The Parrillo Family

COVID might have delayed the event, but our SD had her First Communion this weekend.  And she did it wearing pants.  That her Grammy sewed for her.  Along with a custom-matching mask.  'Tis the season for COVID, I guess.   As for the Communion, she was so excited.  Both by the little high heels she was wearing, being the center of attention for a day, but also because of all the kids, she seems to have taken her faith the most seriously.   For a quick flashback, here's Eloise on her First Communion back in 2018 .   Here she is - on her big day.  So glad that NOT all of the photos are with masks.  Look at that big smile. Instead of one BIG First Communion, St Mary's decided to offer a series of much smaller ones - to enable social distancing.  That also meant that we were limited in who could come with us to the church.  Both Noonie and Grammy made the list.  Here's Noonie with the First Communicant.  ...

There is a long, proud tradition in both the Parrillo and Moran families of swimmers and being on the swim team during the summer.  Well...long in as much as both Nat and I were on the swim team when we were kids.  Nat was a good swimmer and swam through High School.  I on the other hand was the akward kid in the ill-fitting speedo who was on the team because my sister (Vic) was really good at swimming and my Mom wanted us both out of the house at the same time.   Despite me not loving (or being any good at) the swim team, I *do* have lots of fond memories of working at the pool during the Summer.  And so, too, does Nat.  So, we both keep Summer swimming in a special spot. And that's why I think we're both excited to see Eloise take on something new:  Swim Team. Last night, she had her first meet and swam in three events.  It was awesome.  And it was really neat to see Natalie engaged and helping her understand how relays ...

It literally feels like yesterday that we were baptizing our first born child Eloise.  Here's the post from all the way back in February of 2010 when we posted about that event .  But, now, eight years later, our wonderful Eloise has now had her First Communion.    As you can imagine, there's a lot of dress and shoes and outfit details, but I don't know any of them.  Natalie can fill in the blanks, but what I can tell you is that Eloise looked perfect.   We arrived at St. Mary's (where Eloise goes to school) to find her banner hung on one of the pews.  Eloise put this banner together - and despite us having to audible from fabric glue (which, folks, just doesn't work!) to hot glue - came out nice.   Eloise takes school and her religion very seriously.  And she's created a special bond with Fr. Shaun at SMG who gave the First Communion Mass for the school kids.   After the Mass, we (of ...

Back in April, I posted a photo of Eloise practicing some hitting as she prepared for her first softball season with the DOLLS organization.  Well...one game in and she already got her first hit!  And off of coach pitch.  They didn't have to bring out the tee for her on this at-bat, while on a few other ones, she swung and missed the coach's pitches and they ultimately brought out the tee.   She's batting lefty - and that was her own choice.  I think it is paying off.  Watch her sweet swing in the video above.  (If you are reading this in your email and can't see the video, click here .)  She takes two good cuts, then on the third pitch, she knobs one down the third base line.  And gets out of the batter's box in a hurry while her teammate scurries home.  RBI single! The first of what I think will be MANY hits in softball.  

Back before the holidays on December 20th, I took Frankie to get his FIRST EVER haircut.  And of course, he went with me to the barber shop. Here's a post of Eloise getting her first ever professional haircut at a salon . And here's a post of SD getting her hair cut for the first time ever at the Disney World Magic Kingdom barber shop . And you can see Frankie in this photo above remaining calm and cool.  The unlimited lolli's (as he calls lollipops), the basket of toys next to him, his favorite show of Paw Patrol being up on all the barber shop tv's and the fact that the sole woman barber in the shop was the one doing the cutting might have contributed to his 'chill' attitude. This was an important 'first' for him and for me!  I went to the same barber shop for most of my life - all the way until I moved away from Frankfort.  And it was an important place for me to go with my Dad and Mom (it was right next to the Laundrymat for a while).    Wh...

Look at that proud Mama.  Sharing something she loves (going to Wrigley to see her Cubbies) with her first born.  This was Eloise's first time at a Cubs game. She, of course... has been to see the good guys play on the South Side .

Leave it to my favorite pizza place Aurelio's Pizza to introduce my boy to the world of lollipops via the DumDums they give you with your bill.  I grew up on Aurelio's and it still is my 'pizza touchstone' of sorts, so getting DumDum's after pizza is a fond memory I have. What's amazing is that Frankie's big sister Eloise also had this moment documented.   Here's the post showing HER first lollipop .  And it was a DumDum, too.  But her's?  It was in church!  Yeah...church.  Ellie was 1 year and 5 months in that post.  Frankie is 1 year and 3 months in this post. Think Frankie liked it?  Of course he did!

Last week, we dropped off 'big-girl' Sadie at three-year-old PreSchool at the Lutheran school in our neighborhood.  That's the same school Ellie took PreSchool and Pre-K and now where she is in Kindergarten.  And after she gave Nat and me a hug and kiss, she didn't look back.  She was ready. Sadie was sooooo looking forward to this day.  She was excited and called it her 'special day'.  Unlike other first days, we didn't have to drag her there, in fact, she marched ahead of us.  She was so brave and courageous and looking forward to being in school 'with her friends' as she called them. SD has Mrs. Baerenklau and goes to PreSchool two days a week for three hours.  Mrs. Baerenklau taught Ellie in PreSchool, but she goes further back than that!  She also taught all three of Ellie and Sadie's cousins from down the street (or...the house we're currently living in!) Sadie was in a different PreSchool last year.   You can see that post and...

Our big girl Eloise visited the salon for the first time and (sad for me as her Dad!) got some of her lovely locks cut off.  Nat says it has made her hair so much more manageable....but...I still don't like it! But...Eloise?  She loved it!

Last year, we sent Ellie off to her first real day of Pre-School  ( post with pictures here including a *very* young sister Sadie ).  It was an emotional experience for everyone. This year?  Just look at her face.  She was excited to go!  Her sister Sadie was on hand to send her off as Nat walked her to school.  So was her Noonie.  What a great way to start the new year. She's now three and in two days of Pre-School that meets for half-a-day.  She's moved from a school across town to one in our neighorhood. And, the best part?  Ellie is now in class with her bestie - her cousin from down the street.  They'll get to walk to school everyday together.

Not exactly the reaction we were hoping for! But...we turned Sadie around.  After a few minutes on the beach, she settled in and loved it.