Preschool 2014 - 2015 Pictures

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Weekend Fun!

Weekend Recap!

 

We had a super awesome weekend! I love weekends like this. I love planning our weekends out so I have something to look forward to all week. It makes the work week seem easier.

This weekend we did a whole lot, it was fun, and relaxing even though it was so busy. Saturday morning we started out with a trip to the YMCA. We worked out and the kids stayed in the daycare. After the Y, we headed out to Lewis Ginter Gardens, we had a picnic there and then we headed to see Butterflies live, and let the kids play in the splash park, it was the last weekend the splash park is open and the weather was beautiful for it. The kids loved every minute of it. They currently love the book “The very Hungry Caterpillar.” So it was a neat connection for them to see all the butterflies. Their brains were such sponges soaking up all the information about butterflies and repeating it the rest of the weekend. They had a ball running in the splash park as well!

 

After Lewis Ginter we headed to the grandparents’ house and laid everyone down for a nap. They stayed the night at Nonni and Papa’s and Mike and I got a date night! We went to see Kelly Pickler and Rascal Flatts and it was such an awesome and much needed time together. After the concert we headed to one of our pre kids hang outs for a couple of drinks before retiring for the night.

 

Sunday morning, we headed to pick up the kids, and took them on a two mile walk around the neighborhood. We headed home for nap time and I went to the grocery store. Then we headed to church (P and N and I… we have to divide and conquer a lot) with Mike’s parents to enjoy and musical concert. Then we swag home picked up M and E and Dada and headed out to dinner. We got home in time for baths!  I was going to go the Y and then realized they close at 6 on Sunday! I spent the rest of the night, cleaning and doing laundry to get us ready for the work week!

Such a great weekend!

Picnic, I forgot a blanket... I think I am going to keep one in the car for now on.








Butterflies!!!



"Butterflies eat fruit!" Presley told us this the rest of the weekend!






Splash Park

Mike and I are working on scheduling…. Like scheduling every area of our life. Our live is so busy and chaotic we forget things… like to appreciate each other, spend time together, make the most out of the weekends and nights, etc, etc.

Scheduling things out has been hard… because well it takes time to do and some trial and error to see what works. So far we know that we need a date every other weekend. So this means planning things to do and arranging appropriate child care… not an easy task with four kids and family who helps so much during the week it is unfair to ask them for help on the weekends… which means hiring help….which means finding someone and paying someone… Which also means adjusting our budget… see how everything takes so much planning?!

We are also preplanning at least one family activity a weekend in addition to what we want to make a normal routine of church and the gym.

With two working adults and four young children it is very easy to rest on the weekend… let the whole weekend getaway… and be left with the feeling that you didn’t do anything because well you didn’t. Going back to work for me has been an adjustment and we want to make the most out of our weekends… which means planning and scheduling.

 

So when I told  Mike my ideas for this weekend’s plans he told me that I was being a little aggressive… and while part of that statement was true and we did all but one thing on the list… we did it… and it felt good. I believe the more we do the less overwhelming the effort to do things… will feel. Because let me tell you it is a MAJOR effort to get everyone out of the house to do anything.

The first thing we did this weekend was Friday night I joined the YMCA. I have wanted to do this for a while. I wanted to do it all summer. But the $120 joining fee kept stopping me…. As the school year started and I started to think about our fall routines and schedule the YMCA kept popping back up.  I stock their website on a regular basis browsing schedules and kid activities. (They have so much fun stuff for little ones). When I went to stock their website on Friday… I saw they had no joining fee and Friday was the last day of it. So I went and joined that night!

Mike was a little unhappy that I joined… since it is a monthly expense… we have been trying to cut expenses and save money so this was kind of in the opposite direction of that. Mike has recently picked up bike riding has a form of exercise and has been riding his bike to and from work daily. He told me I need to walk or run, doing something free for exercise. Excuse me… who the hell is going to watch the kids?! Long story short… after a weekend at the Y… he is in love!

