phone fun

Who ya talkin' to? Sponge Bob?

4th

The clouds and drizzle didn't keep us from having fun this 4th of July.... Tom cooked the burgers.......
while the kids and some of the "big Kids" played in the yard......
While others were content with a sippy cup and a Thomas train!

Then it was off to the fireworks...... The kids enjoyed judging the fireworks and predicting which ones were bigger.......

A couple of the little kids were scared but I think everyone had a good time. Hope your 4th was great.

first time camper

So Sunday evening we drove up to Franklin, PA to drop off Jordan at camp. It's his very first time all by himself......No I didn't cry! Here we are making the trek up the hill to his cabin. Whew! We made it. Brad was waiting at the door to greet us. There were 2 counselors in each cabin ( with 8 boys they have to have a backup. You know in case one is tortured too badly)
Hmmmm which bunk to pick? Top or bottom? I'm not scared, I'm going for broke and taking the top bunk.
See, told you I could do it. Rolled out my bed (I wish it was that easy at home) I'm ready, bring on the fun!

We picked him up on Tuesday morning. He was busting at the gut waiting to tell us all the great stuff he did. We thought that he would have on the same underwear we dropped him off in but we got lucky this time, he showered! Although he had no socks because it rained and he wore all his. It was a super fun couple of days and he's ready to go back next year!

age is just a number right?

So the day Tom and I got married we said that we were going to grow old together.......and I guess that is exactly what is happening. It's kind of fun experiencing all of life's little changes with your best friend. What in the world am I talking about? Here is me after I went and picked up my new glasses today.......Bifocals!!!!!! Yes you read that right. I am experiencing one of those fun little life changes! Although Tom says that they make me look younger ( I think that's just so he has some dinner tonight! HA)

vacation

Tom's on vacation all this week and next week so we have been doing some fun "stuff" with the kids. We went to the wave pool one day. Yesterday we drove up to Somerset so that Jordan could get some new sports cards(he's obsessed!) Then on the way home we went to Caddy Shak. Here's Cody beating out the competition on the bumper cars.........Jordan swinging hard in the batting cages........
Tom trying the fast pitch baseball (he actually only hit one!) But doesn't he look cute in the helmet?


Next up......the driving range. Jordan and Cody decided to play a little baseball with their golf....but they both had some good hits.
Then it was on to the bumper boats......The kids had a great time. We stopped at the general store on the way home for some penny candy for the drive home!

vacation Bible School

Jordan and Cody spent the last 2 weeks at vacation bible school. It is a lot of fun. They had it from 9am till 12 everyday. They learn the songs and get to play with other kids. This keeps them from killing each other!
This will be Cody's last year at bible school. Here's an end of school picture that I took in our yard......

baseball

Yesterday we got Jordan's baseball pictures......

Camp Cadet

Cody applied for Camp Cadet last year and didn't get in. He tried again this year. He went for an interview a couple of weeks ago and was "drilled" by a state trooper who demanded he call him "sir" ect. I think Cody was scared out of his wits. But he must have made an impression on him because HE GOT IN. They only take 12-14 year olds. It is like a mini police academy. He will go to camp the end of July for a week. They do physical training and work on self dicipline but they also do some really cool things like a mock crime scene and trial. They bike ride to PNC Park, there is a ropes course and all kinds of neat things. It's hard to get in they only take 40 kids. We are very excited. Cody has always talked about going into the Air Force, this is a great opportunity for him. I think he's a little scared but is excited also. Here is the video for the camp if you are intrested!

http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=13298029

Pirates

Went to another Pirate game yesterday. It was kids opening day. The had players standing at each entrance to the ballpark. No autographs but you could take pictures...... Pitchers Zach Duke and Tom Gorzellany
Jordan and Jason Bay
One of Tom's favorite players Michaels (not sure of the first name)
Some of Jordan's favorties...Nate McClouth, Jose Bauitista, and 2 pitchers
Those players from the back. Cody was having a "bad" day and decided he didn't want in any of the pictures. I didn't leave him out. It was very hot but the great planner of a husband I have picked our seats for the 8 games purposly in the outfield, under the roof, second section, where we can see the jumbo tron perfectly! When it isn't a weekend we are the only ones in that section! LOL on weekends it a little more full! We beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-4. Go BUCS!

