A long hiatus

Wow!!! Has it really been 4 months since I last posted!!! Goodness...doesn't seem that long ago. Last time I posted, it was hot as blazes out, now here in south central PA it is cold and rainy today. It actually snowed on Friday here and was really really really cold!!

So today, we are going to our first Christmas party of the holiday season. The kiddos are very excited about this! Here is a pic of the kiddos that I took with my new Nikon L110. My old Canon Power Shot died a few months ago...and my hubby got me an early Christmas present since I cannot go without a camera for too long.

Getting to Know You

1. If you were to win an award today, what would it be for?

Best procrastinator?? I have tons to do around the house and here I sit reading blogs and filling out memes!!!

2. What is your shoe style?

Definitely sandals....although I love shoes....you will normally just find me in my bare feet.

3 Does your car reflect your personality?

Definitely not....but it is paid for...and that is all that matters!! :)

4. If you could take over someones body for a day..whose would you choose?

I really do not know...but for the sake of choosing I would say......Jennifer Aniston

5. Love or be loved?

Love

6. If you were on death row, what last meal would you choose?

Mom's chicken pot pie

7. Have you been on vacation this Summer, if so where?

Yes, we went to Ocean Isle NC at the end of June....it was a wonderful week but went by way too fast!!

8. What is your favorite food related guilty pleasure?
Dark Chocolate!! :)

Head on over to MannLand5 for more
Getting to Know you Sunday entries!!

Smiley Day

Wow....it has been quite some time since I took a minute to blog something....Busy Busy Busy. Can you believe that tomorrow will be August and the "last" month of Summer Vacation for the kiddos....WOW The picture, oh yeah....forgot about that! This was Brayden's bowl of cereal this morning....he didn't try it (he tells me)...so had to take a picture in hopes that this is how our day goes today!!

Today, we will be celebrating my niece, Mady's, 2nd B-day!!! Time just flies by, I remember when she was born...seems like only yesterday. Looking forward to spending the day with family celebrating this little cutie pie!!

Well, that is all the time I have for this morning...in the middle of making pasta salad, cleaning up dishes, drinking my coffee, and nursing a cold, and...well you get the point....Busy Busy Busy!! Hope everyone has a GREAT Day!!

Farmer's market goodies

Today since the rain washed out our plans to go to the Codorus Splash, I decided to go to our local Farmer's market. Know I have lived in Hanover and the surrounding area for, lets see, ahem 32 years....and today was my FIRST trip to the Farmer's market. Why did I wait so long you ask? Well, I am definitely not much of a "morning" person. Back when I was "younger" and "without kids" the thought of getting up @ 5:30 on a Saturday morning to go to the market was just not in the cards...especially since back in those days I probably wasn't going to bed until ahem 3:30/4:00 in the morning {Wow I DO NOT miss those days :0)} then came the babies...and that would just be silly to get up that early if the babies were still sleeping....a girl needs her beauty sleep. Well I digress....so the kiddos and I left for the Farmer's market at the crack of dawn 10:45 AM. When we arrived there was still a lot of people there. My main purchase was going to be peaches for Hayley, apples for Brayden, and Zinnias for me {thanks to the picture my friend Amy posted on FB!!} The kiddos had a great time looking around and helping me pick out veggies. They even got a pound of gummy worms for being so good. Here is a picture of my goodies:

Zinnias: $5
Clover: 3 bunches for $1
Apples: $2
Peaches: $3
Romaine lettuce: $1.50
Tomatoes: {2} @ $.50/each
Green Beans: $2
Gummy Worms: $1.98/pound

We will definitely go back again...and this time maybe a little earlier :) Wonder why it has taken me this long to get there???

Out of the mouth of babes.....

