Where are you?

Posted by Mary Grace (MGD) on Friday, May 2, 2014.
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So.....I have been blocked to post on blogger.  Not because I did something wrong but between my laptop and my work PC and laptop things have been upgraded and things moved around so I hvaen't been able to log on in a few weeks.  Then I lost my stinkin password.  Then I lost the code to enter for a new password....

I am still around and more updates will come very very soon!   Thanks for being patient with me!

Snow Day and Ballet

Posted by Mary Grace (MGD) on Monday, March 10, 2014.
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Ahhhh...with so many snow days this year we were running out of things to do around the house.  So one snowey evening once the kids heard that schools would be closed the next day...agian, Julia wanted to do some ballet at home.  She told Dave that he needed to learn the balelt positions and so it began.  An evening of ballet for Julia and her dad....

Note that I do not have ballet position 4 becuase I don't know whay-- I may have forgotten to take a picture!

  

Ballet position 1






Ballet position 5
Ballet position 2
Ballet position 3


Redskins Football Mini camp

Posted by Mary Grace (MGD)
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As a member of the Redskins Kids Club, Matthew gets to participate in many activities and events that the Redskins offer.  The one event that we were so excited about was the Redskins Mini Football Cmap.  It is not open to all members of the Redskins Kids Club so we were so excited when Matthew was picked.

Dave and Matthew drove out to Ashburn, VA and joined other kids club members in some fun football activities.  A few players stopped by as well for pictures, autographs and to help with the activities.  I will be honest and say that I have no idea who the players are (yes- I am not a true fan if I dont know their names).  I just know that Matthew was super excited and he was exhausted when they got home.  He was able to go to the Redskins training camp, do some football drills, meet players, play football with other kids, meet new friends and of course he had so much fun!  Below are a few pictures of some of the drills they did that day.  He is looking forward to the next event!


Some kind of ladder exercise with a Redskins player.



Matthew and a Redskins player...guess the name?  Dave and Matthew know...


Take a guess at this Redskins player...hmmm....Matthew knows his name.  Me on the other hand...I have no clue! 


And another Redskins player...bet you can't guess his name?  Neither can I!


Guess again......


Some kind of activity where your feet are tied and you have to race down the field.


How high can you jump!


Matthew on the Redskins field


Touch Down baby!

Happy 8th Birthday Matthew

Posted by Mary Grace (MGD)
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Yup- I have an 8 year old.  I still can't believe that Matthew is 8 years old even though he looks like he can be 10 or 11 years old!  It feels like just yesterday that we found out that we were going to have our first born and here is today.  He is a spitting image of Dave and I couldn't be more proud of what a wonderful little boy I have.  He looks like David, he is tall and strong like David.  He is mild mannered, kind hearted, sweet and loving just like David.  He has David's athletic abilities and always has a basketball, baseball, soccer or football in his hands.

He is a sweet boy and we are so proud of him.  We will always support him and I hope he knows how much he is loved!  I hope his year is filled with lots of fun, sports, friends, family, laughter and of course love!


Very fitting for him to have a football cake as his birthday always falls the same weekend as Super Bowl and he loves Football!  Go Redskins :)


8 birthday candles for the birthday boy!


See the pictures before...when we were smiling.  Now we are sad- 30 seconds after we sang Happy Birthday to her Brother.


Yup--- Birthday for my brother and I don't get anything!  It is NOT fair!

My attempt at making a soccer ball cake, baseball cupcakes and football cupcake pull-aparts! 




Matthew wanted to have a sports party.  We rented out our local community gym and played kickball, potato sack races, basketball and jsut had a great time. 


Sweetheart Dance (Daddy/Daughter or Uncle, Grandfather, Special Friend, Big Brother etc)

Posted by Mary Grace (MGD)
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Severna Park Elementary School had its annual Sweetheart Dance.  The dance is sponsored by the PTA and encourage the girls to bring their father, Uncle, Grandfather, Big Brother or family friend to the dance.  Dave was very nervous for the dance and even called a local florist ahead of time to make sure he ordered the corsage to match her dress.  He even looked for a tie that would coordinatel nicely with Julia's dress.

I just hope that all of her future dates/boyfriends are as sweet, funny, kind, loving and handsome as her daddy....




David putting the corsage on Julia's arm


Mommy & Julia


Daddy & Julia


Getting ready to head out....look closely ...do you see Matthew photobombing the picture?!

2014

Posted by Mary Grace (MGD) on Thursday, January 2, 2014.
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As you may know, I usually don't make resolutions.  I know I don't keep it becuase life takes over and you end up making changes along the way.  I do know that each year I make a promise to myself, Dave and the kids to thoroughly enjoy life and learn from mistakes, make each day better than the last, be a kind person, be a better person.  Each year I learn to...

  1.  Forgive others and myself
  2. Accept the things I cannot change
  3. Enjoy my family
  4. Appreciate the things I have
  5. Be thankful
  6. Be healthy
  7. LOVE

May 2014 bring you and yours happiness, love, forgiveness, acceptance, prosperity and good health.  As I have said many many times because Dave and I have lost our fathers too early...life is short.  Enjoy life, enjoy yourself and your family.  Make memories together- whether they be good or bad. Most of all learn to forgive, love and open your hearts. 



