Abby's Old Fashioned BDay

Abby's Old Fashioned BDay

Abby's Old Fashioned BDay

We celebrated Abby's 4th Birthday this weekend in conjunction w/ Culpeper's Remembrance Days. She really wanted a Stonewall Jackson party. Knowing that there would be an encampment at the museum in town, I scheduled it for the same weekend so we could combine the festivities. Aside from the terrible rainy weather on Sat. it worked well.

Friday night the kids dressed up and we visited the encampment. We had the place to ourselves and got to help as they lighted candles in the oldest house in Culpeper which is on the museum grounds. The kids got to touch all of the period children's toys and see the camp set up.
On Sat., Abby had her soccer team pictures and we ran a thousand errands. We spent the rest of the rainy afternoon making hardtack and getting ready for the party. Patrick took the kids back to the encampment when there was a break in the weather so I could work out. On Sunday, the weather cleared and it was a great day for a get together on Heelen hill. Bubby and Grandfather showed up as a wounded soldier and his nurse! Abby was facinated w/ Grandfather's white whiskers he grew just for the party. Popa and Nana came all the way from MD.
Our neighbors also came and joined in the fun, donning Civil War attire and old fashioned games and music. We made two tents for the north and the south and decorated flags for each. The kids made drums, churned butter and baked apples over the fire. They also got to fill a haversack w/ soldier essentials and try out Abby's hard tack. I was exhausted before it all began but everyone seemed to have a good time, especially little Stonewall "himself!"

Click on the picture above to see more pictures from the party.

Abby's Birthday

Happy 4th Birthday Abigail!

 

We celebrated Abby's 4th birthday last Sunday with hot dogs and mac and cheese and a homemade chocolate cake. Abby was pleased to hear she could "break her diet" on her birthday and have ketchup and chocolate (she was on an acid reflux diet to see if it helped w/ her constant throat clearing... it didn't). She was very excited with her new maraca and kazoo... but the piece d' resistance was her very own American Girl Doll that looks just like her. She said it was "just what she wished for!" Bubby came and we played a quick game of "Don't Wake Up Daddy" before bed time. Next week we're having her Civil War themed birthday party... her special request... she has a real interest in history and it's sparked Margaret to be more interested in American Girl and Little House... all the things I loved when I was little...although, her fascination w/ Stonewall Jackson comes straight from her dad, of course!

Just getting a chance to post Easter pics

Slideshow of more pics:

Update after a Busy Month

Patrick's Birthday. Homemade cake for dad and a surprise chicken parm dinner! 

I was going for "Irish Lass", but I couldn't help thinking of the "Jolly Green Giant" when I took this picture of Abby and her dance mates! 

St. Patty's Day. Dance class for Abby, clay class for AP, then to the Raven's Nest coffeehouse for Irish snacks and music by the Possum Ridge String Band. Then we had dinner at Bubby's over the St. Pat's weekend.

AP took a beginner karate class w/ grandfather. Enjoyed it a lot and is interested in taking lessons at the Tae Kwon Do school in town now that he's opted to not play soccer this season... we'll see! He's also been taking a clay class after school once a week and has been enjoying it so far.

He also was chosen for the CCPS art show this year, which was very exciting. It's at the Depot and the art teachers make it very special by serving cake and special punch. We've already signed him up for classes next year... hard to believe he'll be in eighth grade... he chose art, P.E., ACE, and a computer class.

Margaret and Abby went to the public library's Dr. Seuss celebration at the beginning of the month and had a great time doing crafts and hearing stories. Patrick usually takes the kids out on Sat. mornings and I get my workout and household chores done, so it works out well. Ans as usual, they look forward to reading to the dogs each month.

 Margaret and Abby have both started a new season of dance. Margaret is taking ballet and tap and Abby will be graduating from the 3 yr old "movement" class and has started the 4 yr. old tap class already.

The whole family enjoyed the annual Fun Fair at EHE. I had to help w/ the shell game... hiding a ball under a cup and moving them all around, trying to trick the kids into losing track of it... they were NOT easy to trick! And with 875 kids at EHE, it was a busy night!!

Bubby took Margaret to her awards ceremony at CCS for participating in cheer leading and volleyball. She got a rose and a gift bag and they enjoyed a covered dinner together. Abby will be joining Margaret at CCS next year and they are both very excited!

Abby had to go to UVA again this month b/c she had another bout of torticollis (neck pain and stiffness). We are still trying to figure it all out. She seems to have neck problems after she has a resp. infection and now is relying on ibuprofen most days to help w/ stiffness. They also started her on acid reflux meds b/c they think that may be causing her to clear her throat constantly... I'm not so sure... ENT says he may need to do laproscopy if the reflux meds don't make a difference... wish we knew for certain that everything was fine. Most of the time, she seems happy and healthy, but then she'll complain about her neck and it's hard not to worry.

Artists in training | Star-Exponent

Artists in training Star-Exponent Picture of Patrick at his clay class in Monday's paper...