Christmas 2014

 BEST.....CHRISTMAS.....EVER!

 We enjoyed a lot of fun family time this Christmas....starting with Kraynaks in Hermitage, PA.  Then to Daffins Candies, and finishing our evening with a meal at the Original Quaker Steak and Lube.

 Our Christmas tree was fat, fat, fat this year....and had a little problem standing up straight!

 Ravioli making day was a hit....Ann-Marie became a pro at rolling the dough....too bad she can't eat it!

 Some of the goodies we made...yum!

 We always take a day to go into Pittsburgh at Christmas time....we started at the National History Museum in Pittsburgh to see the trees and the creche.

 Then we went to the Cathedral of Learning on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh to visit their decorated rooms....

 And a stop at Market Square for lunch/dinner and browsing the market shops.

 A Christmas hair-straightening for Ann-Marie and then.....

 It was Christmas!!!!!!

 And Christmas Dinner at Mark and JoAnne's house with Pap as Santa.....

 To top it off.....our annual stop at the light display in Zelienople, PA.

 Also, introducing "Broccoli".....our Christmas present to replace "Blueberry"

 Not to be outdone....Darrell took Paula into Pittsburgh on a date night and enjoyed the lights at Phipps Conservatory and ate at a wonderful Asian restaurant.

 New Year's Eve at a friend's house with our closest friends.....unfortunately, Darrell and Ann-Marie were under the weather, so only the boys and I were able to watch the ball drop!

We pray your Christmas was filled with wonderful memories and wish you all a very Happy New Year!!!!

Alec's 9th Birthday party

 Last child in the single digits....next year will be the BIG 10!  On his actual birthday, he enjoyed cinnamon rolls for breakfast, rotisserie chicken for lunch (from Costco - his favorite!), and pizza for dinner.  And his gifts were all about Legos!

 We held his birthday party the Saturday after Thanksgiving......it was a Batman-themed party with eight 7-10 year old boys.....lots of action!

 We opened up our double garage for the activities.....unfreeze Batman with squirt guns - we used hot water as it was COLD in the garage!

 Four square is a huge hit with this age group!!!!

 Pin the Batarang on Joker....thank you again to Jessica for the wonderful drawing!!! 

Great party, wonderful friends, activities to keep the boys busy, and plentiful food!!!!

Fall Fun 2014

 I know....it has been a long time since we posted, but here are my catch-up posts from 2014.....and what has been keeping me from the computer....

A certain someone turned 49 (which means 2015 is the big 5-0!)

 Soccer, soccer, and more soccer.....

 Lots of fun friends....

 and an unimpressed preteen....

 Family hikes (well, one anyway)...

 finished a girl's room redo....

 celebrated Halloween with some interesting costumes.....

 snuck in some more family time......

 our resident Veteran was able to wear his uniform and serve at a Veteran's Day Dinner at our church....

 getting some one-on-one with the youngest.....

 an unusually warm fall - but not complaining....

 Ann-Marie's First 1st place all around ever in a gymnastics meet....thus her first trophy....

 starting the boys' room redo.....

 then another first place win for Ann-Marie.....

 and basketball has started....

So there are several reasons to have a quiet blog.....a busy season of life here!