Happy Birthday Carie!

Last week was a rough week.  I mean one of those close your office door, lay your head on your desk and cry kind of week.  No worries...we are all fine. It was just a series of events that topped out both Dan and I's ability to cope with any more stress. 

Anyway we my friend Carie invited us to come celebrate her birthday at the beach with a few other couples, I leapt at the opportunity.  This was just what we needed!  Miraculously all 5 couples were able to find overnight baby sitters so we were all beyond excited to party it up.  We have 12 kids between us so this never EVER happens!

We started the evening in Lewes with big plans of attending Agave.  However when we learned that there was a 3 hour wait for a table we hopped back into our cars and headed to Rehoboth were we had dinner at Dos Locos.  We had a blast talking, eating, drinking giant margaritas, and watching Carie rock the giant Birthday Sombrero.

After dinner we went to the Summer House and danced the night away.  We all completly forgot that we are old and may have partied just a teensy bit too much:)  It was a great night and one that I'm sure we will all be talking about for years. 

Happy birthday Carie!  It was a blast and just what we needed!

BTW:  This blog has undergone some changes and I can't figure out how to spell check now!  You all probably know that I can't spell to save my life so please be forgiving until I figure spell check out!

Congratulations Danny!!

I just wanted to take a minute to congratulate my Hubby.  Yesterday morning Dan was awarded an American Academy of Environmental Engineer's Excellence in Engineering award for a project he has been managing for several years.  The award was for "Innovation, Safety, and Sustainability at the Kent County Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility."  He is the proud new owner of a big old trophy and some serious bragging rights.  I'm so proud of you Danny!!! 

A work in progess.  I have no clue what this picture is of exactly but it has something to do with the project:)

It's Soccer Season!

We have offically kicked off the 2012 Spring Soccer Season.  This is Brynn's 3rd soccer season and we are thrilled to be back with the Wolf Pack again.  It's really nice because we have mostly the same team again including her cousin Aiden and Brynn's best friend from dance Gabby...and of course Assistant Coach Daddy.  It's nice to actually know the kids because then you can just cheer for everyone.  This Saturday was the first game (well it was Brynn and Aiden's first game because we were camping during the ACTUAL first game) and team pictures.  It was a close game but we did not walk away with the win (although Brynn did not know that).  It is so much fun to watch soccer!  I think Brynn has gotten a little more aggressive and as a tiny idea about what she should be doing at this point.  She is bound and determined to make that first gameday goal this season.  I just love that she is having fun and getting some fresh air and excerise.  LET'S GO WOLFPACK!!!


Brynn and Gabby holding hands on the sideline.



Brynn and Assistant Coach Daddy:)

The Wolfpack getting their patches

Brynn and Aiden. Spring Soccer 2012

Just When I Thought I was Cool...

Last we had a few gorgeous days of weather and one of those days coincided with a really great day at work.  Needless to say I was on top of the world.  As I leave work that day I cannot resist the urge to open my windows and moon roof and blast the music at full volume.  So now picture this...

I am in my car playing my favorite songs via my iPhone playlist loud enough to shake the car (I love when you can actually feel the bass in your chest...see I'm a gangsta!).  My hair is blowing in the wind.  I have my shades on.  I'm listening to "Like a G6" and feeling pretty darn young, free and...well, just cool.  I pull up to a red light and the young guys in the car next to me start checking me out....yep, I AM cool.  At that particular moment, the song on my play list changes.  Suddenly..."Mousekedoer" (Mickey Mouse) is blaring from my radio (remember my windows and moon roof are open).  I hit the "next" button on my play list and "A Mouse Like Me" (also Mickey Mouse) starts blaring.  I finally jab the button a few more times until something "cool" comes on.  At this point the guys in the car next to me who were checking me out are laughing hysterically.

Oh well...at least I was "cool" for a minute.

