Alexandria's Birthday Party

Pictures are backwards according to events...

A few years back when we lived in Monterey, California one of Alex's best friends had an indoor camping party and Alex loved it. She said it was so much fun so we decided to give it a try. So for dessert we had smores instead of cake. Joe set up our camping stove and the girls roasted marsh mellows. The girls loved it.

I said roasting but it was more like marsh mellows on fire.

Alex being silly. When she gets around all her friends, she definitely turns into a different kid. A little crazy but then again 7 7 year olds made it a little crazy but so much fun.

They all couldn't wait to get started.

Opening presents...and if you notice Brady fits right in. He wanted to be at the party. Not sure if it was because there would be so many girls or he wanted to be the center of attention. All the kids just seemed to ignore him but he loves his sister and he had to be at her party.

Each girl brought a sleeping bag and pillow.
They played in the tent and told stories. Joe even told a few scary stories later in the evening.

Again, Brady being the center of the party. I think this was Alex's party :)

For dinner we had hot dogs, chips, watermelon and root beer. All Alex's idea. The kids roasted hot dogs in our pretend fire. I had a accent light that sits on the floor with colored transparent sheets to change the color that we used as our fire. We put sticks around the bottom to make it look more real. The hot dogs were on roasting sticks and the kids ate them off that.

One last picture of the kids in the tent.

When the kids first arrived, they decorated pillow cases to take home. I gave them each a white pillowcase and they could decorated it with fabric pens and iron on patches. I found the idea on line and it turned out to be really cute. Time consuming because I ironed on all the patches but they turned out really cute.

Alex had a great party and has made some really good friends here.

Thanks Anita for the indoor camping party idea. It was a great party and thanks for sharing all the things you did.

Alexandria's 7th Birthday

Alexandria's school put together a talent show and Alex decided she wanted to be in it. It just so happened that the performance was on the night of her birthday. There were many practices involved but it was definitely worth it because she was fantastic. I was so proud of her. I was pretty shocked when she approached me a few months back wanting to do this. Alex is very shy and for her to perform a dance in front of many people was really being brave for her and stepping out of her comfort zone. The decorations for the talent show were poster boards that the kids made. Alex did a dance to the "Kim Possible" song so naturally her poster board was a picture of Kim Possible and few other characters from the cartoon. Alex's costume was exactly like Kim Possibles and of course, I sprayed her hair orange like Kim Possible.When we got home from the talent show, we did cake and ice cream. I made a chocolate cake and decorated it with "Littlest Pet shop" toys that we had.

Hopefully you can see what this is...a tree with grass, flowers and clouds. That's a frog in the grass and a monkey in the tree hanging on a vine.

I did the best job I could. I am not much of a cake decorator.

Before going to the talent show, Alex opened her presents. She has been wanting a stereo for her room. She has probably asked for this for the last 2 years or so. We finally bought one for her. Not sure why it took us so long but now she has one. We also got her a "Taylor Swift" CD. She loves Taylor Swift.

It's hard to imagine that she is already 7 years old. She is growing up so fast maybe that is why it took us so long to get her a stereo for her room, not because the cost but for us it opens up a new stage of life. But I am glad that she still likes barbies and dolls. I think we are safe for a little while longer.

So it has been a little over a month since giving her the stereo and can I say that it's what I wake up to every morning...So loud that I am calling from the kitchen to turn it down.

We love you Alexandria and Happy Birthday

OH MY GOSH!!!!!!

So, yesterday was a crazy day....many different things happened throughout the day but nothing to terrible until about 6:15 pm last night. Joe was at a meeting so the kids and I were outside with the neighbor kids playing. There were all playing in our driveway with a frog that they had found. There I was sitting in my chair enjoying the nice weather when I see something moving out of the corner of my eye. It was a SNAKE. Now if you know me at all then you now that I am terrified of snakes. It can be almost worm size and I am moving out. So, there it is about 2 1/2 feet long and almost 2 inches thick (of course I am guessing on size but it was a significant size). Big enough for me....

It's moving around and starts climbing up a tree on the side of the house. I am in the middle of the street screaming. I know ridiculous but so true. Joe's gone so he's no help to me. Of course, I want it dead but I am not doing it so I asked one of the neighbors kids to get their dad to help. To the rescue he came with a rake and shovel. He managed to get it out of the tree and he killed it. Now I believe it's against the law in Maryland to kill a snake but I don't care.....

After all this, I find out that they have actually seen quite a few snakes on our street in the last couple of years and he has killed a few. I am finding it hard to walk outside without running to the car and jumping in. I am ready to pack up and move to Ireland because there are no snakes there. I don't even visit the reptile house at the zoo. That's how scared I am.

No pictures...I am sure you can guess why.

