The Homestretch!!

It's finally here... the last two months of a 22 month-long program.  22 months of travel, excessively long work days, stress, math, and more Red Bull energy drinks than I ever imagined I would drink.  I'm finally in the homestretch.

It's weird to think the girlz were 2 and 5 when this all started.  Campbell was in the 2 year-old class at Baby School and Cassidy had just started Kindergarten.  Now they're 7 and almost 4.  Campbell is well-known at Big Girl School and Cassidy is wrapping up the first grade.

Thankfully, I just finished off the next-to-last trip for this program.  Things went shockingly well and we were able to come home three days early.  That's extremely rare and will likely never happen again, so I'm very thankful to get some time back with the girlz.

To celebrate, I think I may take them here this afternoon...

I got a pedicure before I flew out last week, and the nail shop has new kid-sized Hello Kitty mani/pedi chairs.  I know two girlz who would LOVE to sit in those chairs!!


While I was away, Lieutenant Sexy took the girlz to the strawberry field on the way to swimming lessons.  I'm sad that I missed it, but I'm glad they got to go.  It's just one more item on the long list of moments I've missed in the last 22 months.

Yesterday afternoon, Cassidy took a spill on her scooter and got banged up pretty bad.  Luckily she was wearing her helmet.  I would hate to see what the damage would have been if she hadn't had the helmet on!!


11 trips down, 1 more to go.  There's no place like home!

Was That A Weekend?

That whisssshing sound I just heard?  Was that a weekend blowing by?!?


I think it was.


It seems like it was only 20 minutes ago that I was sitting in this chair thinking of all the fun things the weekend had in store.  And now those fun things have come and gone, and we're back to the Monday morning not-quite-as-fun things.  Crummy.


As soon as the girlz got off the bus Friday, we changed clothes and headed to our face-painting, balloon-twisting friend's Senior Art Show.  The show was named "Deflated" - how appropriate!  All of her artwork was made from scraps of broken balloons.  Her talent is beyond amazing.

 Tree hugging outside the Art Show

Saturday brought swimming lessons in the morning and Pig Feast at Big Girl School in the afternoon.  Pig Feast is an annual event that is a family favorite of ours.  It's a huge outdoor event with a live band, bounce houses, and tons of yummy barbeque.  Campbell was tired and cranky so we didn't get to stay as long as we wanted, but we still had fun.

On the bounce houses at Pig Feast

Campbell sitting on the table (a tractor trailer flatbed)

Cassidy at the table

We had planned on going strawberry picking after Pig Feast, but the field was closed by the time we got there.  The girlz were disappointed and so were we.  It was the second time we've unsuccessfully tried to go strawberry picking... Campbell had a meltdown the first time and we couldn't get out the door.  I'm hoping we don't miss out on strawberries this year.  I love me some strawberries!!


We went to church in the rain Sunday.  I was tempted to play hooky, but we really needed to get the girlz summer camp registrations submitted before it filled up.

The girlz before church Sunday morning!

I spent all of Sunday afternoon walking through several Baby Stores with an old friend.  I was honored that she asked me to help her register and she made some really terrific choices.  Such a fun afternoon.


It was a great weekend, but the whole thing had come and gone before I knew it!!

First Grade Field Trip

The first grade went on a field trip to the zoo today.  I tagged along, which is funny because the preschool is going to the zoo next month.  Guess who's tagging along then, too?  Yep, this girl.


Cassidy spent the day with her friend A.  Cassidy and A have been friends since they were three years old - more than half of their lives.  Amazing.

Cassidy and A checking out some kind of animal (I forget which one)

Cassidy and her cropped-out friends on a buffalo

Once our time at the zoo had ended, I piled Cassidy and A in the Silver Bullet and we headed to the mall for lunch.  We met A's Dad and Lieutenant Sexy there.


A great day with great friends.  It doesn't get much better!

Spring Break Hangover

In a futile attempt to avoid the inevitable Spring Break Hangover, we skipped church and did as little as possible yesterday.  Lieutenant Sexy and I finished the laundry and cleaned the pantry and fridge.  The girlz got their water shooters out and played in the backyard for a long time.  Once they started getting cold, we moved to the sunnier front yard and drew the World's Longest Hopscotch Board on the front sidewalk.

Water fight!!

This one is brimming with personality from the top of her head to her tippy toes.

Lord, help us.

The World's Longest Hopscotch Board

As the sun started to set, we tried (unsuccessfully) to get the girlz to bed early.  We did our best to soften the transition back into real life as much as we could.


But sure enough, we had a colossal mess on our hands this morning.  Both girlz had meltdowns and Campbell refused to get dressed or eat breakfast.  She cried and screamed for about 45 minutes before finally calming down.


We were walking down the front steps of the house just as the bus rolled up.


Spring Break is a wonderful thing, but the unavoidable Monday morning hangover kind of ruins it.

2012 Spring Break

This past week was Spring Break for the girlz, so we packed up and headed down to Cape Hatteras for the week.  We had an awesome time!!  As always, it was a change of scenery and NOT a super-relaxing vacation.  But the girlz had a terrific time and made some great memories... and that's what it's all about.


Here are few (well, maybe more than a few) of the best pictures from this week.  Enjoy!!

Cassidy and Campbell in the Wright Brother's Workshop

Walking to the Wright Brothers Memorial

Easter Egg Hunt on Monday morning

Painting pottery at Studio 12

Ms. Carolyn offered to take a picture of the four of us.  So thoughtful!!

A sister moment at the beach house

Cassidy on the dock

Beach Feet

 Splashing in the Pamlico Sound

The girlz with the beach house in the background

Sipping blue slushies at the Hatteras Village Marina

On the beach in Frisco

North Carolina Aquarium

Rasslin' the gators at the Aquarium

Checking out the otters

Digging for shark's teeth

Posing on the sea turtle

Sweet Campbell

Hot Tub Time with crazy Uncle Jamie

Girlz standing in front of the door to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

Girlz learning about sea turtles at the lighthouse

 Art Class at Studio 12 - reverse painting with acrylics!

Check out the dolphin pictures they painted!  Ms. Carolyn matted and mounted them on foam board!

And the sun sets on another fantastic beach week...

Now it's back to our normal lives.  Bittersweet.

Happy Easter!

The girlz were happy to find gifts from Easter Bunny on the kitchen table this morning.  They each got a set of Shrinky Dinks, a movie, a chocolate bunny, and a few pieces of candy.  They also got a set of Hello Kitty Easter games (Old Maid, Go Fish, a Puzzle, and Bingo) to share.

They were so excited!!!

After we finished checking out the Easter Baskets, we got dressed and headed to church.  We ran into Betsy and her family in the parking lot and ended up sitting with them, which the girlz thought was OUTSTANDING.  It was a great way to celebrate Easter morning!

Could there possibly be anything sweeter than a pretty little girl in a big hairbow and patent leather shoes on Easter Sunday?!?  I mean, really.  The sweetness is overwhelming.


Happy Easter!