Life's a Beach!!

Wow... what a fun day! We headed to Belmar, NJ with several friends for a day of fun in the sun. The weather was perfect and everyone had a blast.

Thanks for coming up with the idea Kelley... and can't wait to go again!!!

to see the full album, click on this link.... http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2072200&id=1287618449&l=95f4685e6c

glub glub glub...

We are pretty sure that the girls are growing gills and fins. They LOVE the water and are becoming quite good swimmers. Angela has even started working on doing the freestyle stroke! She says she has to practice for her "big race" (coming up in a few weeks!). But we enjoyed going out to lunch with Nana and Mom-mom then went back for a quick nap and then a nice long swim in the pool. It was a great day... hope you enjoy the pics!!

here is a link to the entire photo album:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2071969&id=1287618449&l=94f0e37b0f

Kimberton Fair 2010

Each year we look forward to heading to the Kimberton Community Fair. This year the weather was perfect and we had a blast!! The girls got to go on oodles of rides, play games, and eat "messy donuts". I am happy to announce that two of my photos won first prizes in the photo contest, so I was very pleased. So, it was a GREAT time had by all!!!

here is a link to the entire photo album:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2071965&id=1287618449&l=6c3141d4bb

The girl's first friend camp-out

This was a VERY last minute idea on my part... next time I will plan it to be MUCH earlier... but it was fun overall!! Our friend Megan Kasper and her daughter Mackenzie (Angela's best friend) came over on monday evening for a camp out. The girls collected sticks (which we ALWAYS have an abundence of in our yard!) while I set up the tent and lugged all the sleeping bags and pillows outside. Then we got the fire started and the kiddos roasted marshmallows, while the Megans sipped wine and ate cheese and crackers. I have NO clue when everyone got to sleep, but it was late!!! The girls were up and at em quite early, too early since we went to be sooo late, but they were already to get jumping on the trampoline and for some more swingset fun. Then we finished up the camp out with fresh made belgium waffles... It was ALOT of fun and we can't wait to do it again!!!

Here is a link to the whole album of photos:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2071962&id=1287618449&l=102508878a

A Sweltering NJ State Olympic Distance Triathlon

Wow... I start sweating just thinking about how hot this past weekend was!! We competed in the NJ State Olympic Distance Triathlon on Sunday, July 25th at Mercer County Park. It was 81 degrees when we left the house at 5:45am... and it was 97 when we left to come home... yes, a bit "toasty". We were excited but nervous due to the extreme heat and humidity... but we perservered and completed the race. Definately no PR (personal records) were set at this race. The race consisted of a 1 mile swim in the lake (the water temp was around 86 degrees... so DEFINATELY NOT wetsuit legal), then a 25.5 mile bike course in the blazing sun, and then we finished up with a nice 6.2 mile run through the park - again mostly in the sun. I've never seen sooo many people being loaded into ambulances or in the medic tent... the heat was intense and everyone gives their all in these races. We were VERY happy to cross that finish line to know we made it but to then enter into the "beer garden". It was GREAT to drink down a nice VERY cold brew... perfect on such a hot day!! So, we've got another olympic distance race under our belts... and have several more races this season: Brigantine Triathlon, Washington Crossing Duathlon, Livestrong Run, and finishing out the season with the Marshman Triathlon.

Enjoy the pics... and be on the lookout for future race pics....

(here is a link to the whole album on facebook - you don't need to be registered to view them!!)

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2071198&id=1287618449&l=40c27fa395

Mighty Megan....

I laugh whenever I hear the words "Mighty Megan"... thanks Joann for a great nickname for me (much better than ones I've had in the past!). My friend Joann (and fellow spin instructor) competed in the Philadelphia Women's Triathlon a few weeks ago. This was her first multi-sport race and she loved it. She was VERY nervous and since I am a "seasoned veteran" I gave her some tips and now even go on runs here and there post race. She is also a writer for our local paper (the Bucks County Courier Times) and she gave me a nickname... and it has stuck. I've had several people at the gym ask me "are you the Mighty Megan"? It's too funny.
Here is a link to her article in the newspaper...
http://www.phillyburbs.com/opinions/blogs/courier_blogs/courier_blogs_details/article/416/2010/july/20/-f2949cb10c.html

Try a Tri....

Today (July 11th) a few friends (Kelley Turner and Jen Cannon)and myself competed in our third Philadelphia Women's Triathlon together. Sadly for the second year in a row, we had signed up for a triathlon, but due to a HUGE amount of rain the past few days, the triathlon switched to a duathlon because of water quality. The day was VERY nice, not too hot and alot less humid than lately, so it was a good race. And best of all I got a PR (personal record), placed 4th in my age group, and felt like I could have kept going for a LONG time after the finish. I even had plenty of energy to pass 5 people in the "finish chute"... and that rocked. I also sported a tiara during the ENTIRE race. I had wired one to my bike helmet and got alot of comments like "go diva" or "yeah princess"... it was soooo much fun. So, overall, it was a fantastic day spent sweating with 1000+ ladies... and can't wait to do it again next year... but hopefully finally as a triathlon!

