chocolate cooking class

A christmas gift to alex and I from dick and ann, was an evening cooking class at Baltimore International College on chocolate. Needless to say it was fun and we came home with belly aches!

14 days...

self-portrait

weekend fun

20 days and counting...

another day on the couch

today she mastered solitaire. hopefully school tomorrow. Happy Birthday Alex!

Yeah Fever!!!

yeah its the flu!!! She started a fever yesterday afternoon so we know its a virus. Morning vomiting is also a sign of intracranial pressure but she would have had a headache and she didn't, but its hard to rationalize with us. Took great restraint not to start high fiving alex! She is still home and seemingly better though she is not eating too much.

weekend sewing project

happy february, I think. Pillows the girls and alex made over the weekend. Jul is home sick today throwing up. We hope its just flu, willing her to have a fever or for avery to get sick so we can feel at ease that its just flu not tumor. Ah the sick and twisted life we lead...

skating at quiet waters park

sleepover

snowstorm

we were without power for 20 hrs. kids back at school today on a 2 hr delay but I will take it since they haven't been there in a week. its starting to be a long winter......but on a good note, the crepe myrtle that was "resting" on the minivan has recovered.

ski bunnies in the making.....

sat morning low of 2, wind chill, don't even want to know!

but we went skiing anyway.....thank god for hand and toe warmers!

off to the tundra

going skiing for the weekend. hoping for highs in the teens tomorrow with no wind so we can ski a bit, Sunday sounds a bit better. if nothing else we can sit at the goggle and have a drink while the girls play in the snow--that would be them in the second shot sliding down the hill under the lift on their tummies while mommy was at the bar having a beer. no posting while we're gone, as no wifi at the condo.

my sweetie-girl

check-up

Oncology check-up for Julia yesterday. Met the new doctor for the "survivor"clinic, (feel like I should knock on every piece of wood in the house when I say that). I liked her. She was validating. Her quote to my neurosis, "You've been struck by lightening once, why wouldn't you always have one eye on the sky." Well-said.

On a day off school one should.......

pretend to be at the beach, complete with hula music and sunscreen, have a long playdate, then build your own office like daddy's and play work....top it off with grilled cheese and milkshakes for dinner and you have one heck of a good day!

crazies!

Julia is photographer for the day!

Do we have to go to school today?

Snow Day!

impressive

Spent the morning cleaning and purging files in the basement. These are all of just Julia's EOB's (Explanation of Benefits) for the last 5 years, since diagnosis. It measured 2.5 inches tall. Now if we could only get that much snow! Needless to say if we didn't have health insurance we'd be bankrupt!

More snow! More Snow! More Snow!

Come on....we haven't even had enough to sled ride......we need more than an inch...come on snow gods!

lego morning

our attempt at using every lego we own, by the fire while watching football....a great relaxing kind of day.

Happy 40th Birthday Stacey!!

Known her for as long as I can remember, she celebrates her 40th running her her first marathon tomorrow in Disneyworld at 5am!! Better her than me. I will still be in jammies wondering if it will snow. For the first time ever, its so nice to be the youngest!!! Happy Birthday!

avery's sketch book

Avery's favorite xmas present, a sketch book and new crayons....she did my portrait last night, one of her imaginary friend elizabeth, and one from her imagination.....I think she's got Alex's gift.....

my morning project

As part of the Family Advisory Council at Hopkins I am in charge this year of spending $10,000 from the special purpose fund. We are creating a parent journal to be given to every admission which helps educate,  empower, and emotionally support parents.

put it up......take it down.....until next year....

We like our snowmen

New Years Day Roller Skating!!

beer is good!

We always stop at the "beer is good" store in Somerset on our way to 7springs. Its traadition. You gotta love Western Pa!