4th of july celebration... one week early....

My MIL lives in Washington, NJ and they have their 4th of July celebration a little before the "actual holiday"... so we enjoy the day of fun in NJ. The girls had a blast... they got to watch the parade, dodge the raindrops, play at grandmoms house, then finished up the day by watching fireworks... for the FIRST time... Angela LOVED them, Elyse didn't care and just wanted to play with everything in sight... but it was a GREAT day!!!! enjoy the pics!!!

Happy 4th of July all!!

Life even MORE fun at the BEACH!!!

So, the kiddos and I made a trip to the NJ shore. Scott's Aunt Gerry always says "come down anytime"... so we took her up on her offer. This was the first time I've taken a trip with just me and the kiddos.. but it turned out to be a GREAT time.... smiles all around!!! We went to the boardwalk in Ocean City, and played in the water on tuesday afternoon. Both girls were happiest when splashing in the water... they were just too cute!!! Then Wednesday morning I fit in a nice run with the gals, half way point worked out to be a playground, then ran back, showered, then off to Brigentine Beach. The girls listened sooooooo well (it was SCARY!!) and had a BLAST!!! The water was "cold" but they didnt' care. They built sandcastles, and then destroyed them, found shells for Bob (our 13 year old hermit crab....), and chased birds... full day any way you look at it. And we timed it perfectly since it started to rain as soon as we left... We stopped on the way back to Aunt Gerry's place for lunch, and then played at her house for a while... then headed home... It was a GREAT experience having them just to me away from home... and I almost want to do it again VERY soon....

CHOP Family Reunion (6.21.09)

Four years ago we celebrated father's day at CHOP with Angela in the NICU ( she was 1 week old today). This year we were back at CHOP on father's day, but this time we got to enjoy a GREAT day of fun at the Annual Family Reunion. It was GREAT to chat with other parents' whose children were part of the "fetal diagnosis program" and to see their "miracle children" today. Hope you enjoy the pics!!!We look forward to this event EVERY single year... it's sooo much fun. And now that the girls are getting older they can do more of the games, the rides, and enjoy all of the yummy foods there. They LOVED the cotton candy this year...

another tent....

it's amazing there is ANY more room in the house for another "tent"... but we made it fit. It just happened that we went for a walk earlier this week and our neighbor was outside... and asked if we wanted a little pink tent... of course Angela says "yes... I'd love it"... It turns out to be a perfect "dress up tent"... with a mirror on the wall and all... too cute for words. So, we lugged it home and set it up on the deck, since it was nice outside... the girls LOVED it... and now it houses all of their dress up clothes, shoes, and "stuff" in the corner of our sunroom.

Happy Father's Day!!!

Anyone can be a father... but it takes someone special to be a daddy!!!!

Happy Father's Day to all those daddy's out there... hope you get LOTS of extra hugs and kisses today...

Scott with his "crew" (Angela, Oscar (in middle) Elyse and Jake (over Scott's shoulder)

the Plasma Car....

so, this is such a fun toy.... Angela was given this by Uncle Keith, Aunt Jen, Aidan and Evan.... and LOVES it!! It's amazing what wonderful control she has of the steering... and can get it going REALLY fast!!! All you do is turn the wheel back and forth and you go... turn it the other way it goes backwards... Scott and I have enjoyed trying it out, but it's much easier the less you weight!!! Elyse gets on and pushes it with her feet... but now they have figured out they can ride it together... so what out world, here come the Reedell gals on the plasma car!!!

The girls' Butterfly Bash.... #2!!!

The girls enjoyed a day of fun with friends at our house on friday, June 19th!!! We were VERY fortunate that we had VERY nice weather for an outdoor party... since we did have 25 kiddos at our house. Everyone had a blast, and Angela and Elyse will remember this party for a LONG time!!! Thanks to everyone for making this party soooo very special!!!

the girls "helped" me make their butterfly cake... and enjoyed eating the batter...

just some pics of the decorations and the "birthday gals"....

what our yard looks like with 25 kiddos... it was chaos... but fun chaos....

and then it was "pinata time"... everyone had a whack at it....

and just some "fun pics" of the kiddos at the end of the day... they were pooped... but still had smiles on their faces....

