Lily's Summer Camp--Aloha Hive in Vermont!

Lily started asking me about going to summer camp on Thursday, July 16th.   None of my other children have ever gone to a sleep away camp...they have ereally barely gone to day camps, really. But Lily is different.  She is my youngest, and there are several years between my 4th, Matthew, and Lily.    So, long story short, within 48 hours, Lily, Timmy, Anna, and I were driving up to Vermont to drop her off at her new camp/home for the next 12 days, Aloha Hive in Vermont.

Here are some photos:

  I love these necklaces they give the girls...they act like name tags, and are so cute...

                                   Here's another one of Lily, because she is so adorable!!

  

                                    This is Lily's tent family, as they call themselves...

 And this is Lily standing in her tent...it is very rustic, to say the least.  There are flaps to pull down in case it rains, but otherwise, it is just open.  I don't know that I have ever slept out so openly with nature!

 This was Lily walking away as we were getting ready to leave.  She was waving for me to leave.

We got one postcard/letter from Lily, which made it sound like she really missed me, but all the photos of her on the website show her beaming...I am sure she is loving it!    We are leaving today to go up to Vermont to get her....I can't wait to hear how it went!!

Chick Fil A free food day--July 14, 2015!

Matthew, Lily, Timmy, and I headed out early this morning to hit the first Chick Fil A in Cedarbrook.   We were the only people wearing cow costumes at that point, but everyone smiled, and we got our picture taken for the website.   This is exactly the kind of attention my children did NOT want...it was actually kind of funny, but they wanted a milkshake.  Unfortunately, they changed the rules, so we couldn't get milkshakes, but we all got a meal.   It was fine, and my receipt said I saved $22.54.

After that, because it was rainy, we went straight to see the Minions movie in Warrington.  I fell asleep.  I don't know how anyone could watch that for 90 minutes straight.     My nephew thinks you shouldn't be able to go to more than one Chick Fil A, but I think you can go to numerous Chick Fil a's...and get a meal at each one.   So,  afterwards, we went to the Warrington Chick Fil A, which was literally mobbed with people wearing cow costumes

....People were standing in the aisles eating!    Timmy felt much less hesitant about going into the Warrington one...we just blended in there!    I think we saved another 20 dollars there, and my kids were sick from all the Chick Fil A they ate!!

Then, at 7:15, I got a call from my friend, Meg...she was going back (for the third time) with her kids...did I want to meet them?   So, we all headed back out.  More photos....

                                                            Meg and Theresa:

 
                                                           Meg, Theresa, and me:

I can honestly say I think I need a little break from Chick Fil A!! 

Lily's First Holy Communion Party--July 12, 2015!

Lily's First Holy Communion was on May 9th, which was also the same day that we had to get Jack from the airport from Notre Dame.  The next day was Mother's Day, the next weekend was the 24 Hour Relay for my kids, the next weekend was Memorial Day...and well, the first free weekend was going to be on July 11-12th, so we decided to have her party on Sunday....so to not ruin to many weekend summer plans.

We haven't had a nice party for awhile, and we really did spend 90% of the total party effort in getting our house in order...both inside and outside.    I had the landscaping done a few weeks ago, but then we also had to get a ton of work done.   I pulled out every ride-on toy/bike/tricycle we had in our backyard, and some hidden behind our shed, and put them all lined up along our front curb about two weeks ago.  Nine of the 12 items were trash picked.   I was thrilled...that is exactly what I wanted.   In addition, I got rid of all types of moldy basketballs, and old bats that were mildewed, or broken.   We cleaned out all the plastic containers, and got stuff together.  By the time of the party, the back yard looked great!

The party started at 4, and Lily didn't stop running around having fun until almost 9 pm.   Some photos:

                                                 Right before the party started:

   
                                              And while she waited, she decided to jump!!  

                      The gorgeous cake we ordered from "A Piece of Cake"--it was delicious!

                               The cake she really wanted:   The one with her face on it!

       Not easy to have a tray of chocolates in 90 degree heat, but she wanted it...so she got it.

               I only invited a few of her friends...she was so happy these girls were there!!

                                  And just because they are so cute, I took another photo!!

The last guests left at 10.  Lily was so happy, and that is what it was all about!!   

