Nick's Black Belt Photo Session

Today Nick went and had his black belt pictures taken. Here are the pictures the photographer took. She did a great job! The "thinker" was his candid reaction when she asked him to think of which karate moves he could do for the camera! I can't believe she caught his look!

Of course I can't seem to get them to work as as slide show here! Ugh this blog makes me a crazy. Here are a few of the best...

Christmas in New York City

We are staying home for Christmas but wanted to do something memorable for the kids this holiday season.  We took a whirlwind trip to the big apple to see the Rockefeller Christmas Tree and Santa at Macy's!  What a great trip and we saw so many things and were there less than 24 hours!!  We wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and hope you are making special memories of your own. All of us are so thankful for all of our blessings.

Black Belt Extravaganza

Here are a few pictures from Black Belt Extravaganza.  Nick is so happy to finally have his black belt in hand.  We are so proud of you Nick!

Sensei Nick

Woo hoo!  He did it.  Nick graduated from black belt testing last night with Honors.  Not only did he do great on showing the senseis that he knows his stuff but he also volunteered for extra credit every chance he got!  One of the instructors recognized this and recommended he receive the "with honors" designation.  We are so proud of him. Congratulations Nick!

Halloween 2012

Halloween was a few days late this year thanks to Hurricane Sandy!  Thankfully we weathered the storm without any issues but so many people along the coast of NJ & NY were not so fortunate.  The NJ governor officially made today the observance of Halloween and trick or treating statewide.  So it's November 5th and the kids are out trick or treating.  Here are some pics of the kids before they left.  Kelsey's night was cut short as she is supposed to be resting after a head injury a week and a half ago.  She still has a headache and is still out of school.  Our friends Jodi, Charlie & Emma and Eric & Victoria joined us for pizza dinner and then pictures.  Charlie stayed with me since it was only 40 degrees here.

Rob's Bar

The basement remodel is almost finished.  We just need to move the dresser out of the bar (but it's still full of craft stuff) and we'll be ready for a grand opening!  Rob did an amazing job building and staining the bar and I did all the painting.  Everyone had a hand in picking out the decorations.

Baseball

After Punkin Chunkin Nick had another baseball game.  Kelsey was trying to capture the perfect moment on film and she caught several cute pictures of Nick and our friends Maddie & Bryan.  Nick is improving so much this year with his baseball skills.  It is sad his last game is Friday.

Punkin Chunkin

We went punkin chunkin with a few friends this year.  What fun it is to see the pumpkins fly out or the cannon into the farm field.  And hanging with friends is always a blast!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Rob!  Kelsey had a last minute idea to have dinner at the new bar for Rob's birthday.  So we ordered up some pizza & wings, ran to the grocery store for a cookie cake and got Rob the Madagascar 3 DVD...that's where the rainbow afro comes in.  Nick picked out the balloon. If you haven't seen the movie, there is a song called Afro Circus in it that is Rob's favorite!

Also, the bar isn't quite finished yet but we are making progress. Hopefully by the end of the week and then I'll post pics.


Also, the bar isn't quite finished yet but we are making progress. Hopefully by the end of the week and then I'll post pics.

Happy 13th Birthday Kelsey!
Last night we had a small gathering (16 kids) for a game & pizza night.  Everyone seemed to have a great time and what a smiley happy birthday girl we had!

Happy Birthday Kelsey

Happy 13th Birthday Kelsey!
What a difference thirteen years has made.  Here are some then and now pictures.  I thought they were cute!
Hope your birthday is everything you want it to be.  Dad & I are so proud of the young woman you are becoming!

August 26, 1999

August 31, 2012

August 31, 2012

Have a great day Kelsey, we love you!

Watch Out World

It is a  big day for Kelsey.  The braces came off after 2 years and 13 days, not that she was keeping track!  What an even more beautiful young woman.  Sunday she turns 13 and all I can say is Rob is not ready for a teenager!
Here are the before and afters from 2 years ago and then from today.  WOW!!!

Back to School

Well, there are back to school again!  The summer was fun but everybody was ready for school to start.  Nick is in 6th grade and heading off to the Middle School.  He has practiced his schedule and his locker lock and says he is ready...I know he will be fine it just might take a day or two to figure out where he is going.  Kelsey is in 8th grade this year.  She is excited about all the fun things that await her as part of the oldest class of students.  I am sure it will be a great year for both of them...and who am i kidding?  I love the one year at each building when the kids are on the same schedule for bus and activities!

More July pictures coming soon...

