Coming home!!

This has been a very exciting week for my family, because my husband is coming home from a year long deployment!  It is amazing how much has changed in 1 year and how much we have been able to achieve in this year! I went into this deployment unsure of how I would be able to make it this year without my hubby and how the girls would make it without their dad!  Not only have we done it, but I think we have become stronger and more confident and made us a better family for the future. When I look back at this year I look at the 5 weeks I spent with the girls in Europe, Avery's first day of 1st grade, Sydney's first day of preschool and all the other firsts that have come and gone this year. This military life isn't for the faint of heart, but I am proud of the way we have come through stronger on the other side!

Tuesday Night!!

Tuesday night it Movie Night at Exeter Library!  The movie is Megamind and my girls loved it when we saw it in the theatre!  The movie starts at 5:30, but doors open at 5:15.  Last month is was really crowded and we were glad to get there early. Be sure to pack dinner (pizza, McDonalds, or something homemade), blankets and pillows for the kids! Last month I brought my Kindle and enjoyed the hour and half reading while the kids watched the movie!!
Hope to see some of you there!!

First Day of Spring!!

Finally...spring is here!  Sunday is the first day of spring..and we know what that means...Free Rita's water ice!!!  Don't forget to stop over an try a new flavor..maybe swedish fish!!
Also, Sunday is the last day for the Pet Expo at the Reading Expo Center. Be sure to go online and get a coupon for $2 off your admission fee.
Finally, it is the last day for Old Navy and Gaps Give and Get Program. If you have not recieved the email with the 30% please let me know and I will email you the print out!!!  We bought all new spring and summer clothes for me and the girls!!
Enjoy the first day of spring!!!

Stories we tell our kids!

This has been an extra long week with the girls..especially with my 5 year old!  I have quickly realized that her will power and stamina is greater than mine!  Thanks to facebook, I had a hysterical talk with other moms about the tricks of the trade for raising strong willed kids.  One mom had told me that she actually had convinced her daughter that the candy machines were filled with dog treats!
Anyway, tonite my oldest has CCD so I play the game of how to keep my youngest occupied without her sister.  One of our favorite things to do is at Exeter Pubic Library...they have Sleepytime Story time from 7 until 7:30.  Tonite they will also have the character Biscuit along for the story.  The kids can have their pj's on and then home for bed!
One warning...there is a drawing at the end of the storytime!  My daughter usually loses her mind and has to be carried out screaming, so needless to say we leave before the drawing!!!e
Hope to see some of you tonite...and let me know any things you have told your kids to help you through your day!!!

Weekend Plans!!!!!!!!!!!

It is finally Friday night..and as you can see by the time of this post my Friday nights have really changed!  I just reserved a space for my daughters at Chick Fill A(www.cfarestaurant.com/exeter) for the American Girl Tea tomorrow starting at 9 am and ending at 11am. My girls have been trying to choose outfits for the dolls all night..hopefully I will see some of you there.
Lowes is have there Build to Grow Program tomorrow morning.  They will be building a basketball net and if if is like last year the girls loved it!  http://www.lowes.com/ 
Boscovs is have a Relay for Life event at all the locations.  There will be many teams participating with activites and information for everyone!  It runs from 11am until 3pm.
Bark Along the Boulevard will have a 2 mile dog walk, 10-11am at Nolde Forest Environmental Center, 2910 New Holland Road, Cumru Township.  All dogs should be leashed.  Call 610-796-3699 for more information.
Michaels Craft Store will be having a Make it Take It Yarn Doll activity for kids!  It will be at 2763 Paper Mill Road in Wyomissing. The craft runs from 10am until 12pm. http://www.michaels.com/
Finally, the Home and Garden Show is running all weekendat the Greater Reading Expo Center. There is a coupon you can print out by visitng http://www.readinghomeandgardenshow.com/.  There is lots to do including cooking demos, wine samples and interactive kids activities.
On Sunday, Goggle Works is having its monthly 2nd Sunday Open House.  There will be demonstrations, walk in workshops, meet the artists, live music and kids activities.  Please call 610-374-4600 or visit http://www.goggleworks.org/
After you have visited the Goggle works, don't forget all the great restaurants where kids eat free..you can find the list at the bottom of my page!
Have a great weekend, and I hope to see some of you out and about this weekend!!!

Groupon Alert!!!

Today only Groupon (http://www.groupon.com/reading) if offfering a One year membership to Reading Public Museum (http://www.readingpublicmuseum.org/)  for $30, that is a savings of 50%.  We belong to the museum as well as the Franklin Institute and the Philadelphia Zoo.  Hope to see some of you at the museum!!

Finally Friday!!

Let's hope this rain stops soon...the kids are starting to go stir crazy (actually I am going stir crazy!).  The weekend is almost here, and for those of us in Exeter the weekend has already started.  If you are like me, you are already thinking of things to get the kids out of the house and use up all their energy!  On Friday, March 11th Barnes and Noble will have storytime at 10am at the store at 2751 Paper Mill Road, Wyomissing  Pa  19610. The website is http://www.barnesandnoble.come/ . The 8th Annual Southeast Pennsylvania Home and Garden Show starts March 11 and runs through March 13th at the Greater Reading Expo Center.  There will be live cooking demos, wine tastings, free interactive kids' activties and DYI seminars all weekend.  Visit http://www.readinghomeandgardenshow.com/ for more info and discount coupons. 
Also, if any of you are done cooking and ready to go out and eat check out http://www.restaurant.com/. If you type in the code SAVE you could save 80% off the gift certificate!  The girls and I are going to Good Eatz in West Reading..we got a $25 gift card for $2!!!  Enjoy the weekend with a night off for everyone!
I will be posting more about the weekend activites in the next post.  Good luck to everyone and hopefully all of your kids are in bed..and stay there all night!!