WHAT A MEMORABLE YEAR
WE HAD A GREAT TIME SPENDING THE NEW YEAR WITH OUR FAMILY AT OUR HOME,AFTER ATTENDING A GIRL SCOUT ROLLER SKATING EVENT.WHEW! I HAVEN'T BEEN IN ROLLER SKATES FOR YEARS WHAT A HORROR STORY AND EVENT!,MY SIS COMPETED IN LEBANON AND CINCINNATI,OHIO FOR GYMNASTICS THIS MONTH.WE ALWAYS HAVE FUN AT HER MEETS ,BUT ESPECIALLY ENJOYED THE ONE IN CINCY BECAUSE IT WAS FAR ENOUGH AWAY TO SPEND THE NIGHT AT A HOTEL,PRIOR TO THE COMPETITION,WITH ANOTHER GYMNAST AND HER MOTHER.WHAT FUN! AFTER PRACTICE WE DROVE DOWN,HAD DINNER AT OLIVE GARDEN,AND THEN THE GIRLS HAD A BLAST IN THE DESERTED INDOOR POOL AT THE HOTEL. I, PERSONALLY,APPRECIATED THE COMPLIMENTARY HOT BREAKFAST THAT WAS PROVIDED THE NEXT MORNING: )
THE MONTH OF MARCH WAS LARGELY DEVOTED TO THE GIRL SCOUT COOKIE SALE!I WAS "COOKIE MOM" AND HAD COOKIES EVERYWHERE ! THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTED LUCY!SHE AND ANOTHER SCOUT TIED FOR TOP SELLER AND RECEIVED LOTS OF COOL PRIZES.LUCY AND HER COUSIN,SANDRA,RECEIVED THEIR FIRST HOLY COMMUNION TOGETHER AMONGST FAMILY AND FRIENDS. .....OF COURSE ,DADDY HAD A HARD TIME LOOKING AT HIS BEAUTIFUL LITTLE GIRL KNOWING THAT SOMEDAY HE WILL MOST LIKELY (MOST LIKELY )HAVE TO GIVE HER AWAY.
WE TOOK THE KIDS OUT OF SCHOOL THREE DAYS EARLY TO FLY TO ORLANDO WHERE WE STAYED AT BEAUTIFUL RESORT AND VISITED WALT DISNEY WORLD FOR THE FIRST TIME AS A FAMILY.WHILE THERE ,WE ALSO HAD FUN AT UNIVERSAL STUDIOS :ISLANDS OF ADVENTURE TO SEE HARRY PORTERS WORLD,SEA WORLDS NEWEST WATER PARK,AND MANY OTHER FANTASTIC DESTINATIONS AND ACTIVITIES.THE WONDERFUL MEMORIES WERE DEFINITELY WORTH THE MONEY.
THE KIDS LOVE "WRISTBAND TUESDAY," WHERE THEY CAN RIDE ANY OF THE AMUSEMENT PARK RIDES.MANY HANG OVER THE OCEAN.(SO COOL!)WE ALSO TOOK A SIDE TRIP TO NEW YORK TO VISIT THE STATUE OF LIBERTY WITH GRANDPA.WORDS CANNOT TRULY EXPLAIN HOW AMAZING IT WAS !THEN,TO CAP IT OFF WE DROVE TO NEW JERSEY TO DRIVE BY FAMOUS"CAKE BOSS"BAKERY/SHOW THAT I LOVE TO WATCH ON TELEVISION(THE LINE WAS 31/2 HOURS TOO LONG TO WAIT FOR ONE OF THEIR FAMOUS PASTRIES!);(OUR NEXT STOP WAS TO PHILADELPHIA TO VISIT THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE SCIENCE MUSEUM,A HAND ON MUSEUM FOR KIDS.....AND ADULTS,I MIGHT ADD. I ENJOYED THE TWO-STORY MODEL OF THE HEART(I WISH I HAD THIS KIND OF CENTRE AVAILABLE TO ME WHEN TEACHING 4TH TO 5TH GRADE SCIENCE!).....AFTERWORDS
WE WERE TAKEN TO THE FAMOUS GENO'S,WHICH IS A RESTAURANT SPECIALIZING IN CHEESE STEAKS.
WE ENJOYED THANKSGIVING WITH BOTH OF OUR FAMILIES,OF COURSE,I WAS ONE OF THE MILLIONS OUT THAT EVENING TRYING TO "GET A DEAL"I WAS OUT FROM 9:00 PM-4:30 AM YEAH,I KNOW.....CRAZY,BUT WHAT A FUN ADRENALINE HIGH WITH MY GOOD FRIEND.
WOW! JOHN IS FOURTEEN AND ITS ALREADY THE END OF,YET,ANOTHER YEAR!MY GOAL,AS OF NOW,IS TO CONCENTRATE ON THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS AND FOCUS ON RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS DURING THIS BUSY TIME OF YEAR.WE SINCERELY HOPE THAT THIS YEAR WAS ALSO A HAPPY YEAR FOR YOU AND PRAY THAT THE NEW YEAR IS HAPPIER!.
.......MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!









