Planning a Party

I don't really like celebrating birthdays. They stress me out. There are so many decisions to make, and I seriously panic if I have to make them alone. All year long I have been preparing Olivia for her birthday. Saying key words like "small, one friend." Yet somehow as her Birthday approached I was taken with the idea of having her girl friends here. I was thinking pizza slumber party, maybe doing nails and dancing. Nothing to stress out about, just having fun with the girls. Olivia however had her own plans, and my seemingly small simple party slowly started turning into The Chronicles of Narnia Birthday. Narnia is her latest craze. Dad started reading the C.S. Lewis books to her over Christmas breaks starting the obsession. I wasn't even sure how to have this kind of party. I spent time researching on the Internet, reading about parents who dressed and acted like the characters, going way overboard in my opinion! I just wanted to use their ideas for games, keep it simple you know. I got some ideas of my own and ran with them, and soon there wasn't much that was simple about the day. The kids had a great time, and while I pulled a few late nights, and as usual was stressed out. I had so much fun with the kids!!

The Invitations

The Cake

The Wardrobe

The Land of Narnia

Mr. Tumnus Cave

The Games

The Food

Olivia and her best friend Aiden who also slept over

The kids after their Strawberry Waffle Breakfast!

It really was a perfect party and today Olivia gave me the biggest hug, and thanked me for her best party ever. I hugged her and said "Next year Olivia, one friend!"

Life Happens

We have survived our first semester. I am proud of Todd and his hard work and dedication. I think he did fabulous! However I am not allowed to talk about it. It's a weird law school thing. On the other hand, I can talk about how I did. Thankfully there was a generous curve, and I managed scrape by.

All the visits we have had have kept me going. Todd's parents were here in October. It was so great to have them. We took a trip to Williamsburg and enjoyed all the history and the beach.

My sister and Brother-in-law were here for a brief weekend in December. We packed in a few D.C. activities, and some wine country tours.

We spent two weeks in Orlando over Christmas with Todd's family making memories at Disney World.

Then my parents came towards the end of January. It was so nice to have them, and to show them around Charlottesville and D.C.

I have also made so many great friends. Seana, my neighbor inspires me. She has 4 children very close to the ages of my kids. Her husband is in a Cardiology fellowship. So she knows just exactly how I feel and she has proved to be a pillar to me! She is the only one who can pull my butt out of bed at 5am. I ran with her in the fall and am looking forward to doing it this spring too.

Merrie, you have saved me! Helped me escape for time away with my husband and been such a resource of knowledge and understanding with everything! Merrie runs VLF(Virginia Law Families), even though they call her husband the president. No offense Kirk. Kirk and Todd, we have decided were twins separated at birth. From attending the same college in the same dorm hall at the same time, to the same careers and of course let us not forget, AMAZING taste in wives. Let's just call it like it is, right?

There is Jaime who is at my door if she even hears I am having a hard time. She likes to ring my doorbell and take off leaving me bagels, and other goodies. She calls me just to chat, and when we can get away, we do it over a glass of wine. I am so blessed, and that's just naming a few.

I have been really tested over these past few months. My husband is my rock. While he is so busy with his workload, he has never hesitated to put his family first. I love that man!

Swimming

OK, OK. So it's a hot summer day and I am about to go swimming and I know the water is going to feel fantastic once I get in, but it's just cool enough that I can't get past my knees.

Role of the pool will be played by my blog!

What the heck! Do you know how many times I have waded into a new post, and just haven't been able to finish it. I guess this is life with 5 kids, and a husband in law school. 6 months have flown by so fast I don't even know if it can be summed up. I've had such a hard time trying to figure out just where to begin and how to tie it all together.

But here we go again. Sometimes it's best to just jump in!

Thanks for the swim.

First Day of School

Spare Change

Olivia has such a kind heart. So much so that she spent 17 dollars of her birthday money, and tooth fairy money on her sisters for their birthday. Her sisters had their hearts set on a little doll they had seen in some store. Paige and Claire tend to be in the here and now. They want it, there is nothing they could possible want more later, they have to have it!!! Yes, it's dramatic like that too. I ignore it, not Olivia. So Todd made sure that's what she wanted to do with her money and helped her with the purchases. She was so excited she couldn't stand it. Paige and Claire of course were thrilled for a week, and now their new dolls are not quite so exciting. They were itching to spend their birthday money and gift cards.

So when it came time to empty piggy banks into purses, Olivia ran to gather her money too. She had a few dollars that she had conned out of grandpa and change. She was just as excited till we got to the store and I showed her what she could afford. She was so bummed. It was so hard not to give her more money. Daddy gave her a big hug and whispered "remember how happy your sister were?" She did, but it didn't help much.

She has been busy collecting pennies and dimes she finds around the house and she sold me a key chain she made a while back. She also begged for me to let her set up a table so she could sell some of her most valuable things. She was so determined so I let her.

I threw 50 cents in the jar to get her started, but sad to say she had no takers. Not even on the free ones. I felt that maybe had she said "Idaho rocks for sale" then she may have had an edge. I imagine she will take mail orders.

She is also willing to give make-overs. I have seen the outcome of these though, and I would advise you to buy some rocks!

Man, I love that girl!

So far

Here's just a little look into what we have been up to since arriving in C'ville.

There are over 22 miles of nature trails that loop around town called the Rivanna Trails. Todd has been looking into them trying to find a route to get him to school, only to find out that they are really not meant for mountain biking. He was constantly having to get off the bike, to go over downed trees. Then he would come home covered in mud because the bike stopped, but he didn't. One day it took him 30 minutes to go three miles and it was then he decided it would be safer to ride on the main road than to take the trails!

That hasn't kept him off the trails though, he has been up early every morning to go running. He comes home everyday to tell us about the deer he sees and how close he was. So one afternoon we all went out to have a look. While we didn't see any deer we enjoyed the beautiful walk.

Deer seem to be everywhere. We were having dinner one evening when one of the kids spotted the deer across the street in the neighbors lawn. There were 4, three does and one buck.

Last Sunday we took the kids to the splash park and had a picnic.

Our Blueberry bushes are going crazy! I am having a hard time keeping up. I have a gallon frozen already. They just keep on coming.

I need to get better about taking pictures and I will work on it but just want to share with you what I have.

Todd starts orientation tomorrow!