I wasn't really trying to wait a year...

But here we are in 2010, so I'll do a quick recap of the last 9 months... Last I wrote we were trying to sell our house and still looking for the right house to buy :) Well we are happily settled now, but first...

May - Still enjoying warm weather - we visited the Albany Tulip Festival, Nisky Day (Emma loves parades!), the Ringling Brothers Circus with the Zals, went out to Freedom for Renee and Shawn's Baby Shower - then on to Lancaster for Memorial Day

Enjoying Ice Cream and Roast Beef Sandwiches at Anderson's in Buffalo

In June we sold our house - and found another although the timing wasn't quite right, so... we moved in with Mom and Dad for 2 months. We celebrated Mike's 32nd birthday on the 15th.

Mike's Birthday!

In July we closed on our new house and Dad and Brad helped us a lot getting the rooms painted and ready to move in! We went to Lancaster for the 4th of July, Celebrated our 5th Anniversary and Aunt Nancy's 50th Birthday.

Emma and Graham

August was a busy month - we moved in the first of the month then headed out to Freedom Convention. Next was Altamont and then celebrated Katie's 30th Birthday - a good incentive to get the boxes put away :) Then we went up to Ogunquit, ME with Katie, Madeline and Oscar - a great vacation before the summer's end.

Quick stop in Portsmouth,NH at Popovers for lunch!

September was back to school for Mike, Sawyer's 2nd birthday, visits to a few craft fairs and fall festivals and the Adirondack Balloon Festival.

Our Family

October - Our neighbor Uncle Will died after a long bout of cancer...we celebrated Clarissa's and Heidi's Birthdays...went trick or treating at Guilderland High School...also found out much to our surprise!! We're expecting. We decided to give everyone a real "trick" and let our families know on Halloween :) October was also the begnining of our perpetual sickness...this lasted into January... :(

Trick or Treat Street - GHS, Madeline, Oscar and Emma

November - we enjoyed having Corbin and the kids up for Thanksgiving - had a great day at Mom and Dad's with most of the Pikcilingis family. Then Mike's folks came out for the weekend and Matt and Nicki, Jack and 2 week old Caden :) We celebrated Emma's second birthday twice..once with Elmo at Mom and Dad's and then at our house the next night with all the little friends in the area...cupcake theme :)

Emma's 2nd Birthday!

December came and went pretty quickly. We got outside in the first snow and built a snowman! Emma wasn't too happy by the end b/c it started raining - but it was fun nonetheless. We spent Xmas in Buffalo with the McCoys then came home for New Years. Judy spent the week with us - Matt and Nicki and boys and Dan were supposed to join us too, but it didn't work out this time - looking forward to seeing them all soon! So that about wraps up 2009...lots of changes with a new house and new baby on the way - surprises but wouldn't have wanted it any other way :) Maybe I'll keep things better updated this year... maybe :)

Happy Days are here again....

Ah...winter is certainly over and we have been SOOO enjoying the warm weather. Emma never wants to come inside so I actually have to leave the confines of the house, scrapbooking/card making and computer obsession and get out in...nature :) Actually it's great - I have sun already and it's only April! Plus it's good exercise chasing Emma around on the playground...In other news - we've finally sold our house so we're busy packing. Haven't found a new one yet - but we're working on it! At least now that ours has sold we can jump quicker on the homes in Guilderland that have been selling fast!

And now for proof of all the fun we're having....


So, first we started the month with Madeline's birthday - complete with the showing up of a pig :)


Emma loved her Easter basket - and Mike and I of course shared it with her


Spent another fun night at Bronsons with lots of little ones running around


We spent a day at the Boston Aquarium - Emma loved the Penguins and fish of course


Loved walking around the city - even if it was pretty cold and windy!


Afternoon at Lynnwood Elementary - lots of slides, crawl through thingys :)


Special Meeting


Oh yeah, and Heidi went to France and came home safely


And of course most Importantly we welcomed a new nephew into this great big world - Graham William - SUCH a cutie


Beginning of nice days - outside at the Knaggs' playyard :)


Oscar, Madeline, Sawyer and Emma on the trampoline


A Saturday Afternoon at the Crossings


Once the guys finally came back from Go-Kart racing, we had pizza and let them chase the kids around for a little while


Emma and Madeline on the playground


Stopped in to see Graham - Emma's not so sure what to think, but I think she's getting used to him - can't wait to see more of him and watch these two little ones grow up together!

Is it really March already???

Well it was predicted that March was going to come in like a Lion with a giant snowstorm, but we didn't see more than a dusting - I'm glad. I don't think I've ever been more ready for Spring! Now let's just hope it doesn't go Zero to Ninety too fast... :) We went out to Buffalo for a few days over the Mid-Winter break. Emma and Jack loved playing together as always. Now that Emma's walking, Jack was panting to keep up with her - soo cute!


Jack and Emma reading a book


We finally got to meet Kinsley - it's amazing the changes in a year - Kinsley just turned 6 months and in her little PJs - I got a flashback of Emma 9 months ago...soo adorable!


Emma and Jack look like they're up to no good in the kitchen :)


Feb 28th we had a baby shower for Clarissa - here's Emma and I. Emma doesn't look so happy - I think she was wondering what all those people were doing at her Nana and Papa's house!


