Happy Birthday Brayden!!

How can it be?? How is he 8?? Time flies by so quickly. Seems like only yesterday but also a lifetime away.

Now this handsome young man is in 2nd grade and such a GREAT little boy all around. He is still a momma's boy and has the kindest soul! I am so honored to be your Mommy!! Love You!!

Sweet and Sour Chicken Crockpot recipe

 

 

Sweet and Sour chicken

 

 

Ingredients:

 

3-4 chicken breasts (they can be frozen)

 

1 green bell pepper chopped

 

1 can of pineapple

 

I can of Hawaiian marinade (Lawry's or I just used store brand)

 

 

Directions:

 

Place chicken in crock pot. Top with chopped green bell pepper. Drain 50% of the juice out of the can of pineapple and then pour remaining pineapple and juice on top of the chicken. Pour the Hawaiian marinade over everything. Cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 4 hours. Before serving, use a fork to break up chicken and pineapple. Serve over rice.

 





First Day of School 2013-2014

So today was the first day of school for us!! The last 10 weeks of summer vacation seem to have just flown by in a blink of an eye. Although, it may also be because this year school started a week earlier in our neck of the woods. H is starting 4th grade in a new school building. She is so excited and just LOVES school. Brayden will be starting 2nd grade at his same elementary school. Some useless trivia about their teachers is: In 2nd grade, Hayley's teacher's first name was MELISSA. Brayden's 2nd grade teacher's first name this year is MELISSA. Hayley's "switch" teacher's first name this year is....you guessed it MELISSA. So with that being said, they should have a WONDERFUL year...since their teachers have the perfect name!!!!

Brayden and Hayley

How in the world did these two get so big?? It seems like just yesterday I was sending Hayley off to her first day of preschool along with Brayden in the baby carrier. These years just seem to fly by!!

Here's to a GREAT 2013-2014 School Year!!!!

Super Nanny

Over 10 years ago my Mom, aka Nanny, stopped working full time to watch Hayley. Two years later came Brayden and then a few years later came my sister's girls Mady and Megan. There were days that she watched five of her grandchildren at the same time and never even batted an eye. She took them to preschool, grocery shopping, out for pizza, off visiting my Grandma and Grandpa or my Nana and Grandpa, and many many more adventures. She did this so my sister and I could continue to work knowing that our kids were being well cared for. After today, she will be "retiring" from the full-time Nanny status. So here's to new adventures!!! Thanks for everything!!

It's been way too long.............

Wow!!! It has been way too long since I have written anything on this blog. The last actual post was about my little girl turning 8. Well, hard to believe, but she will be turning 10 in just a little over 30 days from now. This is really hard for me to comprehend that she will be 10 years old. A lot really has happened over the past two years. In December 2011, my beloved Nana (who loved to read my blog) passed away from pancreatic cancer. We all miss her very very very much. It is so hard to believe that this Christmas will be our 2nd one without her. But on a happy note, my sister and brother-in-law had their third daughter in May and she is just as cute as the other two! We have done a lot of camping still in our 1978 Taurus camper...but the kiddos enjoy it so much and even I can "rough" it for a few days in a small camper with 2 kids, 2 adults, and 2 dogs. We are camping again Labor Day weekend in Gettysburg and are looking forward to it!! Today is the LAST Friday of summer vacation for the kiddos. They start school on 8/21. H is over the moon excited, B not so much...but he will like it as soon as we get back into the swing of things. H is starting her 7th year of dancing for TDA and is going to be doing a competition piece this year with another girl and 2 boys at her dance studio. Again, she is really excited about this. I am HOPING to try and do more documenting of our everyday lives...as 2 years have just GONE BY WAY TOO FAST and I need to keep a journal of the happenings in our busy life, so as to not forget all of our adventures.

I LOVE Shutterfly!!!

Photo Card

View the entire collection of cards.

Hayley turns 8!!!

Back in September, our little girl turned 8-years old. Where has the time gone?? Seems like only yesterday I was planning her 1st birthday party. If the next 8 years go by as fast as the last 8 have....OH MY!!! I will have a 16-year-old before I know it...and I am not quite ready for that!!

Here are a few pictures from her birthday party we had for her. Unfortunately, the batteries died on my camera and so far these are the only pictures I have from that day!! Enjoy!!

The case of the missing tooth...

Brayden had an exciting day at school today....he LOST his tooth, literally, 2 ways....out of his mouth as well as on the classroom floor. Oh my, he was so excited that he lost his tooth and was he ever reassured once I said that Daddy texted the Tooth Fairy and she will still be making an appearance even though she will not have a tooth to remove from his bedside table (gotta love technology...who would have every thought 20 years ago that we would be texting the Tooth Fairy??). I actually think I am more disappointed than he is for not have an "actual" tooth since I have kept all of Hayley's since they fell out...and wanted to do the same for him. Oh well, maybe next time.....

(picture to be inserted!)

Bella Balloonza

Two weekends ago...poor Bella (our white boxer puppy that we got on June 3rd...but that's another post I should write) was digging in the back yard. Scott saw that she was digging lots of holes out by his shed, so he took some leftover vinyl fencing we had...and put it up around the area she was digging to stop this bad habit. About 30 minutes later, Hayley says to me, "Mom, what is all over Bella's belly?" Me: "Oh, honey, she was out digging so it is probably dirt." Hayley: "No Mom, they are red bumps. " With this, I go to investigate...and low and behold she was covered in hives. Then I look at her face and the whole right side of her face is swollen and red.....this dog is having an allergic reaction to SOMETHING!! More than likely she had dug up a bees nest in the ground...

