Weekend Update - Sleepover!

Last weekend, we watched Nephew overnight while Brother-in-Law and Sister-in-Law had plans. He arrived on Saturday morning. Husband and I took the kids to our indoor pool. Then, we served lunch at which point the kids were tuckered out so we all had a nap. They woke up an hour or so later, I believe, maybe longer (hard to tell when I was napping, too). Then, we went to the playground. We came home and had dinner. We did a bath and the kids went right to bed. There were some giggling from the bedroom which was adorable, but the kids went to bed quickly on their own.

On Sunday, the kids and I took a walk to get a bagel for Husband. We also hit up the bakery so I could spoil the kids a bit. They liked the time outdoors and were really good. They played when we got home until it was time for Nephew to go home.

After, Little Miss and I walked them out and went to our car to run errands. We hit Home Depot and Chipotle and the grocery store. I got talked into growing lettuce for the elementary school so we needed everything to grow lettuce. We bought a window box, dirt and a second pot to replant my basil that I had been killing for months. Then, I got hungry and snuck in some food before going to grab some food for lunches this week.

When we got home, Little Miss helped pour dirt into the pots and plant seeds. She watered and then asked where the plants were. She gets her patience from me. We should see sprouts in a couple of days. I wouldn't be surprised if we don't, but we're supposed to.

Weekend Update - Books, Friends and Family

The first week of September brought book club!  I met the book club at a restaurant where we actually discussed the book and ate a delicious dinner.  We took it easy during the day.  I think the first week of school took a lot out of us, and we were all a little on edge.

 On Sunday, we went to my Sister's house and hung out.  It was a glorious day, and the kids just wanted to stay inside and play.  So, we played Chutes and Ladders.  I lost by a lot.  Nephew won.  We snacked and then we convinced the kids to go to the playground.  They had a lot of fun.  After, Sister's boyfriend came and we all went to Coldstone Creamery for ice cream.  It was a nice way to cap off a weekend.

Movies Watched in August 2013

1. We're the Millers
2. A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas

It was a very light movie month.  Mostly because I binge-watched Breaking Bad until I caught up for the new season.  We're the Millers was in the theater, and it was worth it.  It was really funny and enjoyable.

Books Read in August 2013

1. Under the Mistletoe by Jill Shalvis (NOTE:  This is part of the Lucky Harbor Series. You can find the order in which to read it here.)
2. Can't Stand the Heat by Louisa Edwards  (NOTE:  This is part of the Recipe for Love series. The order of which can be found here.
3. Doms of Dark Haven by Cherise Sinclair, Sierra Cartwright and Belinda McBride. (NOTE:  This is part of the Mountain Masters & Dark Haven series - the order of which can be found here, the Hawkeye series - the order of which can be found here, and the Truckee Wolves series - the order of which can be found here.)
4. Doms of Dark Haven 2: Western Night by Cherise Sinclair, Sierra Cartwright and Belinda McBride. (NOTE:  This is part of the Mountain Masters & Dark Haven series - the order of which can be found here, the Hawkeye series - the order of which can be found here, and the Truckee Wolves series - the order of which can be found here.)
5. Don't Hex with Texas by Shanna Swendson. (NOTE: This book is part of the Enchanted, Inc. series. The order of which can be found here.)
6. Double Time by Olivia Cunning. (NOTE: This book is part of the Sinners on Tour series. The order of which can be found here.)
7. Three Little Words by Susan Mallery. (NOTE: This book is part of the Fool's Gold series. The order of which can be found here.)
8. Wicked Beat by Olivia Cunning. (NOTE: This book is part of the Sinners on Tour series. The order of which can be found here.)
9. Fool's Gold Cookbook by Susan Mallery. (NOTE: This book is part of the Fool's Gold series. The order of which can be found here.)
10. The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

It was a better month than I expected. Pretty decent books. I read the last two of the Sinners on Tour books out of order which irked me. I don't know if it made a difference in the long run though. The great part of Fool's Gold Cookbook is it is an actual cook book with a story between recipes. I would have liked more of the story, but the food looks pretty darned tasty.  The Fault in Our Stars is also not a good public read.  There was some public crying involved.

Kindergarten

We have a kindergartener. Seriously.  It is mind-blowing.  We were lucky, too, because she got a bonus year of preschool.  With a birthday in late Fall, she missed the cut off so she's one of the older Kindergarteners.  She had a new backpack from my parents, a new outfit from Target that she picked out all by herself and new sneakers that she picked out with Husband.  If you enlarge the picture, she said she wanted to be Spiderman when she grows up.  

The first week of school was a raving success.  She has a couple of fellow Kindergarteners at her bus stop and has many friends in her class and at extended day.  Everyday, she comes home full of stories about her new friends and all that she is learning.  It is so great that she loves school so much.

Weekend Update - September

I had trouble believing it was September already.  We got back from the beach with our mountain of laundry.  That Monday, there was one last school playdate.  Little Miss got to meet some of the kids in her homeroom and some other kids who would be in extended day with her.  I think it helped a lot once school started.  There were some familiar faces and close friends already.  We shut the playdate down and then I went back to nap.  The playdates take a lot of me!

Vacation Update - Wildwood

On Thursday, we hit Open House at the elementary school.  Little Miss got to meet her teacher and some other children.  She loved it and was so excited to start school.  She was almost disappointed that wasn't the first day of school and that we had to go on vacation.  She got over that quickly though.

The first day, we got a short time at the beach, but it was super windy.  It was still nice to be on the beach though!   It was windy the next day, too, but the sun was out so it wasn't too bad. 

 Friday night, we hit the Boardwalk because Little Miss loves the rides.  She rode on many before the fireworks - which were cancelled because of the wind.  It was still a lot of fun though.  Saturday was a quiet day just at the beach and then at the pool.  Sunday, we packed up and drove home - but not before we hit the Boardwalk one last time!  Little Miss got to ride the rides she missed the first time - including the Ferris Wheel, her favorite.  She also got to play a carnival game.  We ate lunch and bid farewell to the beach until next year.

Weekend Update - Rounding out August

The second to last weekend in August was really fun.  We had a mentor for the elementary school who had some neighbors who also had children entering kindergarten.  The four families got together for a playdate.  The boys and girls stayed pretty separated.  The girls didn't even play until the very end of the playdate.  During the playdate, we discovered that there was a school-wide playdate for existing families (and new families if they found out somehow).  So, Little Miss and I grabbed some lunch and then went back to the playground.  She played very closely with the little girl from the morning and met some new friends.  It was exhausting for all of us!

On Sunday, I met with my friends for pedicures, lunch and a movie.  It was a lot of fun.  Girl time is always very important and relaxing.  My pedicure lasted a long time, too.  I just recently took it off to repolish.

It was a short week as we went on vacation!