Sofia 1st grade, new nephew, & Chiefs

 Here is a pic of Sofia on her first  day of 1st grade last week, She loves school and as long as she doesn't talk too much in class she should have a good year and good grades too

 This is my new nephew Rafael. He is so cute and definitely looks like an Iadipaolo

 Then there is Santiago. I won him this monkey at the claw game at Jillians. I also won Sofia a big whale. The kids were cheering "Daddy, Daddy" when I won them the toys. I felt like I won the Super Bowl. They were so happy and I felt like a rock star :)

 Here are some pics from a Chiefs game we went to a week or so ago. Santiago and mommy love cotton candy. And leave it to Sofia to get hurt on the steps and require athletic tape from the trainer to bandage her wounded knee.

Sofia going down the slide!!

Sofia going down the slide!!

St. Jude visit and more!!!

 This is the iadipaolo ghetto waterslide. It was only about 100 degrees a few days ago. and you can only stay inside in the air conditioning for so long. These monkeys needed to play outside so daddy brought out the pool and added slide for some good ol' fashioned water fun. The only downside was Santi falling as he stood at the top of the slide. He was ok. They loved squirting me with the water cannons located at the bottom by the circle floatie (which Santi liked to wear around his neck as he shot me)

Last week was a very crazy week. My brother and his wife had twins, but lost little Ignacio. We went to Kentucky for the heart wrenching funeral. Then it was on to Maryville where sandra's Grandpa was sick in the hospital. I had tests at St. Jude scheduled as I participated in their long term follow up Life Study. I was down in Memphis when the St. Jude runners left to run up to Peoria. It was scorching hot down there and couldnt believe they were gonna run in that heat.  All my tests went well and it was great to go back down there since I hadn't seen the place in about 11 years. St. Jude saved my life as a teenager and I will help them in their research anyway I can.

As I was in Memphis I went to see Graceland. You cant go down there without a visit to "the King" It was fun, but would of been better with Sandra. She of course had to stay back and help with her Grandpa. Life throws curveballs at us and you just gotta learn to deal with them.
 After Memphis I headed back up to Maryville and caught a Cubs/Cards game with some friends before we headed back home last sunday. It is back to work for me and Sandra is trying to enjoy the last few weeks of her summer break. School starts soon. Oh Dear God :)

Hotter!!

Hotter!!

Hot!!

Hot!!

Our Disney Vacation

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New camera new pictures...

 So Sandra and the family chipped in to get me a new camera for my birthday. My birthday isn't for 2 weeks but we will be at Disney halfway through at that point so Sandra gave it to me early so we can utilize it for the whole trip. She gave it to me wednesday. That evening we were going to the Chiefs game. Sofia got to walk on the field before the game as part of the reading program with Northmoor. Pictured above is Sofia with her friend Jasmine. As we walked into the stadium they asked Sofia to race Homer during the 2nd inning. Pictured below is Sofia rounding 2nd base on her way to victory :)

 The next night was a weenie roast at her Kindergarten teachers house in East peoria. She has horses and Sofia got to ride one. Awesome

 Here is Sofia and Jasmine having fun in the barn. Santiago is drinking who knows what :) Our Disney trip is coming up and we are all very excited. I am even looking forward to the 19 hour drive we have planned which is going to be broken up into 3 days. Can u say "National Lampoons Vacation" cause as I always say "Its all part of the experience Russ" You have to take advantage of these times when the kids are young cause before you know it they will be in high school and college. Times flies when you're having fun.