NHL All-Star Weekend

Brian and I were lucky to have tickets to the NHL All-Star weekend at the RBC Center in Raleigh this past weekend. One night was a skills clinic, similar to the slam-dunk & 3-point contest that the NBA usually does; but in hockey it involves speed skating, various drills, maneuvers with the puck, etc.
The 2nd day was the All-Star game -- an exciting exhibition of hockey's best players! The Hurricanes were lucky to have 3 players chosen for the big game: Eric Staal, Cam Ward, and Jeff Skinner.

Brian & me with the Ruvos

Eric Staal's brother, Marc, who plays for the NY Rangers
Marc & Eric Staal, resting right in front of us during a warmup


'Canes player Jeff Skinner -- at 18, he's the youngest player ever in the NHL to be chosen for the All-Star game

Recent Artwork

Some recent artwork made by Rachel at school:

In this one, Rachel's class had been working on sequencing, and they were asked to write down the order of events in making a snowman.

The title of the project is "How to Make a Snowman"
Rachel's steps are written as:
First -- big snowball
Next -- medium snowball
Last -- little snowball
My favorite part is what she added at the end (in her own spelling): Decorate it!

This one is a New Year's Resolution...
Rachel wrote, "I want to sing better in the choir"
I love the choir members in her picture, singing with their mouths wide open!

This is one which Rachel made in the style of the worksheets from school. On it, she drew herself as a mermaid, with the caption "I like swimming. I pretend sometimes that I am a mermaid!"

Around the time of MLK Day, Rachel's class talked about what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. taught our society, and then the kids were asked to write about him. This is Rachel's work.
It says: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a good man because ... "he dreamed to put white and black people back together again."
The caption bubble says, "I will put white people back together."

I really like the way she made the people in her picture of different races/colors! The blue sky is a nice detail, too -- her teacher is always encouraging them to add lots of details -- like colors, labels, outlines, etc.

Fun with Hutch, Nelson, & Clair

On Saturday, the girls and I had a fun play date with Hutch, Nelson, & Clair.

Play-doh action
Grilled cheese -- YUM!
Sarah & Nelson

DeeDee's 93rd Birthday

On Monday, the girls, my mom and I visited DeeDee to help her celebrate her 93rd birthday. It's amazing how well she is doing at her age -- aside from her eyesight, she is doing great! Her mind continues to be sharp as a tack. Here are some pictures from our day together.

Ice Skating

Recently we had an icy, wintry mix of precipitation, and Rachel had a fun time "ice skating" on the driveway. She discovered that her worn-out crocs from last summer made excellent ice skates!

January 2011 Miscellaneous

An assortment of photos from January 2011

Sarah began walking in late December, but is definitely a pro now!


Rachel & Caroline set up a choir, using an assortment of dolls & barbies. They were the directors!
The girls with our cul-de-sac neighbors Ryan and baby sister Emma (born Dec. 18), ready for movie time on Saturday afternoon. The older three had fun camping out on the couch, eating popcorn, and watching a movie together! Sarah & Emma slept through most of the fun. :)
My most enthusiastic swiffering helper!
Computer Lessons -- it's never too early to start a career in technology....

New Year's Weekend - PKS with Ruvo Family

We had a fabulous time celebrating the New Year with the Ruvos at our beach house. Here are some pictures from all the fun!

The older 5 waking up from a super-fun slumber party together
Pictured in age order: Gabi, Amelia, Rachel, Laurel, Caroline
Bedtime in the bunk bed room

All seven girls -- on some steps at Fort Macon
Fort Macon
Running around in the moat
Two very happy 3-year-olds

The oldest & youngest in the group
I'm not sure what to say about this one... Caroline and her Ariel doll and a canon
Andy & Stella
The big girls in front of the Carolina Princess at the Morehead City waterfront
Caroline & Laurel doing a show
It was, of course, related to The Little Mermaid, and Brian was lucky enough to be Prince Eric
At the NC Aquarium


We're trying to teach Sarah some photography skills while she's young




The bunk bed room, after we were able to slide the bed on the left into the corner -- creating much more space in the middle of the bedroom