Florida Trip-Day 2

On our second day of the trip, which was Friday, we ate breakfast in the restaurant again and then decided to go for a drive.  Our first stop was to see the murals close to my Grandma's new condo.  They were all so beautiful, bright and colorful.  This particular one even made farm animal noises-haha!  Notice Elmo had to come along for the ride.

After that, we stopped at a little shop that sold handmade items and really unique little gifts.  I tried to find something interesting for Kevin, but most of it was just too girly.  We almost ended up taking home a Dora pillowcase, but luckily I was able to distract Kerriann from it as we were leaving.  Her pillow pet is just fine for now, so I wanted to save the $15 ;).  This beautiful berry tree was right outside the shop so I tried to snap a few pictures of it... the sun was just so bright that there wasn't much I could do!

Next we took a drive through the country to check on Grandma's old house.  It was so nice to drive through those streets where we have so many memories.  I really miss seeing the beautiful sunsets over the canal there and the rows of orange orchards.  Kerriann decided to sneak in a quick nap as we drove... this is one of my new all time favorite photos I've taken of her.  Probably because I rarely see her in this state!  She just looks so innocent and sweet, and so similar to the tiny infant that I remember in her first few months.

Kerriann also wanted to take some pictures during our little outing... this is her "say cheese" face...

After that, we had a nice lunch at The Blue Crab, followed by a visit from a couple of Grandma's neighbors who were so excited to see Kerriann.  

We spent the remainder of the evening just visiting with Grandma.  

Around sunset we decided to take another drive although I can't remember exactly why.  Oh yeah, to find the golf course for my dad-haha!  I managed to take a few pictures of the sunset, but I really wish I had been in a better location.  It was BEAUTIFUL the way everything was in silhouette against the sunset over the lake.  These definitely don't do it justice, it was straight out of a postcard.

A beautiful end to another great day in Florida!

Florida Trip-Day 1

Our first day in Florida was spent mostly driving, but we did get to do some visiting with Grandma in the late afternoon and evening.  Since we were driving most of the day, we skipped Kerriann's nap.  We spent the afternoon checking out Grandma's new condo and then we had dinner in the little restaurant in her building where she eats most of her meals.  The food was really good and the other residents just loved Kerriann.  She was the talk of the entire building and she was loving the attention.  No one could walk by without stopping to say hello to her and of course she was ready to chat with each person.

Kerriann's favorite part of the day was getting to play the piano with Gigi.  She has always loved the piano, but playing with Gigi is a special treat because she plays so beautifully!

March Trip to Gassaway

In photos...

A few more from Autumn's shower for baby Owen

 One last winter snow our first morning in town

Playing with Callie

 More from that snowy morning... excuse my dirty lens on this one

Can you see my reflection?

 Painted toenails (for the first time!) in anticipation of our Florida trip!

Favor :)

Today I have a favor to ask of you...

Please visit THIS link to vote for the town where Kevin and I met, Morgantown, as "America's Best College Sports Town."  By the way, I am proud to say that the two ladies in the middle of the featured photo are my friends!

How YOU Can Help Japan

Last week while we were in Florida visiting my Grandma, we all woke up early on Friday morning, around 5am.  We were in shock as we turned on CNN.  Just a few hours earlier a 8.9 magnitude earthquake had hit Japan, followed by a devastating 23 foot tsunami. 

For the past week, I have watched in horror as the story unfolded.  This is the first natural disaster that I have really followed in my adult life, and the coverage shown on the news has been heartbreaking.  At first I couldn't even believe that the videos of the tsunami waves crashing over Japan were real, it looked like something out of a movie!  But now that it has been a week and it has sunk in that this is real for the country of Japan, I really want to help and encourage others to help.  I know most of us probably aren't in the best financial situations ourselves, but if everyone who reads this donates a little, it could add up to something bigger that will make a difference.  If you are a Starbucks addict, smoker, or you have some other daily splurge (even one fast food meal) that you make on a daily basis, give that up for a day or two.  If every person who reads this donates $10, it could add up fast. 

The easiest way to donate that I have discovered so far is through the Red Cross.  All you have to do is text "REDCROSS" to the number 90999 and $10 will be added to your monthly cell phone bill.  I'm pretty sure you can do this as many times as you want, and this is the donation route that I have used.

Another route I have discovered is donating to the non-profit organization Shelter Box USA.  I learned of it through a fellow blogger.  You can read more about Shelter Box USA here. In summary, through the web site firstgiving.com, you can donate money towards "shelter boxes" which are large green boxes "tailored to a disaster that typically contain a disaster relief tent for an extended family, blankets, water storage and purification equipment, cooking utensils, a stove, a basic tool kit, a children’s activity pack and other vital items." A box costs $1,000, and this non-profit organization has set a goal of raising enough money to send at least 5 shelter boxes to families in Japan.  They have already met their goal, but I still think this is a great organization to help.  To donate to Shelter Box USA, click here and then click on the big green "give now" button at the top of bottom of the page.

