Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Art


I am by nature a lover of art, but seldom indulge myself in buying it........ This sculpture was created by my "niece in law" who does amazing things with metal. I have enjoyed seeing her work in alaska at galleries, and she has done some huge pieces for several schools- i just couldn't afford it! So for Christmas this year, my dad traded some of his wood work with her for this Salmon...he gave it to me , and I love it!! Thanks Dad and Holly!!

He is sitting in my window waiting for me to figure where his permenant home will be.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Tuesday january 27- my amazing pickle!

We are dealing with some issues with Nikki at school- she has struggled the past months and is starting some testing for learning problems. Dan and I were feeling a little down about it tonight, and I remembered this great day we had last summer when we were in Alaska........Nikki, Brad and I hiked a mile UP a very narrow and steep trail to see this Glacier. I really didn't think she was capable of doing it ( I wasn't sure that I was capable!) it was so rocky and steep in places. She has some physical delays , but has made so much progress that not many people would know or notice it. So we started up the trail thinking that Dan and Elise had gone up ahead of us- and it was tough. I was scared of bears, as there had been some seen in the area earlier that day, i was worried we would get up to the top, and not be able to get back down ( that was more me, worrying about my knees!) I kept telling her she could do it, she kept telling me that I could do it....( and brad of course sprinted the whole way) and........we made it! It was so beautiful at the top- the glacier was amazing, the view stunning, but the best was the look on her face- she was so proud of herself and I was so proud of her too- there were days when I worried she would not walk when she was a baby, and she climbed a mountain that day. I knew that day ,she can handle whatever is coming her way.


Monday, January 26, 2009


it SAYS 6:o3am........but in Las Vegas, it is 3:03 am. wahhhhhhhhh! This is the worst part of going home to the East coast from a west coast trip! I see a nap in my future!

Sunday jan 25 las vegas day 4

















































a little shopping at Caesars palace before heading home.......I REALLY missed the kids this trip, it has been awhile since I have left them for more than a day or two. As much as I am excited to leave on Friday for our other trip, I am sad leaving them behind again! my mom and dad left today too, so the kids were torn between being happy to see us come and sad to see them go.....

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Sat. Jan 24, Las vegas day 3











Slept in very late today, then caught a bus down to Fremont Street to hang out in the cheap casinos and check out all the old neon from yesteryear. This is my favorite part of Las Vegas........like visiting a museum!

friday jan 23, Las vegas day 2







Dan was officially on vacation with me today, his convention was over. We rode the monorail to the end of the strip and walked down a mile or so to find a thai restaurant- not great neighborhood but pretty good thai food! Gambled, ate and drank the day away- welcome to Sin city! I saw some WEIRD stuff........I'm not easily shocked, but I saw a few things that left me pondering at least! We had a great dinner of stone crab claws and chardonnay.mmmmmmmmm

Thursday Jan. 22 Las vegas, day 1!







I made to las vegas, read an entire book cover to cover on the way- I really enjoy that part of flying! When I arrived, I relaxed a bit, then headed to the salon for a 75 minute hot stone pedicure....ahhhhhhh! Dan met me back at the Bellagio after his work dinner , and we gambled the evening away( I pretty much lost whatever I bet, dan won back my losses) the music and fountain show in front of the hotel was spectacular, as always. It was a GORGEOUS day, 70 degrees and the POOL WAS OPEN! I didn't know it would be open , so didn't bring a suit- was so bummed!! we were supposed to be staying at MGM, and their pool is closed all winter.......

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

a Momentus Day



































































I did not vote for Mr. Obama, but still am touched by the meaning of this day! I was in Washington DC and Philadelphia last month and I am always thrilled by the history of our country. today was a day to watch it in the making- hooray!

Monday, January 19, 2009

bowling with Grandpa






My dad ROCKS! He is 81 years old, has had hip replacement surgery, rotator cuff surgery, foot surgery, prostate cancer, a hernia and who knows what else- when the kids asked to go bowling today, he was ALL over it! they had so much fun with him- I can only hope I am doing as well at that age! today he is hopping in the car and making a road trip to Atlantic city - GO Grandpa!!!

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Baby, it's cold ( not as cold as yesterday though!) outside!

woke up at 6 am this morning- took a look outside to see a fresh coating of snow and headed to my cozy chair in front of the fire for an hour or so of quiet reading time before the rest of the house woke up........heavenly!


The temperatures outside have jumped up about 20 degrees today- when I got up this time yesterday it was 4 degrees! brrr!

Saturday January 17, "sugar"


Nikki requested that her friend "sugar" have a place on my blog......Sugar and her friends have taken over our house. They live in a mansion in nikkis room ( well some of them live in the mansion, others live in the tree house, some in the cabin, a couple live in a tent, and one lives in sugars convertible.)

Friday, January 16- bachs minuet 2!


Elise and Nikki gave a little concert for their grandma and grandpa today ( Nikki is still playing her toy violin....her lessons with her real violin start in february!

Thursday, January 15, 2009

music!


I have had a very pleasant hour chatting with a young man who we are hosting over 2 nights- he is a 12th grade chorus student chosen to sing in the Pennsylvania Music educators assoc. Festival. It was nice talking 'music" with someone! i was very involved in orchestra and band in high school, so it brought back a lot of good memories. The violin in the photo is Elise's - she left out after practicing today and it looked kind of cool sitting on her great grand dads old travel trunk- worthy of a picture!

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

SMILE!





YIKeS, HERE COME THE BRACES! We went to the orthodontist with Brad yesterday- he has quite the overbite as is pretty evident in this scary picture ! they are putting appliences top and bottom to help reposition his jaw as he grows, then braces on the front teeth may follow if still needed. Elise is 4 years into her treatment ( only a few months away from just using a night retainer, and will not need anything else...her teeth look beautiful! ) but Nikki 's are a mess- she is undershot and has all kinds of weird stuff going in there. Our ortho guy won't touch her- he is referring her to a specialist next year, which means more $$$ I'm sure. we are 3 for 3 ....kids did not inherit my straight teeth, only my allergies, darn it!

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Panda ninny-muggins-

here is Panda Ninny-muggins! He is usually an outdoor kinda bun, but with temperatures dipping down below zero here this week, he moved indoors to his "condo" today. He's liking the warm, but a little bummed his condo doesn't have the hopping around room that his outdoor mansion has- We brought Panda home one year ago this month ( after the very sad loss of our bunny "cupcake"), and he has been a great addition to the family!

Monday, January 12, 2009

only 45 more days......


Until the spring training baseball games start!
I'm ready for spring earlier than usual this year, not sure why!

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Alaska wildflowers.......

















































Today is feeling VERY winter-ish....... I needed a little summer flashback so pulled up all my summer wildflower pictures from our Alaska trip. Just a few more weeks and we will be over the mid-winter point!