The Virginia Fair

In 4th grade, much of the curriculum focuses on the state of Virginia.  Dylan has been learning the regions of Virginia, the history of Colonial VA, and famous people from Virginia. About a month ago, he selected a topic to research and focus on, knowing he'd have to do some projects surrounding his topic.  He chose Thomas Jefferson.

It all came to a crescendo this week during American Education Week, as the kids finished their projects for display and participated in the Virginia Fair.  The VA Fair at our school is both an exhibit and a show. And in Dylan's case, he made a video with the iPad as well.

Last night was the big show, and he dressed as Thomas Jefferson, tooted his recorder, danced some Colonial dances and sang songs with all of the 4th grade.  He's been very excited, and it went off without a hitch.  Great job, 4th grade.  Way to go Dylan!

One of the projects was to make a collage in the shape of Virginia with all things Thomas Jefferson. Dylan's teacher liked his so much she's keeping it for a sample for next years' 4th graders.

 



 

Grandma is checking out his movie..

Dylan and his teacher, Miss Dardine

 



 

 

 

 

 

green belt!

Wow, what a busy week!  Tuesday night, Logan graduated to a green belt (intermediate) at taekwondo.  He was so proud!

 

 

Logan and Master Choi

AEW in 1st grade!

This week is American Education Week and most schools all over have lots and lots of stuff going on.  Our school is no different, they really whoop it up and everyday a different grade is featured, inviting parents to come in the fun. They also have a book fair all week long, for parents to do some early holiday shopping.  Every day the kids are supposed to wear a different school color as well, so today was 'red' day.

Today we got to go and enjoy seeing Logan in his class.  We spent an hour making Thanksgiving arts and crafts, then watched a slideshow and then we surprised him by bring Subway to eat with him in the cafeteria. We finished off the special day with a walk thru the book fair where he picked a couple new books out.

Dylan's big day for AEW is Thursday. The 4th grade has been preparing all year for the Virginia Fair where all the kids dress in Colonial costumes and give a performace.  His character is Thomas Jefferson, so we made a TJ collage in the shape of the state of VA, and he made a TJ movie on the iPad at school we'll get to see Thursday.  We'll also get to stay and have lunch with him that day, and he's requested we bring Thai food.

Finally on Friday, we're invited to school one more time to be in Logan's class since he is also Star of the Week.  We made a big poster this weekend about his life and all his favorites.  Friday we'll get to read a story to his class, and he'll get to present his poster and have his classmates guess what his "mystery item" is (which we still haven't chosen at home...gotta get on that).

Busy week, but so great to see how much the kids are learning at school and see them in action!  I truly love our school.  Its such a friendly, warm, inviting place to be.

 

 

 

 

Three fall hikes...

The past few weeks have been a blur of School Board meetings (our area is undergoing a re-zoning process and we're fighting to stay at our elementary school), car break downs (me), illness (me and Dylan), behavior issues at school (Logan), job craziness (Andrew) and school projects (both boys)?  

This week was my 41st birthday, and this weekend was simply gorgeous outside.  We worked in three day hikes this week and it was just so nice to take a break from being in front of the computer and spending time together.  I have been to Great  Falls many times, but the other two destinations were new to us.  I know every state has its benefits, but there are truly so many beautiful spots in Virginia. We are never at a shortage of places to just get away from it all, even if just for a few hours.

The first hike was on my actual birthday (Tuesday, election day).  I took the boys to a park along the Potomac  River called  Elizabeth Mills.  Beautiful, as it backs up to a picturesque golf course.  Dylan led the way and we spent hours roaming the woods.

 

 

The second hike was a family day at Great Falls, Virginia.  It was crowded, with many people taking advantage of an upper-60 degree, sunny day after a damp, cold fall so far.  I've always loved Great Falls...from the high school years when we would skip school (sorry, Mom), and sunbathe on the giant rocks on the Maryland side.  It was the site of the second date Andrew and I had back in 1998. Its a lovely spot with incredible views, and it you take Georgetown Pike to get there, you can gawk at all the ridiculous $3 million dollar mansions along the way.

 

 

I mean, where else in Virginia can you get this view?

 

 

 

My history lover.

 

 

Today, we headed to a nature preserve on a back country road near Leesburg called Banshee Reeks.  Its 725 preserved acres of trails, ponds, bogs, and forest, with tons and tons of trails.  We got a little turned around and ended up taking a super long hike on hilly terrain, but it was great exercise. Anything that gets my boys away from the video games and us away from our laptops is a such a nice treat.  Goose Creek cuts thru part of the park, and the boys got a little muddy exploring it.  Logan had to ride home wearing only his undies.  The sign of a day well spent.

 

 

Can you guess which one got more muddy?

