Back to School Dinner

 

School started on August 13 for the kids.  I've always wanted to do a fun Back to School dinner the night before school starts, but when you don't plan ahead that makes it a little difficult.  This year I was able to throw it together though!  I made the kids' favorite - CPK Pasta Carbonara!  And I tried a new recipe for a cheesecake that was supposed to be amazing.  But it turned out to be an epic fail.  It's always sad when you throw away the leftover half of a cheesecake cause it's not worthy of being eaten again.  Even though I baked it as long as it said to, a little longer even, it was underbaked.  By a lot!  And the entire center sagged.  I don't know if I'm brave (or stupid) enough to try that recipe again.

 

What do you get when you don't unpack after a trip?...

 

...An oppurtunity for a silly photo shoot! Duh!

 

Beginning of the School Year Surveys {2012}

Callie

Age: 8
Height: 51"
Weight: 54 lbs
Hair color: light brown

Favorites:
Animal: "Peacock. The males have cool feathers & I like that they're blue & greenish/silverish."
Food: Pasta Carbonara
Game: Monopoly
Toy: McKenna (her American Girl doll that she got for her birthday)
Thing to do: shopping, makeovers, playing with McKenna & reading
Book: Magic Treehouse books, American Girl books, Judy Bloom books and Ivy & Bean books
Color: Blue
Movie or show: Movies- McKenna & Monte Carlo.  TV show- America's Got Talent (funny bc she's never watched it at our house)
Song: Selena Gomez songs, especially Love You Like a Love Song.  And TTYLXOX by Bella Thorne
Primary Song: I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus

My best friend is: Corinne & Rachel
Other friends I like to play with: Emily Burger & Kaelene Alleman
Things I like to do with my friends: "Makeovers, make up stories & act them out.  Just play around and have a fun time."
If I could have any pet it would be a: dog
named: "Coco, cause it would be a white little dog & I'd call it Coco."

What people like about me: "I'm nice.  I'm always trying to help out. I think that's all."
Things I can do really well: "Dance! Singing, piano, be kind... never mind.  I'm good at riding bikes.  I'm good at playing soccer, but not as good as Jack & Dad."


Jack

Age: 6 1/2
Height: 46"
Weight:  43 lbs
Hair color: dark blonde

Favorites:
Animal: chameleon
Food: Trout.  Pasta Carbonara is my 2nd.
Game: Monopoly City
Toy: Ninjago LEGOs
Thing to do: Play Wii video games (which are fairly restricted)
Book: Ninjago: Rise of the Snakes
Color: black
Movie: Disney's Robinhood
Song: "Teddy's Tuba on the piano (he started piano lessons over the summer). I like I throw my hands up in the air sometimes (Dynamite by Taio Cruz)."
Primary Song: Praise to the Man

My best friend is: "Tyler, Ethan, Spencer, Tyler A.  They're all my best friends."
Other friends I like to play with: "I already play with my best friends."
Things I like to do with my friends: Play LEGOs and video games
If I had a pet it would be a: Eagle
named: Eagle-eye
What people like about me: "I’m talented at video games & LEGOs.  They like me 'cause I'm nice.  And they like me 'cause I'm funny & goofy!"
Things I can do really well: "Video games & sports: soccer, pickleball & gymanstics.  And training dogs with Grandma (Darcy).  I like training Kingston with Grandma."

Ellie

Age: 4
Height: 40.5"
Weight: 34 lbs
Hair color: dark blonde

Favorites:
Animal: Elephant
Food: Pasta Carbonara
Game: "I love Candy Land!"
Toy: "My baby doll.  I mean my green turtle and my glow-up (glow in the dark) one.  All of them."
Thing to do: play outside on the zebra & slide
Book: Goldilocks & the Three Bears
Color: "Pink & purple mixed together."
Movie or show: movie- Rapunzel (Tangled); show- Dora
Song: “Twinkle, twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are."
Primary Song: I Am a Child of God

My best friend is: Hadley & Liberty.  And Zack.
Other friends I like to play with: Koko, Ashlynn, and Cohen & Camden & Avery & Troy (Troy is Avery, Cohen & Camden's dad!)
Things I like to do with my friends: "Whoever has a trampoline or a play set I like to play on it."
If I could have any pet it would be: a kitten
named: "Roseabelle.  Roseabelle Heart."
What people like about me: "They like my dresses and my bows.  I'm nice & I say everybody's bows & dresses are beautiful."
Things I can do really well: "Homework, and soccer practice.  And soccer - the game soccer.  And I'm good at picking flowers.  And gymnastics, and singing and ballet.  At the Pease's."
 

The girl scout cookie monster! (that would be Adelyn)

At 18 months, Adelyn has become quite independent & a real handful! 

Exhibit A:

 

I'd found a box of our favorite Girl Scout cookies hidden in the pantry and Jeremiah & I were kinda excited about it.  So I was both annoyed and amused when I discovered Adelyn with our cookies!  She would get one out of the package, have a couple little bites, and then drop it on the pantry floor.  And she kept one in each hand!