http://www.marcuccis.com/index.php Copyright 2012, Stephanie Marcucci Stephanie Marcucci en-US SPHPBLOG 0.4.7.1 http://www.marcuccis.com/index.php?entry=entry120228-114514
Anyway, today I got to attend a special award ceremony for Kellen (who was sitting across the room and I couldn't get a clear picture of him), but I got this perfect shot of Grant sitting at attention. Once a month, all of the kinder classes get together to celebrate four students from each class. It is a great way for the kids to look forward to achievement, a great way to recognize the goodness they do, and just great for me, as a parent, to take in the energy of all of those cute 5- and 6-year-olds together in one room. ---SM

]]> http://www.marcuccis.com/index.php?entry=entry120228-114514 Stephanie Marcucci Tue, 28 Feb 2012 18:45:14 GMT http://www.marcuccis.com/comments.php?y=12&m=02&entry=entry120228-114514 http://www.marcuccis.com/index.php?entry=entry120223-223618




]]> http://www.marcuccis.com/index.php?entry=entry120223-223618 Stephanie Marcucci Fri, 24 Feb 2012 05:36:18 GMT http://www.marcuccis.com/comments.php?y=12&m=02&entry=entry120223-223618 http://www.marcuccis.com/index.php?entry=entry120222-221820 ]]> http://www.marcuccis.com/index.php?entry=entry120222-221820 Stephanie Marcucci Thu, 23 Feb 2012 05:18:20 GMT http://www.marcuccis.com/comments.php?y=12&m=02&entry=entry120222-221820 http://www.marcuccis.com/index.php?entry=entry120221-221210
Above: At Capitola beach with friends.


Above: Ice cream treats after a sandy day.]]> http://www.marcuccis.com/index.php?entry=entry120221-221210 Stephanie Marcucci Wed, 22 Feb 2012 05:12:10 GMT http://www.marcuccis.com/comments.php?y=12&m=02&entry=entry120221-221210 http://www.marcuccis.com/index.php?entry=entry120217-141952
Above: Lennox as George Washington (with the hat he made at preschool today. He told me all about chopping the cherry tree, not telling a lie, and the general of the army. Nice teaching moment, Miss Chris!)


Above: After school with sister.]]> http://www.marcuccis.com/index.php?entry=entry120217-141952 Stephanie Marcucci Fri, 17 Feb 2012 21:19:52 GMT http://www.marcuccis.com/comments.php?y=12&m=02&entry=entry120217-141952 http://www.marcuccis.com/index.php?entry=entry120214-175056
And the candy loot they gathered during their Monday and Tuesday Valentine Day parties? Tantamount to Halloween! ---SM


Above: Kellen, after school with his V-Day headband on. Each heart has the name of a classmate on it.


Above: Kellen and his classmates after school.


Above: Could there be a cuter baby valentine in a red velvet outfit, a red rosette bracelet, and a white crocheted hat?!


Above: Auntie Staci and tiny baby.


Above: All of my little valentines.




Above: A giant V-Day package we got in the mail.


Above: The valentine holders Lennox made to collect his booty.


Above: A V-Day party with our church group.


Above: My sink full of valentine breakfast dishes---red eggs, red pancakes, and red watermelon. When K saw the eggs, he shook his head and said, "No me gusto estos juevos." I laughed. Then L said, "Eeeeewww. I don't want these pancakes." Grant was go with the flow until I told him I packed his classroom Valentine gifts in his backpack.

"What is it, Mom?" he asked.
"Playdough and lollipops," Kellen answered.
"Oh Mom. I don't like that at all!" Grant moaned, and he fell to the floor in despair.

Happy Valentine's Day!]]> http://www.marcuccis.com/index.php?entry=entry120214-175056 Stephanie Marcucci Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:50:56 GMT http://www.marcuccis.com/comments.php?y=12&m=02&entry=entry120214-175056 http://www.marcuccis.com/index.php?entry=entry120212-182932




Above: Staci, Teresa, and I went out to Ethiopian food for birthday dinner.


Above: More Ethiopian food.


Above: Auntie and tiny baby.


Above: Happy Birthday, Sister! (writing by Kellen)
]]> http://www.marcuccis.com/index.php?entry=entry120212-182932 Stephanie Marcucci Mon, 13 Feb 2012 01:29:32 GMT http://www.marcuccis.com/comments.php?y=12&m=02&entry=entry120212-182932 http://www.marcuccis.com/index.php?entry=entry120210-234014 ]]> http://www.marcuccis.com/index.php?entry=entry120210-234014 Stephanie Marcucci Sat, 11 Feb 2012 06:40:14 GMT http://www.marcuccis.com/comments.php?y=12&m=02&entry=entry120210-234014 http://www.marcuccis.com/index.php?entry=entry120209-184020
Above: I love this onesie! ]]> http://www.marcuccis.com/index.php?entry=entry120209-184020 Stephanie Marcucci Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:40:20 GMT http://www.marcuccis.com/comments.php?y=12&m=02&entry=entry120209-184020 http://www.marcuccis.com/index.php?entry=entry120208-184506
I can't think of a less expensive way to make a $5 chicken last for several meals. I kind of make it a habit to pick up a chicken when I'm shopping because even if I don't have it for dinner that same night, it's ready for lunch the next day.

The key, I've learned [thanks to other friends who understand the value of the Costco chicken (!)], is to shred the clucker as soon as you get it home and while it is still hot. Put it in a container in the fridge, and then it's ready to use for the next few days.