 

 

 

 



2012 ornament

A couple of weeks ago, I met up with my mama and we spent a few hours browsing an arts and crafts fair.  There's just nothing better than spending time with your mom, is there?  I came across this ornament and had to have it as our official Lopresti family 2012 ornament. Can't wait to put it on the tree once we get it up later this month!

Homemade Halloween

I truly do have the worlds best husband.  The boys decided they wanted to have homemade costumes this year, and Andrew has been busy for the past month turning cardboard boxes into Minecraft Steve and a fancy robot with jetpack, lights and sound effects.  The efforts were well appreciated Halloween night, as the boys ventured door to door seeking treats.  We heard "best costumes of the night" many times.  It was fun to see the boys so proud of their costumes and enjoy this magical night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We're Cookin' with Gas!

It has not been the best day. And, of course its Monday so that makes it even worse. Both boys woke up with sore throats and coughs.  We had no hot water.  My car wouldn't start.  It just kept getting better and better.

Yesterday, Mom and Robby came over to install the gas line for our new, beautiful stove.  Somehow along the way, the pilot light to the hot water heater went out.  We got that re-lit today pretty easily, that was the easy one.

The car, well that's another story.  One that involves a lot of bad words.  The boys have colds, nothing major but just enough to be annoying.

But on the very, bright and shiny side, we have a beautiful new stove.  Its a little intimidating, and I haven't used it yet.  It must be all that shininess.  As I told Andrew last night, it will never be this clean again.

We also replaced our garbage disposal which was original to the house and sounded like the beginning of a volcanic eruption everytime you tried to use it.  This new one.... ahhhhh, just a quiet whirrr....   I can't wait to get new countertops and backsplash and re-do the cabinets someday.  And maybe the floors.  But these new appliances are just simply sweeeeeeeeeet!

Thanks to Dad and Bobbie for making it all possible!  And thanks to Mom and Robby for getting the stove and garbage disposal installed.  Love you guys!

 

 

new appliances!

Very exciting morning here!!

 

Already, we are in love with the French door fridge! Now to re-paint the pantry door next to it.

 

 

 

New dishwasher, so quiet!

New microwave - so spacious and easy to use.   The gas range is in the dining room until the gas line is run sometime in the next couple of weeks.  It will look so nice and we'll enjoy cooking so much more.  It has a middle griddle burner too!

All the contents of our old fridge went right into the new fridge!

Fall Farm Fun

Fall is here, fall is here!  Its my favorite time of the year...cool air, crisp apples and fun at the farms!  Two weekends ago, Andrew and Dylan were off to their first Webelos camp out.  Logan and I held down the fort and trekked to one of our favorite local farms to take in the slides and fresh cider!



2 point pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese frosting

What part of that post title is not to like?  2 points?  Cupcakes?  Cream cheese frosting?  What if I said the cupcakes take exactly only two ingredients to make.  I'm serious.  Two.  Ingredients.

Now that fall is officially here, I've been starting to get my bake on, and make a double batch of perfect banana bread yesterday.  But fall is  never complete without an assortment of pumpkin baked goods.  When I saw this recipe on Pinterest, I had to try it.

The verdict?  Moist, fall-ish, and delish!  And rumor has it, the cupcakes are 2 Weight Watchers points (without the frosting).  A 1/2 cup serving of pumpkin has 5 grams of fiber, 2 grams of protein, and only 4 grams of sugar. And only 40 calories for a whole 1/2 cup! 0.5 grams of fat, no cholesterol. The list goes on and on.

So what do I need to do, you say?  Buy a box of yellow cake mix, and a 15 oz. can of pumpkin:

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Get out your electric mixer, and line a cupcake pan with liners.  I didn't find this recipe made 24 cupcakes, but rather 15 or so ample, fluffy ones.

 

Next, mix the cake mix with the pumpkin. Don't add another single thing.  Whip it together at a nice quick speed to really fluff it up.

 

 

Once its all mixed together and fluffy, spoon it into the muffin liners, 2/3 full.

 

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 - 25 minutes.  These do not take as long to bake as cupcakes with eggs/oil in them since the batter is much thicker to begin.

 

Once they've cooled, you can sprinkle with powder sugar for more of a breakfast muffin, or frost with cream cheese frosting for dessert (store bought or home made*).  Heck, you could even smooth the batter into a loaf pan and make it into bread.  Or try mini-muffins.

 

 

These taste like cake with a pumpkin flavor to them - not overwhelming in your face pumpkin.  Its sometime hard to stay focused on eating healthy in the fall what will all the thousands of pounds of candy laying around, and the cider doughnuts and the pumpkin spiced lattes and, and, and... 

 

So at least this is one treat you can make for your family that you don't have to feel guilty eating.

 

Homemade Cream Cheese Frosting

2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup butter, softened

2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

 

In a medium bowl, cream together the cream cheese and butter until creamy. Mix in the vanilla, then gradually stir in the confectioners' sugar. Store in the refrigerator after use.