Thankful

2009 was year of job loss and major pay cuts in our home. It was a humble year of savings depletion and cutting corners. It was stressful and worrisome. It was and still is scary.

Thankfully we weren't alone. Our parents were there with a helping hand, just when we really needed them. Again and again. Their love and support for our family is a lifesaver and is something we can only hope we'll be able to do for our children when they're on their own.

The magic and wonder of Christmas as seen from a child's eyes!

In the end, we only bought presents for the girls and frugally collected and added the gifts mailed to us from out of area family. On Christmas Eve, Grammy and Grampy added their presents and it was perfect!

Newport Mansions, Rhode Island

Oh, to be born a Vanderbilt...

Alas, WE were destined to just visit and stare in awe.

It's for best, can you imagine mowing this backyard every weekend??

Mystic Seaport

While Lauren and Dan were on their "special father/daughter trip" to Florida, Grammy and Grampy took the rest of us to Mystic for the day. It was a gorgeous autumn day and we enjoyed it immensely. We started off with lunch at Ten Clams located in Mystic Village, then we drove over to the Seaport to explore the olden days and returned later that afternoon to visit all the shoppes at the village.

Katie's favorite part of the day was feeding the ducks at the village, while Megan's was obviously the horse drawn carriage ride. By the way, the horse's name was Little Joe and we will remember him always, or so I'm told.

Katie, all tuckered out!

Father/Daughter Dance 2008

Megan, Abby and Lauren


Grampy and Daddy doing the chicken dance?? Can you say...Embarassing!!







Sometimes the highly stressful, time sucking job of being PTO President for my daughter's school actually allows me and other dedicated parents to host an event that makes me remember why it's all worth while.

Our bi-annual Father/Daughter Dance is such a big success!! Little girls dressed in pretty prom-like dresses with their hair and nails done "just so". They arrive, get their photograph's taken and begin to mingle with their friends. Flash forward an hour and you'll find the DJ has gained super stardom popularity and the gym is crowded with dads, grandfathers and uncles who stand around the perimeter with their hands in their pockets looking awfully uncomfortable and totally ignored...until a rare slow song makes it way into the rotation!!!

Truly memorable.