Allergist

Monday afternoon this girl kept VERY busy designing Cinderella's dress out of play-dough, which is about my least favorite activity, BUT she was content and then meant I could get a few things done!

Tuesday morning we had an appointment with the allergist...Reagan's epi pen, that I carry with me at all times, had an expiration date of February.  Our allergist in NC couldn't renew it because R was due to come in, so our local pediatrician wound up renewing.  I went to pick it up at Walgreens and it was going to cost over $300 for TWO epi-pens...don't get me started.  Before we forked out that kind of money we wanted to make sure Reagan would even still need them.  The practice sent a prescription for a special cream to put on Reagan's arms the morning of her appointment so that she wouldn't feel all the little prickers.  (she was "excited" to hear this doctor did the shots on her arm and not her back like the old one did...bless her heart that THAT news excited her...) She was nervous to get the cream on, but it was just like regular lotion and then I had to wrap up her arms in saran-wrap!

sweet thing had 25 pricks done, but thanks to the cream she didn't feel it AT ALL!!  SO thankful for that!  Why don't all doctors use this stuff so kids don't feel shots!?!?  She was pretty itchy though, but between fanning her arm with our HIPPA packet and blowing on her arm to the point where I was light headed, I think she was pretty comfortable.

this man was beyond a trooper!

look at those sweet arms...you'll notice on her left arm in the far left column the redness, that's the peanut, egg white, and egg yolk reactions...she's still as allergic as ever to both.  They tested for environmental allergens as well, but thankfully, she had no reaction to any of those!

We went to Rita's as a special treat afterwards, but neither one really ate their water ice...I may have inhaled mine and had a few tastes of theirs as well :)

Costume and Easter Bunny!

(Wrote this last week...just posting now!)
Wednesday was a big night at ballet/tap class...the girls got their recital costumes!  Reagan was SO excited :)  It's adorable and the girls are going to look precious.

On Thursday morning we met JJ at the mall for her birthday present, which was a haircut/hair done and getting pictures taken with the kids.

waiting forever for J to get called for her cut...he was entertained though :)

The pictures turned out cute, I'll have to scan them in when we get them.  JJ was so excited to have pictures done with her two favorite kiddos!

By the time pictures were done, we HAD to swing into the Disney Store and then got some lunch.  We were on our way out and the kids really wanted to see the Easter Bunny.  Since there was NO line I figured we might as well.  We were the only ones there, the kids loved meeting him/her?!.  I snuck a couple phone pics so I didn't need to spend $30 for Easter Bunny pics.

AND the kids got these cute bunny masks from the Easter Bunny...Landon especially, is obsessed with his :)

He doesn't look thrilled I know, but he slept with it for his nap and for bed that night...he even rocked it to Kohl's yesterday!

This little girl picked up a new Ariel nightgown at the Disney Store and we HAD to put it on as soon as we got back in the van!

March Catch Up!

Time for some serious catch up!!!! Once upon a time I was kind of a good blogger...I'll try to do better :)

On March 12 Heather and I went to an awesome Downton Abbey exhibit at Winterthur! It was so fun to see all of these real costumes...they are beautiful!!!  Heath was a trooper considering she hasn't even really watched the show!

St. Patrick's Day fell on a Monday and guess what, we had snow! Schools around us were closed, but preschool was a 2 hour delay.  I decided we'd just stay home though to a) not risk it and b) get things done around the house!

We did enjoy green pancakes and a couple little crafts...I happened to have just found one of my file boxes from teaching that had St. Patrick's Day activities in it. 

Playing outside one day...are we surprised at all to see Landon lining up toys with wheels?!?

We came home from school one day and had shutters...yay!  Now to get the door painted, the porch finished, some grass, and landscaping :)

It was a BIG accomplishment to get my van in the garage...the boxes though...oh Lord, thankfully they are not all gone :)

On Saturday, March 22 Reagan and I went to REGISTER for KINDERGARTEN!!!!!!!!!  Now Reagan's K plans are still undecided...we applied for a charter school in our neighborhood, but were wait listed, like #103 waitlisted, so that won't happen...we'll try again next year.  We have also applied for a private school, BUT we went ahead with the public school registration to be on the safe side.  SUCH a BIG girl!!  They did a little testing and took your child for all of 10 minutes and it made me tear up.  How is my baby girl ready for kindergarten already?  Although, I'm also SO very excited for her.  She's SO ready and is SOOO excited to read and write and learn all that there is to learn!