July was a busy month with our trip to the Midwest.  I take way too many pics so it takes forever to get through them and post.  I will work on them soon and post when they are ready to share.  We had a ton of fun with our Iowa & Illinois family!  Thanks to everyone for making it a great time!

Nik Wallenda in Atlantic City

Rob took a vacation day to go to the shore and have a beach & boardwalk day.  The weather was iffy so we opted for a last minute change of plans.  Nik Wallenda (having recently walked a tight rope across Niagara Falls) is in a show at the Tropicana Casino in Atlantic City.  We were able to get back stage passes & front row seats.  It was really exciting to meet Nik and then get to see the show with such an up close view.  It's amazing what people are capable of doing!  There were magicians, a juggler who could juggle 5 soccer balls (with the use of his head) and even juggled 3 ping pong balls with his mouth while he juggled 3 soccer balls!  There was an acrobat who hung by ribbons from the ceiling and did her routine high above the stage and another who was able to contort in ways I couldn't have even imagined!  Oh and then there was Nik Wallenda who did an act with is wife on the sway poles that looked like they touched the theater ceiling and then a high wire act with his wife, mother & cousin.  The kids were all smiles and we all really enjoyed the show.  We topped off the day with dinner at PF Changs on the way home.  So much better than a wet day at the beach!

More grown up bathroom...bye, bye froggies!

 Time to let yet another thing go... Kelsey decided the youthful frogs were too youthful in the kids' bathroom (and I'd have to agree but I was still sad to see the frogs go).  She got Nick to agree to a zebra theme so we were busy giving the bathroom an update.  It was nice to have help!  Kelsey helped me strip the wall paper trim & repaint.  Nick helped Rob remove the mirror & install the new light.  Truly a family project.  Everyone is happy with the way it turned out.  We are just waiting for the arrival of the zebra poster and then once it's hung, the bathroom will be finished!  Check out the before and after.

Big Time Rush Concert

Last night we went to the Big Time Rush concert with friends.  The kids all had a blast.  We had lawn seats but were able to get a spot right up at the rail and the view was better than some of the seats!  The weather was supposed to be stormy but thankfully the storms came early and not a drop of rain fell during the concert.  And the picture of Koda in the car?  He ran out of the house as we were leaving and really thought we'd take him with if he jumped into the car.  He wouldn't get out!!

We are really enjoying the relaxed pace of summer vacation! 

Today after we cleaned the hamster cage I decided to see how well the four of them could pose for a few group pictures.  I think we got some great ones.  The only one I photo shopped was the closeup of just Furball and Koda.  Kelsey was holding Furball and her arm was visible.  A little bit of tweaking and it turned out pretty cute!  Koda was on his best behavior, even with a hamster on his head!

Last Day of School

We made it!!!  Let the summer begin!  Here are a few new photos of the kids.  I can't believe we have two in Middle School!!!  We are so proud of Kelsey & Nick for all of their hard work this year.  Excellent report cards came home again.

 

Niagara Falls

I am so far behind in posting.  The spring has managed to get away from me and now it is only a few short weeks until Summer vacation begins.   Maybe I'll get caught up soon.

We just returned from a 5 day trip to Niagara Falls over Memorial Day Weekend.  It was a very relaxing and enjoyable trip.  All four of us needed it!  I am going to post a slide show with details of our trip for each day.  It seems like we saw so many things it is the best way to keep it organized.  Niagara Falls is an absolutely breath taking sight.
We arrived in Niagara Falls on Saturday afternoon.  The weather reports were saying there was a good chance of rain for the entire time we were in town.  We decided to do the surprise first thing so we didn't lose the opportunity.  Rob & I took the kids on our first helicopter ride (ok, it wasn't Rob's first time since he had done it in the Army).  Kelsey & Nick were so excited.  Kelsey even got to sit up front with the pilot.  It was an incredible way to start the week.  And, it never really rained so we could have done it at any time during the trip!  After the helicopter ride we also took a ride on the Spanish Aero Car over the whirlpool waters north of the falls.  Then it was on to checking into the hotel.  Since Rob travels so much we were upgraded to a suite overlooking the falls with a balcony.  The kids were in heaven!  Then it was off to dinner at Kelsey's Bar & Grill (how cool to find a restaurant in your name) where we had yummy pretzel garlic bread and Kelsey even took home some souvenirs with her name on them!  Rob also got some of his favorite beer, Rickart's.  We wandered the tourist area called Clifton Hill then it was back to the hotel to see the falls all lit up.  What a fabulous first day!



