Buddies

Rudy doesn't get to see as much of Mary Emma this year since they're not at the same school, but they have no problem picking up right where they left off when they do get together.  I'm so excited for them to be back in the same class together next year!

Spring break 2016: the neighbors!

We were so thrilled that Dave and Laura brought their family to meet up with us on our last night of vacation.  Dave and Laura were our very best couple friends in State College, and we hadn't seen them since our last trip to Florida.  They picked us up at the Cabana Bay and drove us over to the Orlando World Marriott, which was a pretty fantastic property.  Once we checked into our pool view rooms, we changed and headed straight out to the pools for an afternoon together.  

Teaching Dave how to play chopsticks and cowboy...

After dinner, we headed back to the hotel to watch the laser light show at our pool and the fireworks at the nearby Disney resorts. 

It's wonderful to have friends like this, where we can just pick up where we left off even if we haven't seen each other in ages!  

Good neighbors

Pat and Sally are an elderly couple who live down the street from us.  We don't see them often, but they are really nice people and love catching up when we do cross paths while walking the dogs or out and about.  Every now and then, I'll drop off some flowers from the garden or some baked goods for them.  It was a happy surprise when we came home and found this treat in our mailbox a few days before St. Patrick's day...four enormous bakery cupcakes and a nice note:

Birthday party day

Brady decided on a Dave and Buster's party again this year.  The timing worked out so that Oma and Papa and Brian and Rebecca and kids could all join us too.  I think he felt pretty honored that his school friends and beach family all made the trip to the restaurant!

 

 

 

 

The timing worked out well for us too.  Mary Emma had her birthday party at a go-kart facility nearby, so we hopped from one party to the other.  The adults and the kids raced separately, and we each got two different runs.  I'm terrible at go-karting, and it kind of stresses me out; I don't like not feeling in full control.  It was interesting that Brady, our more daredevil of a child, seemed to feel the same way while Rudy, typically less of a risk taker, ate it up!

 

No idiots

Tell me you don't wish you had a sign like this on your front door...

Jelly beans

Played Beanboozled with the kids.  It was almost worth eating a dog food and a baby wipes jelly beans to watch their expressions.  Almost, but maybe not quite.  

 

 

Beckett, round 2!

We offered to babysit for Skyler and Beckett so Heather and Blake could go see Star Wars.  It was a great way to spend a rainy afternoon!  Beckett was a sweetheart and gave us some smiles before snuggling in for a long nap.  Skylar kept the boys hopping with lots of different toys; we averted a near meltdown over watching a movie during lunch with the diversion of building a fort to eat in.

 

Elf movie night

We invited Rudy's whole class over for cookie decorating and an Elf movie night.  This isn't my first rodeo, so I had a slew of activities planned to keep the kids busy.  (I've long since learned that a large number of kids in a house with no focused activities can lead to disaster!) 

They decorated cookies, ate pizza, played "Pass left, pass right," took a few photos with some props (much less of a hit than I anticipated), and watched the movie.  We had some complaints when a few boys couldn't settle down for the movie, but it went pretty well overall.  Rudy was thrilled that even his teacher joined in the fun; Mr. Smith ate dinner with the kids but then stayed downstairs with the adults and the grown up grape juice while the kids watched the movie upstairs. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas cookies!

In my book, any time after Thanksgiving weekend if fair game for all Christmas preparations!  We did our gingerbread houses (complete with hot glue to hold it all together, a true family tradition) and started Christmas cookies.  Nathan and Sydney were more than happy to help out, knowing they'd get a few samples along the way.

Pumpkin roll helpers

Baking is even more fun with some goofy kitchen helpers :)