Kat's birthday party

Kat's shows this summer and random pics

Finally......room on my computer so I could download pics

These are from our vaca in NC w/ Mel & Greg.  I think all pics were taken in/from the boat.

Horses & teeth

We went to visit our friend's horse & Kat got to sit on a huge horse.

And she lost one of those cute little front teeth at the Vikings family picnic on Sunday! The tooth fairy had to of some last minute shopping on Sunday night (the kid gets a book & a buck).

And my phone is full, my computer is full and I haven't had a chance to get those things under control then I can download the NC pics..... One of these days!

Newest editions

Well, after a perfectly normal night on Tuesday, out of the blue on Wednesday Hermy took ill. We took her to the vet, and they only confirmed what we already knew: that the end was neigh. So we did the responsible thing and brought the end to her. Hermy outwitted, outlasted, and outsurvived three other kitties who left on our western odyssey all those years ago (mr. Mestopholes, Chrissy & Dippy) & was the only feline to return to Buffalo with us. She was 14-ish and she had a good life and it got to see/travel a great deal of this country and that to the north. Not that she wanted to, necessarily, but she did. The Hermy deathwatch came to an abrupt end. It took about 90 seconds before Kat raised the kitten issue.....

So… As Dan put it we mourned yesterday. And today we got kittens!! They are both girls and are siblings, just 10 weeks old. No names yet. We await inspiration. But they are cute!!!

Kiddie karaoke

I know they're hard to see. And hear, but they're singing a Frozen song.

Rodeo !

Well, it's no stampede. But.....

With the seawolf

In case you don't know what a seawolf looks like.

Running the bases in Erie

At the Erie seawolves game. After the fireworks.

New river bridge

Unfortunately we couldn't see the water 852' below and the bridge at the same time. Couldn't see the water at all....

Last time we were here we were rafting on the gauley river. I'd say those days are over!

More bikes

I guess we've mastered the bike!

By going off road w/ her cousins......

The watershow!!

And the finale!

The herd at the parade

Memorial Day parade with Abe

Kat's show

Today was baseball pictures, synchronized swimming competition, then her theatre show.  Back to her synchro swim, which we missed by 3 minutes (so she didn't get to compete), and then back to theatre.  We are exhausted.  She did great.  Her team, minus her, took 2nd place in the competition.  But she went up and got a ribbon with them anyway!

 These are from last week's competition.  This week, due to our conflicts, we didn't have to do this to her hair......  bonus!!!  To glue it in place and make it impermeable (actually, I have no idea why), knox gelatin is applied to all of the hair & the bun.  And it dries to a hard finish.... and takes many, many gallons of hot water to get out.......

 at the Vikings on Mother's Day.

Ducks

I had Kat go out first to give them a chance. Last thing I wanted was the terrierist catching one!!! And the dogs were queued at a different door, so they lost valuable time.....

How much rain did we get?

Today alone? Enough for a pair of ducks to consider moving in. At least till they've met the locals!

Run, Forrest, run

Well, we all went to and ran (some of us mostly walked ) the 5k today! In the rain. We had a lot of fun. Kat and I took one shortcut, but she did great. She wasn't too inclined to of much running, but neither was I, so it worked out. She LOVED coming (running-finally!!) into the finishing corral with a bunch of her teachers, fellow students, other parents, etc, yelling her name!!!

Kites !!

Kat has been obsessed with kites for a week or so. Luckily the Easter bunny brought her 2. And then forgot about them! But she remembered today and told Kat to look closer where her basket was hidden. They're having a great time with them and they haven't busted yet!!!!

Paddling!!

Chris and I got out paddling today. Beautiful day.

Homemade kite

Can you tell it's spring?

Cause I can't. I turned up the heat and had hot chocolate..... We liked this past weekend much better!!

Spring

This is how we dress on 4/15..... 2 days ago we were in shorts and got sunburns!!! This was Kat's outfit for driving her car over to play at the neighbors.  Notice the gap in her smile, btw....  There will be another very soon.

Golden eggs!!

Kat & her friend both found golden eggs at today's egg hunt! Very egciting stuff!!

Easter prize

Spring??

Sparring!!

Kat (finally) got to move up to the junior black belt club. Today was her second class. It's a whole new level (which is good cause she was pretty bored in the champions) that is very challenging. Today they really sparred. Awesome to watch. Esp the big kid black belts sparring w/ the master.

Talent show

Unfortunately, I was holding the phone, AND it was wrongly seated in the case, which I believe obscured the mics.  SO it's pretty hard to hear.  And likely to watch, despite scoring a temporary seat in the front row!  Sorry about that!  One of the other parents was filming with a real camera next to me......I'll see if I can get his video and replace this.  Maybe they're not totally washed out in his version!

Kat's recital

I think it's time to retire my camera for video.  Not only does it crap out at 1:50, but the quality is sketchy.  Pretty sure the iphone does a better job!  She, however, did a great job!!!

Skiing in Killington

Skiing

Well, I guess it was technically a blizzard yesterday. I never saw limited visibility. But, the good news was 12" of snow at KB! It was in the mid-teens out there, but Kat and I got out there for 2 hours. She's getting more & more comfortable on skis. And 2 days of lessons at Killington this weekend will move her along a great deal. And while it's supposed to be cold most of the next week, so we may get out here again next week. We're fitting a couple of seasons' worth of skiing into a few weeks!!

3pm blizzard shot

Well, I just read on Buffalo News.com that it is officially a blizzard. However it has yet to look like it from here. But apparently we had the sustained winds, which I hardly heard, the snowfall, and the blowing snow and limited visibility, I guess, that qualifies it for a blizzard! Of course, I haven't been outside. But still, can usually hear howling winds indoors and have heard just a few gusts. Oh well. Still hoping for more action!!

2pm blizzard

Well, still on the lame side. I did hear thunder once and heard some good winds once or twice, but....

Blizzard at 1pm

Still not as advertised......

Blizzard at noon

A bit underwhelming so far. But I have hope...

Blizzard at 11

10am blizzard

Blizzard at 9am