The quote is from Mariah Carey's song "Butterfly"
"Spread your wings & prepare to fly
for you have become a Butterfly"
Image is clickable to my gallery to see a larger view.
This layout uses the gorgeous Butterfly Crystals by Kathryn Estry
Friday, April 11, 2008
Spread Your Wings
It's been a while since I posted a layout that I've done. This one just came together and the quote just describes pretty much how I've been feeling lately. Not too often when you're really, truly feeling good about yourself...so, I'm indulging! Thanks for looking!
The quote is from Mariah Carey's song "Butterfly"
"Spread your wings & prepare to fly
for you have become a Butterfly"
Image is clickable to my gallery to see a larger view.
This layout uses the gorgeous Butterfly Crystals by Kathryn Estry
The quote is from Mariah Carey's song "Butterfly"
"Spread your wings & prepare to fly
for you have become a Butterfly"
Image is clickable to my gallery to see a larger view.
This layout uses the gorgeous Butterfly Crystals by Kathryn Estry
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Letchworth Hike :)
2 Posts in one day? We've been pretty busy!
The quote on the rock reads:
"God wrought for us this scene beyond compare, but one man's loving hand protected it and gave it to his fellow men to share."
~ Sarah Evans Letchworth
We had a glorious afternoon! The weather was absolutely perfect and we couldn't bear to waste the day inside or just putzing around the house. We traveled about an hour out to Castile, NY to go on a hike at Letchworth State Park. We hiked the Gorge Trail which is about a 7 mile hike...we did about 3 miles down to the lower falls, had lunch, then turned around and hiked 3 miles back to the car. The kids did great, and loved collecting rocks and pine cones along the way. Josh had enough in his pockets to literally weigh him down and he just didn't quite understand why he was having so much trouble towards the end. LOL
Here are some of the pics...pretty, eh?
The Upper Falls.
Tim and I at the Upper Falls, photo credit to Josh.
I think I can, I think I can...
Here you can see the Upper Falls, and Middle Falls...and a glimpse of why they call this the "Grand Canyon of the East"...surely it's a bit more magnificent when everything is green :)
The kids in front of a frozen fountain that sits in front of the Glen Iris Inn at Letchworth. The fountain never turns off, so in the winter it totally freezes over...cool, eh?
The quote on the rock reads:
"God wrought for us this scene beyond compare, but one man's loving hand protected it and gave it to his fellow men to share."
~ Sarah Evans Letchworth
We had a glorious afternoon! The weather was absolutely perfect and we couldn't bear to waste the day inside or just putzing around the house. We traveled about an hour out to Castile, NY to go on a hike at Letchworth State Park. We hiked the Gorge Trail which is about a 7 mile hike...we did about 3 miles down to the lower falls, had lunch, then turned around and hiked 3 miles back to the car. The kids did great, and loved collecting rocks and pine cones along the way. Josh had enough in his pockets to literally weigh him down and he just didn't quite understand why he was having so much trouble towards the end. LOL
Here are some of the pics...pretty, eh?
The Upper Falls.
Tim and I at the Upper Falls, photo credit to Josh.
I think I can, I think I can...
Here you can see the Upper Falls, and Middle Falls...and a glimpse of why they call this the "Grand Canyon of the East"...surely it's a bit more magnificent when everything is green :)
The kids in front of a frozen fountain that sits in front of the Glen Iris Inn at Letchworth. The fountain never turns off, so in the winter it totally freezes over...cool, eh?
Spring Training
Ahhhh, Spring! Finally!!
"If we had no winter, the Spring would not be so pleasant."
~Anne Bradstreet
My crocuses have finally opened and the weather is warming up.
I have been able to get my 2 miles in the morning at the park and baseball is in the air :)
Tim had the Cardinals (of course) first practice on Saturday! The weather was gorgeous (even though there were a snow pile or two left around) and the boys were definitely itching to get out there and play some ball.
Josh moved up to the 7-8 pitching machine level so he is the youngest on the team still at 6. Even after the first practice we can tell that Coach Tim has a pretty great team of kids this year, the Cards will be a force for sure!
Goooooo Cardinals!
"If we had no winter, the Spring would not be so pleasant."
~Anne Bradstreet
My crocuses have finally opened and the weather is warming up.
I have been able to get my 2 miles in the morning at the park and baseball is in the air :)
Tim had the Cardinals (of course) first practice on Saturday! The weather was gorgeous (even though there were a snow pile or two left around) and the boys were definitely itching to get out there and play some ball.
Josh moved up to the 7-8 pitching machine level so he is the youngest on the team still at 6. Even after the first practice we can tell that Coach Tim has a pretty great team of kids this year, the Cards will be a force for sure!