That afternoon JJ came over on the DART bus, which pulled right up to our driveway, which was AWESOME!  She got in our house NO problem!  The kids were so excited to see her :)

Grandpa and Diane came too and of course we needed to put my Pops to work, so it was "paint the playroom day!"

Oh these two... ;)

On Sunday I went to Ikea to get the HUGE toy shelf...I LOVE this thing!! OMG!  I can't believe how many stinkin' toys fit on this and it's ORGANIZED and that makes this Momma a happy lady!

"helping"

They were very busy making mommy lunch...sweet kiddos!

finished product...well almost!  Elle found the cutest little chalkboard labels for the bins and I found a perfect match chevron to "whip up" a little valance in there.  The kids love it though and I'm so SO SOOOO excited to have a place for all the toys in this house :)

Oh my gosh...our driveway was paved last Thursday and you would have thought Mickey himself was on our driveway!  Landon, especially, was SOOOO excited to see all the trucks and watch the "worker men."  They even ate lunch outside in the garage with a front row seat watching them work.  It is SO nice to have a paved driveway...the bikes, scooters, tractors, and all the other toys appreciate it too!

This past weekend Opa and Miss Liz came to visit.  Poor Heinz can't come and not be put to work, but it wasn't too bad this time :)  He put up a new light fixture for me in the kitchen and helped Keith and I with the laundry room.  Our laundry room is also the "mudroom" AKA the room you walk in from the garage and it needed some serious attention so that it wasn't just a dump zone and crap all over the floor!!!

Pretty girl made her very own princess crown!

Landon helped Daddy cover up the holes from the wire rack

Sunday morning we ran some errands as a family and Landon was "helping" me get ready and "reading" me some bookies...sweet man, how I love him!

Best little helpers at Lowe's

We ran to the mall, because that's where Target is, and I had a couple Gymboree returns.  Anyway, Landon looked too cute in his bunny ears that they handed out in front of Build a Bear!

 
Landon helped Reagan out of the ice cream truck by holding out his hand for her, it was pretty much the cutest thing ever...Reagan was VERY impressed!

JJ came over again on Sunday and was able to stay for dinner this time!  Reagan insisted we do her nails to match hers :)  They look good with their purple sparkles!

The laundry room is still a work in progress, but it's coming.  My dad and Keith put up the cabinets on Sunday, which was no small project, but they are SO fun and store SO much!! The walls are a very light blue and it looks great with some fabric I got for a little curtain in there...please note I do not sew.  I "think" I can whip up these curtains...we shall see.  Thank goodness for Pinterest :)

On Tuesday our sweet friends came over!  They all play SO well together and had so much fun.  We played inside for a bit, then outside, and headed to Chick Fil A for lunch.  It was so fun until Landon fell in the play area and smacked his cheek...it was past naptime anyway, so the kid was none too happy about that.  Overall it was a great day!

watching a little Sopia

Reagan was showing Anna our Disney book...Brady and Landon wanted to check it out too!

Precious kiddos

and my recent project for my Frozen obsessed little lady is her Elsa cape...again, please note I have no idea what I'm doing and don't sew.  However, it was kind of what Reagan wanted and my little $10 project beats a $300 Elsa dress on eBay!

SOOOOO that's life lately around here!  The house is slowly coming along, but we just love it here!  More pics of the house eventually :)

My Grandpa

On Saturday, March 8 my phone rang a little after 7:00am and it was my Dad calling, which immediately had me worried...he is much more of a texter and when he does call it's not at 7am.  That morning my Grandpa had passed away.  It was the news I was dreading...we knew it was coming, as his health was failing, but you're never really prepared to hear it.  I had gone to visit my Grandpa about 3 weeks before and it was so hard to see him that day, he couldn't talk, but did smile as I walked in the room.

I am SO, SO lucky to have SO many amazing memories of my Grandpa.  He was such a wonderful man.  Our hearts just break that he is no longer with us, but our hearts are so happy that he is in heaven with Grandma and "himself" again.

