Welcome Alexa Nicole Demas

Alexa Nicole Demas entered the world last Sunday - May 24th weighing 7 lbs, 5 ozs. She is absolutely adorable and precious. Jessa & John are doing well - getting in sleep while they can. Congratulations to the Demas family.

Relay For Life

The Relay for Life is a fundraising event that celebrates the lives of those who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back to kick this disease in the ass. My cousin Chrissy (pictured below) is a cancer survivor and was helping to run the event at Peter's Township. We all came to support her and many others (including my mom - who is a breast cancer survivor). One of the events is the Survivor & Caregiver Lap and Luminaria Ceremony at sun down. It was a very emotional moment as we circled the track reading the names on the luminarias of those who have battled or have lost to the disease. If you would like to donate - go to https://www.cancer.org/docroot/don/don_1_Donate_Online_Now.asp?from=hpbutton

These Faces Make Me Melt

One of the joys of coming into Pittsburgh is getting to see my Goddaughter Alana and nephew Gavin. When I arrived at Dave & Ellen's house, Alana welcomed me by giving me all her stuffed animals, books & toys (one by one) until you couldn't see the carpet. We played with her Gymbo puppet & then she showed me her ballet plie & her arabesque. She says, "I do plie," and "I do arabesque." She is also repeating everything you say. Gavin has lots of expressions and is so pleasant. For 3 months he is a big boy though (looks like a 6 month old).

It breaks my heart to leave knowing I won't get to see them for another few months. I love them so much.

Clyde Turns 1

Clyde is my cousin Lisa & Matt's son and Clyde and Lisa came up from Austin to celebrate is big day. We missed Matt, but he is working in Oklahoma on a new movie and couldn't make it. This was our first time meeting Clyde and he is a cutey. His party was filled with lots of surprises. Keri, Patrick, Brigette, & Garrett surprised us by traveling 8 hours all the way from Virginia. Aunt Donna was there. And Mike the Balloon Guy arrived to sculpt balloons for all the kids (and some of the adults). Check out the site - http://www.miketheballoonguy.com/

Pictured below is 1) Clyde eating his "sugar-free cake" and grabbing for the camera; 2) Keri, Brigette, Lisa & Clyde; 3) Alana with her Elmo sculpted balloon; 4) Garrett with his Plankton from SpongeBob SquarePants; 5) Bridgette with Tinkerbell.

For more pictures of the party - go to the link below:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8490838@N08/?donelayout=1

Is That Lance Armstrong?

You would think he was Lance by the way my dad trekked up this incredibly steep hill. The picture does not do it justice - it was super steep and burned the bajesus out of our quads. When the weather is nice and I fly in by myself to Pittsburgh, my dad and I go on this bike ride all over South Park. It is about an hour bike ride that is one hill after another and it is a toughy. It is a very special time with my dad (even though he is about 50 feet ahead of me majority of the time) and it was an absolutely beautiful morning together biking.

Grandma Morse

My grandma fell last week and broke her arm. It isn't a bad break so we expect a quick and full recovery. In the meantime, she is staying at a rehabilitation home (sounds better than a nursing home) to help get her back to 'good as new.' We had planned to go shopping together (one of our favorite things to do together - even though she takes back majority of what we buy together) but instead I got to spend some QT with my grams just sitting and chatting. Say some prayers so she heals quickly. Or if your reading this and you live in the Burgh, go over and visit her and get her up and walking around.

My Little Japanese Princess

We had dinner at Benihana when I arrived in Pittsburgh for the weekend. And lucky for me, Jessie and Craig joined us (my extended family). Alana loves Benihana and we all can't resist the entertainment of the chef showing off his knife juggling skills while eating a sizzling hot shrimp flying through the air. We celebrated the May birthdays (Jessie & my mom) and Alana dressed up in her little Japanese kimono. She looked like a Japenese princess.