Heading to DC

We are just a smidge bit excited about our trip to DC this weekend.  It's only one day, but we are pretty excited, and have a crazy amount of plans.
We hope to head to the National Zoo the First Day

Grab dinner out, and then get dessert at:

And ride the metro (the kids are more excited about that then anything I think)

Spend Sunday at some museums, and then head on home!

Weekend activities....

This weekend, I got up and got ready for my 31 open house fall brunch.  Everything looked pretty, and tasted amazing.  Unfortunately, I had zero guests.  It's kind of humorous.  I would have just canceled the thing but I had a bunch of RSVPS.   I am not sure which is ruder, when you don't RSVP either way, or when you do and you don't show up lol.  It wasn't completely wasted though, I had enough orders from people who couldn't come to still be able to submit it as a party, and  I  made a yummy breakfast for my family to at least enjoy, and it looked really pretty, and gave me a chance to use my new table for a beautiful spread for the food.

After I cleaned everything up from my non open house, I figured I might as well bust out the Halloween decor for the inside of the house.  I will wait until I get the pumpkins before I do much outside.  Halloween is my favorite holiday.  I love the decorations, I love all the festivals, and cooler weather, and I love how virtually stress free it is.  Christmas is fun, but just so stressful with the shopping, and running around.  I feel stressed out pretty much all Christmas season.  But not Halloween!

I put out I think everything, and here are a few pictures of what I did this year.

The rest of the day was spent at a birthday party, and then some fun at Bay Days, where we had a ton of fun, and were able to still see the fireworks, despite a big storm that came afterward.

Emily's 4th birthday party

Summer is over and school has started.  The last weekend the pool was open we celebrated Emily's birthday early with family and friends, as Emily begged for a pool party.  It went well. I made cupcakes for the kids, attempted a cake two times, but had "issues" so bought a cake for the grownups.  We grilled burgers and dogs and just hung out. She had a great day, and I think everyone had a good time.  I made "ocean water punch", and Dave and I made the cute little Mermaid sign for a decoration.  On her actual birthday we will do something as a family :).

Emily's first day of school....

She's growing up so fast!

Randoms....

Emily had meet the teacher day today at her preschool, and so all kids are almost back in session!  When school starts back up this means, I will be busy again until summer.  I bought a real planner, to assist as I try to keep track of everything.  I just know my iphone one won't cut it....

In true fashion  I have over committed myself this year.  Junior League has started up, I signed on to be a swim team booster, I am co chairing movie night the elementary school, I agreed to attempt neighborhood bible study again, and all this will be taking place as my caseload at work almost triples.  Yikes!  Though is stresses me out, I want to be involved for my kids, and I know I will have some fun along the way, and will just make sure I make myself take timeouts for margaritas.

If you see my husband please remind him that if he wants a happy home, he must abide by a weekly date night.

Anyone know of quick easy possible crockpot meals?  We start swim stuff in another week, and Tball, and I know dinner time will get crazy soon, so I need quick, easy, fun kid approved ideas!  I am stocked up on chicken nuggets, but I know that will get old soon!

Southern Caviar

This weekend I made a fun salsa to take to a friends house, that I first tasted at a neighbors graduation party earlier this summer.  It was super yummy, and they called it Southern Caviar.  I thought I had seen it in a cookbook but I couldn't place it.  My neighbor emailed the recipe to me this weekend, and then told me it was in my JL's cookbook, Very Virginia.  I don't know how I missed this one, but I am certain to make all the time now!

Southern Caviar
1 can black eyed peas (drained)
1 can black beans drained
2 medium tomatoes chopped
4 green onions chopped
2 garlic cloves crushed
1 medium red pepper seeded and chopped
1 jalapeño pepper chopped and seeded
1/2 cup red onion chopped
1/2 fresh parsley or cilantro
8 onces of italian dressing

Combine all in a large medium bowl mixing well, and then let sit in fridge for at least 2 overs or over night.  Serve with tortilla chips!

Truth be told when I made mine I left out the green onions and jalapeño,but it was still fine, though next time for myself I will add the hot pepper for some heat.

First day of school and weekend recap...

Well Laura and Rachel started school again Friday!  They were good sports and let me torture them with a photo shoot in the morning before we left.  I thought the pictures turned out cute, and I figure it's only a matter of time before they refuse to pose for me anymore....

I think they will both have great years.  Rachel has Laura's teacher from last year, I can't sing her praises enough.  I know she is in good hands.  Rachel was a little nervous, but there are about 4-5 kids from her preschool from last year at this new school, so seeing some familiar faces helped to make her feel at home.

This weekend was pretty much a wash out.  It rained, and rained, and then rained some more.  Our area had a crazy amount of flooding. So much that because Rachel's classroom is in the basement, they had flooding so she doesn't have school Monday.  She's not too happy about that!

I did venture out in this monsoon and had my hair done Saturday, and we went to a friends house from the swim team that evening for a fun cookout until almost midnight.  It was a blast, but left us pretty work out Sunday morning.

We ended up in Hampton for a raft building contest which we watched them race, and grabbed a quick lunch.  I ended up at the gym in the evening and put myself through a crazy workout.  I don't know if I will even be content with myself or relax.  When I take a break from the gym for a few days or let myself eat something bad, I can't relax and enjoy it.  I am constantly stressed that I am gaining weight or worried that I will.  I tend to fluctuate between 127 - 131, which is awesome I know, and I don't want to lose anymore, but I still have a hard time just being happy and content with it because I am too worried I will wake up and nothing will fit.  I am hoping that if I make more time for the gym, ( this summer I have been going about 3 days a week rather then the 5 I used to), that I will relax a little and be easier on myself.