Homegrown produce

The girls and I decided to plant some vegetables this year in an attempt to actually grow our own produce. We planted 5 tomato plants, 4 pepper plants, basil, and oregano. With water each day, some NC sunshine, and plenty of watching, we we able to produce a mighty fine pepper. (There are plenty more where that came from.)

Not bad for amateurs!

Has it really been 15 years?

Two weekends ago I returned to Bucknell for my 15-year college reunion! Mark stayed home while the girls enjoyed a fun-filled weekend with Grampy and Grammy in VA.

It was great catching up with all of my friends and seeing their families. The campus has changed quite a bit with the addition of several new buildings. Just like old times, we stayed in the dorms, bringing back memories of the stark dorm rooms and community bathrooms. I must admit, the showers seemed very small. It's amazing what we used to live in at such a young age. I appreciate the luxuries I have now in my life that much more! Here are a few shots from the weekend.

On again, off again rainy days

For the past couple of days, with the exception of today, the weather has been partly cloudy with showers throughout the day. These days prevent the girls and I from playing outdoors, never mind the fact that we're having our siding replaced as well and there are ladders and equipment throughout the yard. So, we decided to do some "girl" things this past Monday to pass the hours away. For starters, Kate requested braids in her hair, while Lauren settled for ponytails.

After hair was complete, we moved on to making necklaces and bracelets with an array of colorful beads (as seen on Lauren in the photo below).

To round off the morning, we had a "picnic" lunch of hot dogs and pretzels in the living room on our "picnic blanket." Not bad for a rainy morning.

Party at the Park

Following Kate's graduation ceremony, we grabbed lunch from McDonald's and headed to a park for some fun with friends. Kate's friends, Connor and Kathryn, their parents, and Maureen and the boys joined us for the event. After finishing lunch the kids tackled the playground before heading to the lake to scope out the turtles and fish. The adventure was complete with the discovery of a honeysuckle bush...mighty tasty! It was beautiful weather and a perfect way to end such a special day!

Graduation Day

It's hard to believe that our first-born graduated from preschool and is starting Kindergarten in July! After completing 2 years of preschool, we had the honor of attending Kate's graduation ceremony yesterday. (It's amazing how much she has grown and learned since the first day I dropped her off at the age 3.) The classes performed several musical pieces and received their diplomas. After the ceremony, the parents greeted their children at their self-portraits created at different times during the year.

We are so thankful for the wonderful teachers and friends that have surrounded Kate the past two years. We are looking forward to watching her grow in the years to come! We're so proud of you, Kate, and we love you very much!

Peak Fest

Last weekend (yes, I'm a little behind) was Peak Fest in our historic downtown district. The festivities began with a pancake breakfast at the fire house at 7:30am, followed by Kate's soccer game, and then a return visit to downtown to partake in the fun activities offered. Shortly after our return, the girls spotted two of their favorite "friends," Harry, from Harris Teeter and the ever-famous Chick Fil-A cow, who we've seen quite often in the past several weeks.
After making our way down the main street, occasionally browsing at one of the many craft tents, the girls spotted one of the highlights of the day. They joined their cousin, Peter, for some fun on the blow-up slides and bounce equipment before taking a break for lunch and then heading home for an afternoon nap.

Mark's family, who were in town for our nephew, Michael's, baptism on Sunday, joined us at the Peak Fest as well. With everyone semi-rested that evening, we gathered at our house for a pizza dinner and some family fun in the backyard. Although a busy day, we enjoyed every minute!

Pirate or Princess?

Tonight, one of our local Chick Fil-As was having a "Pirate and Princess" night. Seeing as how both girls love princesses, we couldn't pass up the opportunity. Kate and Lauren both opted for the "princess" face painting (rather than the pirate). As always, they each selected their favorite color as the main focus in the design.

The girls also came home adorned with tattoos and glitter stars on their hands and cheeks. Plus, we have keepsake photos, courtesy of Chick Fil-A, with both the princess and the pirate cow. (Even Dad got in on the action!)