Preschool Celebration

Last night was Hannah's preschool graduation program.  The four-year olds were graduating and the 3-year olds received a certificate for completing their first year of preschool.  When the "graduates" walked up the aisle, I got a little teary-eyed and Hannah wasn't even graduating this year!!  It was a very cute program.  The kids sang a few songs, there were 2 slide show presentations, their teachers talked about the year and then they received their certificates and diplomas.  I'm super bummed the year is over - I absolutely LOVE her school and her teachers.  They made every student a copy of the slide show and then if there were other pictures of your child not included in the slide show, another slide show of those pictures were made just for you - I know, awesome right? Even though yesterday was the official last day for Hannah's class, the school is meeting at the park for a playdate on Thursday.  They each have t-shirts with their classmates hand prints on them they're supposed to wear.  Have I mentioned I love her school yet?  They even made Father's Day gifts early to give to their Dad's on Father's Day!

Here is a preview of last night!

Walking up the aisle in the beginning of the program

Watching Pastor talk

Hannah on the big screen

Receiving her certificate

Most of her class - one was sick, the other too shy to come up

Walking back up after the program (although she did freeze and wouldn't move from this spot)

With her good friend, Haley

And with good friend Avril

Her amazing teachers, Mrs. Gibbons (Hannah calls her Mrs. Givens), Mrs. Woods and Mrs. Simpson

I hope to get a picture with Hannah and the rest of her classmates at the park!  All of her friends but one are coming back next year - so exciting!

Anniversary

Monday, May 23rd was our 2 year anniversary.  Seems like it should be more than that, but I guess not!  After Emma got out of school we headed to Manassas so Matt's Mom could watch the girls for us!  We had gift cards to Olive Garden and the movies from Christmas, so that was our plan!  We went all out and got all four courses.  We shared calamari, cheese sticks, and my favorite, fried ravioli!  Matt ordered soup with his dinner, I got salad.  And don't' forget the breadsticks - man I was full already!  For dinner, Matt got a steak gorgonzola alfredo pasta - I didn't like it, but he thought it was pretty good!  I got my favorite, crap and shrimp stuffed tortellini with shrimp on the top - delish!  I saved enough to have a small lunch the next day and ordered the most wonderful dessert every, the black tie mousse cake.  So now we're really full! Our gift cards covered everything and we even have $3 left on one of them.  We only paid for the tip out of pocket!

Then we rolled ourselves to the movies where the smell of buttery popcorn left us craving some.  We just got our Entertainment Book in the mail a few days earlier and I had a coupon for a free small popcorn if you purchased a large soft drink.  The lady let us get water instead and we upgraded to the medium popcorn.  We saw Bridesmaids and it was hilarious!  We both laughed the whole time.  This was actually the first time we have ever been to a movie together.  I have taken the girls a few times, Matt took Emma to see Rio last week and we both took Emma to see Night at the Museum the day after we got married; but we've never been as a couple sans kids! 

Matt's mom got us a gift card to Chili's and the movies for our anniversary so hopefully we'll be able to go again soon.  There were a ton of good previews so I think the chances are pretty high!

We had a great time and were even able to find topics to talk about rather than the kids! 

4-course dinner at the Olive Garden $10

Movie for two with popcorn and water $6.25

Night out with my amazing husband -priceless

 Emma took some pictures for us - they were all awful (not her fault).  Apparently I've inherited my Dad's problem of closing my eyes every time I take a picture! But here we are, May 23, 2011!

A Whirlwind Weekend

We had a BUSY weekend!  My brother and his nephew came to stay - whoo hoo!  I haven't been able to see my nephew too many times so I was super excited!  He was adorable and super good!  Emma had a soccer game Saturday morning and then we immediately had to get to Charlottesville for Hannah's dance recital!  Here are some pics from the long day!

Hannah loves to pick flowers for me at Emma's games

Emma throwing the ball in!

Making sure we're watching!

Noah LOVED this thing and did not like when it was taken away!

