4 Girls and a Baby June 26, 2008

So last week my Mom came in to see us.  We had planned to spend a couple of days in the city and just have girly time.  We ended up finding a great deal on priceline at the last minute and ended up just staying in the city.  We had such a great time and Everett was my little miracle baby again :) 

We started out at the Ellen’s Stardust Diner on Broadway.  The waitstaiff are all singers and actors waiting for their big break.  they sing popular songs from Broadway shows and pop songs.  It was such a neat place to have lunch and enjoy the talent.  It is hard to beleive the waiters/waitresses haven’t gotten their break, they were all excellent.

 

:)  Everett gets serenaded.

Next, Grammy and Ali headed off to do some shopping and I took Maddy and Everett to American Girl to have Maddy’s special birthday time.  We had so much fun.  It was a madhouse and we realized later that it was because they were having the premiere of Kit Kittredge that night. 

Maddy with her loot!

After we got back to the hotel Maddy couldn’t wait to  get her American girl out an d dressed up in all of the the clothes we got her.

So, later all fo us met up and Grammy stayed with the little kids and Ali & I headed out to a concert that Ali has been dying to see.  It was an awesome night for Ali and I enjoyed watching her.  I know I had to be like this when I was her age. She loves the lead singer in the band and we had the best seats.  He came over and signed Ali’s shirt and she got to meet other guys from a few other of the bands she likes.  Very cool…

 This was the lead singer right before he came over to our table

Can you tell by the enormous smile on her face that this was right after she got the autograph and touched him

Well, that was our first day in NYC and we had a great day.  I’ll post on our day in Chinatown later. 

 

Boston by Bike June 15, 2008

After we made the trip to Brown we headed to Boston.  We only had one day so Chris found a tour company that shows you around Boston on Bicycles.  It was about a 4 hour tour and the girls did awesome.  Boston is a great  town and I can’t wait to get back and see even more that the city has to offer.  Chris and I have decided that when we can we will try to do bike tours when we visit a new city.  We had a great time even though our butts were very sore :)  It was a GREEN tour and we loved it!

Chris and Everett getting geared up!  I loved the baby helmet.  Everett did not like it at all!

Maddy, my little adventurer!  She did so good.  I was very impressed.

Ali was alwasy concerned with how her hair looked

This was the only shot we got of Everett that he was not crying or sleeping

The Fens were beautiful.  We had such a nice day to bike around.

Everett was sleeping at this point

Next stop Salem…

Why Brown? June 14, 2008

I really have no idea how Ali decided at 12 that she wants to go to Brown.  So, since December Chris and I told her that we would take her there.  We got to go on a tour of the campus.  It is really a pretty campus.  This has now solidified Ali’s dreams of going to Brown.  I am glad that she has those aspirations and I will do as much as I can to perpetuate those aspirations, even is it is Brown.

 

In the classroom already…

OK, so I know this has nothing to do with Brown, but it is a quick little story about how much Ali & I are alike.  As we are headed into Providence about a block away from Brown is a mall.  At the exact same time we both spot NORDSTROM and squeal!  I am a little worried that Ali likes Nordys that much, but hey what can I say?  Sadly , I was not able to shoot a picture of our Mecca

Family Day on the Circle Line June 14, 2008

Last Saturday we ventured out on what seemed to be the hottest day.  We saw signs telling us it was 104 degrees that day.  We decided to take a cruise on the Hudson to take in the sights of NYC.  It was hot and sticky, but we really got to see some beautiful sights.  See the Statue of Liberty, skyline of NYC and all of the great NY bridges.

I know this is torture to the kids, but I am hoping that they appreciate it when they get older and taking their kids to the same sights.  I know I remember those times with my family.

We have a few more trips to the city this summer, but the next few are girls only!!!

Lady Liberty

Mommy & Maddy

My Sweet Ali

Just a few pictures of the day.  I took about a hundred, too many to chose from.

 

 

Ali’s Day in NYC June 9, 2008

We made our first trip to the city for Ali’s Birthday.  Her birthday is actually in July, but her Dad was here so we decided to celebrate a little early.

Walter and I took Ali and her friend Lizzie to New York City.  Walter and I have been planning this for months and neither of us succombed to Ali and told her what our plan was. 

