The Old Reliable Run

It's becoming a family tradition for us! Joe does the 5k. We switch the kids. I run the 10K. All that plus face painting, bounce houses and popcorn! We had a beautiful November Day to run it -- temps in the mid-70's.



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Runaway Bride: The Sequel

 

I dusted off the old Runaway Bride costume for the Monster Dash at Cameron Village on Sunday. (This year I threw the bouquet to my little girls and didn't run the entire 5K with it!).

I love this race because it has all kinds of great family events and it takes place at one of my favorite shopping destinations in the world!

Even more than that, Joe brings all available kidlets and they see two things in action. 1) I am not just "Queen of the Laundry" as they like to joke. And 2) There is a lot to be said for trying your best and being a good sport. Sometimes you win, and sometimes you don't. This year I did place again and take home some gift cards. But the results show there were plenty of old girls right there at the tip of my veil...

Pumpkin in the Patch!

 

Gabriella's class took a field trip to the Pumpkin Patch on Friday. This is my third year in a row visiting this particular patch. Even better than that, this is the third year in a row my Kindergartener on this field trip has worn the Lilly Pumpkin ensemble. It doesn't seem quite so extravagant anymore!

Beautiful, warm weather and a great break from the moving madness!

More blue.....

 

This time it's not Carolina blue -- it's blue ribbon blue -- from the North Carolina State Fair!

I was tickled when we arrived today to find two of my stamping creations had been awarded prizes. I'm glad this was the year I finally stopped thinkling about entering, and actually did it!

True Blue!

 

It was big fun at the UNC vs. Georgia Southern Football Game. I always love being in Chapel Hill and I am all about brainwashing my little "Tar Heels in Training".

Going Green!

 

The landscaping is underway at the new homestead! Joe and I worked within the guidelines (mostly!) of the package to select the plants we wanted and we drew a schematic of the yard for placemat. This would be the first time a homeowner has had any input into this process here. No one besides us has ever cared! Joe was a little brutal during plant placement and I kept hoping for an accounting emergency that would take him away....

Anyway -- the backbones of our eventual gardens are in and I'll have gardenias all around the front door for sweet Southern fragrance next summer. Ahhhh.

Here is the only meandering walk in the 'hood -- with double the liriope allotment!



We have the only Weeping Willow and the only Yochino Cherry to date in any of the three "phases". See why they are anxious to finish with us?



Next up: sod. Can't wait!

The Winner's Circle

 

Here we are in the "Winner's Circle" at the Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. We took a toru that gives you two laps around the big track and you can't believe how steep the bank really is! We also got to "drag" on the Drag Racing Track there.

FAST!

Fabulous at Five!

 


Here is the Birthday girl blowing out the candles and making wishes for the year to come! She had a full day of Kindergarten, Ballet, and the Birthday Feast she ordered:





It's a menu only a 5 year old could love! Homemade Mac and Cheese, Italian Wedding Soup, Carrots and Dip, and the ultimate treat -- Sprite!

All She Wants for Christmas.....

Sophia is lovin' her lack of front teeth right now -- but by Christmas -- maybe she'll want those permanent ones around.

She lost both teeth in the span of a week. She has logged two visits from the Tooth Fairy while refusing to surrender the goods, and has acquired a bit of a lisp!

Birthday Bonanza!

We are exhausted from singing the birthday song in these parts this weekend! We began Saturday morning with a special tea party for our special Gabriella and Livi (Givi as they are known around here!). Thanks to the Oogles and Googles Party Ladies the guests of honor and their friends were occupied by everything from dress up to tea party manners!

 

Sandra at "Sandra's Cake Creations" outdid herself with the matching teapot cakes and the tea cup cupcakes.



We raced the kids from that party to two others yesterday, and brought it all to a finish by hosting Craig's birthday at our neighborhood pool this morning. He had a little help from Adam, blowing out the candle on one of those mighty tasty Bo-Berry Biscuits!



And here's one I like to call "Kickin' Cousins" -- the Chapman 8 splashing it up poolside!

The Latest from These Parts....

 

We've got walls, we've got wood floors, and we've got cabinets arriving next week. This week I'll select lighting and carpet. And this afternoon we're getting down to the nitty gritty of buying furnishings and wall treatments for the family room. Yippee skippee!

Kindergarten is Fun!

So after that teaser of a day last week that is known in these parts as "Staggered Entry" -- little G headed off today for her first real-deal day of Kindergarten. She didn't spend much time there today without me. What with the PTA minutes I was transcribing, and the SOS last night from Francesca's teacher to come in and handle a few Centers while she did her one on one reading assessments. And of course the Moms help with Kindergarten lunch all this week (we didn't lose a single milk carton to the floor -- hooray!). All that "free time" everyone kids me about turned into 30 minutes at home putting away laundry followed by a quick meeting at the "homesite" with the builder before the bus brought them all home. And so it goes....

Her take on Kindergarten. She made HUNDREDS of friends and learned BILLIONS of rules!



And in other news -- the double teams of bricklayers are making it happen over at the ranch....

First Day of School

 

We interrupt this summer to bring you the first day of school! Sophia and Francesca "Tracked In" today to begin 2nd and 1st Grade, respectively. By all accounts, everything went well. Our little Kindergartener only goes one day this week -- Thursday. The real deal begins for her next Monday.

And the end of the holiday weekend meant big progress in Turchettiville. We're getting bricked!

Dads and Daughters

 

That's what we did here for Father's Day! Dads and their daughters just spending time together...

We're Back!

 

I think the laundry is caught up and I have all my pictures loaded, so it's time to hit the highlights of our trip.
Like Grandma and Grandpa's surprise 50th anniversary dinner which did, in fact, turn out to be a surprise.

Our day at Hershey Park was great. No lines, multiple rides on all the favorites, and the girls have graduated from tea cups to the big log ride and level 3 coasters which is thrilling for a roller rider like their Mama!



Ever the thrill seeker, I also staged Joe's least favorite photo of the year. Humor me. Really.













We threw a little history into the Track Out with our visit to Philadelphia. It is a little odd to be a tourist in what still feels like our town. We learned a lot about Betsy Ross and the (alleged) beginnings of the American flag.



And for the first time, Joe agreed to wait in line to let them see the Liberty Bell!

So that's the beginning -- thanks for reading this far! There's more to come.....

We've Been Framed!

 

Well, at least the first few floors! We're in that stage now where it changes over there from day to day -- you can really see progress. I understand it S-L-O-W-S down after this!

It's Winding Down...

The school year, that is. Today, I officially graduated from preschool. Gabriella had a perfectly wonderful year, and end of the year playground day yesterday, and will start Kindergarten on July 9th.


Today was also Sophia's end of First Grade play. They did a series of performances based on the books about Anansi, the spider. She was (begrugingly) an elephant! I thought it was appropriate since she has never once forgotten a single thing I might have suggested we could do or get for her! Big Kid school is in session on Monday and Tuesday with an assortment of games, picnics and popsicles. Then it's off to our Summer Track Out.


Francesca is now a kindergarten "graduate". Her class performed some wonderful songs, and then each shared what they are going to be when they grow up. We have selected "veterinarian". Monday is Pajama Day and Step up to your new class to meet the teacher day and it's all going by so fast I can hardly believe it!