And to see the individual pics, paste this link into your browser... it will take you to facebook, but you can see the pictures WITHOUT registering.... enjoy!!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2069779&id=1287618449&l=aaa0ed2773



Oh yeah, and now it's less than 2 weeks until the New Jersey State Olympic Distance Triathlon... rock on baby!!!

our "yoga masters"

Today the girls and I went to a "yoga cise" class with our MOMS club. Elyse has learned some of the moves in her "exercise class" but it was ALL new to Angela. Both girls were VERY excited to give it a try... and they had a blast. Angela picked up the moves VERY quickly and both listened very closely to the instructor... and BOTH asked "when can we do this again".... must be in their genes!!

Happy 4th of July

Wave your red, white, and blue in celebration of our nation's birthday!! We enjoyed a day of fun with the Reedell side of the family in Washington, NJ. We headed up after an early lunch, then watched a great parade, played at grandmom Reedell's house, caught fireflies in the backyard, and then it was time for fireworks. It was a GREAT, but long day.... hope you enjoy the pictures!!

Revolutionary 10k Race on 4th of July

A revolutionary style gun was shot into the air... and the 10 race had begun!! It was 8:30 on July 4th, 2010 and we had just begun our 6.2 mile run in Washington Crossing. The day was starting out hot and getting hotter by the minute. We were all happy when we crossed the finish line... and then it was time to relax and enjoy the 4th of July with family.... Hope you had a GREAT holiday!!!

left to right: Kelley Turner, Megan and Scott... and yes we were VERY sweaty :)

Birthday Party #2!

Whew... seemed like we were celebrating the girls' birthdays for months... well, we sort of were. We had the "family" party in May and "friends" party in late June. We had 35 kiddos, I believe all under the age of 8 years old, and it was a GREAT day. The weather held out, and everyone enjoyed the big backyard of fun. We had a double slip n slide, the trampoline, swingset, pool with sliding board, water guns... then of course we also had two pinatas and LOTS of food and cakes!! The girls LOVED having sooo many friends to celebrate with them... thanks for making their birthday even more special!!!

Norweigan's Professional Pics...

These were tooo much fun NOT to share!! The photographers were running all around the ship and on the island snapping shots you could buy... these were our 4 favorites...

books, beer, and beautiful waters... paradise!!

cheers!!

we got this one becuase we knew the girls would LOVE us hugging a HUGE dolphin!

nothing says service like a bartending in the ocean!!

Bon Voyage!!

We've had a few crazy months, so we decided we needed a "little break" and booked a cruise for ourselves... sans kids! We left on friday June 18th for Miami. We boarded the Norwegian Sky at the port of Miami and then the party really started.

(the ship, the room, and even the SPIN room - yes, I took a class...) We enjoyed EVERY second of this cruise. We left Miami at 5pm and arrived in the Bahamas on saturday morning. We woke up to the sun greeting us on our balcony each morning. It was GREAT to have the door open and hear the waves and other ocean sounds. We got off the ship in Nassau and headed over to Atlantis for the day.

(Nassau and Atlantis)

The beaches and water are pristine... too beautiful for words! We swam and relaxed our day away... then it was time for some shopping in "downtown" and off to the ship. We enjoyed dinner on our balcony, then off for a few drinks, a show, a party on the upper deck and then some hot tub time! We had a blast!!

(Grand Stirrup Cay... ) On sunday we arrived in Grand Stirrup Cay. This is Norweigan's private island. It is TOTALLY uninhabited, and the only people who venture to the island is the cruise company. It was almost "fake looking" becuase it was soooo crystal clear and blue. We snorkled out into the ocean and enjoyed kicking back and reading books while sitting in the beautiful waters. It truely was paradise!! And that was before we hit the hammocks... truely a GREAT day!! Then we headed back to the ship after 5 or 6 hours on the island for our last evening at sea!! It was truely a vacation to remember! We arrived in Miami on monday morning and our vacation was over - but it was great and it was FANTASTIC to spend some time alone with Scott... Hope you enjoy the pics!!

Cake time!!

So, although we already had the "family birthday party" for both of the girls, and their "friends" one is coming up soon, we still celebrated Angela's official b-day at home! Angela picked out her own cake, and grandmom came to enjoy the day with us. We had a nice dinner, the girls opened up some presents and Angela enjoyed blowing out her 5 BIG candles. Where has the time gone??

