A well deserved Mom's night out!

Last night I got together with the some of the Mom's from our local adoption group. I am so lucky to have these girlfriend's in my life. It really is an amazing story how we all came together via the adoptions of our children. We are more then just an adoption group. We are FRIENDS and like FAMILY. I keep saying I need to do a whole post on how we all met like a family tree.

We try to get together for a Mom's only night out every few months. We always have a blast! Last night we went to Carlucci's grill. The food, wine, and conversation was great! Of course I had a great time talking everyone's ears off!

Let's do it again real soon gals!

Gina, Kathy, Kate, Deb, Me, Jennifer, and Kellyann

Coach Daddy

Last week we got the Fall Soccer season schedule and Dan has been selected as a volunteer Coach. Katie is very excited that Daddy will be her soccer coach. Mommy and Daddy are pretty excited too.

Dan attended the coaches meeting tonight and got Katie's uniform. The first game will be Sept 6th. We are really excited!!!

Daddy said a bad word!

So we just got home from work and school and we are sitting in the kitchen deciding what to eat for dinner. Dan says "My shoulder is killing me". Katie says "Ohhhh Daddy said a bad word!!". I said "What did he say?". Katie says "Daddy said killing, that's a bad word".

Too funny!

What happens at Mimi's........

stays at Mimi's until Mommy sees it on Mimi's camera.

Little video of Katie having fun at Mimi's

Frankie and Peep's House

When we ask Katie where she wants to go to get dinner she says "Frankie and Peeps house". Our favorite Italian/Pizza Place is Candela's. The pizza is great but we go for the great Italian food. Dan and I have been going to Candela's for about 10 years with Karen and Jeff. Jeff's family has been going to Candela's since Jeff was little. It is a lovely family owned place and over the last 10 years we have come to know the owners and waitresses well. Candela's is now run by the 2 Candela sons Frankie and Pete.

After we flew home from China with Katie we stopped at Candela's for dinner. It was the first place Katie went to in America. Since then Katie has been to Candela's more times then we can count. She fondly calls Candela's "Frankie and Peep's house". She started calling Pete "Peep" and it stuck. Frankie and Peep always make a fuss over Katie. She has even gone into the kitchen to see the pizzas being made.



My favorite is the Chicken Parm with Spaghetti. Dan's favorite is the Vodka Rigatoni with Chicken. Katie likes both. She likes my chicken with "Daddy's orange noodles".



We went to Candela's for dinner last Friday night and we had the camera with us so we took some pictures of Katie with Frankie and Peep.



The night we got home from China with Katie. Unfortunately this picture is blurry.

Katie with Peep and Frankie

Peep making the Pizza. Pete is always working while Frankie socializes with the customers

Frankie socializing!

Well we couldn't get a dog so.........

WE GOT A CHINCHILLA! Yes, a chinchilla named Chipper. I didn't even know what a chinchilla was. Apparently their fur is worth alot. My co-worker Andrew was giving away his chinchilla Chipper. His 13 year old son wasn't interested in him anymore. Chipper is 3 years old. He is the softest thing you will ever feel. He has a mouse face, with a rabbit body, and a squirrel tail. I think he was alittle SHOCKED by us last night after we got him home. Karen, Bailey, and Brady came over to see Chipper. Between the three of them and Katie and I we were all calling his name and trying to pet him. He was going crazy in the cage. Today he was much calmer. But, big mistake~I let him out of the cage!! I was telling Katie not to chase him. She chased him all over the house, calling him her bunny rabbit. I finally threw a blanket over him to trap him and put him back in the cage. Hopefully Chipper learns to trust us soon. I think we make him nervous.

A Trip to the Lake!!!!!

Saturday we spent the day at Penn Warner Lake with family and friends. Penn Warner Lake is about 10 minutes from our house. It is a members only lake. My Mom is still a member. She started going to Penn Warner Lake when she met my Step-Dad Bob. Bob loved the Lake. My Mom and Bob had a whole group of friends at the Lake that I would fondly call "The Lake People". Bob passed away 2 1/2 years ago. My Mom still has Bob's lot and she shares it with friends.

It was a beautiful day at the lake. We cooked a wonderful picnic dinner and had a campfire. The kids had a great time running around and playing. I went tubing on the lake with Eric and Eddie. I am so sore today, I have to remember I am not 21 anymore.

Katie in front of the lake
Bubble fun

Our new camera takes such a great picture that you can see the crumbs all over Katie's face from the cupcake she just ate.

Sitting on the dock

I am on this tube with Eric and Eddie. I am in the middle sitting down in the tube.

I love this picture of Katie in the canoe. The canoe was anchored down and Eric was in the water behind the canoe. Katie thought she was really paddling it.

Eric diving off the tube

Brady on the tractor

The Sunset~What a great day!