 

Saturday morning we packed all four kids up and headed to the YMCA. We got there at 9am. We left the kids in child care and they had a great time! The girls there loved our kids! They said they were all such happy kids… my heart melted.

I ran, and by “ran” I slow jogged on the treadmill for 2 miles the pace was 13/14 minute miles… so more like a fast walk then jog. I am so out of shape I was sweating and so bright red and the end. I did a few weight machines and that was it. (My knees were killing me the rest of the day!)

We were back in the car at 10:30 and headed home to feed M and E their 11 am bottle. We gave the kids an early lunch and then packed everyone back in the car and headed out to Chesterfield Berry Farm to pick pumpkins. A little early in the season… but we like early in the season… I like to avoid crowds! The more crowded a place is the more stressful the outing is for us. Since this was the first weekend of pumpkin picking there were no crowds or lines! And we also got a lot of freebies! It was a fun stress free time

We headed back home for nap time…. Where I feel a sleep on the couch! That night Mike and I had a little date night and headed out to Oktober fest which was held at Mike’s parent’s church.

 

Sunday morning we unfortunately did not make it to church Sunday morning. We headed to the gym at 11:00 (right after M and E’s bottle). Since my knees where hurting so bad I just fast walked on the treadmill, and then did some swimming, taking me back to my competitive swimming years. I knew it would make my knees feel better and it did. After the gym we ended downtown to go back to the Oktober fest as a family where we ate lunch, let the kids dance to the German music, and explore the kids play area… while daddy enjoyed some adult beverages. It was a great outing.

We came home for nap time and I headed the grocery store. We had no effort frozen pizza for dinner and everyone including us went to bed happy and early to start the work/school week.

It was a great “aggressive” weekend!

I am planning another aggressive weekend for next weekend. There are so many good things to do I can’t decide our activity… Virginia State Fair, Apple Picking, or Lewis Ginter for Butterflies live and the last weekend their Splash park!

This week I am cooking...

This week I am cooking…

Sunday

My parents came over and we had steak, chicken, and shrimp kebabs on the grill

Monday

We had chicken tacos super easy recipe to follow. I made a whole chicken in the crock pot with Mexican seasoning then froze into 3 serving sizes to use for FAST easy dinner.

Tuesday

Steaks on the grill. Corn and scallop potatoes. I have gotten some good deals on steaks recently and have quite a few in the freezer so it has been a regular around her.

Wednesday

Chicken Wings – I got these to make for Monday  night football but it was back to school night so didn’t end up doing it! The kids had P&J sandwiches… when I got home from work I quickly realized that they were too hungry for me to make dinner. They have been getting wore out from preschool and I don’t think they are eating a good lunch because they are tired then they wake up form nap and demand snack after snack. So tonight I gave them P and J sandwiches at 5pm. So the wings were a perfect choice for us!

Thursday

Shrimp Scampi

Friday

Pork Chops

Saturday

Shepherds Pie

What time do you get up in the morning?

As I was walking up to work this morning a coworker asked… how in the world do you get here in the mornings? What time do you get up?

The answer 6:45. Not that early. I simply cannot get up any earlier. I get up and it is GO GO GO GO!

 

6:30 am – alarm goes off I hit snooze

6:45am – okay I really have to get up now.

6:46am – make coffee

6:47am – take a shower

6:55am – make P and N breakfast in a robe

7:00 am – get P and N up and let them eat breakfast

7:05 am – feed M and E (Mike helps!), if I am lucky I eat some breakfast while I feed and drink my coffee

7:25 am – get dressed, do hair, make-up

7:40 am – get P and N dressed (Mike helps)

7:55am – Put P and N in car for preschool

8:00am – pull out driveway

8:10 am – arrive at preschool

8:15 am – walk in preschool (cannot drop them off before 8:15 but I get there before then so we are walking in the door at 8:15)

8:22 am – leave preschool drive to work

8:35 am – arrive at work

8:45 am – in classwork check emails, etc

9:00 am – school day starts!

