Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Mardi Gras Shrimp Boil

It is Fat Tuesday so Mardi Gras and Carnivale are in full effect today! I have definitely over indulged in the sweets department before giving them up for 40 days.
Our dear friends, Jess and Jimmy, invited us over for a little New Orleans style shrimp boil to celebrate Mardi Gras over the weekend. 

Camden and Emma hanging out in the living room (Emma is a Rainbow Loom Bracelet making machine!)
Jimmy tries to trick Chris by putting his beer in an LSU koozie...
There's the little King Cake Baby ready to be hidden
Jess and Jimmy hard at work cooking
My mouth started watering every time the lid was lifted off the pot!
YUM! Let's eat!


Stellar effort, Josh!
Too much Mardi Gras for this boy
The delicious King Cake Jess made
The kids got to have some King Cake for breakfast on Sunday morning. They each were lucky enough to find a baby in their piece of cake! :)

Read Across America Week 2014

Naples Elementary LOVES to show our love for reading and Dr. Seuss.  Last week we celebrated Read Across America Week.

Monday was Crazy Sock Day 
Tuesday was Tourist Day 
Wednesday was Twin Day
Thursday was Hat Day

Friday was a day full of fun! 
My 4th graders joined 2 other classes and hosted the Reader's Cafe (and it was pajama day)
Here is Camden and one of his classmates listening to Chelsea read them a story
After school we threw a big birthday party for Dr. Seuss. 
These 2 have turned into quite the helpers setting up for the book walk.
Hitching a ride with Ms. Heath
Thing 1 and Thing 2
Pin the Star on the Sneech
Emma at the Book Walk
The 500 Hats of Camden Kasparek
Emma, Meagan, and Neveah: 
The 3 Mustache-kateers :)

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Evolution of a Smile (800th Blog!)

During Emma's basketball game today, Camden pulled out his left front tooth. He pulled the right tooth not even 2 weeks ago.  
His new smile is adorable and it reminded me of the time he only had 2 teeth instead of 2 teeth missing.
I thought this flashback was a fitting way to celebrate 800 blog posts! I started this blog in the fall of 2007 when we moved to Washington.  I have not always been as consistent as I would have liked with my posts, but I cherish each memory I've captured!

Presidents Day Weekend

Who doesn't love a 3-day weekend?!?!  We stayed home during the long Presidents Day Weekend. On Saturday evening we hosted 2 seminarians and 2 deacons who were visiting our parish from the Pontifical North American College.

Here's the gang watching the Hawkeye basketball game on the computer.  Deacon Mark is cheering on the Hawks in style!
Enjoying a BBQ dinner with Seminarian Joseph, Deacon Mark, Emma, Chris, Seminarian Jack, and Deacon Peter (I think Camden was checking the score of the game during this time).
Sunday brought a big tease of spring with nearly 70 degrees weather!  Camden and Emma played a lot of basketball.


Movie night
Back to shooting hoops on Monday afternoon. This time with Dad...


35th Birthday Celebration

I was blessed with a lot of birthday love on the 12th!  Here's a few snapshots at lunch:

Mel hosted a little Prosecco happy hour after school

Camden and Emma making their pizza at Dom's
Heart shaped pizzas!
Me and Madds
Savannah, Chris, Jimmy and Jess at one end of the table
Cathy, Richard, and Terry at the other end
Camden, Orion, and Emma sporting their official Dom's hats while enjoying their pizza
Me and Cathy
Blowing out the candles on my Nutella pizza cake!
Sweet boy!
Crazy Jimmy and Chris
A smooch for my love
Mel and me

Emma's First Basketball Game

I just found this in my blog drafts. A month late, but here's our basketball girl!

Emma played in her first basketball game today!  She is the smallest player on the team and was the only girl on the court today. She is a scrappy defense player and played her heart out today!

Opening Ceremonies
 Chris doing his CYP/MC duties
 Ready to start the game!
 Emma and Jack have been teammates so many times, it was strange to be opponents today!
 Check out this defensive stance!
 Hustling down the court
 Jack and Emma go after the ball
(with their dads watching in the background)
Ready to play defense during the second half
 Emma also had to play against her pal, Liam