Pickin' On the Porch

 We went to Pickin' on the Porch again last weekend. It was much better since it wasn't so hot!  The kids had a great time and so did we since we knew what to expect a little more and we sat in a different place - a little closer to the snowcones and the bathrooms!!  We went with our friends and their kids who are in Aidan and Emmy's classes at school.  It's nice to finally feel like we're settling in to Ft. Campbell.  It's been almost 2 years but it's been hard to find a nice group of friends.  Life is so much better now!!

Aidan's First Soccer Game

 Aidan had his first soccer game last weekend.  It was SUPER HOT.  He played goalie for the first half and then got to run around after the ball for the second half.  His team won 3-0 but I think he would have enjoyed it even if they hadn't won!

101st Airborne (Air Assault) Division Review

Last week during Week of the Eagles I was able to go to the Division Review.  It was really cool and since Brendan works for the CG now I got to have premier VIP seating!  That really means I got to sit under the roof where there are ceiling fans - very nice for pregnant people!!  Director Petraeus was there for the review and spoke - it was pretty neat!!

101st Airborne (Air Assault) Division Dining Out

 Last Tuesday night (yes, a school night) Brendan and I attended the 101st Division Dining Out.  It's like a formal but not quite as fun :).  I wedged myself into a purple dress and feeling very much like an eggplant, went along with the festivities.  We had a nice time together and I got to see my friend Summer who we were in England with, so that's always nice!  All in all - not such a fan of getting dressed up while enormously pregnant but we do what we must, right??

Apple Picking FAIL

 You know those times when you think you have this GREAT IDEA but it ends up being about the worst idea you've even had?  Apple picking seems so innocent doesn't it?  I found an "orchard" about 45 minutes away from us (according to Google maps) and their facebook page said they had lots of apples to pick.  Last year we totally missed the apple picking season because it's so much earlier here than I'm used to.  I didn't want to miss it again AND I feel like I am in a time crunch in general because the baby should be here in about 4 weeks.  I convinced Brendan to go on Sunday afternoon and it took us 2 HOURS to get there - no joke.  The roads were like single track lanes in England - seriously scared that we were going to end up in a ditch.  Once we got there they weren't even really open.  I mean there were plenty of tiny apples - because of the drought - but they hadn't mowed the orchard (TICKS) and they weren't prepared at all to have people there.  I didn't get any pictures of the 10,000 kittens, ducks, peacock (!?) and chickens wandering around but the kids had a fantastic time playing with all the animals.  We stayed long enough to pick some apples but had to get back in the car for the 2 hour ride home - it was 5 pm by the time we left.  We had to stop for dinner on the way  home - chinese buffet - so all was not lost.  That will teach me!!

101st Airborne (Air Assault) Air Show

On Saturday we went to the airshow here at Ft. Campbell.  It was a beautiful day - in the 80's and sunny.  It's been so hot and I was really happy for the temperatures to be a little cooler!!  The kids had a great time and we even got to go in the VIP tent and sit in the bleachers because of Brendan's new job.  We get the little perks - maybe to try to make up for the fact that he works so much!!

Aoife's cookies

On Friday Aoife played in the play kitchen at school and when we got home we baked REAL cookies!  Snickerdoodles are easy and delicious and she loved the process - almost as much as the product!!  I think I may have found my baking partner!!

First Day of School 2012

 Today was the first day of school!  Brendan walked with us and then took Aoife to school so I am sitting here enjoying the peace and quiet for a few more hours!  Aidan is starting 2nd grade in Mrs. Wilson's class and Emmy is starting Kindergarten in Mr. Hill's class.  Everyone was VERY excited to leave for school this morning.  I can't believe that Aidan and Emmy will both be gone all day.  It's going to be quiet around here for a few weeks until the baby is born!

Barsanti Orientation

 On Friday the kids' school held an orientation afternoon in preparation for school starting on Monday morning.  We found out what classes Aidan and Emmy were going to be in and we got to meet the teachers.  Emmy is in Kindergarten - full day!! - with all of her good friends from her PreK class.  She is really excited and can't wait to start on Monday - she gets to spend ALL DAY with her friends!!  Aidan is going to be starting 2nd grade and his best friend is in his class too and they are pretty happy about that!  Aoife had a good time checking out the classrooms but was a little upset that she isn't getting a new class.  Her preschool runs year round and she will continue to be in the 3's class this year.  Poor little thing - it's so hard being little!

It's amazing to think that we've been here long enough to have another child starting Kindergarten at the same school.  Here's what Aidan looked like at his Kindergarten orientation!

Afternoons at the Pool

 It's been super hot for the past few weeks and what better place to cool off than the pool??  The kids love it and it has a fantastic beach entry which makes it really easy to keep an eye on everyone while keeping cool myself!  It's open for a few more weeks so hopefully we'll be able to spend a little more time there once school starts!