baseball

Jordan is having a great time playing baseball. Here he is waiting for the perfect pitch......... Here it comes! He's gotten a couple of doubles this year. He has one of the best swings on the team.
Here he's playing shortstop. He plays second base most of the time. Made some awesome plays from there. Ran some kids down and tagged them out.
Go Drew's (that's his team) looks like we'll be in the playoffs. I'll keep you posted!

SUMMER IS HERE

POOL'S OPEN!!!!!! We went to the pool today. Bring on summer!
Jordan went for a pencil dive.........While Cody opted for the ever popular cannonball! Those of you who haven't seen Forest Hills Pool in a while realize that not much has changed! Except maybe the prices at the snack bar!

birthday

Yesterday was DJ's first birthday party! (Our nephew) He loves to give hugs and kisses. The party was at a real nice park in Scottdale. The weather was good and we got to watch Alexis play a killer game of softball! GO LEX Starting him early on his Thomas collection!
More presents and more Thomas! Getting these things out of the package was hard. I think it's easier to break into Fort Knox than it is to get these toys from their packaging these days.
Jordan was very excited to finally have someone look up at him like " woo, look at that big kid".

Jordan just loves his Uncle LennyOkay, so my 2 brothers and I just love the movie My cousin Vinny. Everytime we get together we start reciting all of the lines and laughing hysterically. Drives our spouses crazy! So my brother Dayne was at the store and saw it and just had to get each of us a copy! Now we can watch it at the same time and call each other on the phone and recite lines! If you haven't seen it I'll lend you my copy.....but you have to promise to give it back!

Anniversary

So Friday was the big 21st anniversary. My favorite color is yellow, so Tom had the florist make up a bouquet of all yellow flowers! Aren't they pretty? Some ladies like roses but I think this is better because he had to actually put some thought into it! Tom you are an unbelievable man and husband! I don't care who knows it! Here's to another 20 years!

Skate night

Saturday was a skate night for the McKelvey clan. We went back to On a roll. It was Word fm night again. Here's the troops gearing up.......
Jordan in his skates and ready to go.....I guess he thought that his wrist was going to sweat alot.... Extreme close up.........
And here is the best part of the night for the kids......The Arcade. How many of you out there remember playing video games on toe stops?

Oh well, fun was had by all.......

School

So friday we finished up our 180 school days! YEA Here is Cody with his "periodic Pillowcase" that was part science and part Art! Pretty neat huh? Our Evaluator came today. She sat down with each of the kids and asked them all about their school year. She took notes on everything that we did, looked over the 2, 3 inch thick binders that I have for each of them with their "samples" of school work in, Looked at all our art work, and asked about their extensive reading lists and declared that "Mom, gets an A for all your work this year"! I am so glad that is over. She'll write up a report for the school district, telling them if she thinks they got an "appropriate education", then we send everything in to the school. Take a deep breath and prepare for next year! Happy Summer!

Mother's Day

So Hope that everyone had a nice mother's day. Ours was pretty uneventful.......The family did dinner on the grill for me (no cooking and no clean up! What more could you ask for?) Then both kids made up a cake for me, But only one decorated it. Can you guess which one! (I secretly told everyone not to say anything about it being spelled wrong) it was the most adorable thing.....and really tasty too!
He's so proud of himself!

baseball

So baseball has started for Jordan again. He loves to play baseball. He played second base for awhile now he's at shortstop. Here he is ready to make the play. I think maybe he just loves getting dirty! He's got his batting gloves and bat, Look out Barry Bonds, Here comes Jordan!