Day 2 began with a stroll through Queen Victoria Park and on to the Skylon Tower for brunch.  The food was good and the view was spectacular.  After breakfast we were able to go out on the observation deck and take a peak from high up.  Next it was on to the Maid of the Mist boat ride to the falls.  We had over prepared for the wetness and came away feeling a little disappointed we didn't even really need our ponchos.  It was incredible to be able to get that close to the falls.  It was such an awesome perspective after seeing it from the helicopter the day before.  Next up the White Water Walk.  We took an elevator down near the river and out to the walk along the Class 6 Rapids.  Really cool to see the water that rough.  Then came a long bus ride past the Butterfly Conservatory, Power Plant & Floral Clock (there was not enough time in the day to see everything).  Since dinner was so yummy the night before and we had more coupons we returned to Kelsey's for dinner.  This time they were out of pretzel garlic bread but dinner was still good and we got a few more Kelsey's bar glasses. Now we have a set of four.  Nick & Rob went Dino mini golfing and Kelsey & I went shopping!  Then back to the hotel to watch the fireworks from our private balcony!  The second day was great too!



Day 3 began with a long walk across the Rainbow Bridge back to the U.S.  First stop, the aquarium to see feeding time for the penguins. Then a trolley ride to the Maid of the Mist (American departure).  Rob wanted to see it again. This time the boat captain decided to park the boat in the mist and boy did we get wet!  It made up for the dryness we maintained the day before.  Rob & Nick were completely drenched!  Then a walk along the American Falls for more wetness (if that was even possible)!  Next stop an up close look at the bridal veil falls and then it was off to Cave of the Winds.  Here we got ponchos and water sandals.  We got a little wet and then went up to the Hurricane Deck (tons of water and wind) and got another soaking.  The American side tour ended with a closeup look at the Horseshoe Falls and then a trolley ride around the park.  A long walk back to Canada and then it was off to the souvenir store, beer store and soda store.  We moved from the Crowne Plaza to the Marriott at the other end of the strip to get a different perspective of the falls.  At first I was disappointed because we had booked a falls view suite and it appeared we got two rooms with a view of the Niagara River but the rooms did have an adjoining doorway and the view from the kids room was like a postcard of the falls.  Definitely a great way to enjoy room service (the kids first time ordering room service) and watching the fireworks!



Our last full day in Canada was spent at a little more relaxing pace.  We traveled down the Incline Railway right outside out hotel down to experience Journey Behind the Falls ( a close up look at the Horseshoe Falls from tunnels in the rock) where we got wet again! Then a viewing of the 4D movie Niagara's Fury and then a late lunch and back to the hotel for a dip in the pool.  More room service for dinner since no one had any energy left to go out.  Then it was an early night so we could head back home the next day.



Whew what a fun trip!  Hope you enjoyed the pictures!

Payton and Uncle Rob

Payton loves Uncle Rob. Here's a little clip of Payton and Uncle Rob from yesterday. Payton puts and end to their exchange when she changes her focus to Riley.

Happy First Birthday Charlie Hope!

Today we celebrated the first birthday of a miracle baby. A year ago today our friends Jodi & Mark gave birth to a baby girl at 26 weeks gestation. Charlie Hope weighed in at 1 pound 1 ounce. Today she is a happy healthy one year old and weighs in at 15 pounds. We went to Benihana for a special dinner then back to their house for cake. Here are some photos of our celebration.

Meet Furball

I must have lost my mind!

Kelsey and Nick have been begging for a hamster since before Christmas. They have saved up their own money. They even put together a power point presentation over Christmas break in support of a hamster as a good pet. How could we say no. So today they brought Furball home. She is kind of cute in a rodent sort of way!

Our First Snow Day This Winter

Today we got about 2 inches of snow. Although it was not our first snowfall this season (we got a dusting on October 3oth), it was the first time the kids could get out and play in it. Koda joined in on all the fun too. It's amazing how much entertainment kids get out of the smallest amount of snow. I am still hoping for one (and only one) huge snowfall this year so the kids can go have more fun on a big hill.

Koda's Scary Friday

Just a little update about our day. This morning while Kelsey was getting ready for school and I was making her lunch, we were both in the kitchen and witness to Koda having a seizure. He has never had any major health problems so we have no idea why this happened. Kelsey was a huge help. She stayed calm and we were right there with him through the entire 5 minute episode. We are waiting for results of lab work from the vet and we'll see if they can come up with any answers for us. He is acting fine and the vet says he looks like the picture of health on the outside. She also said this may or may not ever happen again. We have all talked about the do's and don'ts of what to do if he has another one. Koda is only six and a half. Here's a picture Kelsey took of her best friend last week.