LOVE this shot - Daddy and son

We're not allowed to take pictures during Hannah's recital and I had to chaperone her class anyway (wow! what a task that was!) Her class was sooo adorably cute - it is made up of 3 and 4 year olds.  Hannah did pretty well during rehearsal a few days before.  She kept her head down but eventually got into it even if she was a few steps behind.  During the actual recital she kind of froze in fear (as expected) and did a few foot taps.  She livened up once they all got their scarves to do the next part.  She was one of the few kids that ran back to their spot while they were supposed to get into a big circle and do a dance there (it was very cute!).  They finished it up by showing their tumbling skills - Hannah rocked the somersault!  I can't wait to watch the video! I wanted to get pictures of her afterward but she wasn't having any of it (as usual!).  Here is my beautiful daughter with some family!

Smile.. please?

With her Grammy and Great Gramma

Laughing now that posed pictures were done!

It doesn't sound busy when I write it up but we were gone from 930 Saturday morning until about 730 that night.  Soccer game followed by a rush to get Noah some milk before heading to Charlottesville.  Oh wait, the kids need to eat lunch, otherwise it will be 5pm before they eat again.  Quick drive thru run in Madison.  Get Hannah dressed, fix her hair.  Chaperone 3 and 4 year olds and keep them entertained and their costumes cleaned for 3 hours (only one had a "I want my mommy" moment, but several of these kids were a challenge!). Change Hannah again, decide on dinner - head all the way back to Culpeper and meet everyone at IHOP for dinner.  Go to Martins for more milk and yogurt for Noah and ice cream for me!  Set off a few fireworks, you know, just for fun, clean everyone up and hit the hay!  Whoooooooooo!

Monday Menu

I feel like I'm running our of ideas for dinner. Besides the usual weekly mexican and bi-monthly breakfast, I never know what to make!  Here is what I managed to come up with for this week. (Oh, and things are repeats from last week, well that means we never got around to it)

Today is my 2nd wedding anniversary so Grammy Elliott is watching the girls while the hubs and I go to Olive Garden (we got several gift cards for Christmas) and possibly a movie (courtesy of more gift cards!) The girls will probably end up with pizza? 

Creamed Chicken and Biscuits - this is one of Emma's favorite dinners.  I double the recipe and use fluffy biscuits.  It's gone before we know it!

BLT's - yep, never got around to theses last week. 

Kielbasa - bbq'd with mashed taters and some veggies

Taco Salad - Need to mix up the usual taco/burrito/enchilada so we're doing salad instead! I'm kind of excited about this night!

Chicken Sandwiches - maybe some fries too?

What are you having this week?

Monday Menu

I almost forgot! Here's what we're having this week!

TONIGHT - I'm heading out to Chili's to meet the other ladies from my church while the rest of the fam has a frozen pizza.

TUESDAY - Fried chicken, coleslaw, fried taters.  I was supposed to make this last week but never did and my bag of coleslaw needs to be used!

WEDNESDAY - Hannah is having her dance recital rehearsal in Charlottesville this day, so we're meeting my Mom for dinner when it's over!

THURSDAY - Out celebrating a friend's daughter's birthday!

FRIDAY - BLT's and just some chips.  Our last pack of meat from my mom's farm and just an easy night of dinner!

SATURDAY - Hannah's actual recital in Charlottesville. Since some family is coming out to watch her we'll probably head to dinner afterward!

SUNDAY - Hamburgers, corn on the cob, fries and baked beans.  We still had burgers left from our Mother's Day dinner, along with extra buns and beans, so all I had to do was pick up some corn!

What are you having?

Mother's Day(s)

Mother's Day really began on Thursday for me!  Hannah's preschool had a Mother's Day Tea and it was so cute! There was a little lunch and tea and lemonade in cute teapots.  The teachers even took care of the kids, getting their plates and helping them so the mom's could just sit and eat - VERY nice! Then the kids sang a few songs, "I'm a little teapot", "My Mommy has a special name", "Toe-knee Chestnut", and something else, but I can't remember!  They all made us special gifts too!  It was really wonderful and made me special!

Me and Hannah at tea together

Singing the first song

"tip me over and pour me out!"

I think this still might be little teapot

Her teapot picture frame for me and flowers they planted weeks ago and then painted and potted them!

My favorite of all was the cute plate she made! I used it on Mother's Day!

They used their finger prints to make little butterflies and bee's!

