Back to School lunch with the girls

Well now that the kids are back in school I have a little more time for "me". I decided that since I hadn't done anything with my friends all summer that I would throw a "back to school" lunch. We had such a wonderful time just hanging out and talking. If I didn't have to put so much into my parties (I love it) I would have one every week. Here are some pictures. I realized that I am not very good at taking pictures of the actual party and my guests. I need to work on that.

My kids had a blast helping me with my table cloth (butcher paper).

I  found this great downloadable subway art here. I think this is what really got me excited to have the party. It is so cute!

I also realized this time I didn't take pictures of the food :( We had delicious chicken florentine pasta, a fresh caprese salad, and a few other amazing little diddy's that I found via pinterest (my new favorite hobby).

Parmesan Knots

(click for recipe)

Pepperoni Pizza Puffs

(Click for recipe)

And lets not forget this deliciousness!

Apple Nachos, YUMMY!

Thinkin' I might need to make this a tradition!

First Day of School 2011

Unbelievable...Summer is over all ready. Where did the time go? Not only is summer over, but my little girl is in eighth grade now. Talk about time flying. It just goes faster as I get older.
Here's Maggie, first day of eighth grade. She loves babysitting, cooking/baking, hanging out with Lindz and Brookelle, Texting (but who doesn't?), Down East clothes and Toms (she bought two pairs with her own money after I had already bought her a new pair). Such an amazing girl! She always does what she is asked and helps out so much around the house (unless it involves cleaning her own room) and isn't she cute!

Dane and Emma...talk about energy! If we could harness it, we could easily power our house plus probably some of the neighbors as well. Gotta love it though! Dane started sixth grade this year. He loves Legos, Harry Potter, Legos, riding scooters with "the bald eagles" (the scooter club he made up with the neighbors and preston), Legos, SpongeBob, Legos and did I mention Legos? He is great with the younger kids and loves to take care of baby Sawyer. His hair has grown out quite a bit over the past year (much to my disapproval) but we made a deal that he could grow it until he turned 12 and then it's gone (can't wait, it drives me crazy).

Emma is our sweet and sassy little girl. She started 2nd grade and loves school. She's been in gymnastics for a year now and will compete on the team this fall. She has a love hate relationship with it, but has a natural talent I will fight "this" battle. She's good! She too, loves baby Sawyer (who doesn't?), loves to be in the water and pretend she is a mermaid and has become obsessed with sharks (this came from the movie soul surfer), not only is she obsessed with sharks, but loves the gore and excitement of a good shark attack (Can't wait to watch shark week with her). She turns eight soon and will be getting baptized. We are all excited for that to take place.

Then there is my baby(not really since Sawyer is the baby, but he was for so long, I can't let go). Off to Kindergarten this year. He is such a sweetie and I have a very soft place in my heart for this kid. He can do no wrong in my eyes (maybe it's because he has my eyes). Preston loves everything Dane loves including Legos (did I already mention how much my boys love Legos?). he also loves the Wii which we've had to control a little bit. It gets a little out of hand on those days he is home with me and I have a lot of things to get done. He had a great start at kindergarten already knowing most of the stuff they will be learning this year (He's a smartie!). I'm excited for him because he loves it, but I kinda miss having him around all the time. Good thing I have one more;). Isn't he handsome, watch out girls. Speaking of girls, he informed me that if you really want to get the girls, then you wear your backpack over one shoulder. How can they not love him?

It's nice to be back in the routine of school. We are busy and trying to keep up with everything but it's so fun to watch these kids learn and grow. I am one lucky Mom!

Summer Highlights

I feel like I should try to catch up on all the blogging I haven't done, but there is no way that will ever happen. So here are a bunch of pictures from our summer. This will be one of my longest posts since pictures are worth 1000 words and the great part is you won't have to read all those words. (I'm not one for reading). Enjoy our summer!

Dane's Birthday at Cowabunga Bay

We had the park to ourselves for the first hour. It was a little chilly but the water was like a bathtub so no one even noticed the temp. They all had a great time.

Happy 10th birthday Dane! We love you!