Clarissa


With the cake Beth made...the "theme" was - "there's going to be a new baby in the candy store" so everything had a bit of a candy theme - hence the mini candies on the cake! Good thing we were in with the chocolate master to get mini lollipops and mints just for us:) Can't wait to meet the new little one!

Valentines, New Babies and More

In an effort to save time, please excuse the fact that this post is chronologically backwards... Feel free to scroll to the bottom, then back up if you wish! February is flying by - just like all the other months...and being the shortest I'm sure it will be gone in a jiffy.


Tonight we celebrated Dad's 52nd Birthday at our house with Chicken Parm and Rum Cake :) His birthday is Saturday, but most of the family will be away so we celebrated early.


Emma came home today and started rocking her baby in her chair - so cute!


Tuesday night we were at Bronson's place - of course all the kids want to be in the same place! This was after an exciting game of Duck, Duck, Goose :)


Grant looking soo serious!


Emma chillin' in Bronson's new chair


LOVE This picture of little Grant - what a honey...he smells sooo good :) (ALMOST makes me want to have another....)


Sunday afternoon - Emma cuddlin' with Uncle Bronson and his iPhone


Happy Valentine's Day! Had to go to CK - of course!


Emma loves Aunt Heidi - and she says her name all the time - too cute!


Roses from my Valentine


Emma helping Aunt Clarissa do chocolate covered strawberries


Emma on Valentines in the window at CK


First time really out in the snow - she thought it was pretty fun. All the time she is pointing, wanting to go outside - it's been SOOO cold lately (and all winter for that matter). It seems every time we have a nice snowstorm it's bitter bitter cold for a week after. Anyways she finally got out and loved it.


Lunch at Dave and Sandy's after the Waterpark Weekend


Jackson and Landon


Guys playing a game before lunch


Emma dressed up before Union Mtg.

There you go - enjoy the weekend - take care!

Water Park Weekend

We spent last night in Lake George - only a few miles away, but indoors it was many degrees warmer than the frigid weather we've been having! We had so much fun with a crowd of friends - Dave, Sandy, Sawyer, Dave, Jackson, Jody, Kevin, Breanna, Brayden, Brad, Shelley, Ellie, Ava, Brian, Lindi, Ethan, Aidan, James, Laura, Brynna...think that's everyone. We gathered for pizza in one of the massive suites and then breakfast this morning - good times. Glad we got to know some of you NewEngland folks better...

Here's a few pics of the fun (you can find more on my Facebook...)


Little buddies


Our family


Mike on the flow-rider


Guys waiting in line


Kids Saturday Morning

Have Done List

The house is quiet (Emma's sleeping) and I've got it all picked up for a showing tonight so as to not mess anything up - I will just have to waste some time on the computer :) Jami had this on her blog so I'll try it out...

Highlight the ones you've done....for fun!
1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars.
3. Played in a band.
4. Visited Hawaii.
5. Watched a meteor shower.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to Disneyworld.
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sang a solo.
11. Bungee jumped.
12. Visited Paris.
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.
15. Adopted a child.
16. Had food poisoning.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.
18. Grown your own vegetables.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.
20. Slept on an overnight train.
21. Had a pillow fight.
22. Hitch hiked.
23. Taken a sick day when you're not sick.
24. Built a snow fort.
25. Held a lamb.
26. Gone skinny dipping. (it's a long story...Girls Trip '02)
27. Run a marathon.
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice.
29. Seen a total eclipse.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset.
31. Hit a home run. (In Gym class..)
32. Been on a cruise.
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.
35. Seen an Amish community.
36. Taught yourself a new language.
37. Had enough money to truly be satisfied.
38. Seen the leaning tower of Pisa in person.
39. Gone rock climbing.
40. Seen Michelangelo's David.
41. Sung karaoke.
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant.
44. Visited Africa.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.
46. Been transported in an ambulance.
47. Had your portrait painted.
48. Gone deep sea fishing.
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person.
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling.
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud.
54. Gone to a drive-in theater.
55. Been in a movie.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China.
57. Started a business.
58. Taken a martial arts class. (does kickboxing count?)
59. Visited Russia.
60. Served in a soup kitchen.
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies.
62. Gone whale watching.
63. Gotten flowers for no reason.
64. Donated blood, platelets, or plasma.
65. Gone sky diving.
66. Visited a Nazi concentration camp.
67. Bounced a check. (NSF)
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy.
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.
71. Eaten caviar.
72. Pieced a quilt.
73. Stood in Times Square.
74. Toured the Everglades.
75. Been fired from a job.
76. Seen the changing of the guards in London.
77. Broken a bone.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person.
80. Published a book.
81. Been to the Vatican.
82. Bought a brand new car.
83. Walked in Jerusalem.
84. Had your picture in the paper.
85. Read the entire Bible.
86. Visited the White House.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had the chickenpox.
89. Saved someone's life.
90. Sat on a jury.
91. Met someone famous.
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Had a baby.
95. Seen the Alamo in person.
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake.
97. Been involved in a lawsuit.
98. Owned a cell phone.
99. Been stung by a bee.
100. Read an entire book in one day.

Guess I have a few things left to try/do :) Hope all are well...we're supposed to be getting more snow tomorrow - very much looking forward to Spring. Did the Groundhog see his shadow?? Happy Groundhog's Day!