Chick Fil A Free Food Day--July 14, 2015-Cow Appreciation Day!

While the rest of the world may know this event as Chick Fil A Cow Appreciation Day, in our family, this is known as Free Food Day!!  I shared an earlier post about this day about how I wish this was on a Friday, but all you need to know now is that you have to dress up as a cow in order to get free food at Chick Fil A on Tuesday, July 14th.   One of our favorite places to eat!

Different restaurants may have different rules about how much you have to be dressed up as a cow in order to get a full meal versus just getting an entree.   The Chick Fil A near us wants you to have your body and head covered with cow costume in order to qualify for a full meal, including milk shakes.   Anything less, and you will get the entree (no drinks/fries).   Apparently if you go on the website, you can print out all types of cow templates that you can use to make a cow costume.   I gave up trying to make costumes two years ago, and ordered three cow costumes from Ebay...definitely worth it to me.  Last year, I lent them out to two other families....Between my family and those families, we got about 15 free meals by sharing the costumes throughout the day for Chick Fil A runs at the several we have near us.   My kids love doing this every this every year!   Enjoy!

Happy 4th of July!! July 4, 2015

Happy 4th of July!  My family has been doing the same thing for Independence Day for almost 20 years, with only slight moderations.   This year was no exception.

The day always starts at the McKinley Fire Department Bike Parade and Races.   In year's past,  we always walked the whole route, but Lily wanted to get to the face painting early, so we walked straight to the Firehouse--Here are some photos:

                                                She went for a patriotic theme...gorgeous!!

       Anna and her friend, Maddie--these two were inseparable in elementary school.

  My favorite part is watching the kids duck from the candy and peanuts being thrown down at them--they get so happy to pull some peanuts out of the grass, and trying to catch it as it comes down.

Lily had this unique method of catching candy/peanuts--she stands there with her bag open, trying to catch candy, not picking it up from the ground.  She told me the idea of eating anything that had been on the floor was gross to her.   That is her with the brown bag in the center of the photo. 

 Eventually, someone pointed out that there was a big bag of peanuts open--so she ran over, sat down, and just started filling her bag.  She didn't want anything touching the ground.   This made her happy.

She sat there for 10 minutes...Success!!  

After we got home, we decided to go over to my friend's Meg's swim club, for a little barbecue she was sponsoring.   My kids were having fun, especially when they realized there was a diving board.  That kept them busy.  

We decided to walk down to McKinley Tavern for a late dinner, and our friends were heading down, so we had dinner with them.   We left at 9, and then we ran over to Abington to see the fireworks.  We headed up to the old Strawbridge's building.   They must have started the fireworks a little early, but we managed to catch the last 15 minutes of the show, so everyone was happy.  It was a great 4th of July!  Happy Independence Day! 

Free Chick-Fil A Cow Appreciation Day! New Date--it is now on Tuesday, July 14, 2015

For the last few years, the Chick-Fil A Cow Appreciation Day has been on a Friday, which I like.  This was me and Timmy last year:  

                                                   Even I am embarrassed looking at this!!

  I got this email the other day letting me that they have Moo-ved Cow appreciation Day until Tuesdsay, July 14th.  

I am not happy, because we have been going there and getting Friday night dinner wearing our cow costumes the last couple of years, but I probably won't want to/ won't be able to do that on a Tuesday.  we have basketball games that night, and I try to serve a real dinner except for Friday nights.   I will have to change my nights that week--we will eat Chick-Fil A on Tuesday, instead, I guess.  I will post the photos of us-we don't have any shame when it comes to getting free Chick-Fil A!  

Phillies Game on July 2, 2015 with Fireworks!!

All seven of us went to the Phillies game tonight.   It was the second Fireworks show....we went tonight because we didn't want to miss Lily's meet last night.   Unfortunately, the Phillies 8-7 lost in 11 innings, but the Fireworks afterwards were definitely worth staying up for--here are a few photos:

Things always start out well...

And then go downhill:  

I love this view of Philadelphia from Citizens' Bank Park--we were way up to see the fireworks:

                    Lily wants us to see her very red lips because of the ring pop she was eating:

 

 Anna is one of those people who takes photos of her food...and now she is getting Lily involved!