Raining on our parade...

The weather for the Memorial day parade was overall good but it did rain for a few minutes. This was the first parade for the twins and they liked the bands and my favorites, the bagpipers. Olivia clapped for everyone, even the State Representatives.

This is probably my favorite parade photo opportunity, kids lined up on the curb eagerly waiting tootsie rolls to be chucked at them. Thankfully, they've really cut back on candy at parades. I've always thought it was really cruel to the parents to get the kids sugared up at 10:00A.M. on a holiday that most people spend at someone elses house for an afternoon picnic, just as your kid is crashing from the sugar high.(never a pretty situation)

Hunter has never really been much of a dancer. He does, on occasion, do silly dances and he really loves music. Hunter and the babies really like this goofy, semi-creepy but good message type show called Yo Gabba Gabba. There are these intermitten blips of kids dancing throughout the show. The kids say my name is so and so and I like to dance. Hunter( an extremely rational child) says "The only thing these kids like to do is dance, that gets boring after a while." The above picture is Hunter refusing to dance to the bagpipers.

This is one of my favorites of the day. Hunter and Tom are both wearing Tom's Army issued hats, watching hummers and jeeps full of soldiers roll by and clapping for their service. This photo is a reminder to me that had Tom not had a congenital knee defect and been discharged in basic training for it, Hunter would not have been born. I'm quite thankful that Tom never had to go to Iraq, which would have been a certainty. Ironically, the guys driving by in the picture are members of what would have been his unit.

Hunter loved the Civil War reenactors(Mr. Hague and sons). The shots they fired were quite loud and scared the kids half to death. Then, of course, they wanted them to shoot again.

Back at my mom's house, Olivia pilfered a pear from the fruit bowl on the table and proceeded to try out her new choppers. Four of her top teeth are cutting at once and it makes her food possibilities endless.Gryffin preferred to chomp on his hand as usual. Although, he is finally starting to come around and eat more solids. He has days where he'll eat a few meals and days where he only wants to nurse. He hates all green vegetables and even when I try to sneak them in with other food, he spits out the green veggies and eats everything else.(Note the dirty, chubby little feet tops from crawling around everywhere and getting into mischief)

To top off the day , Olivia and Gryffin got to sit on my Uncle Mark's Harley Davidson. I also have a picture of Hunter sitting on it when he was just about the same age. It is a really pretty bike, but not my cup of tea.

Spring Sports Fever!!

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love sports. I played just about everything growing up and had I not had reconstructive knee surgery seven years ago, I'd probably still be playing them. It makes me so happy to see the kids in my life take part in the sports I love. This is my little brother, Noah. He's eight-years-old and this happens to be his first year playing baseball. I went to his first game today and he did great! All the little guys did. Below is Noah being coached on first base by his dad, know as Papa to all the grandchildren. Most of you all reading this know him as Brian. There's just something about playing baseball with your dad that makes me think spring.
Next is Izaya, my twelve-year-old niece. Wow! I can't believe she's so grown and playing one of the most brutal sports around. Even the pink Lacrosse stick doesn't take away her toughness. Go girl! This was a big game against QV's rivalry, Sewickley Academy. Izaya and team pulled off a 6-2 victory with some great goaltending by Greer Monahan.

Then there's Hoose's school of Jedi training. The force is definitely strong with these kids.

Here's Gryffin mastering his current favorite sport, pulling himself up on the train table to get Thomas and wreck the track.

Success!

Olivia and Malacai shared an order of Pad Thai for dinner last Friday. Apparently Cai's idea of "sharing" is different than Olivia's.

Can someone get this kid under control, please?

Seriously though, eat your own!

See, all you have to do is move the chairs a little bit apart, then everyone's happy.

Here's Link playing the get in the "No dogs allowed play zone"game, and winning.

We love our new stroller! Worth every penny!

And lastly, Olivia mastering the sport of falling asleep sitting upright on the couch. She's got an early start on this one considering most leaders in this sport are forty-year-old men. Go Livie!