On Friday, Emma's class had a Mother's Day tea as well.  I couldn't wait to go, but sadly I wrote the wrong time down and showed up an hour late!  I was soo mad at myself!!!  I kept telling Emma how excited I was and even reminded her as she got on the bus that I would be there later for tea only to never show up!  When I walked in the office to sign in the secretary told me it was at 10 NOT 11.  I almost cried on the spot.  Hannah and I went to the car and waited until lunch time to at least eat lunch with her.  Her teacher said she acted like I wasn't even planning on coming which upset me even more because Emma doesn't express her emotions well.  I just imagined her waiting and waiting and looking up every time someone came into the classroom waiting for me and I never showed.  I felt like I truly disappointed her and I still have a ton of guilt!  But we stayed for lunch and I told her I would take her to tea after school.  There is a neat place in town called Miss Minerva's that serves tea in fancy pots and tea cups.  We went for a birthday party for a friend earlier in the year and it's really neat.  The girls ordered "Tween Tea" which had a few chicken nuggets, hot dog wrap things, a brownie, fruit and a few other little things.  It came with their choice of tea or lemonade - Emma picked lemonade. I ordered a scone and it came with the most delicious clotted cream and jam.  They have these little sniffing jars to pick out your tea, but I went with the same as last time, Bangkock green tea.  Hannah and I shared it - soooo delicious!  It was great to just spend time with both the girls together doing something special.  

This is Grandma's closet - you get to try on fancy hats and scarves to drink your tea in!

My choice hat

One of her many outfit selections

Emma LOVES this stuff

Princess Hannah drinking her tea

Emma drinking her lemonade

What Emma made me to give during tea! She said her class was collecting empty water bottles and we kept sending them in - now I know why! She made a card and little booklet plus the paper holder!

This broke my heart more: "Dear Mommy. You are nice. I'm happy that you are comeimg to the tea partty. I love you mommy. Thank you for buying close. Thank you for buying shose." She is so sweet!

The sniffing jars!

Finally on Sunday we had company!  After church my Dad, sister and nephews came to visit!  I don't have any pictures of this but it was great to have them here!  I made burgers, a few sides and my sister brought fruit salad and some veggies and hummus.  It was a huge spread!  The kids all played together, they dug a giant hole in my backyard and looked for worms!  A giant mud trail was drug in and it took forever to get all the dirt off their faces, but seeing them play together made it worth it.  Pop then treated us to ice cream at our favorite ice cream shop in town, CJ's.  Thomas let me hold him the whole time even though he kept trying to eat my ice cream!  It was great to spend time with family.  Matt took the girls to the store a few days earlier and let them pick out whatever they wanted (within reason). Hannah got me a "Congratulations on your wedding card", flowers (meant for a gravesite, but hey flowers nontheless!) and a candle.  Emma picked out a "happy birthday" card, a family picture frame and lots of forks (we were down to only 5 and I was constantly washing them - so VERY thoughtful!). Matt brought home a ton of flowers from work and did the dishes for me (which he does often anyway).  

I had a great couple of days to celebrate my girls.  They really are the best gift of all!  So many people try so hard to have children and can't and I have been blessed with TWO(!) beautiful, smart, loving little girls!  There are some days that are harder than others and days that make me wonder how I'll do it but at the end of the day it's all worth it! I'm so proud to be their mom!

Monday Menu

Tonight we're having Corn-Sausage Chowder. It's more of a fall meal, but we haven't had it in awhile and it's so delish!

Later this week we're having:

Ravioli - I'll use Bertolli's Vidalia Onion sauce which is my absolute FAV, and we'll use the rest of the garlic bread from Monday night's chowder!

Chicken Quesadillas - I slow cook the chicken all day so it shreds easy. Matt adds some seasoning and it's so delicious! 

Taco Salad - I know, two mexican dinners in one week? I don't know how this happened, but oh well!  Beans and rice will be on the side as usual!

Chicken Sandwiches - I have a ton of buns left from Mother's Day (we had burgers!), so I outta use them! I may even break out our little grill rather than bake 'em!

BBQ Chicken Pizza - I've never made this but I've been really wanting to for awhile! I make my own crust then I"ll top it off with bbq sauce, chicken, onion and mozzy cheese!  

What are you having this week?