Ready to travel!

Florida here we come!!

Skiing

Sparring!!! Finally!!

So cute to watch. Her first time sparring. She has a ways to go, but it's so fun to watch!

Snow day!!

The kids were here as Derek did not have a snow day (and it really was another COLD) day! They had fun playing here. And the dogs are exhausted from all the love and ball throwing. Course, they've rarely had walks all month. I refuse to walk them if the temp is single digits. And truly I don't think they've gotten out more than once a week. Poor pups!!

Kat's show today

The rope tow.

She did wipe out on it once, but grabbed right back on.

Skiing!

Finally! We decided to do something about getting Kat out there. She took a 2 hr lesson today. She did great. She never made it to the rope tow in class, but she wasn't leaving till she did it.

Tonite's adventures

 Tonite's adventure: We left the house about noon but didn't appropriately puppy proof. I didn't expect to be gone too long. But we were. I put them in prison. But didn't close kitchen doors nor put all of the crap Kat pulled out and left all over the family room. 

So we come home about 6:30. It's about 15 degrees out. Cold. Dark. I'm backing in and have opened the garage door w/ the remote. As I'm starting to back in, I see done kind of movement between the garage & the car.  Deer?  So I stop. Then I jump out of the car as I realize that the movement is two idiot dogs who had apparently let themselves in the garage (when the door wasn't closed tight?). And then came prancing out when I opened the door!!

And they did get all sorts of crap inside. 

They continue to revel in surprising us w/ the most bizarre circumstances that we could never predict.

Our dogs are arsonists!!

Well. I had frosted the final cookies and left them in the counter to harden. Then we were going to lunch with Joan. After putting the idiots in prison, Dan was very cautious about closing the kitchen doors so they didn't break out and eat the cookies. He even put a table in front of one set of doors. And pulled the carpet up tight to the outward opening doors. I thought he was a little obsessed, but didn't comment.

We came back an hour or so later. They met us at the door. Kitchen doors were wide open. Half the cookies were gone. Trays were pushed way back against the wall. And the gas burner was on high! Clicking away. Holy crap!!! And, just last night, after the xmas party, dan had spread towels all over the stove for dish drying.... Hoy. We dodged a serious bullet today.

That's the most serious prank any of our dogs have pulled yet. I thought they were supposed to alert us to smoke/the detectors, etc. not set them off!!!

Sent from my iPhone

Synchro

A new move for synchronized swimming.

Belt testing

Kat belt tested last week and got her high green stripe belt.

Synchronized swimming 'play day'

The girls' (C,G & K) have been taking synchronized swimming since the beginning of October. They're all doing great and learning the basics of synchro. I don't think there will be any actual synchronized (or asynchronized) swimming till next year. Or later. They do enjoy it and are becoming stronger swimmers by the week.

There was a synchro 'play day' Saturday where our level competed in 7 core skills. They all did great. Kat's 8/under age group had just 7 competitors, so she was destined to get a ribbon as one if the top 8. She did place second, which made her very proud. And she got a candy cane, which she was likely more excited about...

Charlie & Gracie did great too! But they faced more numerous and experienced competition, and thus they didn't place. But now we all know what to expect next time. And they had a lot of fun. Mostly goofing around in the cafeteria.....

Santa!

She asked him for a Barbie house, a rainbow loom (she so wants one) and a monster high Barbie. That one isn't happening!!

Kat's new bracelets

Kat trying out a family member's handcuffs. Hopefully the one/only time she'll ever have them on....

Snow!!!!

Snow the day before thanksgiving!! Awesome. I got my car in the garage just in time! Kat & the dogs are loving it.

Happy thanksgiving!

Pic taken by Kat. John and I walked the 5 mile turkey trot yesterday am. It was fun. Next year we might all do it. If Kat's legs get a whole lot longer...

Snow!!

Well, there's not too much snow, but the very dedicated can make a fair number of snow balls if they work hard....

Snow!