Earlier in the week while I was at work and my Mom was watching the kiddos, she texted me to tell me that the kids were BEGGING her to go outside (to preface this...here in South Central PA it as been in the HIGH 90s since Monday). When she told them, "NO! It is too hot out.", Hayley replied, "Come on Nanny, it is ONLY 100 degrees, why can't we go out". Guess the stuff I posted about here, here, here, and here wouldn't feel to bad right about now....HUH???
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Tonight I took the kiddos to the library to get their prizes from the Summer Reading Program as well as to take them to story time from 7-8. The story teller was VERY good and the kids had a great time interacting with the story as well as listening to her tell three stories based on the OCEAN. On our way there, one of our conversations went like this:

Hayley: "Mommy, when I go to first grade is recess going to be before or after lunch???"

Me: "More than likely after lunch." *sighs* and thinks to herself I hope she is interested in more things during school than just recess*** LOL

{Brayden's question after Hayley asked about recess}

Brayden: "Mommy, how many pairs of shoes do I have to take to college?"

Me: "What????"

Brayden: "HOW MANY PAIRS OF SHOES DO I HAVE TO TAKE TO COLLEGE??"

Me: "Uhmmm....you want to know how many pairs of shoes you should take to college?

Brayden: "YES!!"

Me: "Well, uhmm...I guess 3 pairs of shoes. Sneakers, dress shoes, and flip flops."

Brayden: "I don't have a pair of flip flops! You need to buy me a pair of flip flops. I need flip flops to go to college!!"

Me: "Buddy, you are only 4 and are only going to be starting your last year of preschool. We have a few years until you leave for college. But we will buy you a pair of flip flops."

Brayden: "OK"

The fastest week of the summer

Today was officially the last day of our vacation. We returned Saturday from a Wonderful Week at Ocean Isle, NC......why is it that the work weeks never go that fast?? Here are a few pics from our vacation:

The Beach House

View from the porch

OIB 2010

Beach Babe

It was a wonderful week with great company and we are all looking forward to doing it AGAIN soon!!

Yesterday was spent unpacking...what a chore!! I also went to the grocery store (what fun!). We had decided not to go to any fireworks since the kiddos were so EXHAUSTED from the long drive back on Saturday. So, since I missed the premier night of ECLIPSE, I did something I have NEVER done before....and went to the movies ALONE!!! It was absolute heaven....and the movie was great as well!

Today we spent the day out on Pappy Dave's boat....It was a gorgeous day!! We cruised, swam, went fishing...and Hayley and Brayden both drove the boat!!

Captain Brayden

Captain Hayley


You want me to touch what??


Daddy, can you get that off my fishing rod??


Hayley enjoyed the boat....Brayden, not so much.


My Little Fish!!

What a wonderful ending to our vacation......back to the ole grind tomorrow!!

Flowers

Flowers from Hayley's Dance Recital

Wordless Wednesday

***Growing up so Fast***

T-ball and Dance Recital

This week has been a whirlwind at the Marsh household!!
**Monday - Brayden T-Ball
**Tuesday - Hayley dance
**Wednesday - Hayley Black rehearsal for dance recital on Saturday
**Thursday - Brayden T-Ball
**Friday - Dress Rehearsal
**Saturday - The Dance Academy 3rd Dance Recital
**Sunday - Graduation picnic for my cousin Leah (cannot believe she has graduated high school)

Wow...just retyping the weeks events made me tired!! The week didn't start out too great...after Brayden's T-ball game on Monday night...we went to McDonald's for dinner since it was a fundraiser for the baseball league...after eating most of his chicken nuggets...Brayden decided to vomit ALL over the table we were eating at. What a MESS...we made it through that, got the kiddos home, put them to bed. In the morning, Brayden was complaining of a sore throat and a headache. Since Hayley just was diagnosed with Strep about 4 days earlier in the week, I didn't hesitate to call and schedule him an appointment. I was NOT surprised when his rapid strep test rapidly became positive. {I want my children to share...but sharing strep germs is not my idea of good sharing} So, this is why he decided to vomit at dinner the night before...since this seems to be the only symptom my kiddos develop when they get a strep infection! Here are a few pics of Brayden in his T-ball attire.





