!

The Beverly Hillbillies on DVD. Thanks Tim!

And the best part of the whole weekend? My 72 year old dad playing the Wii!!! Can you believe it? I am not sure that he has ever played a video game in his whole life, even when I bought my own original Nintendo! He struggled with golf, but was much happier with bowling. Tony, Dad and I had a blast!

And that is it! Wow, we sure are blessed with such an amazing family. The kids have three sets of grandparents who love them dearly and we truly enjoy every member of our family. We had a wonderful Christmas and look forward to a wonderful New Year!

Christmas With The Bastinellis

Friday, January 2 we were able to do Christmas with Tony's dad and family! Uncle Derek had to work, so that was a bummer, but the rest were able to come. The kids opened some small gifts and then.....the Wii!! Yup, the whole family pitched in to get us a Nintendo Wii. Tony and I knew, due to info leakage at Thanksgiving, but the kids were so surprised! Then they opened their gifts and we ate pizza and played the Wii! It was really fun to be able to spend time with everyone.

Drew, Papa Paul and Sadie

Nanni, Drew and Papa

Grandma Jacque and Drew

Some HAPPY campers!

Auntie Alyssa and Sadie

Paul opening his gift - A picture of him and his three boys!

Maya wants to get in on the Wii action too!

Matchy matchy! Sadie bought this scarf for Grandma with her own money!

Christmas With The Gilberts/Changs

After Drew's nap on Christmas Day, we headed to Beaverton to Tony's mom and step-dad's house. Papa David had to work, so we unfortunately had to open gifts without him. So it was us, Grandma Marie, Auntie Chrissie and Uncle Aaron. It was Aaron and Chrissie's first Christmas together as a married couple! Yay! The kids had fun opening gifts, of course, and then when Papa David got a quick break, we ate a delicious prime rib dinner!

Of course, Drew HAD to bring his guitar to show everyone!

Something from American Girl? Shocker!

Mmmmm....CHOCOLATE!!

We did have to leave early and almost didn't make it home, due to the foot or more of snow all over all the roads. Yikes. But despite that, we had a truly wonderful Christmas Day.

Back it up to Christmas!

Okay, I know it is horribly late to be posting about Christmas. I had decided I wasn't going to since it was weeks ago now, but then I was looking at our pictures and thought "I have to post these!" Plus, we just had two "make-up" Christmases this last weekend, so it really isn't that late!

December 25, 2008

Christmas morning was just me, Tony and the kids, which is the way we like it. We opened presents and then had a yummy breakfast!

Santa brought Zack Legos!

Santa brought Sadie a beautiful doll bed for her American Girl, Mia.

Mia got a new skating outfit and ice skates.

Drew's new drum set. He loves that thing!

A cape for our superhero Z!

Believe it or not, my two year old has been wanting a "big jun-jun" (guitar). So he got one. He was SO excited!

The pre-breakfast reading of the Christmas story in Luke.

Stay tuned for more of The Bastinelli Christmas!

Highlights of 2008

I just can't believe that 2008 is done and another year has begun! I wonder what 2009 will hold... Anyway, here are some musings about the Bastinellis' 2008.

~January started quickly with an 80th birthday party for Tony's paternal grandmother, who we call Nanni. The whole family (except for a few cousins) met up at Tony's dad's house in Eugene and we had a two day party! What a great time that was, and Nanni even got her first ever limo ride (my kids did too!)

~February brought Drew's 2nd birthday. Birthdays are always super fun, but this is my baby! :(

~April 30th we left on our very first family vacation... to Disneyland!! It was SO much fun, I can't even explain how wonderful of a time we had. We cannot wait to go back! (Of course, we will have to wait until the vacation fund replenishes!)

~August was a great month! Tony's sister, Chrissie, got married and we were in the wedding. Sadie was the flower girl, I was the matron of honor and Tony officiated! All the events leading up to the wedding and then the wedding itself were SO fun and hold many very special memories for us to forever cherish!

~Our summer highlights (besides the wedding of course!) included Zack's 5th birthday, swimming lessons, Tuesday night farmer's market, having a lemonade stand, church sports camp, going camping with all our friends from church, and just playing out front with our wonderful neighbors!

~Fall of course brought school (2nd grade for Sadie and 4's preschool for Zack), which is always an adjustment. Sadie turned 8, can you believe it? Sadie played soccer for the first time and surprised us with some natural talent, which greatly pleased her ex-soccer player Auntie Chrissie!

~After over a year and a half of dealing with sciatic pain from and on the job injury, Workman's Comp FINALLY approved Tony to have the back surgery he needed to fix a bulging disc in October! Everything went well and he was off work for a month or so to recover. The healing is slow, he still goes to PT and is on light duty at work. He is quite bored, though, and hopes the Neurosurgeon will tell him today that he can go back to work. We shall see!

~In November I greatly enjoyed my annual Girls' Beach Weekend with a bunch of nurse friends from my first job in WA.

~The kids had tons of fun in the snow that kept us housebound for over a week and then prolonged Christmas! We still have two sets of grandparents to do our Christmas with!

Hmmm, I just realized this sounds just like a Christmas letter that normal people would put in with their Christmas cards. Oh well, maybe next year, but for now, I hope you enjoy reading what we were up to last year!