Upcoming Trips

Hi everyone! Just a post script to my St. Patty's day note - it is very difficult, nay, impossible, to find a corned beef in a supermarket at 3:00 pm on March 17, 2007. Hence, the new tradition of Mexican Fajitas in honor of the Snake Eradicator on the Isle of Eyre. However, we were able to track down a piece of meat from one of those corn fed cows (personal joke) on March 18th!~~

Next on the agenda, a trip to PA next weekend to say hi to the world traveler, Regina, Happy Birthday to Pop Pop and big ol' What UUUUP! to Uncle Kirk and Aunt Alex and the rest of the crew. Then the following week we pack up the car and head on out to Ohio for Easter. Unfortunately, due to construction scheduled to take place at Quinn's school this summer, we are getting out early and starting next year late so we have an abbreviated Spring Break, in other words we are off Friday and Monday! So it will be a very short visit, but at least we will get to see our cousins and family.

Top o' the mornin' to you!

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all. Yes, its that time of year again when we ask ourselves "why don't we make corned beef and cabbage more often? Its so good and so easy!" Of course, one would have to actually go to the grocery store to buy the corned beef and since I absolutely hate grocery shopping, I don't know how I am going to swing the traditional St. Patty's day feast. Usually I can count on my mom to come in from PA carting all the fixins' (as well as that giant pot to cook it in) but she already made her St. Patrick's dinner while visiting her first born (and obvious favorite) child last month. Just kidding mom (We all know I'm your favorite). Don't worry, I'll suck it up and make it myself and I won't whine any more!

May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
And rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.

I posted a pic of the girls from Valentine's Day. Maybe I will get the St. Patrick's day pics up by April Fool's Day.

PS- For those of you wondering - Ode to KY was a shout out to my peeps Andi and Ross - Halla!

Ode to Kentucky

What can we say about this 15th State to join the Union? Kentucky, nicknamed the Blue Grass State (due to the fact that bluegrass grows abundantly throughout the State) is considered a Southern State, however, it is also often included, geographically and culturally, in the Midwest. Kentucky is well known for its thoroughbred horses, horse racing, bourbon whiskey distilleries, bluegrass music, and college basketball. (Welcome to March Madness!!) Kentucky has 120 counties, third in the U.S. behind Texas and Georgia. The original motivation for having so many counties was to ensure that residents, in the days of poor roads and horseback travel, could make a round trip from their home to the county seat and back in a single day.
The largest city in Kentucky is Louisville Metro, with a 2005 census estimated population of 556,429. Wait, make that 556,433.
Here are some interesting facts about Kentucky:
Its official State Bird is the Cardinal; State Butterfly is the Viceroy Butterfly; State Dance is Clogging; State Drink is Milk; State Fish is the Kentucky Spotted Bass; State Fossil is the Brachiopod (Of course, what else would it be??); State Flower is the Goldenrod; State Fruit is the Blackberry; State Gemstone is the Freshwater Pearl; State Grass is Kentucky Bluegrass (I believe we may have covered topic this previously in this post); State Latin Motto is "Deo gratiam habeamus" ("Let us be grateful to God"); State Horse is the Thoroughbred; State Mineral is Coal; State Outdoor Musical is "The Stephen Foster Story" (known as the "father of American music," Mr. Foster was the pre-eminent songwriter in the United States of the 19th century and wrote songs, such as "Oh! Susanna", "Camptown Races", "My Old Kentucky Home", "Old Black Joe", "Beautiful Dreamer" and "Old Folks at Home" ("Swanee River") it is not my friend Steve Foster who lives in Oceanport as I originally believed.); State Instrument is the Appalachian Dulcimer (a fretted string instrument of the zither family, typically with three or four strings. The body extends the length of the fingerboard and traditionally has an hourglass, teardrop, triangular, or elliptical shape); State Rock is the Kentucky Agate; State Slogan is "Kentucky: Unbridled Spirit"; State Tree is the Tulip Poplar; State Wild Animal Game Species is the Gray Squirrel (makes for a good stew); State Song is "My Old Kentucky Home" (revised version); State Silverware Pattern is The Georgetown Pattern (Every Kentuckyite has service for twelve); and State family is the MacDonalds.

My Girls

I have two beautiful girls, Quinn, 6, and Gabbie, 4. Even though they look alike, their personalities are polar opposites. Quinn is very shy and apprehensive when you first meet her. Once she is comfortable, her true personality comes out, she's a bit of a clown. She is very competitive and can focus all of her energy into completing the task she is working on. This comes out in her gymnastics. She practices relentlessly! Her intensity when she is concentrating on her routine is that of a much older person. She loves gymnastics and I love that she loves it. We will keep doing it as long as its fun and she enjoys it. Once it becomes a "chore" for her, I will want her to ease back or stop it all together. She's just a kid and sometimes I have to remind her of that!
Gabbie girl is out going and charming. She's 100% girl! She loves pink and purple, dressing up, ballet and doing her hair. She is four going on 17. Randy and I often look at one another and say that we are in for big trouble when she's a teen ager! Two days ago she put curlers in her hair before she went to bed. Unfortunately, they didn't work and when she woke up her hair was just as straight as ever. She was so upset, she stamped her foot and declared "I am not going to School with my hair like this!!", turned on her heel and marched away! She definetly has her own opinion!
I am very lucky that I have two cuddle bugs - they love curling up with me in our big chair and watching TV. We share lots of hugs and kisses and smiles!

First Entry

OK, I'm new at this so give me a break while I try to get my stuff together. I am starting this Blog to stay in touch with my family. I have a sister in Alaska, a brother in Pennsylvania, and my Parents-in -law and Sister-in-Law in Ohio. We can't get together as much as we would like, but I miss them something awful and want them to know I think about them a lot. The girls talk about their cousins and are always asking when they will be able to see them. It breaks my heart!
I am also starting this blog to show my sister that it is not that heard to up date your blog and there is no excuse why the last pictures on her blog are from November. I have not seen a picture of my niece or nephew since then and I would like to know what they look like!
Just Kidding Michele!!