And that’s my morning!

1st day of Preschool 2014

This week I am cooking...

One of my favorite things about being home this summer other than my kids of course was cooking. I am trying to get in a new routine of prepping and cooking dinners every night during the school year. Since my oldest twins were born I struggled with  this. I love cooking. But prior to kids my husband and I ate out a lot so cooking every time was not part of my routine and it has taken some getting use to.  One thing I hate is eating the same thing all the time... of course with kids there are some favorites that pop up on a regular basis... but for the most part I am trying to vary my menu. So I am going to post my weekly menus to help me remember what I have cooked and to hopefully rotate appropriately.

So this is technically last weeks menu, my first real week back to work....

Monday
- Steaks on the grill for labor day! We made some dogs and burgers as well.

Tuesday
- Ribs in the crock pot
- baked beans

Wednesday
- pan fried chicken
- green beans
- mash potatoes

Thursday
- pan fried pork chops
- apple sauce
- mac and cheese

Friday
- Chicken Tacos (pre-cooked and frozen... easy to reheat and serve)

Saturday
-  Baked Salmon over
- white rice
- corn

Sunday
- T- bone steaks
- blt salad
- scallop potatoes

Back to Preschool!

I am back to work... and well we have been busy!


The kids start preschool next week and will be attending M, T, and W this year. Last night was our back to school night and I got tons of pictures of the classroom to show the older twins to get them prepared! They loved school last year and still remember their teacher's name which is a great thing because she moved up to the 2 year old class and will be their teacher again next year! Their teacher is amazing and definitely highly qualified for the job. I am really super excited they get a another year with her and for three days a week this year!

Last year they started with one day and we quickly added a second day because I need the break and stimulation for them while I was home with 2 newborns. The 2 year old class had a option of three days a week or two days a week. We went with the three days a week for the extra care and attention for our big twins. But had originally only signed up for two because  preschool is a little bit of a sacrifice for us, 1. the money 2. the effort it takes to get them there and back with our family situation.

We felt like the twins would benefit from the extra day but didn't know if we could handle the effort of the extra day. However, after talking to the preschool they have been amazing at accommodating our needs and adjusting their rules for our unique family! What a relief! Basically they are going to meet us at the car to pick up P and N so that we don't have to bring the babies in with us for pick up. They have a carpool system but P and N are too young for it, they also let us sign up for early drop off which P and N are also too young for by their rules.

Anyways here are some picture of their super cute classroom!

Classroom potty

Rain room

Back to School Schedule

Schedule 6.5 months and 27 months

7am – start the day feed Max and Eli 8 oz bottle

7:15 – Presley and Noah Breakfast, get dressed for day

8:00 – Presley and Noah Leave for Preschool

10 – 11am – Max and Eli morning nap

11am – Feed Max and Eli, one by one, 8 oz bottle, let the other keep sleeping

12:15 – Presley and Noah home from Preschool

12:30: Presley and Noah Lunch and Max and Eli solids share 1 jar

1 – 3:30pm – naps

3:00pm - Feed Max and Eli, one by one, 8 oz bottle, let the other keep sleeping

3:30/4:00pm – get Presley and Noah up from nap (they can have a small snack)

5:30pm – Family Dinner, 1 jar of baby food for Max and Eli

7:00 pm– bath, 8oz bottle bed for Max and Eli

7:30 pm – bath for Presley and Noah

8:00 pm – Presley and Noah in bed by 8 

Back to work tomorrow

The panic attacks and anxiety have been real. I could not sleep at all this week, tossing, turning, stressing, every morning my hair was in giant knots from the whole ordeal.

I want to keep having babies so I never have to work a full year.


I cried when leading Presley and Noah in their night prayer asking for me to have a good day and hoping that I don't miss them to much and they don't miss me too much. I couldn't help it, those sweeties were starring at me with the biggest concerns on their face.

Its going to be rough.

Wish me luck.