These pictures are from the Easter Seals dinner in October when Grandpa was recognized with the Lifetime Achievement award for all of his work with Easter Seals.  I was SO proud to be there that night and now even more so.

Thanksgiving 2013

The last precious picture I took of my Grandpa from Christmas Eve.  He was a very proud University of Delaware alum and LOVED his Blue Hens.  The kids and I picked out this sweatshirt for him...the 2nd to last time I visited him it's what he had on and our last words to each other were "I love you."  We have this sweatshirt now and it will be so special to us forever.

Thursday night was the viewing and the family was able to go to say good bye before everyone else...I can not tell you the peace I felt being able to kiss him one more time and talk to him.  Keith and I were both so glad we were able to do that.  Reagan went to the funeral with us on Friday, which she really wanted to do.  She was such a good girl and was giving everyone hugs to help them feel better.  Jamie was very sad and she went right over to her to hold her hand during the service, it was precious and might have added a few more tears!

Grandpa was just such a great man, we will all miss him sooooo very, very much.  As a friend reminded me, he left an amazing legacy behind and isn't that life is all about?!  So very true!

His Obituary:

James F. Kearns

AGE: 85 • Greenville

James F. Kearns, age 85, of Greenville, DE, passed away on Saturday, March 8, 2014 at Stonegates.

Jim was born in Cleveland, OH, son of the late Allen and Mildred Kearns. He graduated from P.S. duPont High School in 1946 and received his bachelor's degree from the University of Delaware in 1950. 

Jim worked for the DuPont Company for 41 years. He began his career in 1950 at the Waynesboro, VA textile fibers plant. During this assignment he met his love, Rita Lawless. Jim held various positions, in sales, marketing business management and sourcing, spending the bulk of his career in the Textile Fibers Department. In 1988 he was appointed to the position of Executive Vice President and a member of the DuPont Company Executive Committee. He retired from DuPont in 1990. He was especially proud to have been a third-generation DuPonter.

Jim generously volunteered his time and skills to helping others. He was a past member of the Boards of the University of Delaware, Philadelphia University, and the Independence School. He also was a member of the Board of Christiana Care Health System, as well as the Chairman of the Board and Founding Director of Exceptional Care for Children, a skilled nursing facility that serves technology-dependent children and their families in Delaware. His interest in helping the disabled and their families was a source of Jim's particular devotion to his work with Easter Seals of Delaware & Maryland's Eastern Shore, where he served as Chairman of the Board and was honored with both the National Easter Seals Volunteer Award and, in 2013, the Delaware Easter Seals Lifetime of Service Award. 

Jim was an avid golfer and card player, who cherished taking a few bucks from his friends on the course or at the poker or gin rummy table. He was also a proud and diehard Phillies and Eagles fan. 

Jim is predeceased by his beloved wife of 53 years, Rita Lawless Kearns, his brother Donald and his grandchildren Matthew and Molly Connell. He is survived by his daughter, Patti Connell and her husband Larry, of Hockessin, DE; sons James F. Kearns, Jr. and his wife Linda, of Hockessin, DE, and Thomas G. Kearns, of Lincoln University, PA; grandchildren Ryan (Megan), Ben and Spencer Connell, Emily and James Kearns III, Stephanie Kepplinger (Keith), Jamie Lee and Michael Kearns; and great-grandchildren Logan, Landon and Reagan. He is also survived by his friend Judy Sullivan.

The family would like to thank the amazing people at Stonegates who so lovingly cared for Jim for the last four years. They would also like to thank Jim's many friends whose visits and calls brought great joy to Jim in his final years.

Happy Birthday JJ!

Jamie turned THIRTY on March 7 and we had a busy weekend of fun planned!

Reaggie had a birthday party on Saturday at noon near preschool, so after we left we made a trip to Target, before meeting everyone for dinner at Outback!

JJ had two of her favorite helpers help blow out her candles!

Sunday we went to Mom and John's for a birthday celebration.  Keith took the kiddos ahead of time so I could get a LITTLE organization done at the house and then I met them there.  The kids and I just spent the night since school was the next morning...our house is 52 minutes from preschool, so staying there is a nicer drive!

pretty 30 year old!

We hope JJ had a special weekend!  Gran and Gramps were up for the day too!  Happy Birthday J!