The rest of the week went fairly flawlessly until about 40 minutes prior to having to get Hayley to the school for her dance recital. For some reason right around this time all H*LL broke loose....she had a belly ache and she honestly had me scared that we were not going to be able to "Go on with the show" so to say!! The poor thing couldn't get off of the toilet..but within 20 minutes all was well with the world again...and my little trooper was ready to go dance. {Thank goodness cause I had A LOT of money invested in this recital} She danced her heart out and had a great time playing with her other dance friends and watching some of the show..I cannot believe that this is her 3rd year dancing...here are a few pictures from the performance night. Unfortunately I most not have been in the "picture taking" mood since I really do not have very many at all!!



Hayley & Daddy



"Shake"/Kinderdance II



"Caterpillar Crawl"/Tap II


Nanny & Hayley ********* Grand Nana & Hayley


Hayley & I

Laundry Helper

Brayden LOVES helping me fold laundry!
This day, he decided he wanted to see
how all those clothes felt like when
they were in the laundry basket!!
What a HAM!!

Very wordy!!! :)

Wow, it has been quite some time that I have actually wrote down what has been happening in our busy lives!! So I am going to do a little recap...so bare with me! :)

This past weekend was Memorial Day weekend....we had a great time Friday night when we went to the Revolutions Game and had great seats in the sky box. It was fairly bittersweet however, since the last game we went to last July, Dr. Lanpher was still with us....so hard to believe that it will almost be one year since he passed away...he is truly missed!! So, back to the game....the kiddos love to play in the little play area they have with a Merry Go Round and a Bounce House. My Nana and Tickey came along with us, and bought the kiddos their dinner, which was of course chicken nuggets and french fries (who doesn't go to a game to have hot dogs and beer chicken nuggets and fries??? It was a beautiful evening and to top it off...they actually won a game!! Think it was the first time I have been to a game that they won in the past 4 years...but who is counting.

On Saturday, we went to my Brother and SIL for a picnic..always a good time there....great food and company...as well as s'mores and marshmallows over the fire pit...yum yum. Sunday, we bought some flower to plant on the back patio and got out the kiddos swimming pool I bought last year for $5 at the end of the year ***SCORE***. I made sure the kiddos were lubed up with sunscreen but forgot myself....can you say "OUCH"?? My back and shoulders are still red from Sunday...bet I won't forget again this summer!! :) In the evening we went to visit friends who were camping at Mountain Creek...this is such a quaint little campground and we were then able to go on a hayride around the campground which was a lot of fun to for the kids. There were tons of kids for mine to play with...and they had a ball...maybe someday, we can get a camper and do some camping...but for right now...I enjoy my luxuries of home just a little too much...Monday, we just had a very impromptu picnic with Scott's Mom, step dad, and his brother and wife...It was nice to see them and talk although we had to move the party inside due to it being so STINKING hot outside...whewww and to think we were just complaining about 3 months ago because we had soooooo much snow.

This week is Hayley's last week of Kindergarten..unfortunately for her, she hasn't been there one day this week......hoping for tomorrow, which will be her last day of school. On Tuesday, when my Mom took Hayley to the bus stop, she got sick so she stayed home...repeated that same thing on Wednesday.....so I took her to the doctor and wanted her swabbed for strep. Whenever Hayley gets strep, she never complains of a sore throat, just vomits...anyway, her rapid strep came back negative....so I was hoping that she would go to school today (Thursday)...we low and behold at about 10 AM this morning the Drs. office called me to tell me....she had STREP!!!! I KNEW IT!!! So, she started an antibiotic...and we will try again tomorrow since by the time she goes to school in the afternoon, she will have three doses in her and should be fine to go to school....I actually took her teacher's gift to school today along with an doctors excuse for the past three day plus tomorrow if that just doesn't pan out...this is the 4th time she has had strep this "season" November, March, April, and June...of course, until she has it 6 times in a "season" she is not considered a 'chronic' case...which could possibly mean tonsillectomy....but we will cross that bridge when we get to it. Keep your fingers crossed that she makes it to school tomorrow.