Well, It is barely snowing, but that was enough for Kat to get all bundled up, and head outside! So, well there's not enough snow to actually play in, she decided she could swing in the snow and the wind in all her snow gear! She's having a great time, as are the dogs! I managed to make enough room for my car in the garage, so I'm ready!

Kat's performance

Kat's singing performance

The Macarena

Well, she didn't know this dance at the beginning, but she got much of it by the end.

Party!

The Oral Deaf school celebrated its 10 year anniversary with a party for all of its graduates.

It goes without saying that we had a great time! Some of us danced all night!

Every direction I look is North!!!

This is Chris's email from the South Pole. Not enough to be in Antarctica, but this year the South Pole!! He seems pretty excited about it. 

Hey Gang...

 

I'm writing from the FREAKING SOUTH POLE!!!

 

Got in two days ago...it was minus 49 degrees with a minus 81 deg wind chill!!!

To be fair it only takes a breeze of about 10 or 15 miles an hour to drive that kinda windchill. I really didn't feel it cause I was too stoked on adrenalin. At about 10,000 ft elevation and didn't feel that either... same reason...

 

Yesterday was my first day of work... adrenalin gone, welcome to reality... Damn it's cold and I'm outta breath. Went to wrestle a sled out of a snow bank and within 45 seconds was bent over gasping for breath. Cold isn't so much an issue cause I'm wearing so many layers and so active at my job that I'm staying warm. Just gotta be careful cause this is where people get instant frost bite from exposed skin touching super cooled metals or solvents. (Awe man... I don't wanna have to THINK on the job)

 

Absolutely loving it.

 

Hope you are all well, and I will try to get you all some kinda cool souvenier or send you something from the pole.

 

I have phone and internet in my room, which is a big bonus compared to McMurdo. We don't always have satellite coverage for phone or internet but will try to stay in touch...

 

 

Chris

Trick or treating!!!

We had a lot of fun. It's really great to go out as a pack of crazed munchkins!!

The recording studio

Love the wooden baffles in there! This place was so cool!

Kat's recording debut

Her music school is recording a fundraising cd at Robby Takac's (a Goo Goo Doll) studio. So cool!!

New belt and she joined the champions black belt club

Belt testing

The starting point?

Or is it the ending point?

The massacre

Poor dog

I know it looks like blood. But it's worse. Bright red nail polish! I don't know what role he played in the bottle getting launched from Kat's hand, hitting him in the eye and then rolling across the floor. But I'm guessing he played a part....

And yes, it's all around and likely in his eye. The vet I talked to said this was a new one...

Canoe

First thing they did was paddle the canoe. I let them go on their own. I didn't see them run aground, but I hear they did! Oh well. They had a little trouble docking, but did quite well as far as I could tell.

Back on stage

Cheyenne actually got the honors, but passed to pirate hat to Kat to go on stage! Such a nice cousin.

The swings

Our last visit to fantasy island. We took Cheyenne. And since she had a partner, I let her rude the swings for the first time ever!

First day of school

Only Kat went. The dogs and I took our first walk since the last day of school.....

And she's off to first grade

Gromit & the giant pb jar

Friggin terrier. Talk about obsessive....

Kat on stage

I parked Kat on a bench in front of the pirate show and went to find her friends. I was gone maybe 90 seconds. When I came back, she's on stage.... The lighting is tough. She's the shorter one in the pink/purple striped dress. The kids were slaying the monster/pirate. I think.

A slightly hyper mermaid...

Our mermaid

One of Ariel's sisters.

Kat's show

After a week of theatre camp, the kids did a great rendition of 'Little mermaid, Jr'. I've never seen the senior version, so can only assume its an abridged version. Regardless, it was extremely cute. Dan's phone has the rest, I just have the curtain call on mine. I'll get the rest today.

Kat's swim lesson

The girls on the swing

Me & Kat

Adorable pandas

3 pandas. Or are they monkeys?

Cheyenne, Kat & Shawn at the TO zoo.

Petting the alpaca

Toronto zoo zoo mobile ride

The yak walked right next to us. I could have reached out and touched it. But I didn't.

Kat as Princess Leia. For her show.

