Caroline’s Preschool Graduation

summer is in full swing around here but i forgot to post pictures from Caroline’s preschool graduation

the weather has been crazy so they had to cancel the town picnic and have the graduation at the preschool.

it was a bit cramped,but the kids didn’t seem to mind. 

so cute!

also…trying out new software…a fellow blogger introduced me to Window Live Writer…trying it out! it gives me more options with editing pictures.

(now if i can just figure out the header)

not so goop

ok.....i was inspired to be crafty...with BOTH kids

Coop is a bit of a wild card when it comes to crafts

a recipe for Goop in the Parents magazine this month

but I'm not really good at following a recipe

so it didn't really come out like i thought it would

but the kids didn't care

they made a mess for over an hour!

i was just happy they had fun making a mess...that was controlled of course!
Goop Recipe:

add drops of food coloring to 1 cup of water

mix in 2 cups of cornstarch

we started out with spoons but soon mixed with hands

*it never got to a solid consistency...just a goopy mess.

*notice we did this outside.

*hands were a shade of blue but came out at bath time.

does anyone have a similar recipe we can try?

Birthdays...are exhausting!

we survived....

Caroline's 5th birthday with over 30 people over for cake, games and crafts.

Rob's 40th night out on the town! (had lots of fun and stayed out way too late!)all set up for crafts

we set up in the garage for fear of thunderstorms

the kids decorated butterflies

made butterfly necklaces

i made cookies for favors

Caroline's uncle made the cake!

and i made homemade ice cream and cupcakes to make sure we had enough for everyone!check out this smile........and...at the end of the day, after everyone went home....the ice cream cart arrived!!

perfect timing!

5 and 40

5 years ago today.....i started having contractions in the middle of the night
the doctor said to go back to sleep...it was too early to go to the hospital
she was already 6 days late
but we were so excited that sleep was impossible
so we sat in bed at 2am and opened Rob's birthday presents. 20 hours later, 4 hours of pushing
and an emergency c-section
Caroline Celia was born!
9 pounds 8 ounces!!!

Happy Birthday Caroline!!!
Happy Birthday Rob!!!

summer......is exhausting.

Look Park in NorthHampton

a great day trip with little ones

splash park.....free lots of playgrounds....free

picnic packed....not really free, but pretty darn cheap!

a friend for each kiddo.......fantastic!

and us adults had lots of time to chat.....bonus!

our biggest splurge for the day was the train ride

and the boys got on free because they were 2!
isn't 2 cute?!

lots of smiles and giggles all day

and spontaneous hand holding between the girls.....i love that!


now...go check out what this mom is up to.......i am going to invite over 3 favorite nephews who would love this!!

something old into something new

remember the stash of vintage linens i scored from my mother-in-law......

this table runner is now a skirt!

i just sewed the ends together and put an elastic around the waist.

have a great day everyone!

blue sky

the lake

a gazillion kids

life jackets and beach hats

toys

cold beverages

hugs from coop

sparklers


hope everyone had a great 4th! we did!

parade

the 4th of July parade is big time around here.....
some people set up their spot as early as 4am
we found a spot a little after 8am
and then went for a pancake breakfast to support the girls softball team.
came back to our seats at 9:30 to watch the runners go by
cheering for family and friends!

cooper couldn't wait for the firemen and trucks.
Nani loves the parade as much as we do!

and grampa gave caroline the best seat!

God bless America!

perfect day

we didn't need these.....the sun was shining! i woke up to the smell of coffee and bacon....perfect breakfast!
flowers
and the kids were told to "be good".....and they were!
a pitcher of sangria
Boston Creme Pie for lunch!

lobster for dinner (i didn't have to cook!)

one perfect day! happy birthday to me!

ice cream cupcakes ready to go! these were pretty easy....i just followed the recipe on the box of ice cream cones.....

2 tips:

1. to keep them steady in the oven i placed tin foil over a muffin tin and placed one cone in each spot....one box of cake mix makes 24 cones, so i used 2 muffin tins.

2. and to make them less top heavy i placed a few chocolate chips at the bottom of each cone before the batter.

last of the vacation pics

we enjoyed one more day on the beach

still wearing raincoats and boots

there was no shell collecting at this beach

but we did leave with 2 buckets filled with pretty rocks
not that one Caroline!

gramma loves the beach
good kite flying weather!

and Cooper couldn't help himself.....completely soaked.




great trip...great memories....can't wait till next year!

now time for celebrating!

today i am another year older...and i have a pitcher of my favorite sangria in the fridge, rob is getting lobster for dinner and boston creme pie!
tomorrow our home town parade and a picnic at the lake.

next week....caroline turns 5 and rob the big 40!