New TV

 We did it...we finally bought a new TV.  In fact this marks the very first TV we've ever purchased!  I know the set up isn't very glamorous...the dresser actually belonged to my great-grandmother (maybe one day I will paint it and change the hardware).  But, for now it does a pretty good job as a TV stand.  We decided on a 50 inch and when you are used to watching everything on a lap top, a 50 inch TV has completely  rocked our world!

Last night we broke it in by hosting a movie night with my parents...Swiss Family Robinson was the feature film.  The kids loved it!  The classics are always a good bet.

So our first TV was actually a wedding present from the Marian Cycling Team back in 1999 right after we got married.  It finally crapped out a couple of months ago...but it served us very well.

Now, if you will...lets have a moment of silence as we remember our faithful Samsung, and look at some good memories we've had with it.

Haley and Morgan working out with Jen at our old house.  They were probably 3 and 5 years old.

 Morgan, cousin Jett and Piper watching a movie...very close to the screen apparently.

Enjoying a movie night with the family.

I was pregnant with Rory on bed rest when I took this picture.

I hope your are all having an awesome weekend!  I know we will enjoy some good TV watching!

Showstoppers

The Showstoppers Troupe.  

(Haley is top row, second from the right)

The girls' school has an array of after school programs held on Fridays.  Haley has been dying to be a part of the Showstoppers team (they focus on dancing and singing...Haley's favorites), so this year I signed her up. 

They have been practicing since the beginning of September for their big show and Haley quickly realized how much work goes into one production.  These last few Fridays she has been dragging her feet about going and she was really upset that they still had to go to practice on HALLOWEEN day...oh the horror!  Yeah, she has a bit to learn about practicing and rehearsing for things.  She said to me after one practice about a month in..."Mom, we just do the same songs over and over!!"  

But, last night we went to the big and final show and I think now that she has performed in front of a crowd she is starting to have a change of heart about Showstoppers.  They performed a variety of Broadway songs complete with dancing.  It was really cute and Haley did super!  With all the cheering from the crowd, the flowers we congratulated her with and a fun dessert gathering at our house with grandparents, she has decided that she MAY be interested in continuing Showstoppers next semester.  We will see.

Our Weekend Away

Months ago Ryan and I planned a little weekend getaway to see a friends wedding.  When we got the okay from my parents and my brother and his wife to watch our kids for us we booked the trip.  We decided it was best to divide our kids up...Haley and Piper stayed with my brother's family, and Morgan and Rory stayed with my parents.  We left Friday morning after the kids went to school.  This is the first time we have been away from our kids for a whole weekend together!!  Two nights...three days!!!  I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous though...and I thought about them A LOT!  Always wondering what everyone was up to.  But the girls did really well (although I think my brother and his wife got very little sleep).  My brother referred to the weekend as a kid's birthday party that never ended.  He has a little five year old of his own, so with my girls added on it can get a little louder than they're probably used to.  I'm extremely grateful to them though.  

Anyway, back to the wedding.  We flew to Phoenix and stayed at the Arizona Biltmore where the wedding was to be held...a pretty big splurge for us to say the least.  

We went to lunch as soon as we arrived Friday afternoon and then went for a little jog along a path right next to the resort.  That evening we got ourselves cleaned up for the cocktail party to meet up with everyone.

Saturday we enjoyed a very leisurely breakfast and then headed to the pool with the our friends.  Later, Ryan and I got dressed fully intending to go for another jog.  Yeah, that never happened for me.  One of my favorite things about the trip was our ability to just lounge around without a worry in the world.  Our conversations were never interrupted...we never felt rushed.  It was bliss.  So instead of jogging we sat on the patio and just enjoyed the wonderful weather...and people watched of course.

The wedding was in the late afternoon/evening.  It was a beautiful ceremony and they had an amazing reception.  Good food, lots of dancing and with fun people!

Sunday we didn't leave for the airport until 1:00, so we had another relaxing morning.  We said our goodbyes and then it was home again, home again.  We went from temps in the 70's to 28 degrees when our plan touched the ground.  What a shock!!  Although, we only have a week until we load up the trunk and head out again to Sedona, AZ for Thanksgiving!  So...I'm planning on nice weather then too.

