Appreciation

I think a lot about the people in my life.  I wonder why I met them, why God placed them in my life, why they have become a friend, an acquaintance, or just someone who could be a whisper to my everyday being.  I find it fun to think about how the stars would have still aligned and I would still have found my best friends or my husband even if my life didn't play out the way it did to date.  I believe it all was meant to be. 

Which brings me to someone who I consider a friend, although we never talk.  We have exchanged an email or so, we post on each others' Facebook walls and comment on pictures, but I probably would never know her if I wasn't married to Brian and have become friends through association to the McGahey family. 

Jenny Spinner is one of the neatest people I know and I feel lucky to know her.  I followed her blog about her family for years - thinking what a great mom she was to her 3 boys and all the fun they had together.  I now follow her new blog called, "Twin Prints: An Adoption Story."  I posted the link to it on the side of this blog.  Like I said above, we never really talk (unless at a family event), but I feel I know her so deeply through the incredible words she strings together.  Jenny makes me smile, makes me cry, makes me think, and makes me appreciate. Her words challenge me, and I love her for that.  She is a special person who entered my life somehow and I am very thankful for that.  

You should read the blog - start from the beginning.  But I will warn you, get some tissues. 

Celebrating Kelli

Left to right:  KKG friends - Devon, Katie, Kim, Me, Kelli

Katie singing "Forget You" - she killed it!

The bride to be - Kelli

We celebrated Kelli's upcoming nuptials last Saturday.  We went to El Vez in center city and enjoyed a fantastic meal together.  We then hit up a Japanese karaoke bar to celebrate the bride to be and sing from the top of our lungs.  Well, I didn't grace the group with my singing cause I didn't want to break the karaoke machine.  It was fun to watch Katie, Kelli and others in the group rock the songs while I kind of whispered "my version" of the lyrics on the sidelines.  It was best for all involved.  Happy upcoming wedding Kelli!

Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival

My sorority sister and college roommate, Kim, and her family visited from Baltimore.  Kim had been on bed rest for months but is now in the clear, so she and her family made the trip to Philadelphia for our sorority sister's bachelorette party. Saturday morning the crew joined us at Morris Arboretum for the Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival.  We explored the arboretum - experiencing all the fun the place has to offer - and listened to performance from the "Japanese" drummers (although non of them were actually Japanese).  The kids danced around and enjoyed the beautiful day. We enjoyed spending the day with the Walsh family. 

Easter 2012

Our family

Last Game of Season

The last game of the season didn't mean anything, but Brian and our friend Craig went to the game in Pittsburgh. An exciting playoff series awaits.

Egg Festivities

This is getting too fun for words. We colored eggs in the morning at my parents' house (Colton colored his hand instead). We also had a fun egg hunt - the kids had a blast and we did too. Colton did a really good job and was so proud of his basket full of eggs. Thanks to my parents for a fantastic Easter celebration with the family.

Making Pancakes with Ma Ma

Colton can't say "Grandma." He says, "Ma Ma" instead. He loved spending time with his Grandma & Grandpa in Pittsburgh. And like my fantastic memories of helping my Nonnie cook while standing on a stool next her, I had to capture Colton doing the same with my mom. We made pancakes and Colton poured the batter and stirred the mixture together. Awesome memories in the making.

Morse Cousins

It was so fun to see Colton so excited to play and spend time with his cousins Alana & Gavin. They spent the days running around the house, playing the piano (performing a 'concert'), and laughing and enjoying each other. Colt looks up to his cousins and Alana & Gavin took good care of him. Gavin said, "I love baby Colton."

Holding Nash & Rose

My best friend Jessie delivered Nash & Rose on October 19th - 10 weeks before their due date. It was a scary process, but now Nash & Rose are almost 6 months old and doing great. We didn't get to hold them when we were in for Christmas, so we were excited to get a chance to formally meet them and connect over Easter. We love them!

Pancake Breakfast

It was the annual Edge Hill volunteer firefighters' pancake breakfast. We have been going for many years to support our good friend Tom - one of the true heroes who puts his life on the line to save others...and for nothing in return. Colton enjoyed his syrup topped with a little bit of pancakes. Tom took us out to see the firetruck and Colton was super excited. He got a little scared sitting up on the truck by himself, but Colton loves firetrucks. He goes on YouTube and watches videos of firetrucks just going down the street. He will watch it for hours.

Patrick Turns 2

Patrick had a Thomas the Train party a few weeks ago. We had fun celebrating with all his friends and family. Colton had so much fun and didn't want to share any of the new toys he got his paws on.