Ballet Pictures

This Monday I start DANCE CAMP!
I am super duper excited, especially because my friend, Bella will be doing it too! I just bought new dance clothes that fit the guidelines: black leotard, black dance skirt, white leggings, and new ballet shoes. I AM SO READY TO START TODAY, but it doesn't start till monday :( I thought I would post about the basics of ballet: positions, proper atire, and just normal pictures of Anna and I :)

Peeking from the plants :)

Anna striking an 'attitude pose'

A Tripod+camera timer= self shots!

Anna in an adorable pose :)

You need to know the 5 basic positions (By the way, my friend Bella would know alot more about this then me, but ya'll are stuck with me. D-E-A-L)

FIRST POSITION


SECOND POSITION

THIRD POSITION

FOURTH POSITION

FIFTH POSITION

~Right now I am going to walk over to McDonalds and have a cool treat... then do 40 crunches, 60 leg ups, and Walk Away The Pounds to work it all off :) Ciao!

Farmer's Markets! Hooray!

I love Farmer's Markets! I've always loved them...and what a treat it is to take the kids! Today, I took Sara and Anna to the library (while Ron took Ronnie to get the new Pittsburgh Penguin DVD), then us three girls headed to our little local Farmer's Market! They were giving away free copies of this, and if I fill out a short, online survey, I will recieve a free 1 year subscription! It is pretty cool...tells all about the local farms, markets, and healthy, sustainable food scene in and around Pittsburgh.

Look how beautiful these nectarines and plums look! And they taste as sweet and juicy as they look!

I am a sucker for really good, fresh salsa and homemake chips...and these did not disappoint! These are from a little resteraunt in Canonsburg.

Can't you just smell and taste these tomatoes?! We threw a small steak on the grill...sauteed up some red peppers and onions...cut up a couple of these tomatoes and then.....some corn on the cob!

Glad I took a picture of these blackberries as they are gone already! So sweet and juicy!

It was so nice outside on the deck "shucking" corn!
Hot, dripping with real butter and salt! Delicious! This was the perfect meal for a sunny, breezy, beautiful day!

Can't wait until the next Farmer's Market! Might take all the kids to the big, evening market Friday night....stock up for the weekend! I feel so priviledged to be able to have all the farm fresh produce available....I can't wait until my garden starts producing! We have lots of little green tomatoes right now, and lots of flowers on the zucchini and cucumbers....hopefully, within the month...we will be walking outside picking our own! Hope to do a lot of canning and freezing this year as well! Hope you all have a chance to stock up at a Farmer's Market near you! ~Sue~

My Sincerest Apoligies and an UH-OH!

First things first: I am sorry I have been a 'ghost writer' lately... in fact since June 29th! Yikers... anyways, I have been soooooo busy! One of my closest friends, Autumn, was here for a week back in June, then after that I have been working 3+ days a week babysitting, getting together with friends, parties, and plans! *sigh* We have just been so busy! I will be even busier this week and next week:

• Today: Babysitting 9:00 AM-???, Shopping for dance clothes
• 7-10: Babysitting 11:30-2:30 PM, getting together w/ a friend, maybe
• 7-11: FREE
• 7-12: Church, Dinner w/ friends
• DANCE CAMP (7-13 through 7-17)
• 7-15: Airport to pick up my Great Aunt Joan
• 7-16: Babysitting
• 7-17: DANCE CAMP SHOW FINALE

Thats it so far.... we are so busy! But I'll find time to write somehow! On to the UH-OH in the title: Meghan is sick! She has had a fever since yesterday morning and is feeling horrible. So please pray for her :)

The Joys of Fellowship!

~Fellowship!~ We had the opportunity to have a wonderful time of fellowship with our friends, the Calvetti's! This is Joshua, the oldest son. Some members of their family had just left for a mission trip in Zambia, so we thought a change of scenery, and hot meal and some fun would cheer them up!
After a meal of baked chicken, red potatoes with fresh chives and green beans, we had a little time just visiting and enjoying the kids.
Me and Sarah Calvetti....she is so much fun! We always enjoy when she spends time with us....and she knows I love her, even if she doesn't like my kombucha!

This is the DELICIOUS "Hot, gooey butter cake" that Rochelle brought over! I have to get the recipe! It was such a hit, there was none left!