Goooooo Cardinals!
Sunday, March 30, 2008
NY Maple Weekend!
We can check one more thing off our "things to do in our own backyard" list!
It was the 13th Annual New York Maple Weekend here in WNY so we took this opportunity to visit one of the local sugar houses. We visited Merle Maple Farms in Attica, NY where we took a tractor ride to visit the sugar bush and see all the tapped trees. Then we enjoyed hot dogs with maple mustard and took a tour of the sap house where we were taken through the process step-by-step. In true Disney-esque fashion, the tour ended in the gift shop where we were able to sample and purchase all the maple butters, syrups, jellies and even maple cotton candy. Yummy!
Fun Facts we learned today:
~ It takes 40-50 gallons of sap to make 1 gallon of syrup
~ Sap is about 2% sugar and 98% water
~ A maple tree is at least 30 years old and about 24" in diameter before it is tapped
~ As the tree increases in diameter, more taps can be added - up to a maximum of four taps per tree
~ Tapping does no permanent damage and only 10 percent of the sap is collected each year
~ The maple season may last eight to 10 weeks, but sap flow is heaviest for about 10-20 days in the early spring
~ The sap is actually clear (always assumed it was brown)
~ Josh doesn't really like maple :)
It was a fun family day and we'll be looking on the map to visit one of their pancake breakfasts in the next week or so while the season lasts. If you're in the area, or just for fun...visit www.mapleweekend.com :)
On the tractor ride we were taken up into the sugar bush where we got to see all the tapped trees.
The old sugar shack that was used before they built a new one.
Tim and Josh watching the syrup boil.
Kayla drinking up the syrup...it was still warm and oh, so sweet!
Kayla and Mom enjoying a beautiful, brisk, spring afternoon in the sunshine!
It was the 13th Annual New York Maple Weekend here in WNY so we took this opportunity to visit one of the local sugar houses. We visited Merle Maple Farms in Attica, NY where we took a tractor ride to visit the sugar bush and see all the tapped trees. Then we enjoyed hot dogs with maple mustard and took a tour of the sap house where we were taken through the process step-by-step. In true Disney-esque fashion, the tour ended in the gift shop where we were able to sample and purchase all the maple butters, syrups, jellies and even maple cotton candy. Yummy!
Fun Facts we learned today:
~ It takes 40-50 gallons of sap to make 1 gallon of syrup
~ Sap is about 2% sugar and 98% water
~ A maple tree is at least 30 years old and about 24" in diameter before it is tapped
~ As the tree increases in diameter, more taps can be added - up to a maximum of four taps per tree
~ Tapping does no permanent damage and only 10 percent of the sap is collected each year
~ The maple season may last eight to 10 weeks, but sap flow is heaviest for about 10-20 days in the early spring
~ The sap is actually clear (always assumed it was brown)
~ Josh doesn't really like maple :)
It was a fun family day and we'll be looking on the map to visit one of their pancake breakfasts in the next week or so while the season lasts. If you're in the area, or just for fun...visit www.mapleweekend.com :)
On the tractor ride we were taken up into the sugar bush where we got to see all the tapped trees.
The old sugar shack that was used before they built a new one.
Tim and Josh watching the syrup boil.
Kayla drinking up the syrup...it was still warm and oh, so sweet!
Kayla and Mom enjoying a beautiful, brisk, spring afternoon in the sunshine!
Monday, March 3, 2008
Happy Anniversary to Me!
"Accept challenges, so you can feel the exhileration of victory."
~General George S. Patton
Well it's been a year of challenges for me and I'm feeling pretty victorious! It's my one year anniversary since I started my "lifestyle change" and weight loss journey... One year, over 800 miles logged, over 4 sizes smaller, 77 pounds lost. I've got my life back and there's no greater feeling in the world!
(Click image for credits)
Journaling reads:
March 3, 2008
Well it’s about time you took care of yourself! I am so unbelievably proud of you for taking charge of your life and your health. And this time you really stuck with it! You honestly have more willpower and are a stronger person than you ever realized. You are now the beautiful person you always were on the outside too. Even though you are a wife and mother, I am so glad that you finally learned that life doesn’t end there and that you can do nice things for yourself and not feel guilty about it! Keep it up, you’re a better person for it!
Happy Anniversary!
Love, Me
~General George S. Patton
Well it's been a year of challenges for me and I'm feeling pretty victorious! It's my one year anniversary since I started my "lifestyle change" and weight loss journey... One year, over 800 miles logged, over 4 sizes smaller, 77 pounds lost. I've got my life back and there's no greater feeling in the world!