We took Ali to Tiffany & Co.  She was so excited!  We wanted to celebrate her 13th birthday in a special way, but not something that was to over the top.  She was very surprised and the shopping commenced.

 

Ali picked out a bracelet that was from Walter and Me.  It was tough for her because there was sooo much to choose from.  None of us realized that Tiffany was 7 stories.  We had a fun time picking out and trying on. 

Ali and her friend got matching rings as well.  Ali’s Grandma Spring had given her some birthday money and she used some if it to buy the ring. 

They both got little blue boxes and I hope that Ali remembers what a special treat it was to go to Tiffany’s and spend the day with her Mom and Dad in The Big Apple.

We also did a tour of the city and took in sights.  We had a great day. 

Happy 13th Birthday Ali!  I am very proud of you! 

24 hours and counting… June 3, 2008

I can’t hardly wait!   It is getting soooo close! Please pray that the girls and Walter have a safe trip to New York.  They will be here at 1:45 tomorrow!

 

What a Week! June 2, 2008

We have had such a busy week.  But most of if it is joyful time spent with friends and neighbors.  We are really having such a great time with the people we have met. 

Tuesday was a nice day so Everett and I along with my neighbor and her daughter walked down to the plane to watch one of the last cadet parades of the year.  Chris met us and then we found “The Tuttles”.  Friends of the family.  Helen is so kind and the typical Southern woman.  Very loving and generous.  I love the way she calls Everett “Dahlin”.  Bill, her husband is also very sweet.  Chris really enjoys talking to him about Army stuff.  It was nice treat to be able to see them.  They were here celebrating his 50th Reunion from West Point.  50 YEARS!! 

OK, moving on…

I went to see IT, What I consider to be the most anticipated movie of the year!  SEX AND THE CITY!!  I have been a HUGE fan of the series and own all seasons on DVD.  Love, Love, Love IT!  I have to say that I really enjoyed the movie.  It was made for the fans of the show and lived up to every expectation I had.  I was lucky to go with several other girls and all agreed that if you were a fan of the show, you will enjoy this movie.  No spoilers, you’ll just have to see it yourself

FINALLY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY…

Everett has reached many milestones this week.  He is doing some real crawling.  The other day I decided that I can no longer leave him on the floor of my bedroom with a pile of toys while I take a quick shower and expect that he will still be there.  Those days are gone. I had visions of him rolling down the stairs, the tv falling on him…UHHH, makes me nervous just thinking about it.

He is now clapping on his own.  You can say “Clap, Clap, Clap”  and he starts clapping.  I noticed that while I was feeding him trying to get the following picture doing something I thought was very cute that he just started clapping.  I love it! He has just started doing this one too.  We will be feeding him and he will just decide he is tired and lean over.  We think it is hilarious.  Right after this picture he started clapping

He has also started pulling himself up from a seated position.  I just can’t believe it.

My most very favorite is he now says MAMA!  Boy, does that melt my heart.  I love to hear it when he says it.  It was funny last night when he was getting tired he was saying Mama, then I went to lay him down in his crib, and he was not quite ready to just let me lay him there.  I had already come back downstairs and Chris and I here “DadaDadaDada”.  It was very sweet and we are assuming he wanted Daddy to give him a little rocking time.  We find ourselves looking at him and saying, “he is so  cute”, which I am sure every parent does. 

Well, only 2 days until the girls hit New York!  I am so excited.  This is my favorite time of year, besides Christmas.  We have a lot planned for the summer and we are looking forward to sharing the time with the girls.  I’ll be sure to post our adventures.

 

Fun in the Sun May 27, 2008

Yesterday was a beautiful day.  We heard our neighbor and his little girl outside so we thought we would join them.  They had their little pool out so we decided to join in the fun.  Everett scared his little friend out of the pool for a bit so he had the whole thing to himself :)  She eventually came back in to hang out.  

Thankfully it got into the high 70s this weekend.  It was so cold here last week.  Memorial Day was beautiful too. 

