Happy birthday Kate!

My little baby turned two this week. She is growing so fast. I adore this baby and she is looked after by mom, dad and her big sis. Reese loves to give Kate massive hugs and can always figure out what she is trying to say. 

My Katie bug, I love you with my whole heart. You are so sweet and happy. I hope you always keep your giggles and smiles. 

Easter egg hunt

We had Sydney over for an Easter egg hunt. It was a relaxing way to spend the afternoon. 

Easter pics

Cowgirl pictures

Blue apron

So, I wrote a post on Blue Apron meals a few weeks ago, it was an amazing generous gift from my mother in law. The gift was for 4 weeks and we are on week 4, so my final thoughts are..... If you have no kids-this is amazing!! Most of the meals were not kid friendly but for us, we just put the girls to bed and then cooked our dinner. Usually, we do family dinners but on evenings I didn't get out of hospital early to make it home this option was great. Carl was even able to make some of the meals without my help and he has very very limited kitchen experience. I do think this could be beneficial to people with kids as well because it was really out of the box recipes but they were all delicious. We cooked with cod, farekah (a grain of some sort??), homemade ramen noodles, miso paste, rainbow chard, fennel and on and on--things I never buy and cook myself. So it did open my eyes up to trying more foods and reminded me how fresh veggies can be incorporated into winter dishes. I think it is expensive so, be good all year and ask Santa.

February so far

Wow!! February is flying by, last weekend was Reese's birthday and it was so so fun. Reese wanted a cowgirl party so she wore her pink cowboy boots and I got her a tiara/cowboy hat (perfect this princess obsessed little girl). I also set out a hay bale with cute fake horses around it for photo ops! Everyone had a blast, there was tons of food and the jump castle was up. Reese was all over the house with her friends, 4 year olds are full of energy and hard to keep up with!!! One minute they were outside the next in her bedroom all the way upstairs. After some of the guests took off, we did a fire pit and all the adults sat around outside and had a beer while the little ones gorged on a veggie tray and watched Snow White in the family room.
The next day the weather was amazing so we played outside and had a picnic, Reese loves outside picnics and said that was her favorite part of the day
This work week flew by and then it was the weekend all over again. Yesterday Magnolia Gardens had a valentine/chocolate walk and we spent about 2 hours there. The girls were covered in melted chocolate when we left but they had an amazing time. Carl got me a beautiful weekend bag for Valentines Day, it was one I have had on amazon wish list forever so I was really surprised! Then I made dinner and let him sleep in this morning.
Next weekend we have more birthdays and then the weekend after I am heading to Raleigh for a girls weekend and some shopping!!

Here is a link to the bag, it is beautiful and this company also makes collapsable luggage I have been pining after.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004M0XZ8I/ref=twister_B006R1WSOW?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

The birthday party rounds

It's that time or year again, where every child we know gets a year older. Here was last weekend and this weekend. 

Blue apron meals

For Christmas Carl and I received the coolest gift from his mom. We got 4 weeks of food delivered to the house from blue apron meals. We have to prep and cook but all the food is fresh and yesterday's recipe was deelish and out of my norm. I don't cook much fish and we made cod steamed in banana leaves and rice with ginger and garlic. So yummy. Carl helped me cook and do some of the prep work which was awesome. We started cooking when Kate was asleep and Reese was watching a movie. She tried our fish but it was too spicy. Here are some pics of our culinary evening. 

After daddy's heart!

Carl loves putting the girls in his Redskins gear. Kate loves it too!! She was so happy running after her dad and sister in this get up!!

Reese's new dress

Reese received a belated Christmas gift in the mail yesterday. She loves her new Cinderella dress and did not want to take it off to sleep. I think this color blue is so pretty on her, it is her color!!

Happy New Year!!

We had a very relaxing New Years Eve, I worked during the day but was home early. We used the big easy to cook a roast and potatoes and it was so yummy. I love the big easy bc Carl can cook the majority of the dinner and we have hardly any dishes. After dinner the girls went down pretty easily and Carl and I sipped bubbly and watched lots of TV. I love all the year in review specials and watching the ball drop. I made silly phone calls to lots of my out of town friends and went to sleep 10 minutes into the new year!

The next day we took it easy and I took an afternoon nap when the girls were down for their nap (much needed). This weekend we have been staying in and hanging out with the girls, we went to the library and checked out books and movies, it has been pretty relaxing and I'm hoping we are ready to get back to work on Monday. When the girls are napping or watching a movie, I am trying to get this place cleaned up from Christmas and organized. Lots of boxes heading to goodwill with old toys and clothes. I also rearranged the china cabinet and am happy with the results. I used the January southern living for inspiration and stacked lots of china instead of just pulling out enough for place settings.  Hope you have a happy new year!! Lots of love

Intent on her work

Kate loves to sit and color with her big sister!! Here she is adding to Reese's work! 

Christmas before and after

Christmas Eve!

We had a relaxing Christmas Eve at home and then got all dolled up for church! After church we went to

Zen Asian fusion and grabbed some sushi. Sushi on Christmas Eve is my favorite and reminds of our days kn Washington DC. 

 After dinner we headed home and the girls got to open one Christmas present! The Kate went to bed and Reese helped me make cookies for Santa. 

After Reese went to sleep Carl and I were able to relax and get the house all ready for Christmas. Christmas was a whirlwind and the girls destroyed the house. But they were good girls all year and Santa brought them lots of fun toys and clothes. 

Christmas dinner was just for Carl and I, after the girls went to sleep I made scallops wrapped in bacon, crab cakes, risotto and sautéed spinach. So so yummy. 

Half marathon

Carl and I ran a half marathon last Saturday in Kiawah island. I trained for a few months and had some foot and hamstring problems during the last few weeks but I finished!! The race was fun and there were bands every three miles or so. At the end there was a huge buffet, beer tent and a band so we were able to hang out for a bit before heading home.

My mom came into town last weekend to watch the girls during our race but she was also able to see Reese's Christmas play and have a relaxing weekend with warm weather! 

Christmas decorations week one!

 On Saturday we went and bought our Christmas tree and started to put up our decorations. Reese loved pulling out all the ornaments and hanging them on the tree. Kate preferred running around the kitchen holding an ornament she stole when no one was watching her. So far Reese has broken one and Kate has broken one, can't believe Kate's total is so low! Reese also made two ornaments with her babysitter while Carl and I were at a Christmas party so those are also on the tree. 

This week has had some yucky weather so fit was been nice to stay home and  do cuddle and be by the tree. 

Pumpkin patch

Here are my little ladies at the pumpkin patch! Reese loves riding the horse and as she ran over she said, "I'm so excited, I just can't wait!"

Kate watched her sister ride and played in huge tractor tires. Then they picked out their little pumpkins and we headed home. 

beaching!

We are in NAgs head for the week!! It is currently raining but that isn't going to ruin our trip. Aquarium here we come.

VA tech game!

Reese and Kate had so much fun at the football game, here is Reese wearing her new necklaces and bow.  She met a new friend named Avery and they giggled and shook pom pons during the game. Reese is helping me post this blog and wants to add that her favorite part of the day was "shaking the pom poms  and sleeping on the floor (mommy made her a special bed on the floor bc the queen sized bed was too big). Kate learned to clap her hands over her head.
Carl really enjoyed being back in Blacksburg for a game and seeing all the changes. The mall in town is "super nice now," there is an old navy and a ross!!!

(go hoos)

Pool pics

Well, getting ready for the pool

Pics