(Click image for credits)
Journaling reads:
March 3, 2008
Well it’s about time you took care of yourself! I am so unbelievably proud of you for taking charge of your life and your health. And this time you really stuck with it! You honestly have more willpower and are a stronger person than you ever realized. You are now the beautiful person you always were on the outside too. Even though you are a wife and mother, I am so glad that you finally learned that life doesn’t end there and that you can do nice things for yourself and not feel guilty about it! Keep it up, you’re a better person for it!
Happy Anniversary!
Love, Me
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Back from the Land of Cleve...
We had a great time in Cleveland, OH last weekend. We went there for the Tremaine Dance Convention and Competition that Kayla was in. We went early Friday so we could get some swimming and relaxing in before the whirlwind began Saturday morning. Classes began at 8:30am and she danced until 4:00pm. Saturday night was the competition and Sunday began bright and early with scholarship auditions at 8:00am and classes until 2:00pm. Then we enjoyed the faculty show and hit the road. WHEW!
Competition went excellently and both of Kayla's dances took first place which earned them a spot to compete in the National Finals in Orlando, FL in July...so guess where we're headed??? LOL
It was an exhausting weekend, but well worth it! I even got to take a class :) Lori talked me into taking Doug Caldwell's class on Sunday...and even though it was totally over my head (ummm, my last convention was like 18 years ago! YIKES!) it was something I am so glad that I did. I would have never even thought of attempting a dance class (especially Doug's!) a year ago. I think it says a lot about how far I've come this past year, about the weight I've lost, and my lifestyle change ~ I am living again! I was so thrilled to be able to share that with my sister. I am certain that this was an even bigger thrill for my Mom since she was there to see her two daughters dance together again. It was an emotional moment for all of us, but a memory that will continue to motivate me and that I will carry with me forever.
Ok...now I am going to bombard you with some photos from the weekend! Enjoy!
Ballet Class
Tap Instructor, Nick Drago
Hip-Hop Instructor, Marty Dew
Hi De Ho
Low
The girls and their trophies
Me, Lori and the Man himself, Joe Tremaine
Doug's Lyrical Class
Me and Lori with Doug Caldwell
Josh and Denise getting crazy at the bar with his OJ on the rocks!
Positively POOPED! Dreamin of July...
Competition went excellently and both of Kayla's dances took first place which earned them a spot to compete in the National Finals in Orlando, FL in July...so guess where we're headed??? LOL
It was an exhausting weekend, but well worth it! I even got to take a class :) Lori talked me into taking Doug Caldwell's class on Sunday...and even though it was totally over my head (ummm, my last convention was like 18 years ago! YIKES!) it was something I am so glad that I did. I would have never even thought of attempting a dance class (especially Doug's!) a year ago. I think it says a lot about how far I've come this past year, about the weight I've lost, and my lifestyle change ~ I am living again! I was so thrilled to be able to share that with my sister. I am certain that this was an even bigger thrill for my Mom since she was there to see her two daughters dance together again. It was an emotional moment for all of us, but a memory that will continue to motivate me and that I will carry with me forever.
Ok...now I am going to bombard you with some photos from the weekend! Enjoy!
Ballet Class
Tap Instructor, Nick Drago
Hip-Hop Instructor, Marty Dew
Hi De Ho
Low
The girls and their trophies
Me, Lori and the Man himself, Joe Tremaine
Doug's Lyrical Class
Me and Lori with Doug Caldwell
Josh and Denise getting crazy at the bar with his OJ on the rocks!
Positively POOPED! Dreamin of July...
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Catwalk II for Charity
Tim and I attended the Catwalk II event last Saturday night to benefit Ryan Miller's Steadfast Foundation. They had elaborate international food stations all from the different nationalities represented by the Buffalo Sabres players (Germany, Sweden, Czech Republic, Russia, Italy, Canada, Ireland, and of course, America). There was also a Silent/Live Auction, Martini Bar, and Guitar Hero Challenge with Drew Stafford. We were also entertained by live music including a special appearance from Robby Takac from the Goo Goo Dolls who did a single song jam session with Ryan Miller and Drew Stafford both on guitar.
I think the highlight (for me at least!) was this little live auction item...(The pup, not Ryan Miller!! LOL)
How cute is this little puppy face??? Ryan looked pretty attached to this little pooch too! Well the highest bid was $6000 and the proud owner...Max Afinogenov! Looks like the Sabres have a new mascot :) Sorry, Tooth!
Here are some more pics from the fashion show! Enjoy!
Disco Sabretooth!
Gaustad and Connelly on the Catwalk.
Love Gaustad's shirt...how appropriate! ;)
Kotalik and Vanek strutting their stuff!
The Hanson Brothers from the movie "Slapshot" (1977)
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