Grandpa's Visit!

Having my dad here to help celebrate my big 33rd birthday meant the world to me! It was a great gift courtesy of my husband and I love that he just knows exactly what I want:) I knew my dad missed his girls (and Sam!) and having him around makes us all happy. It was a win-win to have him visit Newport. I hope he enjoyed his visit as much as we enjoyed having him here! Poor Madeline cried her eyes out the morning he had to leave. These are the things that make our lifestyle hard on this mama. Goodbyes of any kind make my heart heavy.

Hard to believe I am 33. But it was really wonderful having my dad there to help me celebrate! 

At Dinner

 I was seriously concentrating on making a wish. Must've been a good one;)

The next day I took my dad to explore our neighborhood!

 

 We had lunch on the water and stuffed our faces with stuffies, lobster rolls, shrimp cocktail, bloody mary's...and THIS view. So incredible.

 How cute are my boys??

The day after we explored Cliff Walk

 This sign makes me laugh

How beautiful!! (Do I really live here?)

 Love this picture!

 We never did get to go inside;) But they liked posing outside of this place!

 

 We visited the Save the Bay Aquarium. It's a hands-on super tiny aquarium on the beach here. Kids seem to love it though! Madeline is holding a starfish. I was impressed at how brave she was with holding/touching all of the sea creatures.

 The shark tank where the sharks JUMP at you. Literally. But the honey badger don't care. She put her hands in and tried to grab one. 

 Jelly fish tank

Grandpa treated to ice cream!

Grandpa & Sam time!

 Love, love, love.

 My pretty birthday lilies from Tom were in full bloom. 

 While Grandpa and daddy took a nap, I took the girls for a walk to the see the sailboats

 Look at all the pretty sails!

 Out to dinner for some not so good pizza. I swear you would think living this close to NY they would have some decent pizza here. NOPE. It's all below average. (Little Caesar's is better.)

We spent a lot of time that weekend watching the guys watch baseball and crying in their booze because the Rays would lose. But this picture is just to show you what a snazzy dresser Sam is;)

 Both kids napping?? Grandpa time wears them OUT:)

We miss you, Dad! Hopefully another trip this spring!

Kindergarten Rocks!

Ella came home from school last week so very excited to show me "something". She couldn't possibly get in the house fast enough. Or unzip her backpack quick enough. But once she did, she opened her folder and proudly displayed her award. "Student of the Month" she exclaimed! "And they gave me this cool pencil!" (Thank god they did away with bumper stickers!) I think I remember crying a little and then hugging her. I know I told her how proud I was of her. Her auntie Monica said it best "Man, her first month of school and she nailed it!"

Ella told me "Mom, you said if I work hard, it will be worth it. And it was because I got an award!" (Yay! She does listen to me!)

I think my kid rocks anyway, but it's so nice to know her teacher agrees with me;)

Oh and then she came home at the end of that same week with the "Artist of the Week" award from her art teacher. I never knew such an award existed. Or maybe it's because I never in a million years ever ever ever would have received such a thing because my stick figure drawings pale in comparison to my five year old's! Nevertheless, I am completely bragging.

Ella. You. Are. Awesome. In my eyes, and the eyes of others. I hope these two awards remind you to be confident. Believe in yourself. Come out of your shell a little. Don't be afraid to raise your hand and share the wealth of your knowledge with your class. You are well loved sweet girl and I have no doubt your Kindergarten year will rock.

It got a little wrinkled. 

September Wrap-Up

October...what?? I can't believe it's already my favorite month of the year. This October will be very busy for all of us! We have already celebrated my 33rd (WHAT? I mean 29th) birthday and had my dad visit. We have more guests coming in the middle of the month, and then Tom's mom will be visiting at the end of the month to celebrate Ella's big 6th birthday. And somewhere in between there is our 9th wedding anniversary;) Busy, yes. But I love it.

September came and went. Fast! I think it was super quick because I was getting used to Ella being in school. The early wake ups, making lunches, getting three kids dressed, ready, fed all by the time we walk to the bus stop (and half the time I haven't even had a sip of coffee so I am running on fumes)...I am impressed with myself at 7:40am when I kiss her goodbye! By the way, now that I have a child in elementary school and one who has to be walked to a bus stop, I finally feel like a legit parent. Something about standing there chatting with other parents and watching her get on the bus, waving with smiles...makes me feel like a real parent. It wasn't the hours of labor I suffered through. Or the diaper changes. Or the potty training. Or the teaching her the ABC's and 123's. It was me taking her to the bus stop. Yup. That's what officially made me a mom. Or old. You choose.

Warning: Picture overload:)

Ella snapped this picture and I happen to love it.

 Picture day at school!

Two of my beautiful babies. I found this picture on Tom's phone. It made me smile to see he captures those really perfect moments.

This picture of Madeline was also on his phone;)

This kid loves tags. (and those are Tom's hairy legs. Not mine...it ain't winter yet!)

 Typical night. 

 More soccer! She looks so grown up here. I can almost picture her as a teenager (ahhhhhh!)

 Go Red Dragons! 

We are working on Madeline learning how to write and spell her LONG name. She's doing great with spelling it, but writing it needs some work;) Every day we worked on decorating a new letter. She loved it. She loves doing "school work" but unfortunately will never let us know how much knowledge she has truly attained. 

 We have a 5 month old. And he sits up:)

 Oh just our beautiful field where we kick the soccer ball around in our neighborhood. 

 And Sam chills while we practice!

 Can't wait to take the kids sledding down the hills here this winter!

 Opened up some fall decorations to find the packers/movers broke more of our things. I ended up throwing away half of our decorations. Boo:(

 We could both spend hours upon hours at Barnes and Noble. 

 Black and white polka dot skinny jeans and that mint green bow tee? I want it in my size!

 Sam gets extra lovin' all day from his big sis. Lucky and loved little man!!

Making a Halloween necklace

 I gave Ella $20 to shop at her book fair and I think she had the greatest day ever. I was impressed with her choices. :)

 She spent the majority of September being awesome.

 And daddy started ice hockey!

 Barnes and Noble story hour keeps us busy on a cloudy, windy day.

 Sam loves his gf Jen! ;)

Maybe it's because her beer matches his hoodie. 

 Isn't he so cute? Love this BOY!!

 We picnicked at the Fort.

 So crazy that he's sitting up and playing already. 

 That view is ridiculous! It's exactly what we see everyday when pulling into our hood;)

 We let them stay up late to watch a movie and have popcorn...both girls were asleep in no time! (and the beer had nothing to do with it!)

Waiting around for everyone to get ready for the fall festival

 Lalaloopsy picnic

 Frozen watermelon lemonade from Del's at the fall festival and an awesome place to enjoy it!

 I love their two totally different styles!

 "I can see into your future through my crystal ball..."

 Cocktails at the Admiral's house on base. Over 9,000 sq ft of a beautiful home. I spoke with the Admiral and the man entertains in that house 3-4x a week. Can you imagine? I guess that's why they have a personal chef and professional grade everything in their kitchen. And a "floor" for just parties.