First Day - Kind Of

Aubrey and I went to kindergarten today. In our district we have gradual entry - so today 1/2 the kids and their parents came to school to get supplies sorted, cubbies set up, see the classroom, do activities, etc. Tomorrow, no school, half days Wed and Thurs and THEN on Friday, I am apparently supposed to put my child on a bus - without a car seat or adult - and let her go off on a 45 minute bus ride, WITHOUT ME, to school. Where she will apparently find her way to her class and have a full day of school.

I am pretty sure THAT is when I will loose it.

Also, SERIOUSLY? Haven't I spent the last 5+ years making sure my daughter doesn't

1. go into the street
2. talk to strangers much less GET IN A MOVING VEHICLE with one and
3. go anywhere without her carseat, a helmet, MY HAND?

OK, I need to take a deep breath and go lay down. Ok, back. Sorry about that.

In her classroom.

Right before we left.

I told her not to do her fake smile and this is the face she gave me.

We met Daddy for lunch.

And then we got her nails and toes done.

Hot Shrimp Dip Recipe

I was looking for a shrimp dip to take to a party yesterday - but didn't want to have to go buy any ingredients.

Here is what I put together:

1 bag of frozen shrimp, defrosted, tails removed, chopped up

1 green pepper, diced

1 onion, diced

some minced garlic

some old bay

Toss all of that in a pan on the stove to soften the pepper/onion

1 cup of softened cream cheese

1/2 cup of sour cream

a bunch more old bay

Mix together in large bowl

Once the mix on the stove looks softened, use a slatted spoon to move it into the bowl with the cream cheese mixture (I tried to leave out as much of the "water" as possible).

Toss in a handful of grated cheese (I used cheddar, mont/jack would have been good as well).

Mix.

Place into pie dish or 8X8 baking dish. Sprinkle top with more cheese and old bay on top of that.

Place in 350 oven for 30 minutes.

I served with Sea Salt Bagel Chips --> Tostitos worked too!

Working Mom Again

After a fabulous summer I will be heading back to work. We had a once in a lifetime summer! Now, back to reality - a brand new reality for all of us. Aubrey in kindergarten. Molly in "school" without her sister. Mommy in a new job. Daddy juggling the schedules.

In trying to get organized for the school year I put together a multi-week meal plan, a big list of to do's and worked to get well "baby" check ups scheduled, dentist appointments scheduled, everyone signed up for the appropriate activities, etc. I was shocked to see the county school schedule and realize how many days Aubrey has off between the first day of school and Christmas (10 for those counting). (NOTE: I took the school year county from the website, copied it into Excel, posted it on Google Documents and shared with my husband).

Tonight for dinner we had Chicken Strips, Maryland Corn, and Edamame. I made a 1/2 batch at lunch and wouldn't share with the girls, so at dinner they asked me to make some for them to try and they DEVOURED what I made. Aubrey even asked if she would be lucky enough to get something like that in her lunch box. Um, SURE!

We had a friend over for a few hours today, I gotta say, FOUR YEAR OLDS ARE HARD WORK -well worth all the fun, but HARD WORK!

WOW, how boring is this post?

Back in the Swing

Aubrey had her first soccer practice tonight. We needed a quick turnaround dinner to get there by 6 so I made Bow Tie Lasagna and to celebrate we had Sprinkle Cookies after practice.

Yeah, I don't know this is either.

And Molly has to pose too.

The Blue Turtles (the kids picked the name)

Aubrey was "so very sweaty" so she took off her team shirt :)

And We're Back

This week I:

• unpacked from being away for a month
• grocery shopped
• back to school list shopping - 16 glue sticks? REALLY?!?!
• Suit shopping - with girls in tow
• 3 phone interviews
• 2 in person interviews
• 2 trips to Severna Park (for babysitters)
• full day with girls friends at the house
• pool
• collected all the girls clothes (summer and fall), plus the clothes packed for our trip, loaded into the guest room, sorted, folded and put away
• collected 6 bags of toys hidden away and the kids haven't noticed.
• went to a chiropractor
• stressed about and dreamed about providing healthy lunches, daily, for Aubrey

This week I did NOT:

• Bake
• Cook
• Read
• Take pictures
• blog
• exercise (see above chiropractor - back pain!)
• sew
• craft
• deal with medical forms for kindergarten

See how this is totally not as blog worthy as Maine?

