Sofia

Philly means--SOFIA!!!!!!! Here are some new pictures of the world's most adorable niece EVER!!!!!!! She won't be two until September--but she is already practicing her independence. Chris & Eleanora speak Italian to her at home--so she is our little bi-lingual baby. In the last picture you can see Sofia with her Zio. Her Zio Andy isn't ashamed--he bribed her over and over the whole time we were there--you will notice she is holding biscotti--which is what she calls any kind of cookie. She gets lots of treats from him--that must why she went around yelling "Zio"!!!! If she only knew--her Zia Rena is who brought all the treats for her to be bribed with!!!

Gettysburg

Well--we went to Gettysburg on our way to Philly. Now--I have to tell you and it may come as a complete shock to you--I am not a big outdoorsy kinda girl. I know--you can hardly believe it--anyway--so we go to Gettysburg--this is not on the top of my vacation hot spots--I mean come on--no ocean--no sand!!! It was like a million degrees outside and there is lots of walking around a huge field and woods. I have to say--the researcher in me had done all the prep work--and the website for Gettysburg needs updating!!!!!! You were supposed to be able to get a map from any Visitor's Center--oh yeah--they forgot to mention that they closed all the Visitor's Centers, when they opened the New Multi-Million dollar one--which of course doesn't yet have good signage--so you can actually locate it--oops!!! Once you find the NEW, thankfully air-conditioned, Visitor's Center it has lots of very good displays and memorabilia--but I suggest going in the fall or spring--not when it is 100 degrees!!!!

Swimming at Grandma Deb's

Logan does some tricks!!!!!

We went to Grandma Deb's for the day and had a blast--Wendy met us there. We hardly ever get to see Olivia now that she is working--so it was great that she had the day off. Abby and Lauryn entertained us with their swimming routines--watch out Team USA--they are coming to get you!!!LOL!!!

Lauryn's Summer

Lauryn's summer has been full of camps--she has been a Red Rider--well yeah--a Cavalier, an Eagle and a Pioneer. This was at Malone's volleyball camp--where she met some new friends.

Goodbye North School

Our town has been getting new schools--Lauryn started in the New Middle School--grades 5-8 in February and now we are building a new Elementary, that will house all the K-4. To make way for the new--we have torn down the old. The latest building to come down is the North School building--this building was K-6 when I went to it. Larry went there K-6 and Lauryn & Logan both started there. The year Lauryn went into 3rd the schools became grade specific and North was then 3 & 4, Maple became K-2 (that is where Logan went) and Oak was 5 & 6. When the kids moved into OMS--Oak came down. It is sad to see these buildings go--but it is wonderful to see the new buildings with all the bells and whistles.

Family Visit

OK--So I am a slacker--I have had these pictures and not posted them. Andrew's Auntie Lin was here with her kids--Sarah and Brian. They live in Maryland. Brian brought his guitar--which L&L thought was great--they are regular Guitar Heroes!!!!LOL!!! Brain was really good--L&L not so much.

Gourmet Club-Hawaiian

OK--so a few friends and I have been doing a "Gourmet Club" we picked lots of different themes we would like to try. Then we decide on one--everyone brings dishes for the theme--this one was Hawaiian. I have to tell you--Lauryn told me "Mom--I don't want pressure you or anything--but I am expecting big things from you--we are Hawaiian--you are going to have to come through on this"--yeah--NO pressure!!!!!! Anyway here's what I made--Huli-Huli Chicken served over rice, Manapua and Hawaiian Pork Hash. Huli Huli chicken is marinated overnight then cooked slowly--my Mom has made this for us when we visit. Manapua is a pork filled bun--the pork has a sauce on it. Hawaiian Pork Hash is a steamed dumpling-type thing with a pork filling. The first time I had these my Great Auntie Rita brought them from the Big Island. They were in a bakery box that she carried on the plane with her. These are SOOOOOO GOOD!!!!!!! We love all of these--and they really aren't that hard to make.