Uncle Dr. Frank Alfano

You will be greatly missed...

Mommies Night Out 2

This Mommies Night Out was a little more tame... well that is until we got kicked outside for the Karaoke singers AND thats when the political debates began...

Gymboree

Gymboree in Danbury was offering a free class... What a great way to spend a rainy day with the rest of the playgroup then here at the bright, colorful baby gym.
Riley was showing Sophia what it was like at her Christening when Aunt Rene put her hand on Riley's head. 
Riley LOVED climbing up the soft ramps. She didn't need the ball to motivate her... she was so excited to go up and down the ramp.
Look at all the babies cheering Sophia on as she goes up the ramp. And look at Riley standing there all by herself while I ran to take the photo.

"Hold me Pike... there is a scary clown!" lol Riley loves her buddy Pike!
Oh my gosh... the lady sang the funniest song about the bubbles... I can hear the Opera song now... BUBBLES! BUBBLES!


After we came home and told Ryan all about how much Riley loved the class... we were given a reality check that I am only working part time this year. So... on that note... if anyone needs photos please call me!! :)

b-a-n-a-n-a-s

Riley had "real" (because the baby food isn't real) bananas! Go ahead I know you want to sing the song!! haha! Riley went for about a week of not liking food. But she is starting to like it again.


After going to the Mommy Group that is supported by Danbury Hospital after a long summer break we heard all about new ways of helping to encourage Riley to like food again. She had fun playing with the chunky bananas... I think more fun playing than actually eating. Come on it is everyone finds it fun playing with your food!


The funny thing that happened at the Mommy Group... we moved up in class over the summer. We are no longer in the 0-6 month Tues. group. We have graduated and go to Mon.'s 6-12 month group. We are with our baby friends on one side of the room while the "older" kids are on the other side of the group. Riley loves her friends, don't take this wrong... But while at the group she noticed all of the older kids crawling and "walking" around. She did a double take and left her friends to go play with the mobile babies. She loves her friends and came back. I tried to explain to them that they shouldn't take it personal...lol

Grampy Daycare

Job sharing with my dad is the best!! Seriously I am not allowed to complain at all about work this year... I have the best of both worlds right now. I get to be with Riley most of the week AND go into work to do something that I really enjoy too! When I am at work I know Riley is learning and having a blast with her Grampy. It is the best situation! We are all loving it!


Grampy has a few tricks up his sleeves that helps Riley eat her food. She plays with a wet washcloth while eating. When the washcloth touches her face she opens her mouth and is ready to eat. It is kinda like Chandler from friends tapping his chin before he eats. Hopefully this washcloth thing will fade out and not carry on with her forever...but if it does, we will just explain to Riley that everyone has their own quark!

Happy Birthday David

Happy Birthday 1st to Riley's Cousin David!
Lucky Riley she got to go and celebrate David's Birthday 2 times!! We went to celebrate with David on his actual birthday then his BIG party!

David celebrated is birthday in an ABC style. Everyone was given a letter on their invitation. Then when they brought his give they had to somehow coordinate that letter with the gift. For example... my grandmother was given the letter E and gave David a stuffed Elephant. While some of us were given the harder letters. We were given the letter Q. We gave a gift of a book of a mouse and wrote Quiet as a mouse. We also gave books and said Quick on your feet. And a duck slippers and told David Quack! I





Check out David's site on the side by clicking "The Lean Family" or just click here for more photos of David.

My Yearbook Photos

You gotta love this!!! I am crying laughing so hard. Look at little Riley, she is all grown up in these photos... On a website called Yearbook Yourself you can insert your photo in to old yearbook photos. Riley is sooo cute in these photos!!! HAHAH!! I can't stop laughing!

1960 HAHA!!! Gotta love it!
1968 (is that GG??)
1978 (I hope Riley doesn't get her Daddy's hair. But if she does we will just have to give her a a neon yellow pick and tell her to live it up!)
1984 See... now I know you want to go do this on yourself or someone you know! Share your results!
2000 We would have been friend with you if you were in your Daddy's graduating class!

Diminico Girls

After 3 crazy boys, my Grandma was bless with 3 strong granddaughters and 2 wild great-granddaughters!

(more picture of Riley's Christening coming soon!)
Unfortunately, this weekend she had a heart attack and after cooking for the Christening she was not able to attend. My dad and I went up to visit her on Monday. We could not bring Riley into the hospital. Heather, Laura and Julia quickly offered to babysit. Julia pushed Riley around in the walker until it was nap time. Julia quickly went to sleep while Heather and Laura were left with a cranky baby. As soon as they put Guitar Hero on she was soothed by the Rock n' Roll and quickly feel asleep. 

Meanwhile we were with Grandma in the hospital listening to her talk about how the person who cooks her hospital meals should be in jail for calling themselves a cook. She is still her feisty self! She also talked about how she is thinking of selling some of her 10 or so houses to help relieve stress. (Who has more houses McCain or my Grandma? HAHA! Funny thing is I think my 3rd grade educated Grandma does... but funny thing is, if you ask either one of them they will have to say they will get back to you on that number. HA!) Please keep my Grandma in your prayers. We hope she gets out of the hospital soon.

The Chapmans

We went to dinner to celebrate Ryan's birthday with Danny, Maureen and my parents. We saw 7 other tables at the restaurant with people we know... needless to say it took a long time to get out of the restaurant. While eating Riley began to get tired so as we were about to take turns swinging her in her seat to sleep... the Chapmans came over to take over so we could enjoy dinner. Ashley was in my class a few years ago. She is the best! (one of Riley's future babysitters) Ashley and her mom took very good care of us by getting Riley to sleep while we finished eating. Now that was the best birthday gift that Ryan could have asked for!

Home on the Range

Happy 6th Month Birthday!!! What a better place to celebrate your birthday (after the Labor Day Parade of course...) than the Golf Range. Sing it Riley... Home Home on the Range!! :)
Riley was tired of working on her golf swing. She took a break to find her shadow! She is a smart little scientist already!
Daddy getting golf lessons from Grampy. Daddy really is working hard to be a good golfer. We are sooo proud of him! We can't wait to take our little three-some on to the course to play.
Be the ball Riley! NANANANANA She our little Gofer! (thats not a misspelling... Gofer as in Caddy Shack)
See Riley already loves her golf clubs! Good kisses to Mommy's 1st baby... her Big Bertha!

Labor Day Parade

Happy Labor Day!! Right at the end of our street is the LONGEST and only Labor Day parade in the state of Connecticut. We walked to the end of the street and staked our ground to enjoy most of the parade with a bunch of our friends. 
Not all parades have a giant helicopter... being pulled along by a truck. 



Not everyone can stay awake for the whole parade.
It must be in the Casagrande blood because these cousins (and I know Marci and I can too!) slept through a few marching bands and loud riffle-like bangs passing only a few feet in front of them... PURE TALENT!


The only thing that we do not like about the Labor Day Parade... it means it is the end of summer vacation. :( We already can't wait until next summer...