Whirlwind Trip to NYC...

We have been VERY excited about our "childless" trip to NYC... and it was here and gone in a flash!!! We dropped the kiddos off at my parent's house on tuesday, left for NYC wednesday morning, got up there in about 1 hour and 15 mins (no traffic... yeah...), went bike riding in central park for a few hours, then checked into our hotel (the Marriot Marquis). We had a 20th floor room that overlooked time square. The hotel located rocked..

We showered up after our bike ride, then went down to walk around get theater tickets... and we were VERY lucky to get Phantom of the Opera. We've seen several shows on braodway but netiher of us every say Phantom, so we were stoked. We then went shopping, I always get shoes and handbags up there, and I did get 3 pairs of shoes and 2 handbags... and love them all!! We then went back and got all ready for dinner, walked to the "asian fusion" restraunt a few blocks away, stopped back at the hotel for some champagne (we had time before the show started), walked to the theater and enjoyed the show. Phantom is a GREAT production, if you have the opporutnity to see it, definatey do so!!!
We then walked back to the hotel... and went to "the View". This is NYC's only revolving restraunt... and it's located in the Marquis on the 48th floor. You sit at a table overlooking the city, it takes an hour to make a full revolution, and is terribly confusing becuase you get up to go get your dessert (they had a dessert and cheese buffet... extra yummy....) and since the table section is moving, your table isn't in the same spot it was when you left... add some alcohol into the mix and it makes it even "more interesting".... We enjoyed the views for over an hour, then finally turned in for a good night's sleep. We awoke in time to see if we could get into the studio for Good Morning America. We made a sign that said "Go Back to Bed Angela and Elyse"... and we did get in. We got to meet a bunch of the ABC anchors and it was cool to see what it takes to make the show we watch on tv each morning. And we were on tv at the end of the show... so that was cool too.... We then went to breakfast, then more of a walking tour of NYC... then packed up and headed home.... Whew... it was a whirlwind tour of NYC... but it was great... hope you enjoyed the story!!!

Happy 4th Birthday Miss Angela!!

It's TRUELY hard to believe that our Miss Angela will be 4 years old at 4:26am on June 13th.

As I look back at her "first pictures" all covered by the tubes and wires... it still brings tears to my eyes...

But luckily she was a fighter from the moment she was born, and has become such a strong little girls... and a true joy to have in our lives!!

Happy Birthday Miss Angela!!!!

a quick kitchen update...

when we moved in we "liked" the color of the kitchen... which was a light yellow... but as time went on it just seemed "dingy" and "dated"... so I decided that since we "had some time" we should paint it and change the hardware... so we started around 7am, finished by 11am and now it looks like it's always been this way... We like how it turned out... hope you do too!!!

before.... the "yellow" paint...and the "new paint" and hardware....

Summer in our backyard...

I've had SOOOOO much fun watching all the plants grow... and for me it's like christmas every day in our backyard!!! We've been making small changes here and there and it's looking more like "our yard"... And this evening I noticed we have three different colors of lilies in our yard... absolutely beautiful to say the least!!! enjoy the pics...and just a few pics from the front and back yard....

Tea Party with Grandmom Reedell

Angela and Elyse treated grandmom to a tea party at our house. Since she had her two boys, this was a "new experience". Everyone came away with smiles on their faces... it was a great day with grandmom... oh yeah, it's ALWAYS a great day with grandmom!!!!

Birthday Party #1 - complete....

Whew... what a week we've had. It's been full of ups and downs, but at least it ended on a good note. We celebrated both Angela's 4th (eventhough it's not till june 13th) and Elyse's 2nd birthday on sunday, May 24th. We had family and a few friends who couldn't make it to the "kids party"... and we all had a BLAST!! The girls started their "fun" early since they stayed with mom mom and pop pop for the weekend and then they brought them to their party... lucky little girls I tell ya!! And as expected... her are a glut of pictures from the party... enjoy....

fun with mom mom and pop pop (and next door neighbor Sammie...)

and the party fun... hope you enjoyed...