New York City...visiting the Big Apple

Posted by Mary Grace (MGD)
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We were very fortunate to be able to take the kids to their very first trip to the Big Apple.  We left the morning after Christmas and stayed for a few days (December 26-28) and stayed at the Marriott Marquis Times Square.   I remember when my parents took us when we were young and I wanted to give Matthew & Julia the same opportunity and experience. I think that its wonderful that they can see different sites, have different experiences and hope that they will remember these fun family times. The pictures below are in no particular order since there are so many- but I did include a little caption below each picture so you know where it was taken!
 
We are definitely going back to NYC!  It's a beautiful city and a place that everyone must see and experience. 
 
Across the street from our hotel was ABC studios (Good Morning America) in Times Square and as you can see there are workers on the rooftop setting up cameras for the big New Years Eve Party!

Marriott Marquis Times Square- our hotel.  This hotel had these space age elevators (10 elevators I think).  So you put your floor number on the main pad and the number pad tells you what letter elevator to take.  It literally shoots you up to your floor.  The hotel had 46 floors?  Luckily, we got the hang of the space age elevator system quickly but many others were getting on the wrong elevators and I just hope they made it to their room!  For those with vertigo they did have 2 internal elevators but I don't know how you choose the internal vs. the other space age elevator pods.

FAO Schwartz was a favorite-- much better than Toys R Us I think!  Julia just LOVED this bear...we got the smaller version.  It was too big to fit in our bags!

Kids at 5th Avenue- this street was decorated with the most beautiful Christmas Decorations. They even had a light show at night!  Everyone stopped in the middle of the street just to watch!

Walking in Times Square.  You walked out of our hotel (Marriott Marquis) and walked right onto Times Square.  Kids thought it was cool to walk in the streets.

Our last day....big ol' sundae at Hard Rock Café Times Square

NBC Studios...yes someone  just photo-bombed this picture.  It's OK because I can't tell you how many pictures I was in from walking by, behind and in front of someone taking a picture :)

The famous Rockefeller Plaza and Ice Skating Rink....just gorgeous. 

We did take a peak at Trump Tower.  Let's just say that the inside is decorated in TRUMP style.  Big, grand, gold and flashy!  Yes- the doorman was at our service!  I just loved all the doormen in and around the city.  So helpful and courteous.

The Rockefeller Tree- inside of Rockefeller Plaza housed lots of shops, Starbucks, restaurants, Top of the Rock and a cute viewing area of the skaters.  NBC Studios and the Today Show was right there as well.

How nice is this?!  So many skaters, families, kids just strolling by, enjoying the sites. 

Look!  It's the New Year's Eve Ball! Do you see it???  This was right outside of our room!!!!

Just resting on 5th Avenue....although it was late at night, the beautiful Christmas lights were aglow to light up the whole city!

Our room looking over Times Square, the ABC Studios, Toys R Us, the New Years Eve Ball and so much more!  This place was non-stop!

First train ride-- Amtrak to New York Penn Station

Times Square- they were already setting up the stage for the New Years Eve festivities!

Rockefeller Plaza and Tree

More on 5th Avenue!

Juniors Deli was right outside of our hotel- this place was sooo good!  It's a must if you visit Times Square.

Kids watching the skaters- the line was soo long so we opted to get hot chocolate and people watch.
 
FAO Schwartz

Gummy Bears at FAO Schwartz!

One of the many artistic Christmas lights on 5th avenue- these life size lights really light up the streets!

At almost every restaurant we went to they served us pickles...they were very good!

We had to take a quick water break at FAO Schwartz (oh and not pictured were the very large brownies and cookies we had with the water)

Julia was determined to get her American Girl Doll!  She named her Chloe!  Same hair, eyes and skin color too!

 
Julia and I shopping on 5th Avenue....more like window shopping :)


Our family...Rockefeller Plaza and tree

The boys checking out the shops on 5th Avenue

Do you see the bag???  This was right after we purchased Chloe!

If you had to go to the bathroom at American Girl Place....they have these hooks on the bathroom wall.  You wouldn't want to put your doll on the floor would you???


David was picked out of the hundreds (thousands) of people on the street to take part in the hip-hop street dancing show!
Ellen Stardust Diner-- this place was great!  Waiters and Waitresses are aspiring Broadway singers- many of them are waiting to be picked up to sing on Broadway.  They serve you food sing, dance and take your orders!
FAO Schwartz
Julia and Chloe on the train back home
Matthew wanted a bear too...he had to get the smaller version as well to take home
That's my boy!  Let's go O's!
If you could see his face!  He was a good sport and took part in the show!
Get ready!  DO NOT MOVE!
One of the dancers jumped over them all!!!
One of the singers/servers/waitresses singing to us while we eat at Ellen's Stardust Diner
We were on the 2nd floor of the diner over looking the 1st floor.  Loved how the singers/waitresses walked around the restaurant and sang to us...all while refilling your drinks!
LOVE!

More Lights!
 

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