Thursday, January 21, 2016

Thursday, January 21 ~Nothing But Grand!~

Grandchildren that is! Last Friday I boarded a Southwest plane headed to Baltimore with Grandma Peg and Pop Pop Ed to go see Lily's ballet recital.  After a lengthy 2 hour delay we were on our way and arrived in Dover, Delaware around 6:30 pm.  We were pleasantly surprised to learn that we would be treated to soccer games on Saturday morning as well as the recital in the evening.  Lily's team kicked some serious butt scoring 19 goals and allowing only 1.  17 of the goals were scored by one of the girls on her team, not Lily, and the other 2 goals came from the same girl's brother. The lone goal scored by the opponent was while Lily was goal keeper. Lily explained to her mom that the girl on her team told her to let the other team score. (of course this goes against everything in my being, but I remained silent. Trish, however, did not). Luke's game was much more evenly matched and very enjoyable. Luke played some great defense and as goalie he made a terrific (miraculous) save and their team won 6-4.
Descent into Baltimore

Here's Zeke!

Lily #8

Goalie

Luke playing fullback

Kick off. Luke #40


Game over, shake hands!
Saturday evening was the long awaited ballet recital.  Well, not every one was so excited, but  most of us were.  The guys don't get as excited because once Lily is done they are ready to go. Most of my pics are "illegal" videos, but I don't feel too bad because I also buy the legal video sold by the ballet company. But it doesn't come out for several weeks and I like to have photos right now! I'll post the one where Lily is featured in the front. It was my favorite!

Lily with her class and Ms. Tricia

On Sunday, Grandma Peg and I took Luke and Lily to see the movie, Norm of the North.  Luke was not happy after the movie when he was asking Siri, on our way home, to give him the Seahawks score to learn that they were losing 20-0.  His afternoon was one of heartbreak when the Seattle Seahawks were unable to come from behind to win.  We did convince him to go to his baseball clinic at Wesley College so I was able to see him working on his hitting. He did insist on taking off his Seattle jersey.


We flew home late Sunday night and arrived back in Columbus a little before midnight. Tuesday after I worked at the zoo and took some Otterbein students on a tour through North America, I packed a bag and drove to Cincinnati to watch Evie in her swim class.  It was a great night because she graduated from her Goldfish class to the Jellyfish. I stayed the night which turned out to be a good thing as the daycare was on a delay and many of the school districts closed in the area so I watched the kids so Sara didn't have to miss work.  Kudos to my friends that babysit on a regular basis! I was exhausted after 1 day. Nope, not for me!

It was a 2 ribbon day!




Lily will come on stage midway, you have to "wait for it".

Saturday, January 2, 2016

2015 in Review

I thought it might be fun to go back through my photo albums and see my year in review.  Facebook does it for you but sometimes they don't pick the same memories that I would. So here are some of my most memorable moments of 2015 captured on film (well, digital)!
January

Lily's first ballet recital
Winter in Ohio
February
Big Lagoon State Park, Perdido Key, Florida
Ft. Walton Beach, Florida
New Orleans
Habitat build near Mobile, Alabama

March
Pileated woodpecker at home
April
Red-headed woodpecker
Resident red fox family under the neighbor's horse barn
Family of 5 kits this year
May
Rehobeth Beach


Lily's Birthday
Luke & me camping, Trap Pond State Park
June
Columbus Zoo

Laying our new deck

Lily and her T-ball trophy
June ballet recital
ERT Mission in LaRue, Ohio
July
The late June flood brought a Great White Egret to our flooded yard
4th of July preparations
Another successful treasure hunt but too much water to have our Duck Race. or kayak

August (Our Girls Only- Washington and Oregon Trip)







too much selfie stick
A life bird for me, Clark's Nutcracker



August (Dollywood)

Cade's Cove


Paula Deen's restaurant in Pigeon Forge
September
Fawns in our yard

2015 Chop Walk

Team Lily in the Philadelphia Eagles Stadium

October
Welcome, Arthur James! 10/15/2015 @12:15pm



November
First visit to the Basketball Hall of Fame
My favorite coach of all time.
First stay in New York City
First Broadway Show: A premier of King Charles III

The Hunger Games Exhibition at Discovery Sqaure
First time on top of the "Rock" Rockefeller Center
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
I loved NYC!!
After visiting the 9/11 Museum in NYC we also stopped at Shanksville, Pa on the way home.
December
Luke and Lily's Christmas program
Group painting at the Artsy Fartsy Studio in Dover, De.
Cutting my own Christmas tree in Maryland, near Big Savage Mt.
Grandma-great with 7 of her 9 great-grand children
Me and Mr. B with our grandchildren, Christmas 2015