I have been walking with my neighbor on the other side of the development a few nights a week....We didn't know each other except for on Facebook....it is so nice to walk around and talk with her.

This weekend...the boys are going to the cabin...so it is just a GIRLS weekend at our house!! It will be nice to spend some one on one time with my Hay Hay...Saturday Winnie goes to the groomers...but after that, Hayley and I are going SHOPPING!!!! Hoping to get to the Gettysburg Outlets and who knows what else...looking forward to it!!

Well, now that I have totally bored you with the goings on here at the Marsh household...Hope you have a wonderful weekend!! Hope to post more frequent entries!! Today, I looked back over some blog entries I did when I first started and it was wonderful reading over what was going on in our lives almost TWO years ago....Wow time FLIES!!!!

Pool Time Fun

Fun in the Sun!!!

Daddy took a dip too!!

Wordless Wednesday

Picture courtesy of:

SjRoth Photography

Big Boy

Brayden's last day of preschool!!!

Today, we will celebrate with his preschool classmates with
a picnic.

Hard to believe he only has one more year of preschool
and then to Kindergarten.

Doesn't he look so grown up here??

Me: "Brayden, how did you get so big??"

Brayden: "I'm growing Mommy".

Who told you you could grow up??

****sigh****

CVS Trip

I have always thought that using coupons was a waste of time. A few months ago, a friend of mine started couponing on a regular basis and was saving "LOTS" of money on groceries and other items. I decided I wanted to save up to 50% on my grocery bill using coupons too. I started purchasing Sunday Newspapers with coupon inserts in them...at least two a week. I also used Internet coupon sites to print off coupons and found website for specific products where they also offer coupons. I purchased a box to organize all my coupons...and I was ready to go.

I started "following" many different blogs that helped me understand all of that couponing lingo...and was very psyched about saving money. One store that I always thought was "overpriced" and didn't understand why people would shop there was CVS. Granted, I got any prescriptions there...but never would think to buy my shampoo, laundry detergent, deodorant, toothpaste, etc. there....but BOY was I WRONG!!! CVS is a great place to use coupons. I was already a CVS EXTRA CARE rewards member..and every week CVS runs great specials for those with EXTRA CARE cards. They also have a coupon center that you can scan your card at daily to receive coupons for your CVS purchases....as well as they have a Green Bag tag that costs $1. You can scan the card once per day with a purchase (if you have a "green bag") and after it is scanned four times you receive a $1 ECB to use on another purchase. I have been shopping at CVS weekly since I started using coupons...but never really had anything to write about until today!!! I visited one of the blogs that I visit daily Couponing to Disney and she was hosting a Bargain Brag Tuesday link. I visited Friend Family Savings and saw what she had purchased at CVS this week for only $1.43. So I found the coupons I needed to almost duplicate her purchase and........


Here is what I bought

(2) Betty Crocker Warm Delights $1 ea
(2) Nivea Body Wash 16.9 oz. $4.88 ea
(2) Nivea Lip Care $2.99 ea
(2) Dawn Hand Renewal Dish Soap $.97 ea
(4) Tic Tac singles $1.39 ea

I used

(2) $.50/1 Betty Crocker Warm Delights (printable here)
(1) $4.00/1 Nivea Body Wash RP insert 5/2
(1) B1G1 Nivea Body Wash from All You (May 10)
(1) $1/1 Nivea Lip Care RP insert 5/2
(1) B1G1 Nivea Lipa Care from All You (May 10)
(1) $2/2 Body Wash (CVS coupon printed from coupon center – details here)
(1) $1/2 Dawn Hand Renewal for P& G insert 5/2
(2) B1G1 single Tic Tac from RP insert 5/2
$6 ECB from previous purchase

= $0.08 OOP!!!!!!!!

PLUS I received $5 ECB for buying $15 in Nivea products
Total: A $4.92 Money Maker (including the $.25 green card scan it would really be a $5.17 Money Maker!!!

Wordless Wednesday

Guess the kiddos won't be using their play house until this little
birdie hatches!!

Wordless Wednesday

Rainbow Falls