The Kassel Family Project Life 365

Columbia Public Schools cancelled school for tomorrow due to the impending winter weather.  Snow Day!

When we put the new stereo in our truck, Andy made sure to get one that could also play DVDs.  Since we have a 12-hour road trip to New Orleans coming up for Ian and Amanda’s wedding, we ordered the new headrests with the built-in DVD players and wireless headphones from Amazon.  One came yesterday and one came today.  The kids will be riding in style on the way to New Orleans with the ability to watch lots of movies (provided Andy can get them installed and working this coming weekend)!

John’s preschool class made the “Earth” using paper towels and black construction paper and then hung them in the window so they would appear lighted.  It is such a neat, crafty idea.  John is so proud of his!

The Oscar Meyer Wienermobile made an appearance at Moser’s today.  I had seen the sign when I was at Moser’s last week and we couldn’t resist stopping by with the kids to check it out.  Both of them thought the giant hot dog on wheels was pretty cool.  John was more interested in the outside, but Laura thought the inside was pretty fun too.  Add in Weenie Whistles and stickers for the kids and you have instant fun!

Andy and I spent the evening with the Van Hoves on the Columbia Star Dinner Train for a slightly late Valentine’s Day dinner.  It’s truly a unique experience for dinner with a train ride from Columbia to Centralia and back.  During the course of the three-hour excursion, we enjoyed great conversation, fantastic food and wine, and the train ride.  If you get a chance to go on the Dinner Train, you should really do it.  It is a unique and fun way to spend an evening.  Thanks B and Rachel for babysitting so that we could go!

Not often does a day go by anymore where I didn’t take a photo, but somehow it happened today.  And of all the days to *not* take a photo, I managed to do it on a day with my girl?!?  MOMMY.  FAIL.  Oh well, stuff happens, right?  In any event, it was a really great day.  Laura was out of school due to a teacher’s work day, so she and I spent the day together.  We left the house about 7:30 am to take John to preschool and Andy to work and then we were off and running for the rest of the day!  We delivered Girl Scout cookies to both my work and Andy’s work.  We went for Mommy-Daughter haircuts at Green Meadows Hair Company.  We picked up Andy and went to Olive Garden for lunch.  We spent the afternoon shopping and enjoying our Mommy-Daughter time.  After picking up Andy and John, we spent a relaxing evening with a great dinner and introduced the kids to “The Princess Bride.”  Despite being scared of the R.O.U.S.s, the kids loved the movie and I think we’ll be watching it again soon!

Happy Valentine’s Day!  It was a very busy day for all the Kassels.  Andy and I spent part of the day at work and then we headed to Valentine’s parties at both of the kids’ schools.  Andy helped with the snack room at Laura’s party.  He said it was hectic, but he enjoyed himself.  Also, Laura was really happy to have her Daddy at one of her school parties.  I attended John’s party where the kids ate platefuls of snacks and exchanged Valentines.  He was excited to get all kinds of different Valentines, along with some homemade Play-doh and a “special Valentine stuffie” from his teachers.

After the parties, we met at home for a few minutes to exchange our Valentines to each other.  Andy got me three different kinds of Chocolate-Covered Strawberries from The Candy Factory (yes, I ate one or maybe two right away!).  I got Andy a card and we got the kids each a giant Hershey’s Kiss and a Team Umizoomi book.  Then, we headed out for a “romantic” dinner at McDonald’s.  We did not have much time for dinner because Laura’s school had a roller skating party at 5:30.  A bit of back story on the restaurant choice – Andy asked Laura where she wanted to eat dinner and she said McDonald’s.  He asked her if she was really *sure* she wanted to go there and Laura asked, “Dad, you’re not talking about a ‘candles and tablecloth’ restaurant are you?”  I guess we’ll save *those* restaurants for Valentine’s Days when she is older!  Despite the restaurant choice, we did have a nice dinner.

Andy and Laura headed to the roller skating party while John and I headed home.  Despite a hard fall on her butt that resulted in some crying, Laura had a great time at her party.  Andy said that she’s improving on roller skates so maybe soon she’ll be completely on her own out on the floor!

Once the party was over, Andy and I put John and Laura to bed and then relaxed with some red wine while we caught up on “Rules of Engagement.”  It was a great way to end a busy, but really fun Valentine’s Day.