St. Patrick's Day

So, yes the leprechauns visited our house with green hand and foot prints on the walls and floor, and confetti up the stairs to a pot of gold (candy). We had corn beef and cabbage, green kool-aid, and a fruit rainbow. It was a great day. Of course, my kids had cute green shirts but for some reason I forgot to take a picture...

Happy St. Patrick's Day couldn't decide which picture is better...I think they may be the same.

Rainbow Cupcakes

Every Sunday is our baking day...the kids love to cook with mom. We usually make a treat that we have never had before or we do something simple but tons of fun. So this past Sunday we decided to try a recipe that I found in the family fun magazine, rainbow cupcakes. I didn't think it would work because my recipes usually end in disaster and frustration. I always follow the recipe but it fails to look like the picture until this time. It worked. The kids were so excited. The topping is whip cream...suppose to be a cloud.
And here's the rainbow. Really cool and yummy

Valentines Day...My Birthday

I had a great birthday/valentines with the family. We went to dinner the day before, did some shopping and had cheesecake ( of which I love).

Just another birthday and just another year older.

I feel old. Yes, I am still pretty young but age has hit me. Is that because when I wake up in the morning my body aches, when I bend over to pick something up my body cracks, I see wrinkles every morning when I look in the mirror, I can't stay up late anymore....I am not totally sure but I think it has something to do with the fact that in less than 6 months my baby will start kindergarten. I will have both kids in grade school and it's time for mom to decide what to do with her time. I wish I could go back to my 20's.

A new phase of life I guess you could say.

She finally did it

About 2-3 years ago, Alexandria got her ears pierced. It ended up being a complete disaster. 2 days later, she woke up in the morning to 1 of her earrings out of her ear and sitting next to her on her bed. I of course put it back in causing lots of pain and bleeding. Not such a great idea. But to make a long story short it pretty much scared her for life until now.

Alex said she would try again when she was 10 years old, until she asked me what I wanted for my birthday. Naturally I was excited because I know deep down inside she really wanted them pierced. She decided that she would do it the day before my birthday, which is today. She woke up this morning and said, "let's go to the mall to get my ears pierced." So we did. She was so scared but happy at the same time.

I was very proud of her for this because I know it hurt.

2 MONTHS BEHIND...........

Yes, I realize that I am 2 months behind in blogging....I guess that means that I did not even blog about Christmas or the visits from Grandma and Uncle Aaron. Well, we had a great Christmas and visits with family. So anyways......................

We have had terrible storms lately. When we moved here, people said that it only snows 1-2 times a year if that. WELL, they lied. This winter we have had a total of 72 inches on record of snow (not my count, the news count). So these pictures are a mixture of Decembers snow storm and the 2 storms we had this week.

December snow fall...I beleive at least 2 and a half inches.

The kids playing in their tunnels.

Alexandria and Brady love when it snows. It was a lot of fun the first few times and now it's just getting old.

February's first snow storm. Lots and lots of shoveling

I believe this was close to 3 feet or so. You can barley see my car.

Again a fun tunnel. If is kind of fun because the neighbor kids did the same thing so the tunnels

kind of connect with drive ways in between.

All I can say...Snow...Snow...Snow... and more Snow.

Snow clothes are so much fun. The kids can barley move in their jackets because they are so thick. Alexandria's pink ear muffs are so cute.

By the time you get the snow pants, scarves, jackets, hats, shoes and gloves on (am I missing an essitential item of snow clothes) you are too tired to go outside.

Alex trying to make her way home through the snow.

Just playing and enjoying life........

Our house.....I will post inside pictures later this week.

Now, if you noticed there are no pictures of us (mom and dad) because Joe and I are digging all the snow from our cars, the driveway and the street.
We live on a cul-de-sac with 7 other houses. Our area is hard to explain but there is a half circle with 8 houses or so and 4 cul-de-sac that connect around that half circle. Because we are residnelt HOUSES and NOT TOWNHOUSES OR APARTMENTS we are the last to get plowed by the city. Well that pretty much means that we WILL NOT be plowed. So we were on our own. After each storm, all the neighbors got together and were outside digging everyone out. My guess is that with the last 3 big storms our neighbors and us dug about 3 blocks.

Easy to walk but not easy to shovel.

I am trying to like NOT love maryland.

Oh and gthe news says more snow Sunday or Monday...

First snow day

Yes, it has already snowed here. All the locals say that it only snows about 2-4 times in the winter each year and not until late January or early Febraury. Of course, we move here and it's a record breaking snow day and hasn't happended in 25 years....Snow was only about 2 inches but it was cold and wet. The kids loved it. We had snow ball fights all day long.
We also got our snowboots and snow pants out with our sleds and enjoyed 3 hours of sledding without even leaving our house. We have the perfect hill on both sides of our house.

