Mother and daughter did really well in the 5K run. Stacy beat her time last week and took home a second place trophy. Rylie ran in the 14 and under division and ran the whole way. Really proud of both of them!
School Shopping trip to Tangier Outlets . The kids got new Converse Tennis Shoes. They are so cute. Here is Evan sporting his new shoes sans pants of course. I will add a pic of Rylie modeling her new shoes later when I can get a good pic of them. They are bright yellow with purple strings.
Wonderful day for a picnic! Rylie's Gymnastics group and family gathered together for a picnic at Rock Lake near Valley Falls. A day full of swimming, eating, volleyball and playing in the sand. The kids had a great time. Afterwards, everyone went to Valley Falls to watch the kayaks go over the falls.
Took a day to take the kids to Kennywood Park in Pittsburgh. It was so much fun for the kids! Here are just a few pics of the fun! And yes.....I actually rode three rides including two roller coasters. I can still do it! Love that Jack Rabbit Roller Coaster! It feels like it jumps the track. They say the secret is the double dip with "air time".
My blog is now four years old. It started with me turning 50 years old at the beach and I proudly published my first pic of me at the beach. Since I celebrate my birthday each year at the beach, it is only fitting to commemorate the moment with another beach pic with my favorite hobby...knitting. We had a great week of rest. Lots of reading and knitting accomplished. Steve and Kristina were able to come this year. The only thing missing were Stacy and Brad and the grandkids. Hope they can come next year.
Stacy called me and asked me to check out her facebook pics. It seems that Evan was entirely too quiet in his room coloring. When Stacy and Brad went to investigate, here is what they found. Evan was coloring all right....coloring himself! And quite proud of his handiwork I must say. Can you say ornery? By the way, the marker was washable ink and removed nicely in the bath. Could have been worse. Could have been a permanent Sharpie.
What fun we have when sleepovers happen at Mamaw's and Papaw's. We went shopping, did crafts, and played and played and played. Evan loves his Matchbox cars and Rylie decorated a whole new binder for school. Evan loves his "sissy" and wants her to rock him when it was time for nap. Rylie complied while still watching "Jonas Brothers" new TV episode. Baylee is recovering from the increased decible levels. She has to make sure Papaw knows she is still the "baby" of the house.
Evan is two and now knows the age old grandparent's secret.....Mamaw and Papaw's house is awesome fun! Evan had a sleepover with us this weekend and enjoyed the warming weather with a tour of the area parks. We really hated for him to go home. The cutest thing he did this weekend is sit immediately on the floor when we commanded the family dog, Baylee, to sit while waiting for a treat. Evan sat beautifully. Baylee.....not so much.
Rylie's ninth birthday was a family day of fun, shopping at the Tanger Outlets in Washington, PA, and finally a great dinner at Texas Roadhouse with Rylie riding the "birthday saddle" Rylie just finished another gymnastics meet in Monesson, PA the day before, so her weekend has been quite full. Rylie, by the way, won three gold medals and tied for first place all around in the Monesson meet. We are so proud of her. Evan practiced singing Happy Birthday to Rylie and did it very well. Evan, of course wanted presents, too. I always have a little something just in case. He opened a gift on this day as well. He's quite happy with celebrating birthdays! Attending Rylie's dinner were great-grandparent Nanny and her husband Gene, Uncle Steve and Aunt Kristina, Mamaw and Papaw, and of course Mom and Dad and Evan. We had such a nice day!
Rylie is now in level five competition season. She has had three meets so far and has taken first place all around is all three. I keep a special blog to chronicle all her accomplishments in her competitive gymnastics career. There are pics and a few videos as well. Check it out at www.ryliegymnastics.blogspot.com or just click on the "Rylie Gymnastics Page" link down on the left to see what she has been up to. She has met Mary Lou Retton and Chelsie Memmel this year and those pics are on the blog as well. Rylie is shown here her with her Mom, Stacy, celebrating after the Erie PA Invitational Meet. This was Rylie's first "International Meet" Teams from Canada were represented as well. We all had a great time.
Evan had his two year old birthday party and the whole family was there to wish him well. He looked quite grown up in his little vest sweater and pants. He is becoming attached to uncle Steve and is shown here with Steve holding him. Evan's parents, Brad and Stacy were so busy making everyone comfortable and well fed, I was unable to get a pic of the three of them together. They did a remarkable job entertaining so many people in their home.
It was a good family time for Christmas Eve and New Years Day at our home. We had a simple Christmas Eve dinner and New Years dinner. Pops was able to visit with us for the holidays and the kid's really enjoyed him. We are so thankful for our blessings! It was hard for Pops and Bill this first Christmas without Mimi, but the family has really tried to pull together with love and support. Bill and I tried to continue Mimi's tradition of making homemade donuts on Christmas Eve. We made our first batch which tasted great, but they were a little on the ugly side. It may take us a few years to get it right.