Kat's 'prom' dress from her show

Egg toss at the Vikings

These two girls did far more bowling than throwing. BUT their egg was indestructible! At least until Dan & I used it for a while and I wound up wearing it! They took second place and won $5 w/ their rubber egg!! Dan & I did not place!

Jet ski?

Well, hard to say what's been the most fun. This ranked high....

On the beach!!

This was Kat's idea. Note that she's not in peddling position. It looks like more fun than it really is!!

Tubing!!!!

Such fun!!

Silly cousins!!

Horse in assateague.

One of them stole our bread!!

5 siblings

Kayaking on Mel's lake

Do you see a problem here?

Camping in the sand

With the wild ponies. Hopefully..... We are at assateague island national seashore. It's 85 degrees. We are sticky, sandy and sweaty. A perfect family vaca!!! We should be able to handle it for one night...... Maybe!!

It's an adventure. We have to go see of we can find the ponies now.

The fightin' Phils

First stop: AA baseball in Reading, PA. Versus the Flying Squirrels!! After the game it' Maryland. Ocean city for 2 days, then assateague island for the night!

Baseball!

Kat's first audition.....

She looked a little nervous. And didn't to the dance.....

Kat's engineering feat

Today at the Vikings, Kat and another little girl created this waterworks. It had 3 pools and when the top one was full, they knocked down the walls so the water fell down and went thru the river bed they created. It was very impressive work!

This kid is a natural!

Well, We got our new kayaks, including a 6 foot long one for Kat!

And today was our first outing. It was windy, and definitely on the cool side. But the sun was out, and we decided we were going. And we had a great time, she did great! She didn't go to bed of a fit your Dan, and I text her boats in mind to holler in. But, in her defense, it's a lot of work against the wind and it's a lot of muscles you don't use all that often.

Kat's grand slam!

Kat's grand slam!

Grace & Kat

Giant ball and some crazy kids

Baseball parade

Well, despite the rain, Kat had her first tball game. And they tied! Next week I'll get video of the game. There are nearly as many adults as kids out in the field!!

Kids 'n dogs.....

what a busy, busy kid!

Today was Kat's belt test at TKD.  She is now a green belt (well, lowest of 4? levels of green belt).  She is also now the highest belt of the champions class (which is the little kids, mostly).  And I think she has to stay a champion, at least until she turns six this summer.....

Immediately after the belt test, we had to rush to SweetHome middle school for baseball practice.  The kid was tired!  Her TKD class tonite was one of the hardest I've seen for a while- he really worked them!  And then I worked them tonite at baseball practice as well!  I know I'm whipped, and I'm pretty sure she was too.

Tomorrow is her final swim class, and then we have to rush off to her former preschool, Buffalo Hearing & speech, as they're having a dinner and a parent panel and she will get to play in her old classroom with many of her former classmates!  And I will get to talk to parents and offer advice on how to handle the kindergarten transition & issues that we faced.

Friday is an ice cream social at school, but at this point, I think we will skip that and head to bed early instead of a 3rd late and busy night for the munchkin.  And us!

Kat's Tae Kwon Do Tournament today

Today was Kat's tkd tourney.  She did great!  She got a trophy for 3rd place (out of 3rd) in forms.  BUT, she won her division (thus adding a larger trophy) AND then she won the grand championship for flag sparring!  And, instead of a giant 5' tall trophy that we'd be looking at for the next two decades, she won sparring gear!  Soooo much better!!!  I will be attempting to post video of the end of her championship round and her award ceremony.  She cannot wait to have friends & family over so she can show them her trophy!

 One proud little munchkin.

Today's adventure

We have a wind advisory today.  Yesterday was 80.  The temp dropped to high 30s today and the wind kicked up.  I had Sadie here (we sometimes watch our friend's boxer) today along with the eight legs of destruction. 

