Florida

The cheerleading squad that my daughter helps to coach came in first place at the regional competition.  They go to Nationals in Orlando, Florida now.

So, her and I are taking 2-1/2 days and heading down there for competition.  It is De Ja Vu all over again as I've done this a few times already.

Two squads from our town came in first place and we are very, very proud of both of them......

Disney.....here we come!!!!!!!!!!!!

Did you shop???

This past weekend was Black Friday and today is Cyber Monday.....Did you shop???

I didn't......I HATE to shop! 

But if you did (and I know my sister and sister-in-law are the Black Friday queens), I hope you scored big! 

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And a very big  HAPPY BIRTHDAY wish to my sister!!!!!!!!!!

Thanksgiving Day!!!!

 Brody, one of the Trips..

 Carla, Brody and Cassidy

 The whole Trips family

 Cassidy

 The Family!

 Mom, Sister and Niece

 Hope & Jules

 My three!!

 Danny, Dad and Hope

 The Hydes

 Cards after dinner...

 Another card game.

The Boannos and the Parents....

Pre-Thanksgiving Preparations

Making the Ravioli, two nights before Thanksgiving with the family........

Happy Thanksgiving!

Have a great Turkey Day and EAT A LOT!!!!!!  Seriously.....eat a lot!

"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever."
Psalm 107:1 NIV

And Elynor - no throwing Turkeys off the back deck!!!!!!!! (private joke!)

The weekend in Pittsburgh

How many times can I say that I love the City of Pittsburgh!!

I so enjoy all there is to see and do!  This time we took the tour of U Pitt.  We all enjoyed learning about the school and the town and their academic/athletic and all other programs.  The campus was nice.  It is an urban campus and not as much green space as I would like, but we are going to take my daughter there next August to see a few schools in the area.  We will see if she likes it.

Station Square is always fun and even though we were many, many miles from home, we met people from our own home town in the Station Square Mall.......it is a small world.....

We stayed outside the city this time, and found a beautiful church (we find a new one, every time we go!)

And of course, our trip wouldn't be complete without dinner at Lidia's.  I bought my niece her new children's book there and it is signed!

And last but not least, the Steelers won!  It doesn't get any better than that!

Thank you Tony and Debbie for another wonderful weekend!!!!

The Formal

 Pictures from my daughter's formal - she looked beautiful and so did her date!

 With me...

 With her brother....

 With her date!

 With friends.....

 Some of the other couples....

 With her cousin!

 All the girls!

All the boys!

Formal

My daughter is heading to the formal tonight.  Once I get the pictures, I will post them.........

I am heading to Pittsburgh this weekend.........Can you guess what I am going to see????  :)

CSA Friday - Fall Week 3

Here is what I am going to receive:

2 delicata squash
2 butternut squash
1 lb of beets
1 bunch of Hakurei (salad) turnips
1 bag salad greens
2 lbs of regular turnips
1 bunch of toscano (dinosaur) kale
1 head of escarole
1 bunch broccoli raab
1 dozen eggs (I got cauliflower instead)
6 gourds

Last of the tomatoes

It is November 14th and I picked a few more tomatoes today.  I have about 40 small tomatoes in all stages of red, orange and green, and I picked six more today.

It was a good year.....

Late season peas

It's November 13th and my late planted pea plants are just gorgeous......but there are no peas on them.....I was really hoping to get a second crop of them.  I got a great first crop. 

I'm hoping a freeze holds off a while longer, but I won't hold my breath.

CSA Friday - 2nd for the Fall

Here is what I will be getting today.  I will update after lunch if I get anything different or extra!

I am looking forward to this week!

2 winter squashes ( Two butternut squash)
2 lbs of sweet potatoes
4 sweet peppers
1/2lb of carrots
1 head of broccoli (huge)
1 bunch of radishes
1 lb turnips
1 bunch of kale or collards or turnip greens greens (I got Kale)
2 heads of escarole
1 dozen eggs ( I substituted tomatoes)
a few gourds (Three decorative)

A turban squash and The edible Nutmeg magazine.

Veteran's Day

To all our Veterans:  Have a wonderful day and THANK YOU!!!!

Are you ready for some football????

Steelers tonight on Monday Night Football............

I just had to make hubby's night as they lost last week - Go Steelers!

Zumba

I can honestly say that Zumba is tiring me out.  I have decided that I am doing too much.  In three weeks, I am taking it down to teaching three times a week (instead of 4).  We will see how I feel after the holidays and I may have to take it down to twice a week. 

I really want to run again.  I have no time, though, and running is my passion.  But unfortunately, Zumba is going to help to pay for a new (to me) car........I don't get paid to run.   Talk about an internal war raging inside me.....pay or passion?????? 

What would you do?

Qualifiers Winners

The team that my daughter helps to coach in cheerleading, came in first place today - they have now qualified to go to the regional (New England) cheerleading championship in two weeks in Worcester!

I am very proud of her today!  And of course, to the young girls on her squad - Congrats and best of luck!

(PS - the squad my sister coaches came in first also!)

One more competition to see if we all head to Nationals in Orlando!!!!

Edited to add that all four of our town's team have made it through the Qualifiers and will be heading to the regional competition.  What a great day for the town!

CCD Service Project

I have decided (with the help of my sister in law) on the service project for our CCD class. 

We wil be collecting for our troops over seas.  The name of the group is give2thetroops.org and I have given the kids/parents a list of things that are needed.  We will be collecting until December 5th and then a local police dept. is going to send all our donations to our troops. 

Class this weekend is going to focus on the parts of the Mass, what to do at mass, how to act/behave at mass (at least for a 4th grader!)  and also two chapters from our book.....

First FALL CSA

Check out this list....It is very exciting!

2 winter squashes ( I received two that I have no idea what they are - researching google - just found out it is a delicata (yellow with green stripes) heirloom variety)
2 lbs of sweet potatoes
2 large eggplant (they were small)
3 sweet peppers
tomatoes (2)
2 heads of broccoli
2 kohlrabis
2 bunches of radishes
1 lb bag of asian greens ( did not get these)
1 head of lettuce
2 heads of escarole

Added to the list was a pumpkin and then also a huge orange hubbard squash!

Edited after I picked up the CSA (in red).

Triplets B-day

Pictures are posted (Finally!!!)  See blog below!   I added some pictures of the cakes and desserts!

VOTE!

Please don't forget to get out there and vote today - It is an important election. 

That is your PSA for the day/week!!!

Triplets Halloween Birthday party

Although the trips birthday isn't until Dec. 2nd, my sister decided to throw a Halloween party as their real birthday is right after Thanksgiving and right before Christmas and things get chaotic.  What a great time we had!!  Check out some of the costumes........