Changes....Kindergarten...Preschool...oh my...

Posted by Mary Grace (MGD) on Friday, August 19, 2011.
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So as you may know, Matthew starts Kindergarten this year. YES. I know. I am nervous. I am scared. Forms, doctor's appointments, medications, more forms and instructions and more instructions. The last few weeks have been spent clenaing out the closet and making room for school supplies, sharpening his pencils, labeling items, making folders, making emergency lists, it is never ending.....

Matthew is excited. He is getting new shoes, some clothes, new bookbag and new lunch box. He is anxious to start, he wants to meet new friends, he wants to meet his teacher.

Julia is also moving up to the 3's class at her daycare. Long gone are the days of her being the baby class. They have workbooks, they have games, they have to wipe their own hineys!

So many changes with Kindergarten and Preschool.
You ask how I am doing.....I will tell you next week when they start Kindergarten & Preschool......

Hello Toothfairy

Posted by Mary Grace (MGD)
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Write it down in the books-- Tuesday August 23rd, Matthew lost his very first tooth. He cam in frantically around 5:30 a.m. crying about his tooth. When we realized what happened, we sat down with him to have the Tooth Fairy talk.
He asked how big the Tooth Fairy was-- my answer: same size as Tinkerbell
He asked if she comes to every child's house-- my answer: no.
He asked if he can see her when she comes-- my answer: she will not come if you are awake

That night...with great anticipation and excitement, he woke up 3 times and we put him back in his bed 3 times. Early the next morning, he came in with a wad of cash in his hand. He was gleaming with excitement and here is our conversation:
Matthew said, "The Tooth Fairy brought me $5.00. Thats not a lot mommy!"
I explained, "If you are nothappy with the $5.00, we will call the Tooth Fairy so she can pick it up and give it to another child."
His reply..."Well, maybe she only gave me $5 because I am 5 years old. When I get to be 6 years old she will give me $6.00!"







French Coffee Press Anyone???

Posted by Mary Grace (MGD) on Tuesday, August 16, 2011.
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Dave and I are coffee snobs. We like different brands, but they have to be good, bold, and just regular coffee. Don’t worry about adding in those sweet syrups unless it’s a cold iced coffee drink. You can imagine how crazy our house was when we found out we didn’t have any filters left for our coffee maker. David turned the pantry upside down searching for just ONE filter and we were left standing in our kitchen staring at each other and at our coffee maker. Then I remembered that 11 years ago….someone had given us this fancy Bodum French Press as a wedding gift! We used it a few times before we had our automatic coffee maker so I knew it was somewhere in the pantry!

We discovered the Bodum French Press years before we had kids. We used to go to these fancy little restaurants and at one of those restaurants, when ordering coffee, they arrive with the cutest individual size French Press and make your coffee right there at the table!

So since we didn’t have a filter and we had this awesome French Press…we made our coffee, loved it and made some more. The coffee flavor just comes out beautifully in the French press. The coffee is smooth, aromatic, rich and bold. It does take a few more steps then making it in a regular drip coffee maker, but definitely worth it! If you love coffee and I mean REAL coffee you have to invest in one of these. No filter needed! Just good ground coffee and hot water! Don’t get me wrong- I love my automatic coffee maker especially in the wee hours of the morning, but I won’t turn down coffee made from a French Press either!



Step 1: Spoon your coffee grinds into your press (5 spoons of coffee for us)








Step 2: Boil water and slowly put it in the press. (6 cups of very hot water)


Step 3: Stir the coffee grinds and hot water (BE CAREFUL!)


Step 4: Let the water & coffee sit.


Step 5: Wait patiently (this is very difficult for me)


Step 7: Slowly, evenly and VERY carefully push down on the lid. This will allow the filters to slowly slide down and press on the coffee grinds. Enjoy! Add some cream and sugar!


Camp Show 2011

Posted by Mary Grace (MGD)
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Each August we are treated to an awesome camp show put on by Camp Heritage (Catonsville Community College Summer Camp) and the super stars of the show are my nephews Dylan and Daniel. This year they preformed some awesome new hip-hop dances, the robot and of course had some old school moves that really got the crowd dancing in their seats. These camp shows are always a hit and we are so happy we can attend each year.


Alex (3), Daniel (9), Dylan (11), Matthew (5)

The girls (Julia & Amaya) didn't feel like getting in the picture!

Daniel & Dylan Chauncey-- stars of the camp show!!!


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