Dane's Cowabunga Bay Sign

Graduations

6th Grade and Kindergarten

Mrs. Belnap and Emma

Mrs. O'very's 6th Grade Class 2010

Trek, Pinewood Derby and a Big Fat Eye

Maggie's 12th Birthday

A trip to Lagoon and Late Night at Cowabunga

I was just too big and pregnant and tired and hot to do anymore than this.

Happy birthday to Julie who shares the same birthday as Maggie and Calvin whose birthday is 2 days later.

Oh wait I did do something else. We went to lunch at Dear lizzie (the cutest store and restaurant ever) where the girls tried on prom dresses and then headed to Nordstrom for their first Mac makeover.
Before

After

Oh and she got her first phone and texted me all night from her bedroom. She's one happy tween!

To Be Continued...

Our Happy Little Preschooler

Preston is in his 2nd year of preschool this year and he was so excited to start. He is in a wonderful preschool this year and already after meeting his teacher once, loves her. Emma had her a few years ago and she kept telling Preston all the fun things they would do and then just to help him feel at ease about his teacher, she would say, "Just pretend that she's me". She likes to play school with Preston and she's always the teacher although I don't know how that would help Preston feel good about his new teacher because when Emma's the teacher I am constantly getting notes from her that Preston needs to raise his hand and not speak out in class and sit in time out when he's told to. I'm surprised he wasn't scared to death thinking that his teacher would be like Emma. Anyway, he had a great first day and can't wait to go back.

This kid is so cool.

First Day of School 2010

Summer went way too fast, well except for the 3 weeks right before I had Sawyer, and its back to school already. Yeah!!! I'll admit it, I am happy to have my kids back in school. I gives me a little bit of power back. I can't tell you how many times I heard "But Mom, it's summer and we can do whatever we want" well now it's not summer and they have to do whatever I want. Plus it's just nice to be able to do things again without 5 kids.

Maggie started Jr. High this year. She is turning into such a beautiful young woman. I asked her on the way to school how she was feeling, expecting "excited" or "nervous" or even "scared" and she answered me saying "tired, really tired" isn't that about par for jr. high. It kind of made me laugh. But her first day went well. She was chosen to be on leadership team this year and had already spent quite a few days touring the school and opening lockers so when the first day rolled around she was a pro. I'm a little overwhelmed with all the different papers to be signed and trying to remember what she needs for each class and where she has to be when and holy crap... the fees that come along with Jr. High. I guess I better start saving for next year. Anyway, I guess we'll figure it all out. Isn't she cute? Do I have to worry about boys now?

Dane started 5th grade this year. He's just as "Dane" as ever. All he worried about the first day was whether or not Abby was going to like him again this year. He's liked her since they were in the same class in 1st grade and even told me last year they were boyfriend/girlfriend. I think he even said they were going to get married. So the consensus was that she still liked him so that made him happy. Dane also loves to chat in class and he came home the first day informing me that his teacher would be calling me. Oh Dane...what are we going to do with you???
Emma started 1st grade this year and could not get to school soon enough. She was asking an hour and a half before school started when we could leave. We ended up walking to school so she wouldn't have to sit around and wait for another 30 minutes. She had a great first day. For the first time in her already 4 years of school she got to go for a full day and eat lunch at school, which by the way was the only thing she wanted to talk about when she got home. She loved being one of the big kids who got to eat lunch at school. Unfortunately her excitement ended quickly. On the third day of school, she came home telling me that she went to the principals office because she missed me so much and they wouldn't let her call me. She informed me that she wouldn't be going to school on Monday because she loved me and just wanted to stay home and be with me. How sweet, NOW GO BACK TO SCHOOL!!! Love that girl!My Crazy kids. Gotta get a silly picture in, in order to get the good ones.


Preston will be starting later this week so we will add him in later. He's excited for preschool to start up again. I guess Sawyer and I aren't that exciting and he's getting a little bored.

First Day of School

(a little late)

Emma Kindergarten

Preston Pre-School

Dane 4th Grade

Maggie 6th Grade