Catching Up

Trying to catch up on all my blog posts.  Here's what we have been up to the past few weeks -

Caitlin has been in school.  She's doing well and loves her new teacher.  Grades are looking great so far.  This is her first year of getting As and Bs as grades instead of just being average/excelling/etc.  She got her progress report and had all As and 1 B.

Alaina started Mother's Day Out.  At first she had some trouble adjusting to the rules and schedule but now she is doing well and really loves it.

On the weekends, we try and forget about work and school and do some playing.

 

I found Alaina asleep ON TOP of her playhouse one weekend.  I'm glad she doesn't rollover in her sleep!

We've been trying to all eat a little better.  We all like fruits and veggies!

I have also found some all-natural low calorie snacks that are yummy. 

Watch out - this popcorn is addictive!

And these potato straws are yummy.  38 straws for 130 calories.  The cheddar cheese ones are even better!  I also saw that they make BBQ ones.  I have yet to find those at any stores around here.

And these apple straws remind me of the cinnamon twists at Taco Bell, but low calorie.  I like to use all these as substitutes for french fries or potato chips when I go to Subway or McDonald's.  I can't cut out fast food entirely, but I can make small changes like this.

Things I said to Caitlin this morning while getting ready

"werewolves are hard to kill, aren't they?

"quit trying to make your eyeball pop out and fix your hair"

I tell you it's one of those mornings!!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

YAY

Fall Ball

I'm still so behind on posts but here is Caitlin's schedule for anyone that wants to come -

5-Sep	5:45 PM	Field 3
7-Sep	5:45 PM	Field 3
12-Sep	5:45 PM	Field 3
14-Sep	8:15 PM	Field 4
19-Sep	5:45 PM	Field 3
21-Sep	5:45 PM	Field 3
26-Sep	5:45 PM	Field 3
28-Sep	5:45 PM	Field 3
9-Oct	7:00 PM	Field 3
12-Oct	5:45 PM	Field 3
17-Oct	5:45 PM	Field 3
19-Oct	5:45 PM	Field 3

AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

I am SWAMPED at work and don't have time to blog.  :(  I'm barely holding my head above water.  I get knots in my neck and shoulders multiple times a day from the tension and I am surviving on Diet Dr Pepper.  :)

I am hoping it will end after October 9 (when we have a big release) but I'm not so sure.  Keep your fingers crossed!!

Dora the Explorer

Last night, Caitlin took Alaina on several Dora adventures.  Alaina was grumpy after her nap and didn't want to play at first, but Caitlin really wanted her to have fun.  Once Caitlin told her what they would do, Alaina was instantly cheered up.

Caitlin put the Dora backpack on her and led her around, following the Map, on each adventure.  Alaina LOVED it!!  I let them do 2 adventures before bedtime.  Caitlin promised Alaina there would be more today. 

It allowed me to clean the kitchen and eat some dinner.  It was so nice to hear both of them enjoying each other so much.  I just love them!!

Here's video of part of their adventure.  Caitlin marked the path with blocks.  Thankfully, she cleaned it all up without even being asked.

I wish I had let it record for just another few seconds.  When Alaina got to the room, she yelled out, "We did it!" like on Dora.  It was so cute!

Break out artist

Someone broke out of their locked room last night using toy sunglasses.

Give Back Day at SFL

Saturday was give back day at Smyrna Fastpitch League.  There were free clinics.  Caitlin did the hitting, fielding and base running clinics.

This picture shows how they practiced hitting.  It was an easy setup that I think we might replicate at home.

They had a swap out tent so we traded for a bigger bag.  Since her new helmet doesn't fit very well in her bag, it was nice trading for a larger one for free.

Caitlin's favorite part, of course, was the free cotton candy, face painting and games.

First time bagel

Alaina had a bagel for the first time on Saturday.  She wasn't so thrilled with the bagel but loved the cream cheese.  I caught her several times just licking it off the bagel.

Nighttime Park Play

On Friday night, I took the girls out for fro-yo and on the way home, it felt so nice, so we stopped at the park.  It was nice having the park all to ourselves.

Love this girl!

Fun in the Tub

Why?

Why is this what I get when I want to sneak a cute picture of the girls playing together?

This is what Alaina does during Caitlin's softball practices.

M&S First TV Interview = Hilarious!!

Meet the Teacher

Last night, I went to the Meet the Teacher night for 3rd grade at Caitlin's school.  I really like Caitlin's teacher, Mrs Dunlap.  She seems to really like Caitlin too.

While there, I sat at Caitlin's desk . . . and looked inside.  Yikes!  It's only been 8 days and already a mess.  Oh I hope she grows out of that!

I also found this little guy that a boy in her class made her.  It is from the famous Casey that was in her class two years ago that she professed to "love".  Oh boy!!

GOTR Bristol Videos

These aren't my videos (except the last one) but these show how amazing the show was!

When My Time Comes - Dawes & Marcus Mumford

I Will Wait - their new song

Roll Away Your Stone

Timshel

Dust Bowl Dance

Love the instrument breaks!!!

Where Are You Now

 

The Cave

Being there in person for this one was INSANE!!

Wagon Wheel - all bands

The audio in this video is not bad - that's just how loud the crowd was.  It was amazing!

M&S Horns at the aftershow

Just had to...

She looked so cute this morning, I just had to take some pictures.  I liked how she fixed her hair.  She has the best hair.  I'm jealous!

Gentlemen of the Road - Bristol, VA

Kara and I drove on Friday to Bristol, VA, the birth of country music for the Gentlemen of the Road tour put on by Mumford & Sons.

The night before the festival we went downtown to walk around and see the screening of "Big Easy Express" a documentary about Mumford & Sons, Old Crow Medicine Show and Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros tour from California to New Orleans on an old train.  The weather was fabulous and we lucked out with the merchandise tent already open.  We didn't have to stand in line, unlike the 15000 other people on Saturday.  We never saw the line with less than a hundred people in it.

The screening - I'm not sure why there was only a handful of people here.  We found out about it on Facebook and I can only assume most people did not know about it.

Every business had some type of British/Mumford theme going.

This one was my favorite!

Of course, I had to take a picture on State Street and stand in two states at one time.

On the day of the festival, we started with a good lunch at one of the bars.

Then we went to stake out our spot among the 15,000.

Simone Felice - I had never heard of him but really liked the music. 

Apache Relay - from Nashville.  They were really good too! 

At this point, we could not stand the cigarette and cigar smoke anymore.  Plus with everyone standing up, poor short Kara and I couldn't see.  So we found a shaded ledge on the side where no one was smoking and enjoyed the rest of the concert from there. 

Dawes was awesome!

Especially when Marcus from Mumford & Sons joined him for "When My Time Comes."

This was an overhead shot from the helicopter that kept flying around.  That is insane!!

Then the main act - Mumford & Sons!!!  

Announced by Big Mike from Apache Relay.

They really were amazing.  I had watched a TON of live youtube videos of them and thought I knew how great they were but being there in person was SO much better.  It was the best live performance of anything I have ever been too.  I already can't wait to go again.  I just wish they would start playing venues with assigned stadium seating.  Come on M&S, help out the short people!!

At the end, every band from the day came out and played Wagon Wheel.  I loved it!!

After the concert, Kara and I went to one of the many aftershows.  We went to O'Mainnin's Pub and waited for the horn section of Mumford & Sons to come and play with some local musicians.  They did NOT dissapoint.  Wow they are good.

After the show, we went and stood in line for the shuttle back to our car.  TWO HOURS LATER we were back at the hotel and asleep.  It was a fabulous weekend!!

I'll share some videos later.  :)