Too cool for school

School is OUT for SUMMER!

And Elizabeth is ready...

Here are her step by step tips to being fabulous this summer.

First you put on your most fabulous pair of sunglasses

(and make sure you have on beach wear)

 Snap some selfies of your fabulous outfit and even more fabulous sunglasses

 Get upset about nothing in particular

 Whatchu lookin at Willis?

Smile for the momma

 Break into a dance party

And then put on the fabulous shades and stroll out the door

Happy Summer!

Super Doubles!

This week at Harris Teeter is Super Doubles!  I drove up to the store yesterday after a bad afternoon storm and when I walked in I discovered the power was out.  I shopped for over an hour and the power never came back on while I was there.  I still got lots of good deals, but I had to pass on the refrigerated and frozen foods.

What I ended up with:

(1) roll of Reynolds Foil
(1) box of Hefty Quart Bags
(1) box of Hefty Gallon Bags
(2) bottles of Motts for Tots Juice
(1) Package of Keebler Cookies
(1) 8-pack of Sparkle Paper Towels
(3) cans of Dole pineapple chunks
(6) bottles of Ken's dressing and marinades
(4) jars of Pace Salsa
(1) Container of Hellman's Mayo
(2) Bottles of V8 Splash
(1) Bottle of Suave body wash
(2) bags of Duncan Hines Frosting Creations
(1) Bottle of Zest body wash
(2) packages of Kotex pads
(2) boxes of Playtex tampons
(1) bottle of Suave shampoo
(1) package of Neosporin
(1) package of Benadryl Cream
(1) bottle of Bayer Aspirin

Total before coupons: $127.86

Total spent: $48.35

Total saved: $79.51

Road Trip!

On Monday, Elizabeth and I headed South to Columbia, South Carolina to visit my friends from back in the day.  I have to start by saying I had a FANTASTIC time and I want to say a special thank-you to Stacy and Paul for letting us stay with you.

Pulling out of the driveway Monday morning.

Elizabeth was a great travel buddy on our 7-hour car drive.  She took a couple of naps, watched cars and trucks drive by, and talked to me for a bit.  We stopped half way for lunch and she took FOREVER to eat (like 45 minutes) because she kept looking at the balloons and summer decorations hanging from the ceiling.  We got to Stacy and Paul's house around 4pm and hung out until Dana come over for dinner.

Dana, Elizabeth, and me

My beautiful college roommate, Dana, came over for a pizza dinner at Stacy and Paul's.  Dana is pregnant with her first baby and I am so excited for her!  She is going to be the best Mom and I can't wait to meet her beautiful baby.  

On Tuesday, we played in the backyard in the morning and went to the Fort Jackson Water Park in the afternoon.

 Emmie and Elizabeth swinging in the backyard.

 Putting on some sunscreen at the water park.

 Splash park for the little kids.

Elizabeth loved it!

On Tuesday night, Elizabeth and I met Teri and Libby at Wild Wings for dinner.

Teri and Libby are two of the most fabulous women I know.  I used to work with them at an insurance company in Columbia.  Teri and Libby helped keep me sane during a rough year before graduate school.  I really enjoyed meeting up with them and introducing Elizabeth to two of my favorite people.  Thank you Teri and Libby for meeting us for dinner!

On Wednesday, we got up and ready early and took the girls to the River Banks Zoo.  Stacy has a membership and it is a fantastic place to take little kids!

 

 Elizabeth playing in the bubbles at the entrance.

 Elizabeth, Emmie, and Ellie playing with the bubbles.

 They LOVE the bubbles!

The bears were feeling lazy.

 Elephants are Elizabeth's favorite!

 At the zoo

 Giraffes!

 Emmie and Elizabeth feeding the giraffes

Looking at cows

We spent the rest of Wednesday hanging out at the house and playing in the backyard.

 

 On Thursday, we drove back to Alexandria... (I was a little bored and took a bunch of pictures)

 Leaving Stacy and Paul's house

 1 hour in and she is asleep

 Lunch at a truck stop Dairy Queen; chicken strip and banana

 We made it home!!!

Thank you to everyone that took time to meet up with us and again, thank you Stacy and Paul for letting us stay with you!

Happy Summer!

Summer!

Summer is HERE!

I love summer!  It is my favorite time of year.  

Yesterday was my last day of work for eight weeks and I look forward to enjoying 

every single day off.

Here are some of the things I am going to enjoy this summer:

 

 Our neighborhood pool

 

Protecting my skin with a load of sunscreen

I want to grill all of my meals :)

I want to eat a bunch of s'mores!

This summer I just want to relax and enjoy being with friends and family.

What do you want to do this summer?

Sixteen Months

Dear Elizabeth,

You are 16 months old!

You turned sixteen months yesterday!  You have really taken off this past month and you are walking and running everywhere.  Your vocabulary has exploded in the past four weeks and you are talking non-stop.  Some of your new words include: please, chicken, Up! (you say all the time).  You smile and say "hi" to everyone we pass. 

This past month has been very busy...

When we got back from Texas, we had a mommy-daughter date at Chick-Fil-A.
 

 Chick-Fil-A date night!

Memorial Day Weekend we went camping in the Shenandoah Valley with Pari and Quin.  You loved the caverns and Pari taught you how to say chicken.  We also stopped by Route 11 Chips and took a tour and got some delicious chips.

 

 Group photo in the cavern

 Reading at the cabin

Route 11 Chips

The first weekend in June, was also very busy.  Shelley and Adam came over to babysit so Mom and Dad could have an evening out.  The next day, you and Dad drove to Pennsylvania to celebrate Aunt Barb's birthday while I stayed in DC to celebrate Jessica's bachelorette party.
 
The last two weekends we have been in town, and we have been relaxing.  The day before Father's Day,  we sent Dad to play golf and relax, then Jessica and Noah came over to babysit while Dad and I went out.  On Father's Day we enjoyed breakfast and lunch before you and Dad settled in with some head colds and we laid around the rest of the day.
 
You are currently wearing 18-month clothes, a size 3 diaper, and size 3 or 4 shoes.  You still eat 3 meals a day plus and afternoon snack.  Your favorite foods include pasta and cheese or any variation of those two, bananas, and any squeezies.

***Addition*** You have 10 teeth, you weigh 20 pounds, and you are fabulous!

In two days, I will be out of school for the summer and I can't wait to spend everyday with you.  We are going to have so much fun this summer!

We love you so much!

-Mom and Dad

PS.  Here are some more pictures below of your adventures from the past month:

Father's Day Weekend

Elizabeth has the best Dad around and she and I wanted to spoil him this weekend.  Saturday we arranged for Ben and our friend Adam to play golf.  Then Jessica and Noah came over to babysit Saturday night so I could take Ben to dinner and a movie (Man of Steel).

Today I got up with Elizabeth so Ben could sleep in.  After he got up we had donuts and bacon.  Once Elizabeth got up from her nap, we went to King Street Blues and Ben got some fabulous ribs for lunch.  We have been hanging out at home the rest of the day and just relaxing. 

Below are some of my favorite pictures of Ben and Elizabeth:

The first picture ever of Ben and Elizabeth

The day after Elizabeth was born

He loves her so much!

Elizabeth's First Easter

(she is about 6 weeks old)

September 2012

Nine months old

Elizabeth's 1st Birthday

Ben, you are the most wonderful Dad and I love you so much!

Happy Father's Day!!!