5 Candles on Angela's Cake

It's hard to believe that 5 years ago, Miss Angela was born at 4:26am. I can still remember every moment of that morning and the days following. It was an emotional rollercoaster, but in the end, she did GREAT!! Our little princess STILL holds the record for the shortest stay in the hospital. We were originally told she would be in the NICU for at LEAST 1 month (minumum), averyage was about 2 month and some babies were there for more than 6 months until they came home. Since Angela had "spunk" she had her surgery very soon after birth (2 days old) and was home in 17 day. Then the fun started. She pulled her NG tube out of her nose the first night (she wasn't great at drinking all of her milk via mouth, so we had to feed her through the NG tube upon discharge from the hospital). But she "must have" known she could do it on her own and never needed that tube again! From that day on she's been amazing us and the doctors and bringing smiles to faces all of the place! Today, at 5 years old, she still amazes us with how smart and grown up she is. Our litle girl is growing up before our very eyes... Happy ... you've conquered every obsticle set before you until this point, and we are SURE you'll do the same in the future!

Happy Birthday Angela!!!

her hospital picture (they didn't take them of the children in the NICU since most were VERY sick...)

this is what we saw when we saw Angela for the first time... more wires and tubes than baby....

little did we know what a fighter she was going to be!and here are pictures from age 1 through 4 - you can definately see some changes... losing any "baby fat" and turning into a beautiful young lady!and Finally... our 5 year old - Miss Angela Kirstin

We love you more than you could ever know!! Happy 5th Birthday Angela!!

Batter up!!

We figured that Angela could do a sport if she chose when she was in kindergarten. She was totally fine with that, until we got the phone call "would Angela want to "fill in" on the Grasshoppers t-ball team next week?" Of course Angela was jumping up and down when she heard she had the chance to play. She asked EVERY single morning, do I play t-ball today? Finally, the day was here. We picked up uniform, made some "adjustments" so they'd fit and she was ready to go. Mind you, she's NEVER played on a team and NEVER played t-ball with a team who has been together for the whole season. She was VERY good at hitting pitched softballs so we were hoping she'd do well!! We arrived at the field and she was practicing fielding and throwing... and still had a bit of work to do, but was doing well enough to "blend in". She was in the 6th batting spot and stepped up to the plate like she knew what she was doing. One swing and the ball was into the field... she ran to first base without a close throw. Before she knew it she was home and scored a "run". She played near 2nd and near 3rd base in the field. It was fun to watch the entire team go after the ball... yeah, positions mean NOTHING to 4 and 5 year olds... too cute!! The second time she batted was pretty much just like the first. Step up, whack the ball, no whiffing for Miss Angela. She had a great time, congratulated the other team and then we all went out for ice cream to celebrate a great game!! Her second (and last) game of this season will be on friday... and we KNOW she'll be asking to play next season now!

Congrats Angela!!!

Today we experienced our first official "graduation ceremony". Angela graduated from pre-k and is now a kindergartener!!! She led the ENTIRE pre-k class in (which is around 60 kiddos I believe) and then was the first group to sing before the entire crowd. We had a blast. Everyone did fantastic. Then we were off to Nifty Fifties for lunch and mini golf. The girls had NEVER played before, so it was an experience... but they loved every second of it!!! Hope you enjoy the pics...

it's summer in our backyard

whew... it sure is hot out there!! We hit the 90's yesterday will be VERY close today. I figured "it was time" to get the pool out and get it all filled up. So, while Angela enjoyed her "last day of school" (tomorrow is graduation) I prepped the area, filled the pool, and as soon as they finished lunch, they were in and splashing. The water was REALLY cold, but that didn't stop them. They even begged to put the little sliding board into the pool... they had a blast before they turned purple!! Looking forward to a summer of fun in the Reedell household!!

Party #1 - HUGE success!!

So, the girls' family and friends party on May 22nd was GREAT. We were surrounded by the people whom we love the most and most importantly, the girls had a BLAST!! They have plenty of friends to play with and loved having everyone around all day!!! So, b-day party #1 was good... now onto the "kids party" on June 25th... wish us luck!!

the countdown has begun....

and it's NOT about Disney world!! Scott and I are going on a childless cruise on June 18th to the Bahamas. After all of the traveling Scott's been doing, I've been REALLY itching to get out of the area, without the kiddos... and this was the BEST answer! It's only a 3 night cruise, but it will be perfect to be able to sit back and just enjoy the long weekend. We'll be flying to Miami, catch the boat make two stops in the Bahamas to lounge on the beaches, then back onto the boat for the evening. We were on a cruise a few years ago and LOVED it... and we are REALLY looking forward to... chow...