May Happenings

My goodness, May was full of all kinds of crazy stuff!

We went to Cincinnati early in the month – just me, Tony and Emma. Tony and I decided one child is EASY!!!! Especially when neither of you is working, the maid cleans your room and a breakfast buffet is waiting for you in the lobby! While we went there for some medical tests for Emma, we were able to sneak in some fun too… We took her to the Children’s Museum and she had a ball.

While we were gone, Zach attended his first Athletic Banquet with his Memee at his side. At Mom’s request, he wore a sport coat and tie! He liked the look so much, he did it again for 8th grade day at Monteleone Jr. High. Next year, Zach will be going to high school – he’ll be attending Lakeshore High School. He’ll be playing in the band as well as on the football team again – and he’s already started the summer weightlifting and speed & agility training …. GO TITANS!
We attended Meghan Brown’s high school graduation – and were honored to be a part of her family dinner celebration that followed the official ceremony. Meghan is such a wonderful young woman – she’s been part of our lives for so long now, we do consider her family. Congrats, Meghan! BTW… she graduated with Honors!

Mia sang at her school’s Spring Concert – she finished her final year at New Covenant Weekday School. She’ll be going to Kindergarten in the fall and will be attending Zach’s alma mater, Woodlake Elementary School. She’ll be one of three Tulli girls attending WES – Sara will be in the 2nd grade and Chloe will be joining Mia in Kindergarten.

Emma was so excited to see her 'Na' (that's Emma speak for Mia) on stage!

Sadly and unexpectedly, PawPaw Mike Matheny passed away on Sunday May 17th… He died of a heart attack within hours of giving his testimony to the congregation of his church, where Michael (his son) is a pastor. The day before the services, Tony piled us all into the car and drove our family the 12 hours to Leesburg, FL. Michael and his church provided the most fitting and beautiful ‘Homegoing Celebration’ at which we got to see a film of PawPaw’s testimony. It was a blessing to see Mike so vibrant just hours before he passed. The church services were followed by a military burial at the Florida National Cemetery – and our motorcade was lead by several Vets on motorcycles carrying the American flag. It was all done beautifully. We will miss him…

So the five of us spent Saturday and Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend at the Happiest Place on Earth! When we got there, they asked if we were celebrating anything special. I said, “Yes, Life.” PawPaw Mike would have really liked that… And yes, it was hot, and yes, it was crowded… but it’s Disney! The pictures say it all!

And finally, Peter and Tony built the girls a swing set in the backyard – You guys rock!

Off to Grandma's House We Go...

We went to Alexandria to visit Grandma Elma last Thursday and we had a wonderful time. Zach was heading to Washington DC on a school field trip and he had to be dropped off at the 'meeting spot' at 3:45am -- yes, that's in the morning -- on Thursday. So in true Tulli style, we decided, "Hey, instead of packing one kid up for 5 days and getting him off in the middle of the night, let's pack the whole family up for 5 days and all go on an adventure." :)

So we loaded all our stuff in the car, carried the girls from their beds to their car seats and headed to the Winn Dixie parking lot. We hugged Zach goodbye around 4am as he headed off with 22 of his schoolmates and a couple of teachers to our nation's capital... with these last words whispered in his ear, "If you meet the President or First Lady, please don't text while they talk to you..." Okay, well my last words were really, "I love you more than you'll ever know" but you get the idea.

Lesson learned... take the pictures with Grandma BEFORE you wake the kids up from a nap and are about to walk out the door!

But Grandma wins in the end... there's a smile!

If you actually let the kids sleep, this is what you get in the end.

We left Alexandria Friday late afternoon and headed to Lafayette for the weekend. It was our first time attending the International Festival -- several stages around downtown and a wonderful kids area with fun activities and entertainment... and it was free! It was a beautiful, breezy day... and of course, the girls had the best seat in the house... which they shared.

BEFORE...

AFTER...

At the end of the day, we were all exhausted and headed back to the hotel for a break before dinner. The girls blew bubbles while Mom and Dad relaxed on lounge chairs and read riverside.

Sunday before heading home, we stopped by Cypress Lake at University of Louisana's campus to see the alligators. In movies and pictures, Louisiana swamps are always portrayed as dreary, dark, grey places and I really hate that.... Louisiana swamps are truly beautiful!

The girls were much more impressed with the turtles and gigantic carp... and a squirrel who you could practically feed out of your hand. Here's the girls making fish lips...

April Happenings

Mia's last soccer game of the season was earlier this month, and while Mom and Dad watched the nail-biting season finale, Emma and Zach took a little stroll. I love this series of pics... I just wish I knew what they were talking about! Emma adores her big brother and whenever he's not around, lifts up her little hands and asks "Where's Zachy?" with a quizzical look on her little face. You can see here, he has a soft spot for Emma, too.

After the game, Mia was awarded with her very first trophy! She was so proud, as were Mom and Dad. A wonderful ending to a fantastic season!

Easter weekend was jam-packed with fun-filled and very special events... We spent most of Friday and Saturday with some of my dearest friends celebrating the life of their father who passed away earlier this year. In his passing, just as in his life, he preferred food and wine, joy and laughter... and his girls did it right. Spending time with these friends of 20+ years was the perfect way to remind me of the many blessings in my life. I am so grateful to be a part of their lives.

To Hanky Poo & Dottie Too!

Sweet Emma had so much fun she couldn't take any more... literally! This is her tucked away in a chair at Julie's house with all kinds of commotion going on around her. Aren't they just so sweet when they're sleeping?

The girls decorated Easter eggs while Mom cooked a HUGE pot of Memee's Dirty Rice (yum!). This was Emma's first Easter... As always, she followed Mia's lead and the two of them dyed the most beautiful eggs. Hmmm... reminds me, I need to make tuna fish today...

There's so many firsts around here these days... My two experienced beater lickers, Zach and Mia, were too happy to show Emma how it's done!

He is Risen! What a glorious day! I love Easter morning, seeing everyone all dressed up celebrating our Risen Lord. My favorite is the little girls in their beautiful dresses and bows, lacy socks and gloves and the little boys in their handsome little suits and yes, sweater vests! Here's my sweet girls with their angel hands....

And a few more pics while everyone is clean and dressed all at the same time...

But don't be fooled by their angel faces... sitting through Mass was another matter altogether! :)

We celebrated at our house after with food, family and an Easter egg hunt. What a wonderful bunch!

Ahhhh... the end to a long and wonderful day!