Yay for weekend getaways!!
Happy Monday!

A Day With Ryan

So yesterday (Friday) Ryan and I pretty much spent the whole day together.  It was pretty awesome.

After taking the girls to school we headed to the driver's licence place because I discovered my licence was a bit overdue (like around 9 months overdue)...yeah, not so good on my part.  When I went to vote last Tuesday and pulled out my licence and I was shocked to see that it had expired...and it was a little embarrassing.  But luckily, I also had my ss card in my wallet, so they gave me a break and let me vote anyway.

So anyway, back to the my drivers licence....because it was over 6 months overdue I had to take the test...total bummer.  Ryan played with the little ones outside while I crammed out a nearly perfect score on my test.  24/25  (Side note:  it was an open book test...I'm not that smart.)  I slipped up on some state law legal jargon or something...I think it was a trick question.

Then we went to lunch...a little unexpected treat for us!
On the way home we (and by we I mean Ryan) washed the car.  See photo above.

The girls had early out and I had conferences with their teachers right after school.  Ryan walked with me there and chilled on the playground with the littles while I handled the meetings.  Good news:  My Morgan is student of the month!!  More on that later.

When we got home Haley was still at her Showstoppers (a musical class she's taking) and Piper was at a friends.  So it was Morgan and Rory left at home.  They were doing pretty good on their own, so Ryan and I took advantage of the slow afternoon and went for a quick jog.  Yes, you heard me right...a jog.  I've been jogging here and there and my knees are holding up pretty well, so I'm going with it.  This marks the very first time Ryan and I have ever jogged together.  It was crazy, and weird...but fun.

I know my children are still young, but on some occasions we have left them home alone.  Not all together mind you...they may kill each other if we did that.  But we have left Haley and Morgan home alone if we have a quick errand to run...a QUICK errand I said.  They usually just watch Netflix and pretty much stay in "TV zone" until we get back.  But I have never left a little one home alone with Haley and Morgan.  So yesterday was our little trial run on that.  But actually Morgan is a very responsible kid and she enjoys keeping an eye on the little ones.  So we gave it a go.  Granted we only gone for about 30 minutes...but it always feels a little weird leaving kids home, also a little nerve wracking and a little liberating and a bit rebellious.  But like a said we had fun...and the kids were just fine.

I made some soup for dinner and after the kids went to bed Ryan and I watched our beloved Parenthood.  (psst...I think Joel and Julia are going to get back together...hallelujah.)

So yeah, that was my Friday Funday with Ryan.  I love his job, and I love how I can sometimes have him all to myself on a weekday!

Enjoy the weekend ya'll!!

Halloween Wrap Up

Halloween was a success!  It was a bonus that Halloween landed on a Friday this year!  I'm sure the teachers were grateful for that as well!  

 Ryan decided to create our scarecrow man this year.  At our old house our porch was super small, so when we put this guy on it the kids had to nearly reach around him to ring the bell.  It scared a lot of little kids and they wouldn't even come onto the porch.  I think they thought there was a person in it and he would jump at them if they came to close.  Hee Hee.  But at this house we can stick him off to the side and I think most people didn't even notice him. 

 And here are the girls!

Morgan, a pig.  She loves pigs so much and she insisted that she dressed up as one for Halloween.  The night before Halloween she was nervous about wearing her costume to school because when she told people what she was going to be they laughed.  I explained that they probably don't realize what a pretty pig she was going to be!  The next day, she held her head high (pig nose and all) to school...and sure enough, everyone thought she was cutest pig there ever was!

Haley, a 50's girl.

And the little ones went as Cinderella and Snow White.  They originally wanted to go as Elsa and Ana, but since there was about a gazillion little girls dressed up as them I talked them into the more classic princesses.  They were happy with that!

Ryan took the girls out trick or treating while I stayed back to pass out the candy with this guy.

I love that Jeffy comes to hang out with us every Halloween!  And the weather couldn't have been better!!  We were able to hang out on the porch the entire time the girls were gone...so nice!

Hope everyone had a great Halloween!!