I immediately gave her Benadryl and had her go in her crate to "rest". About an hour went by, and the swelling on her face just got worse!! I contacted our vet and left a message. I then started looking for the closest Emergency Vet....all the while thinking in my head, "Our first trip to and ED is going to be with our dog!!!"...Our wonderful vet called me back within 10 minutes. I explained to her what I thought had occurred. She advised me to give her another tsp. of Benadryl and call her in an hour with an update. If she wasn't any better, she would meet me at the office and give her an injection of prednisone. I did just that...and about 1 1/2 hours later...the swelling FINALLY subsided and she was back to looking like our cute little puppy again.

Bella all blown up!!

All cute again!!!

And so it begins.....

So, summer vacation has ended and another school year has started. Tuesday, August 30th was Hayley's first day of 2nd grade and Brayden's first day of Kindergarten!! Amazing!! Both of the kiddos picked out their own clothes the night before (neither of them seeing what the other picked out). Well this morning when they got dressed I noticed that they coordinated!! How CUTE!!!



Mom and I were there to send them on their way...and surprisingly, there were no tears....from ANY of us!!!!





Not exactly looking thrilled :0)


The old pro!

Like I said, Brayden has started Kindergarten and this year the school district implemented an ALL DAY program, I myself am very excited about this as it gives me time to "myself" on Thursday afternoons when I am not working...as well as gives my Mom aka Nanny a break as well...heck she is even going to get Tuesdays and Thursdays off since she won't have my other two nieces that day. As she was walking both Hayley and Brayden to the bus stop this morning both kids told her, " Well, Nanny, since you don't have us at all today....you are not going to have ANYTHING to do!!". I am sure she will find plenty to do on her "days off"...maybe take a much needed break and enjoy being by herself (hopefully, for the sake of my Dad's wallet) she doesn't end up shopping the time away...but if that is what she wants to do with her time so be it!!

Ok..back to the first day of school. Once I got home from work, they didn't really have much to say; however, they did both tell me they were going to go back tomorrow!! YIPPEE!! What I got outta Hayley is, that they got new bathrooms (yeah, I forgot to mention that the school was renovated this summer...and is actually still under construction)...funny that this is the most memorable happening that Hayley felt compelled to tell me about her day!

Brayden enjoyed eating lunch at the cafeteria but did tell me that he wasn't very fond of the corn! Ha! Hayley is also excited because this year they have an Agenda notebook that they need to write their homework assignments in as well as important information that Moms and Dads need to review. Gosh, my babies are growing up...It feels like just yesterday I found out I was pregnant with Hayley and trying to figure out our boy and girl names. It really does just fly by in a blink of an eye! And you wonder why I cannot update my blog more often! LOL

Hayley's 4th Dance Recital

This weekend was Hayley's Dance Recital. This is her 4th year dancing with The Dance Academy. She took Ballet I, Tap II, and Hula I this year as well as danced in the Daddy/Daughter dance to Little Miss Magic with her Daddy.

Hayley LOVES to dance and really enjoys being onstage. Although it is a hectic week with black rehearsal, dress rehearsal, and the actual recital...it is all worth it to see that smile on her face!


Hayley & I

Scott & Hayley

Hayley ready for Hula

Lil Tapper




Little Bunny

The production this year was Sleeping Beauty. Hayley was one of the little bunnies in the forest.

Now to enjoy the rest of the summer!! Can you guess what Hayley will be for Halloween this year??

Brayden's graduation

and then my little guy graduated preschool!!!



Walking down the aisle



Getting his diploma from Miss Jane



Nanny & Brayden


Grammy & Brayden


Brayden & I


Daddy & Brayden


Congratulations Brayden!! We are all very proud of you!!!

How can it be??

I sound like a broken record....but WOW it has been a LONG time since I last posted something...just about 5 months!!! Just CRAZY I tell ya!!

Well, tomorrow my BABY graduates from preschool!! Again, I don't know how this is possible since I can clearly remember the day I gave birth to him...and then staying at my parent's for two weeks...and then living with my in laws for two years...then moving into our new house...him FINALLY sleeping through the night {at 18 months ughhhh}...turning 2...starting preschool...then turning 3...turning 4....then 5....it just all goes by way too fast!!

His kindergarten registration did not go by the book that is for sure! He is a shy guy..and didn't want to talk to the kindergarten teachers...then his Daddy accidentally scratched him on the face while we were waiting to get tested...and it all went down hill from there. He cried and cried and was soooo upset. Registrations was just not going to happen that day. He had no interest in going to the "new school"..he wanted to go to his "old school". Scott looks at me as we were exiting the school, "So, now what are we going to do?". Me: "Well, you could always home school him". Scott: "Not happening!!"

Luckily about 3 weeks later, the school had a day where the upcoming Kindergartners could spend the day at school...and he LOVED it. He did so well...and what a difference a few weeks makes, cause he is now REALLY excited to go to school!! CLASS of 2024!!! Unbelievable!!

So, my little boy graduates preschool tomorrow....and I just don't know how this is possible......

Take a break from aftertaste with a FREE sample.

Add nothing but taste to your morning cup of coffee with a FREE pint of Breve Crème coffee creamer, brought to you by your friends at Vocalpoint.

http://gotaf.socialtwist.com/redirect?l=ju0x

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???
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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!!