Tessa graduates from preschool

Tessa has gone and done it.  Despite my every effort to stall her growing up, she went ahead and grew, and she was excited about it. 

She is already talking about going to the same school as Sam

She is planning what to carry in her backpack.

She is coordinating school outfits.

She is making a list of necessary school supplies.

She is drawing pictures to help me remember her when she is at school so I won't be lonely.

She is anxiously awaiting that beloved day when she can ride the school bus.

She is ready for kindergarten.

I'm not.

After two years of preschool with Mrs. Patricia, Tessa graduated, and she was thrilled.  She knows what comes next......Kindergarten.  And although I may not love that she is growing up so quickly, I can't help but catch some of that enthusiasm myself.  

Congratulations, Tessa!  We love you!

Turning 40!

This year my birthday was on Mother's Day, so I was esecially pampered, but I was still grumpy.  Turning 40 is not going to hit my "highlight reel." 

That being said, I didn't have any good reason to be a grump (other than the fact that turning old stinks and the fact that I relate to Barbara Bush who looked more like George Sr.'s

mother than his wife and Ted gets a few gray hairs and looks "distinguished" and I get gray and look like an old mother hubbard,  but I digress....) 

I was greeted with a homemade "smoothie" made by Tessa which consisted of strawberries and bananas sliced into a cup - her specialty.  I have a great husband who puts up with my neverending list of house projects, and I have sweet kids who remembered to pamper me all day long.

And I have sweet sisters who remembered to send me this lovely bouquet (even though I am sure they were itching to send me the old vulture cookie bouquet!)

I love you all.  Maybe 40 won't be so bad after all. 

Now if you'll excuse me, it is 3:30 in the afternoon so I better get ready for the early bird buffet at Golden Corral!  :)

Reunion in Savannah, Georgia!

Every decade (yes, you read that correctly) we vowed that we would get together and celebrate our birthdays.  I can't believe it has been 10 years since we met in New York to have a gals weekend together.  Most of our communication these days takes place in the form of birthday emails and Christmas cards, but it was great to be together again and catch up. 

We spent the days looking at the architecture, the scenery, the antique shops, eating some AMAZING southern cuisine, and just laughing late into the night. 

Liz (Bleyl) Morgan, Sarah (Johnson) Grabarz, Shellie (Marz) Hutchinson, and Leslie (Thompson) Wagner. 

Friends since second grade. 

Happy 40th Girls!

Easter 2012

Spring Break 2012

For spring break this year the kids came to us anxiously awaiting to hear what adventure we would be taking.  Two years ago it was Disneyland.  Last year it was a cruise.  You can imagine their enthusiasm when we told them we were heading to Shoshone Falls and then Lava Hot Springs.  Actually, they were really excited thinking these were exotic locations which involved many plane changes.  When we explained that we would be driving to Twin Falls and then over towards Idaho Falls, their enthusiasm seemed to wane a little bit.  However, we had one saving grace in our pocket:  we were meeting our good friends, the Lancasters, over in Lava Hot Springs.  When they heard this they perked right up and got excited. 

Shoshone Falls was beautiful but FREEZING.  They were more excited to head to Chili's and get some dinner.  :)

The next day we headed over to Lava Hot Springs.  We were a little nervous when we saw the hotel.  I believe Ted's actual text to Frank said, "What the heck?  Norman Bates says hello."  Frank thought it was hilarious - the kids were a little nervous.  When we emphasized that it was all part of the adventure then they managed to perk up again.

We had a great time sitting in the springs, playing games, and having the kids run back and forth between rooms was perfect for them - and us!

All in all it was a great spring break.  Thanks for everything Lancasters!  Our kids are already asking when we are going back!

Pinewood Derby 2012

For a boy whose whole world revolves around soccer, it wasn't hard to understand what his vision was for his Pinewood Derby car.  :)  Good job Sammy!  (Excuse the blurry picture - all I had was my phone!)

Emma turns 15!

Do you see that beautiful but exhausted girl?  That is the look of someone who got only hours of sleep because her parents caved in and let her go see the Hunger Games premier at midnight - even though it was a school night.  She was a good sport, though, and did her best to keep her eyes open and be pleasant throughout the coming days.  She still says it was worth it. :)

 She had no idea what this was, but since she would soon be getting her license I made a stoplight cake.  I think she was too tired to show much ethusiasm.  :)

 The day before she had spent her energy singing in a choir concert and doing a beautiful job.  Emma is very talented and is such a joy to have in our house, even when she has only gotten three hours of sleep! 

Happy Birthday Emma!  We love you!