EWWWwwwwwww

Just another snake in the sticky trap in our basement. We are trying to take care of the "issue" calmly. We also have three new appliances coming to our house and I have three rugs that are new... I will take photos and share stories soon!

Bunny FEVER

Our neighbor's bunnies had bunnies! They are precious and at an adorable age - 4 weeks. We are not taking one but she had handed them out to many other neighbors. The kids have loved them, especially Ellen. She just laughs and laughs.

daddy daughter night

The girls went with their daddy to date night 2 weeks ago and got a surprise! A real limo ride! Fabulous!

Ok so since I posted this, I have had a lot of emails asking where the limo came from... was it a groupon? A neighbor? Come on people, you don't think Nate would get the girls a limo ride? You are right, no, he didn't. Chick Fil A does it right. They treated the girls to a limo ride around Fairfax with their daddy. It was part of their daddy daughter date night. I am SO thankful Nate took photos. They had no idea that this was going to happen! They didn't have to wear seat belts, could eat in the limo and even Ellen could wander around the inside. What a treat!

carpool FUN

Sam and Ellen are in the car a lot driving to and from school. Now that I have my new phone with camera, I can document our happenings. I always say, "What happens in carpool stays in carpool!"

MUST GET FROSTY!

Throwing up in the Slurpee cup, poor Sammy.

Standing out my window

This one was classic... another child waiting nicely for his brothers and sisters was playing matchbox cars through the sunroof...

Break out the organic chips - it is CARPOOL HAPPY HOUR!

Want to join us? We love carpool playdates!

Sites of Boston

These are some of the photos from our weekend away in Boston and Plymouth. We had such a wonderful time together. Nate and I really love to check out new restaurants and coffee shops and dessert places... so that is a lot of the photos: food.

Harvard Square coffee shop - delicious! Nate is the one bending over choosing his cookie! We had our coffee in Harvard Square, listening to musicians and people watching. So fun for us!

This was a darling cupcake shop also in Harvard Square. We didn't buy any because they were expensive and I knew I could do better at home!
Darling wallpaper!

If anyone knows anything about this place, let me know - Lilly maybe? A Curious George shop opening soon! We may be back.

This was the replica of the Mayflower - kind of lame actually - touristy.

This is it... Plymouth ROCK!

Nate enjoys his bottomless pancakes without kids dripping syrup all over the kitchen!

Nate likes his hot sauce! We were so tired after a day of work, school, carpooling, Metro, flying to Boston, walking around, driving to Plymouth and now... dinner alone. His ring is still shining strong.. 10 years old!

Like French Fries but Green Beans! yum-O

What a wonderful time! We can't wait to do it again!

Second Grade Journaling (Volume 5)

Toddler L-O-V-E

I have had a little more one on one time with Ellen this school year. What fun to have a little active amazing toddler. These are some of our adventures caught on my new camera!

Pastry shop choices...

Potty training... she does what Sammy does - stands up!

Calling Grandma and Nana...

Brushing Teeth (ignore the bathroom... we are working on it)

Eating watermelon with Snow Boots!

Grace is her big buddy. She takes her out of the crib and this picture is one of my favorites because Ellen has her head on Grace... 7:30 AM on the way to school

Inside the new dollhouse that John Kuspa built for us! Thank you Mr Kuspa!

Drinking water by herself

Karina, Keira, Sam and Ellen!

We have some friends that go to our church with two precious girls, Karina and Keira. We have started to do a "swap" during the week and watch each other's kids. This has been a highlight of my fall - a mini preschool at home! Every Monday we do fun activities with our friend "Kee-na." (That is what Ellen calls her.)

Lady and the Tramp

mall play area and pretzels
Fingerpaints!
Snacktime!

Playdate at the Doctor's office! Good times.

Horse, soccer ball and FLOOD

What a week! Earlier this week, I left for a friend's house and the washing machine hose came out of the utility sink and poured out water for 2 1/2 hours. Whew! I came home to a huge wet mess. Our basement flooded through the ceiling and was a big puddle. We are working on some insurance claims, getting a new washing machine and all that stuff. I am so thankful it wasn't worse - we are safe, the hardwood floors didn't get ruined and we don't have wall to wall carpeting in the basement.

Yesterday our neighbor across the street had to call 911 because their back up generator was on fire. Our other neighbor Pam just had a dozen baby bunnies born to her big white rabbit.

I also got pulled over yesterday morning. Thanks to one of my kids, the registration sticker got pulled off my license plate. But, my registration was overdue by 7 days. I explained that we recently moved and they never sent the new forms to us and life got busy. So off to court in a month! Then Ellen called the fireman button on the elevator at MOPS. That honestly wasn't a big deal but it really freaked out the other kids on the elevator.

After the flood, I ran over to Lowes to look for a remnant to lay down in the basement for the kids to play on something soft. I found this round 3 foot soccer ball rug in the clearance section. I went up the customer service and they told me it was $12.5, originally $49.50. I told them "that isn't good enough" and that I would only buy it if it was $2 or less. So he marked them down to $2. Seriously, Sam has never loved anything more. He sleeps with it and rolls it up and walks around the house with it. That and the lifesize singing horse I got at a yard sale in the rain last Sat. It is HUGE.

The draining process was very involved...

Wet Vac that we got from our realtor... great gift.
My dad supervising Nate - what a mess! Closet mess and I am so thankful that my "swap stuff" was off the floor.
Laundry Room... now we are looking for a new machine And here is the horse!! She didn't get wet. Her name is Sparkle.

new phone

I have a new handy dandy phone which means I don't post as much. I love it because I am not on the computer anymore at all. The kids are happier, my house is cleaner, and dinners are made... Success! I rejoined the gym and feel great. I am in a new nighttime Bible Study with some women at my church - learning a lot.

Sam almost got hit this morning in the parking lot at the gym. I became one of those moms that went crazy. I saw her coming, the SUV didn't see him and cut it way too close. I saw her and started hitting her car screaming like a crazy woman. She didn't know what was happening. He is safe and sound.

I am going to post some photos from my phone... Snapshots of life around here.