And while they were outside, or just before I let them out, a section of the fence blew down  But I didn't know it, so the 3 stooges went on a super muddy adventure in the woods!!  When I realized the yard was devoid of ALL dogs, I yelled for Dan and went booking out there.  I've been taking the idiots to the dogpark (such as it is-luckily they have no idea what a REAL dogpark should be) and working on their recall.  So they came splashing thru the muck (which is really foul smelling, I might add).  And they bounded back in the house, mud and all.  Eventually followed by Sadie.  Who amongst them has at least a lick of sense!

Then, as soon as the was  storm door shut, I went downstairs to get some tools and dan went up to get warmer clothes.  And when I came back up....there were 2 dogs missing.  The idiots managed (Roxy was SO wound up she was literally bouncing off the walls.  And the doors.  We later concluded that Roxy's rabid jumping up hit & released the lever handle of the door whole she was pushing on it and thus set them free) to get right back out. 

Which lead to me yelling for Dan, again and us running out there again.  This time, I only saw Roxy's mud-covered white fur flashing thru the woods.  She reluctantly came towards me, but clearly didn't want to leave Gromit. 

Who was, I kid you not, In police custody in the back of a cop car!!!!  We snagged her and I saw the cop walking thru the backyards/woods towards me.  And he could see where the problem arose, as we were walking thru the fence.  So I went over to where he had parked his car in the opposing traffic turn lane to grab the crazy pup.  And retrieved Gromit from the clink, where he left tons of muddy paw prints!  AND, while I can't recall if I had my phone in my pocket or not, I do know the idea of taking a pic of Gromit in the back of the cop car didn't dawn on me, which is irritating, as I'm hopeful that the opportunity won't arise again!

Needless to say, they stayed indoors for the repairs that we made.  AND when we finished, Roxy couldn't check the perimeter often

enough to try to find a new route to the fun in the woods!

Pushing the summer?

Well, she might be pushing it a bit, but we are making the most of this amazing weather, as it won't last! She wanted to go in the neighbors pool, but the slackers weren't ready to open it in mid-April!

It's raining, it's pouring

Kat keeps chanting that April showers bring may flowers. I hope so. I spread a giant bag of grass seed across the yard just before it started raining 3 days (more?) ago. Now it's all relocated and/or drowned.....

Fwd: Our most recent Russian Visitor

Liliya was here for a week or so.  We enjoyed having her, but did have language issues....  Oh well.  A 5 year old and my old iphone did wonders for the language gap!

Fwd: Chris's visit

Chris passed thru on his annual migration from the S. Pole to the N. Pole.   Well, close  enough for most of us who will never get within 1000 miles of either!!

Rockin' Robin

Kat's school had its talent show the other night.  Her class and another danced to Rockin' Robin.  It was VERY cute.  I just love that each kid is moving to their very own drummer!!!  The audience goes crazy when  they all do the crossing their hands over their knees in synch!!

I did lose her once or twice during this recording.  And I need to get a tripod for the camera.......  She had a great time that night!!  After their performance she sat with us until she could find a pal from her class to sit with.  She then moved up to the mosh pit under the stage with the bigger kids.  Had the time of her life!

Times Square in the rain!!

New York City!!!

The building crew

Snow critters!

As it's supposed to be warm this week, we decided this could be our only chance to make snow critters (plus it was great packing snow and mild and sunny outside)

Kat's show

One more

Ice skating w/ a friend

We found Kat's former classmate William (they haven't seem each other since they graduated in August). She insisted that they could share the walker. She was right!

Ice skating!

If you watch closely, you will see Shawn, early on, bending down, Cheyenne, Jerry & Alison.

She did great and had a lot of fun. And a lot of help, mostly from Cheyenne.

Sledding

Little snowshoer!

 We met friends at the Science Museum's Birthday party for its dinosaurs.  And all of Buffalo's mascots were present (and the one just below this is a bit creepy...not that Kat ever cares).  He's the Bills mascot.  I had never seen him before.

 

 This is Sabretooth below.  The Sabres mascot.  He must be quite bored these days....

 

This is what the pups did while we were gone!

 This past Saturday we had breakfast with Santa, made a gingerbread house and then ended the day w/ an xmas party and cookie decorating (and wearing, as you can see).

This was the gingerbread house decorating.