Elyse's new BIG girl bed...

We promised that we would get Elyse a BIG girl bed (the full sized one... she looks sooo tiny in it!!) for her birthday. It was delivered on thursday, and I had all intentions to do it after they left for the weekend (off to Mom mom and pop pop's house...), but my little "insistent" kiddos were very adimate that they needed to set it up NOW. So, I drug the mattress and boxspring up the steps, moved furniture all over the room, and got it all together. It looks PEFECT. She slept in it for the first time last night and slept totally normally. She runs to get into bed now... which is nice. We hope this continues for a while... I still can't believe my "baby" is in a HUGE bed now!!!! Yipes....

We'll miss you forever grandpop and dad!!

We are sorry to say that Stanley Reedell left his earthly body on May 22nd at 3:45am. He fought a LONG battle with Scleraderma.

I still remember when I met Scott and he told me his dad was "very sick" and that was over 11 years ago. He experienced MUCH more than he ever had anticpated. He said a few weeks ago, "I never thought I'd see either of my sons get married, and then I did. I never ever imagined I'd see grandchildren, and now I have four. I am a very lucky man".

He fought until the very end. He was a wonderful man, father, husband, and grandfather and all of us will miss him dearly. But now we know that he is in heaven, watching over each and every one of us. Eventhough he can't be here with us on earth, he'll always be with us in our hearts!!

We love you dad and grandpop and will forever!!

Our Miss Angela...

It's hard to believe that our Miss Angela will be 4 years old on June 13th. I had the picture done a bit early so that we didn't have to "rush" closer to the time... but she did a GREAT job... so here they are... enjoy!!

thanks for looking!!

Happy Birthday Miss Elyse!!!

Happy Birthday to our Miss Elyse!! At 11:08 am today (may 10th) Elyse will be 2 years old. It's hard to believe. These past two years have flown by... REALLY!! I still remember like it was yesterday finding out we were pregnant again... and now my "little baby" is no longer a baby. She has changed sooo much. Now she can dress herself, definately has an opinion of her own (to say the least), is learning new words each and every day (not sure if this is a good or bad thing right now....), and can even ride a "big girl bike" (with training wheels). Wow... what a year.

Elyse is such a sweet little girl and we love her more than we could EVER express... so today is your day... Happy 2nd Birthday Kiddo!!!

birth announcement pic....(she was only a few days old here)

first birthday pic....
and her 2nd birthday pics....

now I ask... where has my baby gone???

Happy Mother's Day!!

First of all, you should go hug your mother and say thanks for everything she has ever done for you!!! I know I didn't appreciate my mom until I became a mom!! Now I say thank you and apologize for ALL those "crazy things" I did ... and fear what my children will "put me through". But it's a rollercoaster ride... and luckily I LOVE rollercoasters!! So, happy mother's day to everyone out there...

Our "little girl" is REALLY growing up!!

Today we had Elyse's 2nd birthday pictures taken... and she was absolutely perfect. It took less than 5 minutes to get them ALL taken... she just did GREAT. I've had many pictures taken of her over these last 2 years, but this was TRUELY the BEST experience yet!!

It's hard to believe that she will be 2 years old on sunday (too cool that it's also mother's day!!) May 10th.

So, here's to Miss Elyse... and she's just growing up tooo quickly!! Enjoy the shots!!

Tons of fun at the Philadelphia Zoo!!!

So, the weather might not have been the BEST today, but we still had a BLAST at the zoo!! Our friend Heather and her daughter McKenna (aka "kenna" to the kiddos) came along to enjoy the day with us!!! The girls did soooo much... from riding a horse, camel, the endangered species carousel, and playing in oodles of "dinosaur eggs"... what didn't they do. Oh yeah, we did see some animals there too!! The pumas were pacing right infront of the big glass windows... as were the tigers playing for us... So, it was a wonderful day... hope you had one too!!