Spring /summer 2013 (updates)

Hard to believe its July already, right?

I have NO excuse for not updating this blog, other than just plain busy...

But here's what we've been up to these few months.

Clear back in February was Meredith's birthday.... She turned 11.

She was finishing up 5th grade.... Had so much clogging ahead of her (including a convention in Tennessee)

It was so exciting.

Becky, our fearless clogging leader, (hugging Meredith) always has a birthday song ready to celebrate whoever's birthday is that week.

This was at our clogging studio.

This team is such a huge part of WHO we are as a family.

So proud to be part of it.

Olivia and Jessie.... With Meredith's blonde ponytail peaking out of the back.

Our dance team's float in the Orange Blossom Parade.

In March, Meredith joined the team in traveling to Tennessee.

Our neighbor, Alison, took care of my baby for me, just it was really hard to put her on a plane, without me.

It looked like they had fun.

The Tennessee team... Before they performed.

Holly (saluting), Skylar, Meredith, Bri, Stephanie, Sammy (kneeling), Becky, Jessie, Lora, and our cutest little one - olivia3

Meanwhile, Olivia joined a softball team in Davie.

She hadn't played before but you couldn't tell... She kept up with the team.

Playing first base.

Taylor played with her.... Jackie (love shirt) came out for a few games.

Cool pic of Taylor pitching and Olivia playing 1st base.

Same month... Wade played baseball (for Cooper city)

Did you catch that it's 2 kids on 2 different teams in 2 different cities?!?!?!

Oy Vey!

This was actually one of the last games.

Everyone loves cookie-cake, right?

It was a hit

The Cooper city Founder's day parade was a lot of fun.

Wade's team was in it.... Loaded water guns.

Hot day.... Soaked to the bone before the parade even started. Lol

St. David church spring carnival (March)

Paige is still too small for her own swing..... It's what older sisters are for.

Wade, on the swings.

Carnival costs us $50 per kid... That $200 a carnival... 2 carnivals a year.

Not including food.... My church $$$ donation each year.

Olivia took Paige on this umbrella ride.

8 years between them, yet they enjoy each other SO much.

This shot is actually from Olivia's phone... Taken while on the Fireball ride.

I loved this pic, but shouldn't I be upset she had her phone out while ON the ride?

A self-photo of Olivia and Meredith on the Fireball ride!

One last shot by Olivia's phone.

Pretty cool, huh?

Olivia turned 13 in April. Her 'party' was dinner and a movie ALONE with me and Bryan.

Good thing she has a great sense of humor.

Had dinner out.... Cuban food. Yum.

My (painful) personal project (say that 5 times fast)

Those plants have razor sharp edges.

My arms looked like I attempted suicide with a razor.

April is also Paige's birthday... she turned 5 (sniff, sniff)

Naturally, I had to work that day but I sent in cake, siblings and grandparents to make it special.

 A little bit out of order.... the group of us celebrating that evening.

Olivia was in Ohio with the clogging group.

 Paige and her best-buddy, Makayla.

Together since birth (almost)

 Notice the names?

I glued balloon letter stickers ($0.15 each) to Popsicle sticks

She was so happy... little cake.

After that big one above, who felt like eating more?

Bryan, in April, went on an all-guy-3-day-deep-sea-fishing weekend

Just a portion of what they caught.

Good thing this doesn't have smell-o-vision.... He stunk.

My non-fish-eating Jessie and Olivia duo.

I gave them each $20 to eat dinner.... Fresh grouper from Bryan's trip.

Olivia gave it a sarcastic thumbs up.... But they finished it.

My clan on Easter Sunday

Olivia and Grandma.... Good showing of Olivia's height.

Later that day, we crashed Bryan's brother's house for Easter dinner.

Bryan's WHOLE family was there.

Meredith, Megan, Olivia and Wade

(can you please take note of those AMAZING blue plates.

They are my pseudo-sis-in-law, Siobhan's)

Just wonderful color on a table.

 

The entire family.... Davis

 My four with their GREAT-grandmother, Olga

We are blessed, blessed, blessed to have her around.

She has a fantastic memory and will tell stories about life in 1935 all night.

Love her.

In May, it was Olivia's turn to travel with the cloggers?

This time... Cincinnati, OH... World of clogging

(Olivia and Jessie on the plane)

I love this pic.... Worn out, well broken in, clogging shoes.

The cloggers... Goofing off on the airport tram.

The Ohio group.... Ready to perform 

Me, Paige, and Wade.... Mothers day. Wade has the no-teeth smile down.

Paige finished pre-school in May, too.

She was one of three classmates that started school there as infants. 

I was a basket-case. So emotional. I cried the whole evening 

Between tears, I managed to pull off a photo. 

I have no idea why these videos come up double... or if they even work.

but I'll keep posting them.

Sorry if they are terrible.

Grandma and grandma... It was nice to have the whole family there.

(all of Bryan's family showed up... it was nice)

Bryan's mom, Bev, came over from Ft. Myers to see her graduate.

Early June, Meredith performed in the 5th grade talent show.

Of course, she clogged.

Becky came to cheer on her little clogger.

The next week was Meredith's turn to graduate.

Meredith's teacher, Ms Eddie.

Meredith really enjoyed her class.

Outside the cafeteria.... Onward to middle school.

Candy themed party... A gum-ball photo of Meredith.

Finding herself on the gum-ball pics

Each teacher's class. The posters flanked the stage. 

Meredith's memory candy...

With Daddy... At home. 

Lani came to the ceremony (and talent show)

She is a great friend... And neighbor ( lol... Private joke)

A candy sweet memory... Personalized bar.

Finally, we had the ONE DIRECTION concert to attend.

Now that was exciting!!

Waiting for the concert to start... Olivia, Jessie, & Meredith.

You may remember that these tickets were a Christmas gift.

Along with the shirts.... Which they all were wearing to the concert.

Those tickets were 100% worth the $$$ spent.

You don't even want to know

Between the tickets, dinner and concert souvenirs... about $1400!!!!

 

We were close enough that the band could see us.

You KNOW when someone looks right at you. And both girls had a moment of eye-contact with their favorite guy)

Perfect seats.

lots of photos.... And video.

My camera died with 1/2 hour left of the show.... Had to use the phone.

So, that's the last few months in a not-so-small nut-shell.

We had plans to move to New England.... But those were abruptly cancelled.

I had a moment of panic (or clarity) whichever you prefer to say, and couldn't leave Florida.

Not yet, at least.

Too traumatic to go into right now.... Another day.

Until next time.... Thanks for sharing.

Posted with Blogsy