Night Out for Mommy

Tonight a group of seven girls got together over dinner and drinks at Iguana Grill. It was so nice to see everyone, since we all haven't been together in months (probably close to a year). Sadly, it took us a month to figure out a date, but it worked!

Great time ladies...thanks for the laughs!

Puzzle Mania!

Ever since we went on our summer vacation Bennett has been into puzzles. At Christmas last year, we gave her a set of four 12 piece puzzles. She mastered them in no time, but still loves to do them over and over. In preparing for our 2.5 weeks away from home, I needed small new items for the kids so I went to my favorite store...The Dollar Store! There I purchased three 25 piece puzzles that are for 3 yr olds.

When we got to my parents, I showed them to her, and she immediately started doing them. With a little assistance from us, she got them all put together. However, over the course of the week, they became easy and she was quickly putting them together unassisted. So I decided to buy a couple more, and one 100 piece puzzle (for 6 yr olds) for New Jersey.

Now that we are home, she has mastered the 100 piece puzzle, so I guess I'll have to find something bigger for her to tackle. In the midst of all these puzzles...I have found an itch to do one too. I could use a nice 1000 piece one to do along Bennett. I think I know what store I'll be hitting this week!

Sundays!

Usually Sundays are lazy days for us....drink coffee, read the paper, attend church, eat lunch, nap, etc. However today, we decided to go to lunch with some friends after church. We tried to go to a couple of places, but due to one being closed, and the other's long wait...we ended up at a great place, but one that was nicer than where we would typically go with our children.


Thankfully we were seated right away, but Preston didn't last long in his highchair before he wanted down. He sat through a two hour lunch (yes a full TWO hours), didn't eat a bite, and just wanted down from his highchair the entire time. So after I finished lunch, I walked him down the block to the local firehouse to see the trucks up close and personal. Preston is infatuated with firetrucks (really any kind of truck), but he has no desire to get inside of them, just point and look.


Initially we stood outside and looked at them, and he posed for a couple of photos. But before I knew it, everyone joined us and all of the kids were there to check out the trucks. Thankfully everyone had full bellies and were in much better moods, despite the 100 degree temperatures, so we took a few pictures while they climbed around. As always, the fireman on duty was friendly and let us check everything out.


It was a fun morning, and everyone had a good time (except Pres when we told him we were leaving). Of course, he fell asleep on the way home, and took a good long nap while Steve and I got some things done around the house.

Another good weekend comes to an end.....

Back to School Shopping

This weekend Birmingham is having a "tax-free weekend" on all school supplies and clothing. This is great since our city tax is 9%! I hate loading up on a ton of things at the beginning of the year since I always see cute things for the kids when I go shopping, but I decided to go buy a few staples since so many stores were having additional sales on top of the no tax. Going to the first store proved to be exhausting for us with both kids in tow.

They ran around wildly throughout the store, and Bennett "had to have" everything in sight. However, it was fun to watch them both try on so many items.

Splash Pad!

As the summer wraps up, the days get long trying to decide what to do with the kids since mine don't start school until September! This has become even more difficult since it has been over a 100 degrees for the past two weeks and the pool partially closes this weekend, and all of the camps have ended. Since the lifeguards all return to school, the pool won't open until 3:00, which doesn't serve us well since my kids nap until 4:30, and then we eat about an hour later.

Since I am still trying to work part-time, I have enrolled the kids in "Camp Mizerany." Twice a week the kids go over and play at their grandparent's house. I've been told to bring swimsuits and old clothes that I don't care about them ruining. It has been great for the kids. They go straight out to their backyard and play with all of the old trucks and riding toys, and swim in the baby pool. They are very busy over there, and always come home WORN OUT! It works great for me too because I have a quiet house to work in, and then the kids take great naps once I bring them home. Seeing their grandparents for several hours twice a week has been nice for them too since we were away most of July.

On the days where the kids don't go there, I have been trying to keep busy with playdates, and other fun things. Today we drove 10 miles north of Birmingham to Gardendale to try out this splash pad that I have been hearing so much about. I was quite surprised to see this place. It is a huge fenced in area with several pavilions (for the parents), a playground and a large area with a variety of water spouts and toys. The kids had a big time running around and trying everything out. We met other moms and their kids from this mom's club I'm in too, so Bennett had fun with one of her classmates, Audrey. They were holding hands and doing everything together. After lunch, the kids decorated cookies...which turned into a messy activity for the moms, but the children loved it. It was such a nice, different way to spend a few hours. I mainly sat in the shade watching them from afar, and then we had a picnic lunch and then they played more!

We'll definitely be heading back there some more since it is so close, and FREE (one of my favorite things)!

Good-Bye Maria

Tonight all of the Mizeranys got together to wish Maria farewell. She is departing for her freshman year of college Saturday, and we will all miss her. However, everyone seems to be quite pleased with her choice....University of Alabama. Of course, Tuscaloosa is only a short hour drive, but I think she will be so excited to take in her new surroundings (and with football season fast approaching), I doubt she'll make it back very often during the Fall.

I am excited to hear all about her first week away because she is going through sorority rush. Who knows what she will pledge, but I am just thrilled to hear about her experiences and her final choice! I know she will love the next four years of her life, and I hope that she is lucky enough to make lifelong friends like I did.

We'll miss you Maria.....we love you!