Shabby Miss Jenn

Saturday, December 31, 2011

Polar Express...IMAX Style


We went to the Virginia Science Museum to see Polar Express on the IMAX theater.  This was my first IMAX experience and it was awesome.  Addisan asked me on more than one occasion if we were flying.  The span of the screen kept Campbell engaged the whole time.  There was so much to see!  They currently have a mummy documentary on the IMAX that I think Tommy and I might try to go to.  Ever since teaching about Egypt when I taught third grade, it has since fascinated me!





I am hoping to take the girls back to the museum to explore one day soon. There are so many cool things that caught their attention on the downstairs to the theater!  


On the way home, we stopped and ate at a new place on Patterson called Super Stars Pizza.  It was highly recommended by lots of friends and we were not let down!  I also found out that you can take home pizzas to bake at home AND I pass it three days a week to pick up Addisan from Extended Day.  I see many pizza nights ahead for the Taylor household!


New experiences with pizza makes me smile!



ICE! Round II



This is our second trip to the Gaylord Hotel at the National Harbor to see the ICE! show.  The girls just love it!  As a mother, one of my favorite things to do is start traditions like this and hopefully create life long memories for them to carry on to adulthood.





We got a hotel room with a balcony for the girls to see the Atrium.  Last year, it "snowed" a few times and the girls just loved watching it.  This year, we did not see any.  I am not sure if they did away with it or if we just timed it wrong.  We did get to see one or two of the shows from our room without having to fight the crowds down below.



After we unpacked, we quickly got ready for the ICE! show.



The lobby of the hotel was decorated so nicely.  On the way out, I snapped a quick picture of Addisan.  Campbell wanted no part of the picture.  



This is how Campbell sometimes feels when the camera has been out for too long!  She is such a ham.  I am so worried about missing a moment with my kids because they grow up so quickly.  For that reason, I always have my camera with me.




We had better success with these parkas this year.  Addisan HATES being bulky and had a huge melt down last year.  This year, we all knew what to expect and we prepped her better for it.  




This year's theme was the Penguins of Madagascar.  The girls were not too familiar with it, so we made sure that we watched the movie beforehand.  All of the TONS of ice are sculpted in China and brought over here to the States.  Each of the Gaylord Hotels has a different theme each year.  They also have ICE SLIDES for the kids to go down.  



This year we were smarter.  The wait for eating at the hotel and nearby restaurants was about 2 hours last year.  This year, we had a heavy lunch at Fosters Grill in Old Town and brought ingredients to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in the hotel room.  You cannot keep Campbell waiting when she is hungry...like mother, like daughter.



In the morning, we were able to get on the road pretty early and eat breakfast in Old Town.




There are so many fun and eclectic places to see and eat at in Old Town.



Breakfast was a hit!  We tried a new place down on Duke Street and it was fabulous! Everything they served was organic. I had one of the best omelets I have ever had.

Starting traditions with the girls makes me smile!

Thursday, December 29, 2011

It Can't Be! Campbell is Three!



So on December 17th, we celebrated Campbell's third birthday with family.  It is hard for me to believe that my baby girl is no longer a baby anymore, but a little girl with a great sense of humor and independence.  She constantly reminds me about what life is truely  about, living in the moment.  I find myself stressing over things that I have no control over and planning every open minute that we have on the calendar.  I need to take a lesson from her.....


Campbell has taught me to enjoy each day as they come and not to get my panties in a knot.  One of the many things that have cracked us up lately was when she opened up the refrigerator, pointed to the almost empty gallon of milk, and said, "Hook me up with some of this!"  Another funny moment was when she was on a photo shoot. Campbell was selected to model for a toy catalogue and while playing in a pop up castle, Tommy tried to convince her to come out by telling her to let down her hair like Rapunzel, one of her favorite Disney princesses these days.  She peeks her head out and informs Tommy that she is Aurora (aka Sleeping Beauty) and she was going back to bed....and then proceeds to slam the door.  The whole crew just laughed.  She is definitely a ham!  I think she gets it from her daddy!



For her birthday, she requested chocolate donuts and milk for breakfast.  You can still see some chocolate on her face.




Campbell is polar opposite from Addisan when opening gifts.  She could care less what is in them....she just enjoys throwing the tissue paper around and destroying the wrapping paper.  We got her an outfit for her American Girl Doll this year.



This was a cake to remember.  While blowing out the candles, her hair caught on fire!!!!  Luckily, with one swoop of his hand, Ju-Ju quickly put it out.  It amazes me that she was not harmed other than a  few burnt pieces of hair.    



Our family is very generous, any time there is a birthday for one child, they always bring a small something for the other child.  Here Addisan is opening up Chutes and Ladders and a few other things from Baby and Pop-Pop.



I was fortunate to be off of work for Campbell's birthday and was able to bring cupcakes to her class at school.  I love being a teacher, but I feel like sometimes my own kids get gypped because my work schedule is not very flexible during the school year.  I guess being a December baby has some perks....mama can bring in cupcakes!

Happy Birthday Sweet Campbell Layne!  Being your mom makes me smile!

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Where Has The Time Gone This Semester?

This fall has been pure craziness for us.  First of all, our girls are at two different schools this year which makes scheduling very hectic at times.  Addisan started at St. Catherine's in the JK program while Campbell continues at Goddard.  The JK program's philosophy is based on Reggio Emilia which fosters problem solving, communication, and individuality.  We have been soooo happy with our choice to send her there.

First Day of School


This was my first fall working full time with two kids, tutoring after school....all while taking a graduate class.  Needless to say, our family blog was neglected.  Here are some highlights from our fall....

Apple Pickin' at Carter's Mountain

Disney on Ice with our friend Dylan

Campbell modeled for Modelogic for their client, Magic Cabin, a toy company.

Spending time with good friends.

Tea with Baby in Culpeper

Turning 5!

Watching local parades

Crozet Art Festival with friends

Birthday Parties

Campouts at school

Pumpkin pickin'

Halloween

Great Wolf Lodge with Maggie and Ryan

Frog and Toad at the Barksdale Theater

Trips to Maymont

Joint birthday party with friends at All Fired Up

Thanksgiving with family in Culpeper

Trips to the zoo

Picnics at Katie's Park

Trips to see Santa

Lewis Ginter

The Nutcracker at the Kennedy Center

I hope to be better at blogging this winter!!!!  I want the girls' to have a memory "book" of what we do as a family.  They grow up so quickly and I just want to savor each moment.