A bunch of tourists from Akron Ohio

We had a GReAt Day .....

We were tourists (pretending to be from Akron) in our own city ....

Best friends, cool old buildings, the best lunch, a taste of an international city,

a fire house, a special bench and a train !!!

Who could ask for more than that in a day.

The old beauty of Union Station

Auntie Heather and Nicole found true "Bliss" when they sat on the bench from 500 days of summer...

My highlight ... our ride on Angeles Flight

The boys had a little fun in this really cool fountain ... that is until we got  busted !!!

Every one in a while it's fun to break the rules just a bit !!!

Phillippe's Beef Dip sandwich is the best

This year I promised myself that the kids and I would actually do at least some of the things on our

summer bucket list ....

2 weeks since school got out and "Check" I got one marked off

After today I'm even more excited to enjoy new and exciting things off our

list .... Our day spent with our amazing friends made it all the more BeTrEr ..

Gotta love being tourists ....

My heart still aches ......

3 years ago today we lost my grandpa

I miss him just as much today as I did that day.

My life was so blessed to have such an amazing man

who loved me, believed in everything i did, and was always there for me.

Grandpa was a amazing man. A Godly, loving, giving, smart man who worked so hard and was looked up to by people all around him.

He ran a bank, he left a huge legacy in helping to create what we know now as the "Visa" and creating what banks use all over the world as the check routing system, he lectured and taught people how to make millions of dollars ( i should have listened better to that one), he volunteered for years, ran many clubs and charities, this list could go on forever ... all this to say ...

grandpa was one amazing - powerful man... and yes all this was great...

But, more so, when I think of my grandpa...

what comes to my mind is drumstick ice cream, gymnastics and balancing high in the air,

cigars and baby food jars, a good hamburger, spending the night, saturday lunches with he and my great grandma, a great voice, a showman, silly jokes, a brown briefcase,

and love ... love ... love...

My life is better today, because I had such a wonderful inspriation in my life

Grandpa, I love you and miss you everyday.



what a way to end

Ryan just completed his first year of soccer with Xplosion !!!

He enjoyed an amazing year, great fall season, good times and hard play during state cup, a few good tournaments, a stellar spring season. We are very proud of all the boys, who played their hearts out and never gave up or let us down !!!!

Way to go Ryan !!!! Very proud of you and how hard you work.

It's a girl thing ....

This weekend was a true girl weekend !!!!

A dream weekend for Nic .....

Shopping with all her birthday

gift cards .....

me .. lots of waiting staring at dressing rooms ...

 Tip dying ... Ruby Raspberry, was the color of choice as Nic and Lauren did their tips

 Her new summer look !!

 Then off to a silly evening of fun !!!!

New look !!!

 Off for part of her birthday present !!!

Her 2nd hole .....

 Shared her experience with one of her bestie's

who also got her 2nd hole for her birthday

Look mom ...

 I did it .....

second piercing ... raspberry hair .. new clothes and much more ....

what a great weekend !!!

LoVEd  iT AlL!!!!

Now it feels like summer !!!!

I love the beach !!!!

Fun .. fun ... fun !!!!

A Night of Laughs !!!!

To help celebrate number 15 for Rob and Heather

and we all made it through another school year

and we just needed to hang out ....

We had a great night of laughs ....

and laughs and laughs ...

What a great night had by all!!!!

I love these people ..... so so blessed !!!!



first day of summer ... off to a good start !!!!

Dad & Ryan off for a day of fun at

Universal Studios ....

Nicole, Lauren and I ... a day of errands to get ready for

Maya's going away get together with their buddies ....

24 years of waiting .....

About 24 years ago Mark and I began a love affair with the Kings ...

back in the day He loved the game ... I like it alot but I liked the boys too ....

man were they cute .... My passion has deminished a bit over the years (life gets busy)

but Mark's has not budged at all....

Well a few months ago, Mark told me .... Hang on ......

It's king time ....

He was right .... his team ..... took the Stanley Cup.

The fun part of this story is how his love for the kings and hockey has

 been passed onto Ryan.

Every game ... live or DVR'd ... they watched together

and as the Kings went farther their excitment grew .... together !!!

A great journey they had, and man what a celebration here the night they won !!!!

All this to say .... that when the parade was announced, they both knew they wanted to go

and go they did!!!!

The whole day was an adventure !!!

Starting with the riding the metro train from Norwalk...

The green train to the blue train ( thru compton and other interesting stops)

The crowds of thousands.....

the excitement in the air....

watching the buses filled with their favorite players

and the sighting of Brown hoisting the Stanley Cup ....

A true adventure that neither of them will ever forget !!!!