Crazy Hair Day

Every few weeks or so at Aidan and Emmy's school they have "popcorn Friday". Usually it's accompanied by some fun dressing up event and today was "crazy hair day"! The kids were really excited and have been looking forward to it all week. I actually managed to get myself to Walmart sometime this week and buy colored hair spray. I got a few cans since there always seems to be some need for it during the year and it's really only readily available around Halloween.
So this morning they got to wear colored hair to school - Aoife got sparkles since I didn't think preschool would appreciate her showing up with pink hair! I should also mention that Aidan and Emmy got themselves dressed today. We were in such a rush this morning that I failed to notice that they look like they are color blind and have no idea what season it is. I think we'll start laying clothes out the night before from now on.

7-17 CAV Appreciation Reception

On Tuesday night, the Squadron Commander, LTC Reilly, and his wife, Michelle, had a very nice reception for all of the volunteers in 7-17 CAV. The food was great and it was really nice to get together with so many fantastic ladies! The door prizes were goldfish and I actually won a bag of them. The kids were super excited when they woke up in the morning to find 5 goldfish swimming happily around in their bowl. *sigh* I hope I can keep these guys alive a little longer than poor little Mario.
The Reillys with me:All of the ladies who attended:HHT Ladies:The new mini-Cullinans:

FRG Party

We had a get together for our FRG today and Steph got a bouncy castle for the kids. They had a ball and it totally wore then out!! It was nice to get out of the house for an afternoon and have some adult interaction!!

Walking to School

On the days that Aoife doesn't have school, we all walk/ride bikes to school. Emmy insists that Aoife and I wait at the bike racks while Aidan walks her into the school. They hold hands and it is so adorable. He walks her to the door, gives her a hug and watches until she sits in the PreK line and then he goes to the 1st grade door. Such a good big brother!!

Aidan's Tumbling Class

Aidan is taking a boys' tumbling class at the same time as Emmy's dance class. It's not quite as active as he would like but it's something fun to do until basketball starts next month!

Emmy's Dance Class

Emmy started back up with dancing last month. It's a combination ballet and tap class and she LOVES it! The classes moved into a new building where we can actually see what they are doing in class - it's so much fun to see them!!

A Hodgepodge

Things are moving along here. We are up to 30 weeks that Brendan has been gone and only 3 more months until we see him for R&R!! The weather is getting cooler here - finally - and showing signs that fall may actually be on its way. I am so ready for it!! I managed to keep one tomato plant alive through the horrible heat that we had this summer and it is VERY happy these days. It is practically falling over from all the tomatoes all over it. I hope that these ripen before our first frost - although that won't be for a while. We got a curious visitor the other day. He just stood there and watched the kids play for about 10 minutes. So cute with his little antlers!!Here is Aidan riding home by himself from school on Friday! I know - I'm sure you're thinking that he's only in 1st grade and I'm a terrible mother BUT we live less than 1/4 mile from school and we've been walking/riding the route together for a year. He's already been in school for 5 weeks and he and I both thought it would be OK to try it and see how it went. He made it home just fine and when I asked how he liked it he said that he felt very grown up but he didn't want to do it alone everyday. That's just fine with me and we agreed that he would get himself home on Tuesdays (which is an hour shorter and dismissal is RIGHT in the middle of the girls' naps) and that the girls and I would pick him up the other days. This will make everything easier!! Our pretty neighborhood. I love that everyone flies flags!

Manicure

This is what I walked in on this afternoon. Seriously?? At least she got a papertowel!!

Emmy's Class

Today I went in to Emmy's PreK class to help out. It's so nice to be back in a classroom that welcomes parents! Aidan was at a fantastic coop preschool in Virginia and I was really involved in his schooling. It's been a while since then and I am really excited about being able to help out in their classes since I have a few hours a week where everyone is in school!
Here's Emmy making a tree with pieces of green and brown paper:Emmy playing with her friends. Do you see that smile? She's so happy here!!They practiced counting to 30 and sorting with gummy bears, marshmallows and mini cookies!

RAIN!!!!

The rain from the latest tropical storm is stalled out over us right now. We haven't had rain in such a long time that it is very welcome - too late to save the crops this year but welcome none the less. The kids and I went out to buy raincoats for them this morning. Aidan's coat from last year is too small - even last year it was a little small but I was determined to get one more year out of it. Emmy's rain jacket was getting too small and was a good size for Aoife so Emmy got a new one and they all got fleeces since they were on sale. We didn't find a rain coat for Aidan so we had to order one when we got home but that doesn't help so much with the rain for the next few days.
It was pouring about an hour after we got home and Emmy wanted to go out in her new jacket and use her umbrella. It was raining so hard that you can't even see the trees above the fence!

Playing after dinner

It's been so hot here for the past few weeks - OK months! - that the only time we really get to go outside and play is after supper. Last night we brought the chalk out and drew on the driveway until we got too sweaty and had to go inside since it was still 96F. All Aoife wanted us to do was trace her body over and over and over again on the pavement. It looked like a crime scene from munchkinland!
Here is Aoife begging me to trace her again - I'd already done it twice.Aidan being such a good big brother and giving in:

Emmy reading to Aoife

Here is a video I took the other evening of Emmy reading a Spot book to Aoife. I think her "reading" is a combination of word recognition and memorization but it is super cute!!!

Anniversary Gifts

Brendan continued the tradition of getting me an anniversary present even after I asked him not to. I really am a lucky girl! These beautiful flowers showed up and them later on this bracelet from LovelinksAmerica. They are made by veterans and are a fundraiser for wounded soldiers and their families. The bracelet is made of knotted parachute cord and each knot represents a fallen hero. They are an adaptation of survival bracelets made and exchanged by soldiers in theater as they can be unraveled and the cord and be used for many purposes in an emergency - this may come in handy if I ever have to lasso my children.

4 Day Weekend

Today was the first day of the LONG 4 day weekend. Aoife actually did have school this morning but both Aidan and Emmy didn't. It was HOT too - actually got to 100F here so going outside was really out of the question until about 6:30 pm. Check out the mess behind Aoife in this picture - we've got everything on the floor from socks to cups, books and toys. There are even my oven mitts on the couch - I was wondering where those had gotten off to!
Aoife loves these shoes that Emmy was so nice to pass along to her. Aoife can even run and ride her scooter in these heels!

Happy Anniversary!!

Today is our 11th anniversary! Again, we are spending it apart. I can't remember how many we've been together for but this is at least the 7th if not more that we've been geographically separated. *sigh* I miss my fantastic, loving, thoughtful, caring husband. xoxo