back to school dinner

We had a special feast the night before the kids started back to school. This is a big year since Ella starts kindergarten. We invited both sets of grandparents and the youngest uncle for a nice sit down dinner.

We were busy getting ready the entire day.

Andrew and Ella made name cards for everyone...

and set the table...

Mr. Reader was busy...well, reading (although he did help set the table...to be sure he got to sit where he wanted and next to who he wanted)

This was the centerpiece we came up with...

We had crab legs for an appetizer (requested by the kids)...

and steak with mushrooms, broccoli and mashed potatoes for the main course served with sparkling cider for the kids, and wine of course for the adults.

and THIS was our dessert....

we were so excited to make it and got the idea from a magazine cover. Ella helped with it - crushing the oreos and spooning on the whipped cream (we made home made whipped cream and when that ran out we used cool whip). You just layer chocolate pudding, whipped cream, and crushed oreos...a little time consuming to layer them all in each dish so they look nice and pretty but so worth the end result and they were tasty!

It was a lovely meal and nice to spend some special time with the grandparents. A good time was had by all...

and Chris and I had everything cleaned up by about 9pm...not bad...



the bookbags were packed and all ready for the morning...


and the little kindergardener was looking forward to wearing her new shoes...

painting contest

the kids have been wanting to do something special most nights after dinner.... hey it's summer so why not. It usually rotates between, swimming (which we also usually do before dinner), dessert, watching home videos, playing cards...etc.

one night Ella said "I know... lets have a painting contest after dinner". without even waiting for a response she whipped out all the painting supplies and got going on her painting. after a few minutes she decided we would have an award for the best painting.

so...my creative little five year old then decided to make a medal for the winner. she quickly started on it....cutting its shape, painting it, punched a hole in the top, cut ribbon ("long enough to fit around someone's neck"), and asked me to tie it.

then, she decided there would be a 2nd and 3rd place so she made two more.

Here are the medals...

and here are the finished paintings...

John wouldn't stand still, so this was the best shot I could get.

I wish I could say the ceremony in which Chris announced the winners ended with as much positive enthusiasm as when the contest began....but we won't focus on that - when kids are tired and it's time for bed things don't always end well no matter how fun the evening was!

Friday Fruit Kabobs

were...

fresh,

delicious,

easy,

and so fun to make!

As an appetizer on Friday night we decided to have a fresh fruit bar

and let the kids make their own fruit kabobs

(I can't really take credit for this idea, it was Ms. Creative Ella's - it came to her when she saw the skewers in the drawer earlier in the day).

John joined in on the fun by using his skewer to poke the fruit...

and eat it...

and sword fight whoever had their kabob closest to him and say "cheers"!

When Christopher came back into the kitchen to make his second one he said, "Mom these are scrumptious!".

Daddy got in on the fun too...

fresh flowers

are so wonderful to have in the house, especially when they come unexpectedly from your charming husband.

Every so often Chris will walk in the door from work with two bunches of fresh flowers - one for me and one for Ella.

It always makes us so happy.

Ella took this picture of a bunch that daddy brought home one time.

(She loves taking pictures with daddy's iphone, we might have a hundred pictures of her stickers and stuffed animals!.. I was pretty impressed with this one though.)

I usually put mine on the dining table...

and Ella's in her room...

(you can barely see them next to herHello Kitty phone)

we are so lucky to have

such

a

thoughtful

man in the house!