My 5 Fab Meals include:

5. Chicken soup
4. Chicken enchiladas
3. Chicken salad sandwiches
2. Cobb salad
1. Chicken mole


Above: Tonight's dinner: cobb salad. With rotisserie chicken!]]> http://www.marcuccis.com/index.php?entry=entry120208-184506 Stephanie Marcucci Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:45:06 GMT http://www.marcuccis.com/comments.php?y=12&m=02&entry=entry120208-184506 http://www.marcuccis.com/index.php?entry=entry120207-194925
Above: Just hanging out.


Above: Because it used to be his crib and because he just likes getting in there with her.]]> http://www.marcuccis.com/index.php?entry=entry120207-194925 Stephanie Marcucci Wed, 08 Feb 2012 02:49:25 GMT http://www.marcuccis.com/comments.php?y=12&m=02&entry=entry120207-194925 http://www.marcuccis.com/index.php?entry=entry120206-213756






]]> http://www.marcuccis.com/index.php?entry=entry120206-213756 Stephanie Marcucci Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:37:56 GMT http://www.marcuccis.com/comments.php?y=12&m=02&entry=entry120206-213756 http://www.marcuccis.com/index.php?entry=entry120205-221205





]]> http://www.marcuccis.com/index.php?entry=entry120205-221205 Stephanie Marcucci Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:12:05 GMT http://www.marcuccis.com/comments.php?y=12&m=02&entry=entry120205-221205 http://www.marcuccis.com/index.php?entry=entry120131-224336
When I called out their names, they looked up at me in disbelief---they had been caught. But when they realized they weren't in trouble, they just laughed that infectious preschooler laugh, and I snapped a picture. ---SM

]]> http://www.marcuccis.com/index.php?entry=entry120131-224336 Stephanie Marcucci Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:43:36 GMT http://www.marcuccis.com/comments.php?y=12&m=01&entry=entry120131-224336 http://www.marcuccis.com/index.php?entry=entry120128-230334
35 was a whirlwind for obvious reasons, but this year marked a strange realization: I am physically older than Justin. When he was alive, he was about six months older than me, but now he stays the same age in my mind, in pictures, in life. Surreal.

Still, it is a happy birthday. I am grateful for so many things in my life, including the 36 individual candles the boys insisted we light aflame atop my cake. ---SM








Above: With Justin at my birthday celebration last year, when we were both 35. ]]> http://www.marcuccis.com/index.php?entry=entry120128-230334 Stephanie Marcucci Sun, 29 Jan 2012 06:03:34 GMT http://www.marcuccis.com/comments.php?y=12&m=01&entry=entry120128-230334 http://www.marcuccis.com/index.php?entry=entry120127-235411
I am so richly blessed to have the kind of people in my life that have allowed me to be me. And I have figured out a lot about myself in this last 10 months. I know like I've never known before what it means to have a bad day or better yet to have multiple moments of frustration within a perfectly good day. I know that small disappointments are only as big as I allow them to be, and that most of the time people are good at heart. I have learned that it's OK to cry in the middle of Costco just because I feel like it, and it doesn't matter that a friend sees me and offers a hug or that another friend calls me right in the middle of it. It has been my friends who leave a message and don't worry if I don't call them back right away. Also among my friends are those who have given me a pass for not writing a thank you note for the gifts they have given, in all their varieties. I have so appreciated that. My family are my friends, too. My friends have been my family.

Thank you. ---SM


Above: My long-time friend Brooke, who flew out to check on me for a long weekend visit.


Above: Brooke and tiny baby, after baby's bath.]]> http://www.marcuccis.com/index.php?entry=entry120127-235411 Stephanie Marcucci Sat, 28 Jan 2012 06:54:11 GMT http://www.marcuccis.com/comments.php?y=12&m=01&entry=entry120127-235411 http://www.marcuccis.com/index.php?entry=entry120126-005734
]]> http://www.marcuccis.com/index.php?entry=entry120126-005734 Stephanie Marcucci Thu, 26 Jan 2012 07:57:34 GMT http://www.marcuccis.com/comments.php?y=12&m=01&entry=entry120126-005734 http://www.marcuccis.com/index.php?entry=entry120125-190540
But the smurf village is impressive. I wish you could see our crops. ---SM


Above: L plays the iPad in his car seat.


Above: Maybe it has been too long at this point. Time to turn that thing off!]]> http://www.marcuccis.com/index.php?entry=entry120125-190540 Stephanie Marcucci Thu, 26 Jan 2012 02:05:40 GMT http://www.marcuccis.com/comments.php?y=12&m=01&entry=entry120125-190540 http://www.marcuccis.com/index.php?entry=entry120124-011425
]]> http://www.marcuccis.com/index.php?entry=entry120124-011425 Stephanie Marcucci Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:14:25 GMT http://www.marcuccis.com/comments.php?y=12&m=01&entry=entry120124-011425 http://www.marcuccis.com/index.php?entry=entry120122-151758
Brett---could you make bracelets (or barrettes) that get any cuter? Seriously. Gorgeous. ---SM

]]> http://www.marcuccis.com/index.php?entry=entry120122-151758 Stephanie Marcucci Sun, 22 Jan 2012 22:17:58 GMT http://www.marcuccis.com/comments.php?y=12&m=01&entry=entry120122-151758