Happy 40th Birthday Stefanie!!

Posted on September 17, 2019 by Stefanie

(Guest Blog)

Happy 40^th Birthday Stefanie. Today is just another day, you’re just 40 now and married to a man in his thirties – a man that loves you dearly. Your’re my best friend and the best mom for our girls. I am really looking forward to celebrating your birthday with our trip to Italy.

Mommy in London, Daddy in Chaos

Posted on February 4, 2019 by Stefanie

Stefanie had been planning her trip to London even before baby Noah came in to this world, and as the weeks passed her departure finally came. Although, timed perfectly to with snowy, icy, polar vortex weather. She made it out on time, but had to be at the airport 6 hours before her scheduled departure.

Stefanie planned each day for Larissa and I, but the weather threw us some curve balls with early releases, late arrivals and cancelations throughout the school week. The temperatures were below zero with the windchill for a few days here at home.

The girls missed mommy quite a bit, but not as much as daddy missed her. We had some fun though, with a Chinese New Year Party, Super Bowl Party and a half birthday celebration for the older girls.

I am sure Stefanie will share some pictures from her week in London, but I wanted to share some of the pictures we had at home.

Chinese New Year’s Party

Emerson playing ‘heads-up’ game with Jack and Grace

Avery facing her fears!

Super Bowl Party

Food and Cheering! Patriots win another Super Bowl . . . ugh

Happy Half Birthday Girls!

Happy Birthday Spookie

Posted on September 16, 2018 by Stefanie

(Guest Post – Justin)

Happy 39th Birthday Stefanie. This is the last year of your 30’s and I am about to do something that I constantly advise against . . . a blog post with lots of pictures. I cannot help it (and now I kind of get why you do it) . . . today was a good day.

We started the day with the traditional breakfast in bed and the girls helped by cutting the strawberries.

Larissa had decorated the kitchen last night, so did not want the girls to eat breakfast in there. They went to the craft table and Harper made her own tray.

Little Ms. Avery was still with fever today, so we decided to take it easy (Maddy easy anyway). We started the adventure with cake that Larissa and the girls made yesterday (talking 11 AM!! cake people). The girls shared their presents with Mom. Larissa did an awesome job all week helping the girls with their gifts.

We were off to Meadowlark to hang out and then have a light snack picnic, that way we could still eat for our 4:30 dinner reservations with all the other old people. (Happy 39th Birthday Stefanie).

We even checked out the Atrium where Stefanie and I got married (a week and it will be 10 years!!). Stefanie showed the girls the Bridesmaid room.

After our picnic at Meadowlark we headed off to Gravelly Point to watch the Airplanes take off.

Even this guy was saying Happy Birthday!!

Our 4:30 dinner just wore this little girl out.

I love you more than anything, Happy Birthday Stefanie.

Date Night with Harper

Posted on May 5, 2018 by Stefanie

(Guest Blog from Justin)

Avery and Emerson had their first camping trip with the Daisies planned for weeks and Stefanie drew the short straw to chaperone. As soon as Harper found out that she and daddy would be by ourselves that night she starting planning our ‘Date Night.’ Like most things with our family – it all revolved around food. She wanted (demanded) that I make her favorite macaroni and cheese – Kraft Mac & Cheese and that we have a donut for breakfast.

I decided to spice it up a little bit and actually take her to 7-11 to get her first slurpee, and I found myself giving her a tour of the place like it was an Open House. It reminded me of all the times I had gone in to 7-11 with my own mom and dad as a kid (we did it all the time). We had a to do a few errands after that, but she proudly drank her slurpee everywhere we went. When I showed her the spoon at the end of the straw – you would have thought I had dropped a unicorn in her lap, she was super shocked and excited.

The only time we eat in front of the TV is for the Super Bowl, but I made an exception to eat our Kraft Mac & Cheese in there while watching Despicable Me 3!!

Ms. Harper was getting so tired, we moved the show upstairs so we were closer to bed. She had asked to sleep with me as much as I hate doing it – I let her. Letting her sleep in my bed meant that for most of the night, I would be basically on top of my night stand as she takes up the whole bed.

After breakfast she helped me make granola before riding her bike up and down the street in her pajamas. I can confidently say that even with all the anticipation – I think she had a great time!!

Dad is on duty

Posted on September 25, 2016 by Stefanie

Stefanie was in Richmond Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning so I decided I needed to post a guest blog.

On Saturday Avery, Emerson and I learned all about Money. We colored pictures of coins as we learned about the presidents on the front and the objects on the back. We then played a game where we priced a few objects in the house, set them on the table and then I gave each girl $18 (play dollars) to spend at the store. One very fun item (a bead set) was priced at $20 so only if they went in together would they be able to buy the set. Each girl took a turn trying to make choices to pick which items they wanted with the money they had . . . Emerson had a really hard time and got very upset that she should not afford the bead set. Avery was having fun with the whole experience. After we played ‘store’ and Emerson stopped crying on the floor we talked about the experience and how it felt when we did not have the money to buy what we wanted, we talked about making difficult choices and that money is important to learn about it. Then we went upstairs to count the money in their piggy banks. Next weekend we are going to deposit their money in a bank account (one that has great APRs for kids savings!!!).

Sunday morning came and it was time to make breakfast . . . what else but the chicken fingers that Avery did not eat from OTB yesterday. We had chicken fingers and grapes for breakfast while we talked about the nature hike we were about to undertake. We had certain objects we needed to find (we found all but one). It was awesome!!