Our Last Day

We packed a lot into our last day in Maine.

We kayaked.

The boys fished and then napped.

Girls were turned into Sea Turtles.

There was tubing.

A family portrait, a lovely dinner, presents, dance party, and lots of beach!

A full day, to end a full month.

Funtown USA

Things We Learned at Funtown

• Aubrey is tall enough for all but 2 things at FunTown - including Excaliber.
• Molly will do any ride she is tall enough for and a couple she isn't. Including riding the Tilt A Whirl 3 times in a row without getting off.
• Aubrey can apparently drive the bumper cars and bumper boats, and do well.
• Funtown is fun
• Cousins = more energy, more fun, more noise, more jumping, and the need, the need for speed.
• My kids are fearless, and that scares me.
• Doug learned that he should never ride a Tilt A Whirl 2 times in a row or with Caleb.
• Royal learned to never awkwardly turn the steering wheel on bumper cars near your little girl cousins or you hurt your shoulder.
• Grandy learned the whole family can have such fun together and that her grandkids are VERY courageous.
• Granddad learned why he has such good memories of the trips he took as kids seeing these kids play.
• Anna learned that my new favorite ride is Excaliber.
• Aubrey learned to stay close and hands (she already knew that but that is how she answered the question).
• Uncle Mark learned that dragon's descent rocks
• Caleb learned that his favorite rides are Excaliber and Astrophere!
• Aunt Stacie learned that she gets sick riding the Tilt a Whirl 3 times in one night.

Guess Who's Riding a Two-Wheeler

8 Days Past Her 4th Birthday!

Glimpse of Future and Fairy House

The picture below? Scares me as I see this as a glimpse into 10 years from now, when as teenagers, they sit and talk about boys, school, their futures (which don't include being kitty cat princesses anymore). Do you see it?

Aubrey 5 and 5/6. Anna 8.

Fairy House

Still working on the fairy house!

Museum and Ferry Beach

Today we went to the Children's Museum, Ferry Beach, made soft pretzels, red sauce, and I just want a nap.

Dressing up and singing

Running the diner.

Major low tide at Ferry Beach.

Live Clams!

Off to chase the birds.

family

Molly and Royal

Great Beach Day, 132nd Edition

Kids on a boat ride!

Cousins!

Mud Pies

Boating - and FISH! 2 days in a row.

We were on the beach from 10am until 6pm. The kids left around 4 with the Fishermen. The women stayed with a bottle of Pinot Noir and some cheese and crackers.

Home to grill up fresh fish with a lobster dill cream sauce!

I MAY have reached the point where I am tooooo tan.

Beach to Beacon

And so it was the morning of the 13th Annual Beach to Beacon Race. We all gathered at the end of the road instead of the Finish Line. We were about 1.4 miles into the race.

We saw Smurfs!

Royal - best family time

Sarah

Uncle Alan

The kids then decided to put together a Lemonade Stand. Then we went to the beach.

Annual Lobster Dinner! The Craig Family.

Zombies.

Beach to Beacon 2010 Kids Race

Kids with their free ice cream getting ready for the Kids Race Friday Night!

Aubrey getting lined up.

Aubrey running, such a happy kid.

Molly running - "all by mys self".

Molly getting her medal.

Days 19, 20

Craft time,

lazy time,

movie time,

sewing time,

beach walking time,

foggy, rainy day time,

playground time,

registering for kids's race time,

cooking time,

cleaning time,

house ready for 13 people time.