More Pics of Scarlett

Check out this sneak peek of Scarlett's big photo shoot on our photographer's blog. The link is to the right of this post.

She Has Arrived!

Scarlett Emma was born on July 21st. She was 7 lbs 9 oz and 21 inches long. Here are a couple of photos. I'll do more later when I'm feeling better.

Lane saying "She's just so cuuute!"

Ivy's First Piano Recital- June 19th

Ivy started taking piano in January or February from our across the street neighbor, Lisa. She loves it! Lisa says that she is extremely musically talented. Not just piano, but vocally, too. She says that she has picked it up faster than any of her other students. She will ask Ivy to sing the melody of the song and when she does she is exactly on pitch.

She did so well at her recital! She played wonderfully and didn't mess up once. She played Ode to Joy by Beethoven. In her book she learned it with half notes (very slowly) on one hand. At home she would practice it at normal speed and figured out how to play it with her other hand, too. So for the recital she played it with both hands together. She also played a duet with Lisa which was also perfect. You're amazing, Ivy!

In action

Duet with Lisa

They each got a gold medal with a grand piano on it. This was the best part of the whole night for Ivy.

Ivy was so happy and so pleased with herself. When we got home she wore her medal all night and all the next day and she kept saying, "I'm just so proud of myself." It was great.

Surprise Baby Shower

Carrie knew that I wouldn't have it unless I didn't know about it. It was actually really nice. It was more like a little dinner party with a couple of close friends than a shower, which was perfect. Honestly, I hate baby showers. I'm just going to say it. What is wrong with me? All the cutesy little whatevers and dumb games and all of that. And, there is nothing worse than hearing people's horror birth stories. The whole thing is just not for me. But this was perfect. So, thanks Carrie. I got some of the nicest gifts, too. Almost every single person gave me something handmade. I seriously couldn't believe it. It was so nice! So cute. Thanks guys!

Allison Taylor (holding Carrie's Devin) Carrie Chiapelli, me, Jen Andelin, Crystal Wilde, Natalie Hamilton (8 months pregnant) Prairie Daugherty, Lisa Marshall, Mindy Johnston

Field Trip to Morris Arboretum-May

I got to go with Ivy and her Kindergarten class to the Morris Arboretum. The kids each have a "buddy" from 2nd grade that they are assigned to. We rode the bus with Molly, Ivy's buddy. The Arboretum was beautiful and we learned so much about plants and trees!

On the bus with Molly

Father and Son Camp Out

The turquoise rental all packed and ready for camping

Jude and Lane went on their first Father/Son camp out on Friday night. I would have never thought that Lane could go at 3, but I loved the idea. Lane was so excited. We packed up his Batman backpack with pajamas and water and his bear and extra socks and underwear and clothes for tomorrow. He was carrying it around all excited.

It was really weird having them both gone all night. I kept wondering how things were going--I couldn't help but worry a little. It was so quiet with just me and Ivy in the house. We had the missionaries over with one of our neighbors so we couldn't do much with our girls night, but we had a really good talk and just spent time together. It was really nice to have some time with just me and Ivy. Life gets crazy and we needed that.

I finally got a hold of Jude the next day on their way home, and I asked if they had fun. Jude said, "Uh..it depends what you call fun. I mean, yeah, Lane had a great time." He said that there wasn't much for the little boys to do so they just tackled each other and it was hard to have to watch him every second. I'm sure it was a lot of work for Jude, but what a great memory. It didn't help that Jude didn't think to bring a pillow for his whiplashed neck or a change of clothes or anything to sleep on. He came home pretty sore and tired, but he said it was worth it.

Lane and Shane

Lane doing what he does best

Cousins

Andy and Lane

Edie and Ivy

Jack and Ivy

My sister, Alyson and her family came 2 days after Bryan left. We love having company. We went to the Please Touch Museum and to the New Jersey shore. We took them to Germantown and ate dinner and let the kids play at the castle park. We saw Historic Philadelphia--Liberty Bell and all of that and to Jim's Steaks. We've been dying to go there because it is supposed to be the best place in Philadelphia to get a Philly Cheesesteak. It's even in the book, 1000 Places to See Before You Die, so we had to go before we move. But every time we go the line is out the door and around the corner and the people in it have been waiting over an hour. We went for lunch at 11:30 on a Tuesday and we hardly had to wait at all. It was great. I liked it much better than Geno's or Pat's which are also famous. Jonny got his cheesesteak true Philly style with wiz (cheese wiz. discusting, right?). It was actually really good.

Carriage ride
Jonny (sporting his NY aviators) Andy, Lane, Edie, Jack, and Al

Andy and Lane (with tough guy pose)

Outside Liberty Bell
(more sweet posing- isn't he cool???)

On Saturday we got a babysitter and the four of us went to New York City. We decided to pay the money and do a city bus tour. It was totally worth it. We didn't have a lot of time and I can't walk around all day so it was the perfect solution. We saw the whole city. You can get off whenever and wherever you want and a bus comes every 10 minutes to pick you up. It was perfect. We got off and went to the top of the Empire State Building, and did some back room purse shopping on Canal Street. We all got sweet aviators and some stuff for the kids.

Time Square

Al and Jonny on the bus

Empire State Building

Jude and me sporting our new matching aviators. cute

We had reservations at Beco which is in the Theater District. I think they called that part of the street Restaurant Row? It was a really cute part of the city. We saw Billy Elliot at the Imperial Theater. It is the #2 ranked show (after Wicked, of course, which we've already seen) and was nominated for 15 awards or something-- including best musical. How could we go wrong, right? It was good, don't get me wrong, parts of it were absolutely amazing, but there was so much bad language. Little kids saying the F word all the time and stuff like that which was not cool. There was even some boy on boy kissing-- a bit disturbing. We read the reviews for content and they said there was some language, but that the show was appropriate for a 9 year old. Well anyway I don't think I would recommend it, but I'm still glad we went. The dancing was amazing. It made me want to get Ivy into a ballet class.

Waiting for our table at Beco before the show

At Billy Elliot
Matching specs again and one very large arm


Me and Al after the show

The show got over and we rushed out of there to get on the subway back to the ferry. We got there at 11:37 and the ferry had just left at 11:30. The next ferry wasn't until 12:30. It sucked!! That put us home at 2:30. Our poor babysitter! Prairie you are a saint!

Staten Island Ferry