Labor Day

It seems like everytime Tom has a day off we spend money. This Labor Day was no exception. Made the drive to Pool City to check out the pools and ended up buying a hot tub!Actually Tom has wanted one for a long time. Soothe those aching mailman muscles. Then it was off to Kings for lunch......Then over to Lowes to buy a log splitter......This would be the reason we need a log splitter......
Boys and their Toys! I guess like the squirrel we need to get ready for winter.....Yikes

picnic

We went to Tom's Union picnic a couple of weeks ago. Tom enjoys the food.........

While the kids ran a race......And went to all the different things to do.......

they finished out the day with a water balloon battle. While Dad reverted back to his childhood by playing with Jordan's yo yo!

camp pick up

When Tom dropped Jordan off at camp he was kind of a sour puss. But we figured once he was there and got to meet all the kids and see what fun he would have he would have a change of heart.... This is the front of the cabin where he stayed

The mess he made in his room

And finally seeing Dad after a week of fun

The next place he wanted us to see was the cross on the hill. It's pretty neat. You can see it from the highway driving in. They went up there for a service.

This is a what you see when you look to your left from there. They say on a clear day you can see the Steel building downtown. They got to watch fireworks from here on the 4th of July.

SO after he was here a week when we picked him up all he said was "a new camp starts tomorrow, can I come back then"?

Day 2

So Day 2 of our "No kids for a week vacation" saw us furniture shopping for a new sofa and chair for the livingroom......Then it was off to eat at a Pittsburgh eatery that we have never been to before, Primanti Bros........Home of the famous sandwiches with fries and cole slaw on them.... Delish.........

camp

Jordan getting settled at camp.....

50th

Last evening we attended the 50th wedding anniversary of my Aunt Lorraine and Uncle Tom. They renewed their vows and had a nice reception.
WHat else to do before dinner but take pictures...We kept trying to get Cody to dance. Aunt Lorraine has always had a way of getting you on the dance floor and sure enough at the end of the night she finally got Cody up to dance!

campout

Last night we had a family campout. Part of Tom's vacation. Had a campfire and roasted hot dogs. Even got to use the new tent that we bought last fall. Although it was really cold, it was still fun.

fun

Spent yesterday at Good Ole Kennywood! No we didn't take the dog, Cody won him playing a football game...... The kids were into riding the "wet" rides. Jordan got Tom on the log jammer

Then after Cody came back after riding with some friends they went on again

Tom and Cody on the Bayerns Curve. Should have gotten an after picture as Cody was a bit "woozie" afterwards!

Cody rode the new roller coaster, the Sky Rocket. It went straight up in the beginning and was fun but it actually was pretty slow and not really impressive. As for me, I rode....the bench!

Day 1

Tom's official vacation started today, can you tell........

He said "if I lay in the hammock I might fall asleep" well, isn't that the point? It's vacation!

PENS WIN

Jordan's dek hockey team played the championship game today and WON 3-1! Jordan plays a heck of a defense. Every power play they put him in to help protect our goal.....

Jordan is #7 in the blue.This is what it looked like at the end of the game when they bum rushed the goalie.....Tom even rode over (taking up his lunch break) to see the big finish........

Way to go Pens....great season.....

Easter 2010

My 3 handsome boys....... We went to church thursday night. The choir sang their cantata, DURING which a member of our church who is a very talented artist (with the help of 2 others) painted this right in front of us on the stage.......It was very cool!

After sunday service the kids got their baskets. I try to not make it all candy. This year I found some of those balsam wood planes with the rubber band propellors......

They had fun putting them together.........

Then it was time for flight....

Hope everyone had a Blessed Easter!!!!!

bring in the band

In the fall Jordan decided that he wanted to play an instrument. Considering we already had a trombone gathering dust in the basement from Cody's band days, it seemed like a logical choice... After snow cancelled the first scheduled concert 2 weeks ago they were finally able to get in their very first concert.
There were renditions of "hot cross buns" and twinkle twinkle little star" but they did great. They were so excited to get up there and perform for everyone. Some of you remember the days of white shirts and black pants! I was honestly impressed considering the short amount of time that they have been playing together! It was a fun afternoon!

double digits

So we officially have 0 children in single digits anymore. On tuesday Jordan turned 10! He had his choice of going anywhere for dinner and he picked Bob Evans.....
as you can see he also got a playstation portable hand held gaming system for his birthday which he just had to play at the table....after a quick trip to Toys R Us it was time to head home for cake........He said that I spread the candles around the cake too much but he still managed to blow them all out! Happy Birthday! Little man!

demolition

After working really hard yesterday trying to knock the ice from the gutters, this morning we heard a very loud crash. I thought Jordan had fallen out of his bed again. (he has done that in the past, out of his loft bed!) But after further investigation turns out the snow and ice has gotten the better of our front dormer........ the entire gutter system came down
There is a gaping hole. No leaks into the house yet! Is it time to call homeowners? Please spring hurry on your way!

skate night

Friday night was another skate night. First time back since the big snow.
After working up an appetite skating it was time to head out for ice cream or or coffee and donuts.

No cavities

It's that time again. Does he look a little worried? He should I know for a fact that he doesn't brush his teeth for a week at a time....AnywayAfter the big after school rush, they both got cleaned and x rayed.

I really hate when I spend a bunch of time at home telling them that if they don't brush they're going to have a bunch of cavities and then they go and both have none! I am however also thankful for that very thing. See ya in 6 months!

double vision

The day came that I was hoping would not have to come for Jordan, he got his first pair of glasses. At his annual physical appointment they asked him to read the eye chart and he got it all wrong. I thought he was just fooling around, being Jordan. But turns out he was trying his best. Then the school nurse sent home a paper saying we needed to have his eyes checked. So last week he went for his exam and today we picked them up.

He kept saying that he wasn't going to wear them but once he saw how clear everything was he changed his mind! I think he looks extra cute!

Cody also got a new pair since he got his in July and by September they were broken. He looks handsome as well don't you think? Today was a milestone in another way for Cody. He bought his first Valentine's card for a girl! The little red headed girl at school! Just kidding. Don't know what color her hair is. Her name is Stephanie. Not sure I am ready for this!

girly

We are continuing to get bombarded with snow. Just when you think it's over you look out the window and the roads are covered again! Last night was one of those nights. So what's a girl to do? Sew! While doing laundry in the basement a soft warm piece of flannel was by the sewing machine calling my name. It had been calling me for some time and I had been putting other priorities ahead of it. I know that really hurts their feelings doesn't it? So with the snow coming down and feeling the chill I took the plunge and made myself the softest warmest little girl jammies in the world! And oh what a night of sleep I had! Every woman deserves to have a pair of little girl, pink with blue butterflies, jammies, and a pair of pink fuzzy slippers in their wardrobe! Valentine's day is coming up guys! I sew cheap! (Not I'm so cheap!)

morning

This is what it looked like in the morning......... from the front porch and the back......Don't think we'll be cooking on the grill anytime soon......

Poor dog couldn't even go out and pee this morning. Snow was over his head. He kept looking at me and then looking at the wall of snow he had to get over. Tom went to work today to deliver mail. It's that whole rain, hail, dark of night thing! How long till spring anyway?