Catching up on life

We now have a six year old artist and tball player!  Charlie's 6th birthday was perfectly simple.  Redksins football was the theme and a touch of playmobile police and rescue.  The Starwars phase is beginning to move out and we are returning to good old community workers!  Nana treated our big boy and family to a memorable day at Massanutten Water Park.  I was completely out of my comfort zone, it being a lot of water and really fast slides.  But Charlie had no reservations about going down the fastest slide in the park, by himself.  Shoo-wee!  Mary Kate took about 2 hours to warm up and just as we were about to leave she braved a water slide solo!  Even Nana hit a few slides,  Thanks Nana!!!!  Charlie has seemed to hit another milestone when it comes to maturing.  While he still has a very loud voice, he is beginning to show more patience and self-control.  He is learning the art of letting younger people win even when it isn't fair and has now realized the payoff for working hard at everything he does!  I want to bottle up my sweet little 6 year old, that has all is baby teeth, still likes to hold his bear and loves to snuggle with mommy and daddy.  I want to bottle it up and never let it go.

Our elementary school Art teacher put on an adorable Art Show.  Families walked around the halls and classrooms displayed with artwork.  You and your child got to find their masterpieces and take them home.  There is something magical about kid art! Then we got sucked into the book fair of course and spent way too much money!!!  I showed support by hanging and setting up the Art Show, while Nick showed his support by stuffing himself into the Clifford The Big Red Dog costume.  Yes, he did everything but flips and cartwheels and the kids loved it!!!

 We are loving our small little community and the fact that we are just minutes even second away from all of our activities.  "The Bats" tball team hit the field.  On our way to tball Charlie asked, "Why do I need my baseball glove?  I thought I just got to hit the ball!"  LOL, really!  It looks like our little man has a lot to learn this season.

 On a side note, I am so happy to see my children playing together so nicely.  This picture was sent to me while I was getting my hair done.  Daddy was on duty and was tiling the upstairs bathroom (pics soon to come on that project).  I am so glad he had everything under control!!!

Love her

Date snapshots and Valentine's Day

I don't want to neglect the fact that my hubby and I have actually had a few dates the past few weekends.  I personally prefer the "Daytime" date rather than evening.  We found a great HS girl down the street (walking distance) that hit it off with the kids and I could actually have a nice conversation with the girl.  She didn't have her nose in a cell phone nor did she have an attitude.  Rare these days! These dates made up for the fact that I was on my deathbed the day before Valentine's day with the stomach flu.  My home was full of love and care from my family refilling my Gatorade and soda crackers :) I did crawl across the street in my weak stupor to take some picture of Charlie on Valentine's Day.  There is just something so sweet and about opening those little valentine's that are sealed with a heart sticker.  While my students enjoyed getting pencils and erasers (due to no candy rule in our county) my children devoured loads of artificial flavors and dyes and had a melt down at about 5pm.  Hmmmm, I am beginning to like the other side of the mountain.

Does she see dead people?

So my girl is a little obsessed with death.  In fact, both my children are very curious about dying.  Mary Kate has mentioned random people mostly men that she sees in odd places for sometime.  There was the man that stood by her window in the red shirt (at the old house).  Now there is a man that she has seen at her preschool that "helps the people to not die".  Last night she asked if dead people wear clothes.  She said    "When I die, I do not want clothes.  I want to show everyone my boobies."  Hmmmm.

I then proceeded to have a conversation with Charlie about why E.T. was all dried out when he died.  He asked if dogs get all dried out like E.T. when the die.  That led to the dreaded question, "What will happen to me and Mary Kate if you and daddy die?".  I assured him that there are so many people that love him (did not mention that it is all taken care of in our will that Aunt Kelly and Uncle Doug will get him and MK).  I made sure to start with Aunt Kelly and Uncle Doug.  His response, "Oh yeah, they are nice.  I know them. Uncle Doug is really good at changing tires".  LOL!

Happy New Year!

Instead of wishing what this new year will bring, I wish to bring this new year...
a frugal lifestyle 
more love for the outdoors
down time
more time spent educating my own children
showing more gratitude toward the people I love!

Holiday

From Thanksgiving to Christmas a warm home with family.  Funny highlights included...

Mary Kate yelling to Santa on the roadside because she refused to get out of the car out of fear.

Charlie getting cut off by the other people in line while talking to Santa about his long, long, long list. 

Charlie's proud moment as Rudolph in the school Winter Show.  His singing talent was showed off at his sister's Nativity show while he sung above the whole audience out of tune and the wrong verses.  Mary Kate also had a proud moment as an angel and we were just glad that she stood on stage and smiled considering she refused to sing the Thanksgiving prayer dressed as pilgrim.  Our over excitement about our tall ceilings led to us having to cut about two feet off our Christmas tree (that was tied to the family Sedan).  Can you say Chevy Chase...