Green Goddess Update May 21, 2008

OK, so on May 1st I said I would start being better about recycling.  I am proud to say that we now the proud new owner of a “Recycling Center”.  I looked on line and found a lot, but they were expensive.  So, I came up with my own.  I bought this at the PX.  They were inexpensive and served a purpose.  They also fit where I needed them to go.

Whe you are so used to throwing EVERYTHING in the trash, it is a hard habit to break.  We are getting there.  Chris is excited because I told him we would get money back for recycling.  OK, so it is only a few cents, but if you take care of the pennies the dollars will take care of themselves (Thanks Dad).

I also bought this really cool floor cleaning set at Target.  It is Method and I love it.  I love that the floor cleaner is some that you just spray on the floor and mop.  It is plant based and there is no need to rinse :)  Now, that I will have to increase my mopping this is great.  EASY EASY LEMON SQUEEZY!

I also wanted to give the name of a few books besides, Gorgeously Green that have been great in inspiring me to go Green.

1)  Green This!  Deidre Imus
2)  Growing Up Green!  Deidre Imus
3)  The Naturally Clean Home Karyn Siegel-Maier (this one is actually the one that got me started, Thanks Susan!)
4)  Vim and Vinegar Melodie Moore
5)  Go Green, Live Rich David Bach (Chris just bought this one for me, I think he is trying to hint Maybe thinks we’ll be able to retire off the money we get from recycling our glass bottles)

I did put on my obsession list that I was obsessed with going green.  The list of books is just the added proof.

It is scary though, I was reading the Growing Up Green and discovered that the vinyl bibs that I was using and loved because they were easy to clean were no good.  So, back to cloth and washing bibs. 

I told Chris that I found some pacifiers in a Natural Health magazine that were “Organic”  He looked at me and asked if I was serious?  Again, keeping me balanced.  I misspoke, they are not organic they are BPA free.  We laughed and he said I could use my money to buy them as they are $8 a pop and the NUK ones we use are $1 at the commissary.  I will let you know if I ever buy them.  I might just get too harassed by my husband to do it.  In case you are interested, I will share the link with you. 

http://www.zoeborganic.com/

So, here is my last thing.  In the same magazine I found the BPA free pacifiers I also found this great thing about fish.  I know that fish can potentially have a lot of “crap” in it.  So I found this link and it has a wallet card you can download and keep with you when you go to the grocery store.  I can never remember what is good for me or not.    It tells you the good and bad stuff.  Here is the link:

http://www.edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=1521

So, I am still trying to “Green it Up”.  I let you know what I do next!

Shout Out to My Girls! May 20, 2008

I am such a proud Mommy!  I really think I might just have the best kiddos in the world (OK, so I am biased)

I’ll start with my oldest, Ali.  She has really done so well in school this year.  She has played volleyball, softball, basketball and cheerleading.  She also plays the flute, very well.  While doing all of this she has been able to stay on the Honor Roll.  She has made so proud.  My heart fills every time I talk to her and she still calls me Mommy.  I am so glad that she has done so well.  Such a good girl.  I am looking forward to doing things with her this summer and getting to know her better.  I am so glad that she talks to me about boys :)  Patrick being the only one she talks about right now, SIGH!

Ali being silly!

Now for Maddy

What a girl.  She is full of life and adventure.  She is sassy and sweet.

She quite frequently makes High Honor Roll and at the very least the regular ole’ Honor Roll.  Last month she won the 3rd grade spelling bee at her school. 

Yesterday at her end of the year Awards Ceremony she received:
Spelling Award- Not only did she win the spelling bee, but she made 100s on all of the spelling tests she took this year.  The only one in her grade!

The Physical Education Excellence Award-Well I guess this one just speaks for itself.  But her Dad is especially proud of this one.  He was a baseball player and football player, so he thinks she might have lucked out and got her athletic abilities from him and not me

 The Library Skills Award-  She read the most books in the 3rd grade, and she “mastered” the Dewey Decimal system.  She also helped in the Library.

WOW!!!  She is so smart and quick witted. 

  Always posing!  But this time I caught her while she wasn’t paying attention 

My Cup Runneth Over!  I am so blessed to have such a wonderful family.  I am so proud of my girls.  They are my favorite girls in the whole world!

  This one just makes me smile!