Miss Delaware 2012

Hey there Miss Delaware fans.  I have received a couple of e-mails from people wondering if I plan to blog about the Miss Delaware pageant again this year.  The answer is yes:-)

 

I did not blog after the first orientation because I wasn't able to attend.  I was busy sneaking in a much needed family getaway:-)  I'm still doing the choreography and was thrilled that Bliss Soucek was able to fill in for me at the first orientation and teach the opening number.

 

Since I wasn't at the orientation, I don't have much to report yet but I was told that everything went really well. About half of the contestants are newbies this year and it is my understanding that they are a pretty impressive group and of course we know that the returning contestants are awesome.  What I can tell you is to stay tuned because there are going to be some exciting announcements made in the near future.  In the meantime....here is the Miss Delaware Class of 2012 with their contestant order and talent song:-)

 

MU Group- Thursday- SS & Onstage Question

                 Friday- Talent & Evening Gown

1. Mikaila Ryan- Vocal- "And I Am Telling You"

2. Ashley Morley- Tape Dance- "Show Me How You Burlesque"

3. Erin Magnin- Vocal- "I Dream in Color"

4. Heather McKinney- Ballet en Pointe- "La Esmerelda"

5. Jessica Shepps- Piano

6. Stephanie Bailey- Vocal- "Time to Say Goodbye"

7. Alyssa Murray- Dance- "River Deep, Mountain High"

8. Steffi Holmes- Operatic Vocal- "Nella Fantasia"

9. Becky Albini- Dance- "Baby I'm a Star"

Delta Group- Thursday- Talent & Evening Gown

                   Friday- Onstage Question

10. Renee Bull- Lyrical Dance- "Who You Are"

11. Marcie Smith- Vocal- "For Once in My Life"

12. Amanda Debus- Dance- "Living Proof"

13. Rebecca Jackson- Broadway Vocal- "One Hand, One Heart"

14. Alix Gardner- Monologue

15. Cassidy Seabolt- Dance- "Bleeding Love"

16. Chelsea Betts- Vocal- "Listen"

17. Tierra Fair- Jazz Dance- "PYT"

18. Melissa Caltabiano- Tap Dance

 

Birthday Photo Shoot

My baby girl is almost 5 years old!  FIVE YEARS OLD!!  That is an entire hand of fingers!!  Five year olds go to kindergarten, they shop in the big kid section for clothing and they start to develop their own opinion about things like friends and clothing!  I am so not ready for this!!!  Sorry...just having a moment!

Anyway, as we get closer to Brynn's birthday it was time to start thinking about her birthday invitations.  I have a slight obsession about those cute little photo invitations/cards.  I think that they are required for every birthday/Christmas.  I just love them!  I love giving them and I love getting them (hence the photo diary of my children and nieces & nephews that proudly wallpaper my fridge).  When I started talking about how I need to order Brynn's invitations Dan said, "Can't you just go to the store and buy some like everyone else?".  "Uhhhh...NO!", I said, "It's actually cheaper to just order them."  That statement is probably true when all is said and done but honestly what is a party with out an adorable little photo invitations to set the tone for the whole thing?!  I know, I know...I have issues.

So last week in preparation for ordering the invitations it was time for the annual (well maybe bi-annual...okay it happens several times a year) photo shoot.  In my mind these photo shoots are going to be really fun with my children working it like little supermodels.  That is not usually how it works out. Generally the children are fighting, the dog and/or cat suddenly decided that they would like to participate too, the kids are complaining, the kids are looking anywhere but at the camera, the camera battery dies, someone suddenly remembers that they need to go to the bathroom/have a snack...you get the idea. 

I dressed Brynn in a cute outfit and we headed outside since the weather was great.  On the way out I notice that a stain has magically appeared on her jumper.  That stain was not on the jumper when she put it on and she has not touched nor eaten anything but none the less there is a little stain on the jumper just a staring at me.  Sigh...I toss a denim jacket over her jumper and say..."let's go!"