We made a snowman with raisin eyes, a carrot nose and leaves for hands.

The kids love the snow. It is so beautiful to just sit and watch it fall. Of course, I did not get that joy....I put all the snow gear on went outside and had tons of fun with my kids. Oh and we did enjoy hot chocolate insde after all the playing.

If you've read my comments on facebook or should I say complaining....I am cold as well speak. My hands are always cold. I have always known that I was a California girl but now I realize that it is a must that we move back, THIS COLD SUCKS!

It's Officially Christmas

Yes, it's that time of year...AGAIN! The leg lamp is up and has been up for a few days. This time of year is always exciting because of this lamp...I realize there are others reasons that make Christmas wonderful but just go with me on this... When we first got the lamp in California and put it up it was pretty close to the actual movie. You know when the father puts it in the window and walks outside to see what it looks like while he's yelling to his wife to move it more to the left and his son, Ralphie is rubbing the leg up and down. Well, yes, it was so close to the exact scenario in California...here it is a lot different. Not to many have said much except for a couple of people and they don't even live on our block. Oh well...we love it and I guess we are definitely the crazy people on the block from California. Brady is doing exactly what Ralphie does in the movie...very cute.
A family portrait, of course.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

What a night...Halloween was so much fun. We went trick-or-treating at the mall during the day and then trick-or-treating at night.

Alex and Brady with the neighbor kid. Alex was a cheerleader and Brady was Batman.
Brady could barely see out of the eye holes of the mask. It was really funny because he kept running into things.

Trick-or-treating at the mall.

Carving pumpkins. We also cooked the seeds but they didn't turn out so good. I think I cooked them to long.

It was a great Halloween

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOE

Joe's birthday was on Friday...the day before Halloween. We had so many Halloween activities to do that day that we celebrated his birthday several different times during this past weekend. I guess that's what you do when your a dad, put your kids first even on the day of your birthday. One of our Halloween activities on dad's day
Yes, I need to figure out how to turn the picture around so just work with me here.
So, the kids gave Joe a Popeye shirt. Popeye was in the coast guard and so is dad so it's kind of funny...anyways, I always make Joe a homemade apple pie, crust and all every year for his birthday and this year was no exception. So with all the Halloween craziness, I managed to make a pie and yes, I forgot candles so I used a tea light candle. So stupid but it worked.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOE
CAN ANYONE GUESS HOW OLD HE IS?

Brady's first season of soccer

Brady started his first season of soccer. He is and was so excited. It was really cute to see him out there playing and having fun. There are 7 kids on the team...4 boys and 3 girls. It's a good mix. This was his very first practice with all the gear. He had the cleats (did I spell this right ?) and shin guards

Brady's first day of school

Brady started school today and yes, it was so cute. It was so sweet to see him walking into his classroom, looking back at me and saying good-bye. I was sad until I got home and realized I had a few hours to myself. So it's all good....... Brady in front of his school.
Alex and Brady...he's so excited to be going to school just like his big sis!

Again, Alex and Brady on our deck.

A big day for all.......kids in school and mom gets a few hours to herself

Yesterday was Alex's first day of first grade....she had a great day at a pretty great school. Well, except for the lunch issue, I have already complained on facebook so I won't here).

Anyways.....

This school has their very own music, art, science and PE teacher. Alex's last school wasn't like that and either was the school I taught at many years ago. So, I was impressed with all things this school had to offer. Hopefully it will live up to the expectations that I have.

stay tuned............ Alex in front of the school sign. Alex has her outfits planned out for the next 2 weeks. She is quite the fashion diva. She has done as far as having the hair style picked out with the outfit. I was kind of upset that this school didn't require uniforms because uniforms made my life easier last year in kindergarten. But so far it has been OK.
Alex with mommy and Brady. There was no crying from mom, but I was very sad to see her go.

So, I have no idea how to rotate this picture so, please.....just rotate your head.
All students at Piney Orchard Elementary have a locker. Alex thinks it's pretty cool. There are no locks on the lockers so it's really simple and neat for the kids.

The first of preschool for Brady is next Monday...he is so excited he can barely handle the wait.

Another Year....

Today is our 12th wedding anniversary. My younger brother, Aaron came down from New York to visit, see the house and watch our kids so we could go out. So a big thanks to you, Aaron.

It's been a wonderful 12 years. We have been through so much in life and to see where our lives are now is amazing. I am so lucky to have such a great husband...and when I say WE, I mean HE has been through so much. Putting up with me is difficult....to say the least. But with each year, our lives get better.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY JOE...I LOVE YOU

Not the best picture but you get the idea...