Winter Lodge Skating Show

Jannie has been faithfully taking the girls to ice skating lessons for two seasons and this year they got to be in the show! They practiced every week, cousin Kristy was their coach and cousin Karie were so sweet to make the girls feel so special. 

Getting ready to go - they were in the "Rush Hour" scene as taxis! 

Friday night - girls went in early when Jannie dropped then off with the cast and we took our seats in the stands!

the second act! They rocked it!

and then got to sit in the stands with us to watch the rest of the show. Dad gave them flowers ;)

after the show with superstar coach cousin Kristy!

and the second show Saturday night with cousin Karie!

and lucky girls got to take the poster home!! 

they had a sleepover at Jannie and Grandpa's - loved seeing this post from my mom

and they sure were spoiled by Auntie Em and Janes who all watched the show and brought flowers for the stars ;)

Happy 65th Jannie!

we had a fun party for my mom on Saturday at my parent's house! All her friends gathered to help her ring in 65.

Tessa was ready to party. And eat 12 chocolate chip cookies. 

Heff cooked up a yummy pig on the BBQ

piggy meat!

jerry had the karaoke rocking late night. It was loud and my family is crazy :)

all worn out! Fun party Jannie!

65 years of Memories

yesterday was jannie's 65th birthday! To honor what a special person she is and how many people's lives she has truly touched we asked friends and family from past and present to write her a letter of memories. I didn't expect we'd get all the way to 65... But we got that and more!!

alicia saw this idea on a blog and helped me, collecting vintage Etsy envelopes and stamping each one... And adding her calligraphy hand to pretty it up!

people got so creative!! There were long letters and old photos and songs and stories... Even a full book of the story of their friendship!

it was really fun to actually get MAIL in a mailbox 

Jannie is so blessed with so many wonderful friends who took time out of their busy lives to do this. Thank you friends! We love you Jannie!

Skater Girls

The girls have turned into little skater girls :) Their new friend Breaker taught Francie and Maisie how to skateboard last Thursday night when we had dinner - I came out in the cul de sac and the girls were crusing from the top of the hill down where the boys would catch them. I almost had a heart attack but they looked like they knew what they were doing!

At the end of the night Breaker GAVE Francie his skateboard to keep. For reals it might have been the best moment of her life to date :)

Francie slept with her skateboard all night and when Emmy came over she opened the door and said "EMMY. A 12 year old boy... named Breaker... GAVE ME his new skateboard." 

and we were the first ones in line at Skateworks in Downtown Los Altos Friday morning for skate helmets - they used their 100 bonus points, hard earned helmets!

Dad and his skater chicks (oh JJ always got to be the joker)

Skating the afternoon away with Dad

CrayCray JJ

and one afternoon we went to the park so they could skate around and around.... Tess and I had time to catch up on the swings

Then Friday they had their first official skate lessons!! Skateworks has a half pipe in the back and gives lessons - all three at the same time!

Maisie taking it seriously - J not so much

Francie looking like a pro

and Tess is happy to watch from the sidelines!

Go skater girls! Now let's hope we don't end up in the ER anytime soon...

Easter at Jannie and Grampa's

We went over to Jannie and Grampa's for Easter afternoon for lots of fun with cousins.

Francie with her buddies Caroline and Brooke

and it isn't a party til Jannie brings out the Cascarones!

I got to demonstrate the crackin egg technique on Drew- good sport Drewby!

Mimi practicing

sister smash!

Emmy let Tessa "pretend" to get her :)

Wine and confetti - happy UJ

Beautiful Emmy and her buddy Tiny Tess

Jannie and her girls! (just missing Scarlet James!)

and then it was egg cracking contest time (a Greek Easter tradition we adopted! Last egg end to crack wins)

Line up

last ones standing - Jerry and Heff...

Jerry wins!

basking in the glory -

... but notice quiet little Maisie in the corner...

Maisie still had an uncracked egg! (questionable if she cracked with anyone ;)

Jerry ready to take her down - (no a godfather would never do that...)

and it's MAISIE for the win!!

pretty happy about it

and then on to pizza making

if anyone in the family will want to be in the restaurant business - it's this one. (don't worry, we'll tell her to wise up)

pass the baby time

and trike rides

aw such a sad face for cousin kate!

the teenage boy cousins - Luke, James and Drew are very patient with the baby girls!

and where's crazy J been in these pictures? Oh there she is :)

HAPPY EASTER 2013!