Once outside my child who hates this process suddenly becomes a camera directing fashion model.  "Let's get some pictures on my swing first, Mama."  Why not I think...it it makes this processes easier I am happy to let her do her thing.  She continues to direct the photo shoot for the next 15 minutes, moving us from location to location while she poses.  I on the other hand am just along for the ride and snapping away because let's face it...it may never go this smooth again!  After 15 minutes she declares..."I think we have enough now Mama.  It's time for a snack."  I guess that's a wrap than.  I ended up getting several really good pictures (and some silly ones that I love) and had choices!!!  Please, please, please let this year's Christmas card pictures go as smoothly...

Tall Pines 2012

Over the weekend we kicked off the camping season with our annual trip to Tall Pines with family.  This is our 3rd annual trip to this particular campground on Pig Roast Weekend and the first time that there was not a torrential downpour either while we were there or just before we got there.  It would take me forever to tell you about all of the fun we had so I will just say that we had a blast, the weather was great and I wish the weekend had been longer.  Here are some pics so you can see some of the fun:

Relaxing in the fresh air

It's hard to tell in this picture but these are our campers and in front of each camper the men are cooking breakfast on their griddles.  Just another reason to love camping:-)

Mustache mafia?

All of the kids loved the playground

Colton sharing his Smore with Mickey Mouse

Ava and Colton in the bounce house

The kids

The men bringing dinner back from the pig roast

Girls

Dan dancing with an armful

Gettin down at the hoe down

Love this little rotten man:-)

Dancing the night away

Lol...this is Ava at the end of the hoe down.  She had been a dancing fool.  Poor thing just laid in the wagon for the walk home.

I love camping:-)

Happy Easter!

We had a wonderful Easter.  We kicked off the festivities by going to see the Easter Bunny with my cousin and her kids.  Neither Colton or Emma were too thrilled about sitting with the Easter bunny.  Too be honest...he is a little scary.  I ended up with a really funny picture (which also includes me because there was no way Colton was go to sit near that Bunny without Mama).  There actually was a picture in which Colton looks slightly less terrified but I picked this one because it makes me giggle.

                                             Picture coming soon

The kids were very excited on Easter Eve.  We finished decorating the eggs that they had dyed earlier.  We also made sure to leave carrots for the Easter Bunny and in case that wasn't enough we made a giant glowing Easter egg arrow which pointed towards our house...just to make it easier for the bunny to find us.

Ready for the Bunny.  Yes Colton is wearing Mickey Mouse Ears.  He didn't want to wear Bunny Ears but chose Mickey instead:-)

On Sunday morning we woke up and checked all the goodies that the Easter Bunny had left.  I must have been still asleep because I failed to take any pictures of this.  We then got dressed up and headed to the Sunrise Service at church.  I love this service because after there is a big yummy breakfast buffet downstairs!  You can smell it throughout the entire service...mmmmmm.

After breakfast, we went to my Mom's house to rest.  Everyone managed to sneak in a quick nap.



After nap, we all got dressed up (again) and went to Aunt Susan's house for the annual Easter Egg Hunt.  This is definitely the kid's favorite part of the day.  Aunt Susan invites a slew of kids and labels the eggs so that each kid gets the same amount. This year she hid (and put prizes in) over 700 eggs. The kids had a blast!

After the egg hunt it was time for MY favorite part of the day...family dinner at my Mommom's house.  One of my top 5 favorite things in the world would have to be just spending time at her house with my family.  We ate a delicious dinner, talked, laughed, teased each other, ate, watched the kids play, ate, and laughed some more...oh, and my nephew Hunter lost a tooth which produced all kinds of excitement! 

Happy Easter everyone!  I hope it was great!!

Easter Eggs

Easter Eggs....check!  The kids had a great time dying easter eggs this weekend and Dan and I had a great time watching them even though Colton insisted on sticking his entire hand in the blue egg dye. 

Dying eggs always makes us think of Grandma String who even at 96 years old loved to dye those easter eggs.  We miss you Grandma String and wish you were here to dye eggs with us but know that you must have loved looking down from heaven and seeing how happy the kids were doing it and hearing us talk about you.