Last day of summer...

We are going to be working a little backwards the next few days but I want to get you guys caught up on our little life! 

On Monday we celebrated the last day of summer break for Charlot and the last day of maternity leave for me! Mr. Conrad had a doctors appointment in Columbia early on Monday morning so we headed out from home early to make that then the rest of the day was ours. 

We changed into our swim attire to go to Stephens Lake Park to enjoy the splash park area and a bit of "beach" time as well! I didn't know this little area was even there until my momma discovered it with Charlot one day this summer. It is such a nice park and the splash area is perfect for warm summer days.

Charlot played and played and played, Conrad and I sat in the water a little until he was spent and needed some relaxation time. So he slept and she played. It was a gorgeous morning at the park with a few other kiddos there but not a big crowd.

This was her one final run through before we left for lunch. She needed to go tell all the fountains see ya later. If you are looking for a fun place to head with your kiddos I would highly reccomend this park. It is open May 1-Sept 30 during day light hours, go have a ball running through the sprinklers! And the best part is it's FREE, I love a good deal after all!

We headed out for lunch to Noodles and Company, Charlot's choice. She loves their buttered noodles and carrot sticks. And we shared an order of pot stickers which she really liked as well! After lunch it was time for some retail therapy, a new outfit for the first day of school was in order.

What better way to finish out the day than a shake from Chick-fil-a!!! Oh yea and two napping children for Momma on the way home!

First day of school!!

I have so much to catch you guys up on we have had a busy few weeks and I have some amazing quotes from both Charlot and the Hubs but...for today we shall focus on this! This really happened today! She started her first day of kindergarten. She was so nervously excited she was worried that she would miss her Conrad boy (as she calls him). She picked out a new outfit, helped me fill out her sign, her swimming teacher this summer was awesome and she wants to be her now, and she was all ready to go until we pulled up to school. 

We walked in she continued to seem nervous, we spoke to Ben a boy who will be sitting at her table she was a bit shy. I was starting to worry and possibly tear up. Then this happened as we walked to the table where breakfast was happening she quitely took her seat and said hi to her friend Dani, Dani quickly exclaimed "IT'S MY FIRST DAY!!!" Charlot giggled and said "MINE TOO!" I knew she would be great!

It was also a big day in this guys world he started day care today with Miss Telpha! He was all smiles and giggles as we left him this morning!

The tongue oh I do believe Christopher is to blame for that!

Big day for all three of us! Kindergarten, Day Care and Back to Work, man do I miss them but I know this is best for all of us. Daddy had to work early this morning so a selfie was the best we could do for a picture of all of us!

Charlot you are an amazing blessing in my life and I am so proud of the little lady you are becoming. You have a kind heart and soild mind I know you are going far in the life. Always know momma and daddy love you unconditionally and will be your biggest cheerleaders always and forever. We love you punk!

Interview Time...

As we are nearing the end of summer, Charlot starts kindergarten  two weeks from today and I return to work. Oh there will be tears but it has been an amazing summer being home with my nuggets! I wanted to do an interview with Charlot before she starts kindergarten and to kind of recap summer! Note I did this prior to the state fair because I'm guessing I won't get it done during the fair! Which by the way we move pigs to on Saturday evening!

Charlot 8/6/16 (it's a long one she kept saying ask me more!)

What is your name? Charlot

How old are you? 5 (with five fingers held up)

What is your favorite TV show? Sophia, Doc Toy Hospital, Cake Wars (she's after my heart)

What is your favorite thing about school? Art Class

What is the thing you are best at? Being smart 

If you could change your name, what would you change it to? Hum well of course Maggie

What is your favorite color? Purple, pink, green

What is your favorite toy? Well I have lots but my Barbie House

When you grow up what do you want to be? I don't really want to grow up but...a swimming lessons teacher

What do you take to bed with you at night? Truman, piggie, Chloe, Mel, buddy, pops, Mel, Norman, snowball

Is there room for you in bed? Kinda but they need me

What is your favorite book? Penguin takes a Vacation

What is your favorite movie? Frozen, Angry Birds, Secret Life of Pets, Dory

What is your favorite season? Christmas...

No like summer, winter, spring, fall? Oh hum...summer you can go swimming and winter Christmas

What is your favorite food? Noodles, Pizza, Macaroni, and Shrimp Tacos

What is your favorite animal? Pigs of course

What is your favorite sport? T-ball

Who is your best friend? Maggie 

Oh it's not me? No your my momma (ok sweetheart that's enough)

What is your favorite holiday? Christmas

What is your favorite thing to do with momma? Playing match cards

What is your favorite thing to do with daddy? Snuggling 

What is your favorite restaurant? The boat, you get to feed the fish (girl after her paps heart!)

What is your favorite place to go? The park

Are you going to get married? No way

If you could go anywhere where would it be? Disney 

What are you most excited about at the state fair? Showing my pigs, a funnel cake with pap, and maybe riding some rides

What has been the best thing about the summer so far? Going to Bonkers

If you had one wish what would it be? That my stuffed animals were real!!! That would be wild!

Anything else? Love you momma

Love you to baby!

I know I will treasure these interviews forever!

Her swimming lessons instructor Reagan tried to make her dreams come true! 

2 months...

Mr. Conrad is 2 months old today...is that really possible! Oh gracious I love this little nugget. And I'm pretty certain he loves us too! Currently he is a great eater, and is sleeping through the night most nights, and is wearing 0-3 month clothes and some newborn. This picture sequence is his normal progression to give me a smile!!! Smiling and giggling at us is a great Conrad skill!

And below is his one month collage that I never got posted on here! 

Summer Vegetable Soup

                                

I made this delicious soup last week to take to the ladies I work with as a thank you for covering everything while I have been off. I have been waiting for a good day to post it since it's had been quite warm out. But the last two days of rainy weather and cooler temps are made for soups like this one! 

When I was deciding what to make for this little lunch delivery I knew I wanted to try to make a version of Panera's Garden Vegetable Soup with Pesto. My co-worker had told me once how much she loves that soup! Plus I have an abundance of zucchini, yellow squash, and basil at my disposal! 

I have never had Panera's version but I looked it up and read the description then looked at what I had available to me and magically this delicious soup was born! 

This soup is really really good and super easy to make and it makes a large batch! With the added bonus of being less than 200 calories per serving! I am going to do some experimenting with turning this into a freezer meal so that this winter I can still enjoy summer's bounty without a ton of chopping! 

Summer Vegetable Soup

2 tbsp EVOO

1 cup zucchini diced

1 cup yellow squash diced

1 cup cauliflower chopped

1 cup red onion diced

1cup red bell pepper diced

1 cup kale chopped (could use any dark hearty green)

32oz chicken or vegetable broth

4 cups water 

1 can petite diced tomatoes

1 can tomato paste

4 cloves garlic minced

Salt and pepper to taste

1/2 cup orzo pasta

1/2 Parmesan cheese grated

Basil Pesto

In a large heavy bottom pot heat oil over medium heat, add in zucchini , yellow squash, cauliflower, onion and pepper, sauté for a couple of minutes. Stir in kale no cook for a few more minutes season vegetables with salt and pepper. Lower the heat and stir in broth, water, tomatoes, tomato paste, and garlic. Allow mixture to simmer for 20-30 minutes. Add in the orzo allow to cook for 10 minutes more. Stir in the Parmesan cheese just before serving. Top each bowl with basil pesto, serve with crusty bread! Yum!