If you really aren't in the financial situation to give, I ask that you at least keep the citizens of Japan (and other countries who might be stranded there) in your prayers as they pick up the pieces following one of the worst natural disasters in recorded history.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

"May all the love and protection St. Patrick can give

Bless this family {and yours} as long as we live"

St. Patrick's Day has always been a favorite holiday of mine because of my Irish roots, and now, I even have a true Irish last name to be proud of!  I took the above saying from a desert dish that Kevin and I gave my mom for Christmas this year.  Her father's name was Patrick McDonough, so I knew it would hold special meaning for her.

There was no green beer or parades through the street for anyone in our family this year, my little Irish Princess and I spent our day doing laundry, filling up our car's gas tank, restocking our diaper supply, and other fun tasks that I've had to neglect the past few days.  We did get to visit my dad in the afternoon which was definitely the highlight of the day.  The high was 68 degrees so we spent an hour or so outside.  I REALLY needed that shot of vitamin D and I'm sure Kerriann did too.  She always loves running around his yard and had a great time as usual.  

In the warmer months we can always find four leaf clovers around my dad's pond, so we took a walk around it in search of some.  I guess it's still too early because we had no luck, although we did find a few daffodils that will be blooming anytime now!

 

Overall, it was a great day with so much to be thankful for...warm weather, the safety of our family and friends, and finally being able to get out of the house! :)  

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Winter's End

For the past few weeks, I've been starting to feel like winter would never come to an end.  It has been such a long and drawn out season this year...

On Monday, I felt like the bug I had would never end either...

But now, four long days later, I am feeling much, much, better.

And during my four days in bed, look how much has changed outside!

There IS an end in sight!

Wordless Wednesday

Checking In

Just checking in to say that I'm alive!  We had a great trip to visit my Grandma in Florida, with the exception of me (and most of her building) catching either a horrible stomach bug or getting food poisoning.  They're still not sure exactly what it was, but either way it's been NO FUN.  Especially on top of getting barely any sleep in FL and then doing the entire 15 hour drive in one day on Sunday.  Thankfully, Kerriann and my dad have been ok so far, so I'm hoping that they've somehow escaped this torture.  I haven't eaten in over 48 hours now and I am still feeling pretty miserable. :(  I'm really looking forward to getting back to normal and catching up with everyone in the next few days.  Hope everyone else is doing well!

And I know I'm a day late on this... but I have been participating in Mingle Monday from the couch these past few days as I haven't been able to leave the bed I made there more than few times!

And

Kerriann is 19 months!

I know this is an entire week overdue, but Kerriann turned 19 months last Thursday, March 3rd!  I wish I had weight and height stats, but we are still working on getting a pediatrician so it will probably be another couple of weeks until we have that info.

Kerriann is talking so much these days!  She always has something to say.  Strangers are amazed that she is only 19 months when she opens her mouth!  Some of her recent and most impressive phrases and words are "Thank you for helping," singing Elmo's song "la la la la, la la la la, Elmo's song" and she also says "catchy!" like they say on the song, "goodnight," "good morning," "going bye bye," and so many more!  I'd love to take videos of her talking, but as soon as she sees my video camera she asks to see the baby on the screen.  There's honestly not much she can't repeat, we call her our little parrot.  It is so cute to see her speech improving from day to day.  She knows and says all foods and drinks that she takes and also knows all of the words to daily activities (shoes, shirt, bath, etc.)  I should have kept a better list up until this point because it's so hard to think of everything now.

Kerriann's favorite foods are hummus (crazy I know, but she asks for it constantly and gets so upset when we have to say no to it because she's already had too much for one day!), spaghetti which she calls "gabashi," crackers, peanut butter "samiches," french fries, and she's finally getting into chicken!

Kerriann sleeps on the pillow pet that her Great Aunt Sherrie got her for Christmas and refuses to go to bed without it!  She is so cute, she looks like such a grown up using it.  She also needs to have a blanky (no specific one, just a blanket), a book (some of her favorites are Goodnight Moon, Time for Bed, Puppies, and Princess Perfect) and her stuffed animals "moo cow" from Uncle Ryan, puppy from the Hudock's, and a random little monkey... not sure where he came from to tell you the truth!

There is so much more I could write about her, but I'm pressed for time right now so I'll just have to do another update on her soon!

Happy 19 months Kerriann!  We love you!

Mirror Mirror

Here are a few... ok A LOT of pictures of Kerriann playing in the mirror while Kevin was gone a couple of weeks ago... just forgot to share them before!  Nothing has changed in the past year, she still LOVES her reflection! :)