This is Rochelle and her youngest of seven children, Abigail! We were taking pictures and Abigail kept saying " do me, do me!!" ...we finally figured out that she wanted her picture taken, too!

Our "silly Sara"! We have to make sure we say "Sara Catherine" or "Sarah Elaine" when both are together as it gets pretty confusing if we don't!

The "other" Sarah! These girls were taking so many pictures until they finally decided it would be more fun to run around in the dark and swing on the tire swings!

We all had a great time playing 'catch phrase'! History seemed to be the favorite topic of the evening!

Meghan loves the game 'Catch phrase'!

Looks like Joshua is deeply pondering a question! LOL

Abigail and Timothy had fun on the swings.
Rachel in the tree!
How many people can you fit in a tree? Right now, there were three. We had a lot of initials carved into this tree! It started 3 years ago with our friend, Dillon carving his.....last night, Joshua and Sarah both carved theirs as well.

~We had a great time of fun and fellowship last night! I so strongly feel that the Bible teachs us to offer hospitality...to open our homes and our hearts, and that relationships have eternal value. It is so important to foster these relationships...not just for our children but for us as well. Godly friends are precious! Looking forward to a movie and popcorn night some evening soon! ~Sue~

A weekend of Celebrations!

It was a weekend of Celebrations! Happy 47th Birthday to my wonderful husband! Ron being born on the Fourth of July makes that holiday so special for us! It was a weekend of lots of family and family time here...and good friends who feel like family! Here is our weekend in pictures! ~Sue~

My wonderful husband, Ron!
Our good friends from Ohio, Mike and Jolyn came up for the weekend...here is Mike and Ron on the Fourth.
Jolyn and I enjoying our time together...it always seem so short!
Our 3 beauties....they get along so very well...Meghan, Autumn and Sara!
After a yummy dinner of melt in your mouth barbeque ribs, coleslaw and potatoes...we all enjoyed visit with everyone!

Everyone enjoyed the RICH chocolate cake!

We had a wonderful surprise when our nephew Ben (who is in the Airforce) came up to visit with his wife, Crystal, who only has 4 more weeks until their first son is born! How precious it was to be able to spend time with them!!!

Ron with his sister, Maureen, and his Mom!

Our beautiful little "Anna Lydia Peony Lucy"! After our celebration at our house, we all went over Lori and Todd's for fireworks. Each year, Todd buys tons of fireworks and every year it gets better and better!

Lori and Jolyn. They were finally reunited again after 25 years...after being best friends for years before Jolyn moved back to Ohio when they were growing up, then Lori was a bridesmaid in Jolyn's wedding...this was the first time they've been able to see each other. They are both looking forward to more of a quiet visit in the future to spend time together.

And...Debbie! She and our family have been close since 1973! It is always so much fun and a treat to spend time with Debbie!

The Gorecki clan before the fireworks!

Lori, Todd and Ty. It was Ty's first Fourth of July!

Anna and Ronnie weren't quite sure of the sparklers...and I don't think they want to do them next year!

Some of Todd's beautiful fireworks! After church Sunday morning, we all came back for a delicious lunch before Mike treated us to Sarris' s for icecream! Thanks, Mike!

Anna "shared" Jolyn's strawberry sundae...but I think she ate most of it! I know she especially enjoyed digging out all the strawberries..and Jolyn let her!

The three "big girls" enjoyed their icecream, too! What a beautiful place, Sarris' is!!!

Then it was off to celebrate Ty's first birthday!!!
Our birthday boy! Ty Robert Jansma!

Ty's proud parents! I wish I could have taken a picture of Ty with his sister and 2 brothers.
My lovely niece, Tina.

Me and my sister, Pam...Tina's mom.
My beautiful mother and her friend of over 35 years, Barb.
Anna and our birthday boy, Ty. Sara did face painting for over 30 children and Anna wanted to be a dalmation puppy...she helped Ty open all his presents.
Some of Ty's admirers watching him open presents

Some of his favorite presents...we got him a hockey set (because he loves ours!) and he loved his broom (wouldn't put it down!), his truck and drum set.

This is so funny...my step-dad, Ted, on the left and my Dad, Ray, on the right...yes, they get along, and my Dad is constantly fooling around! I am so blessed to have both of them and blessed that they get a long so well!
A very tired birthday boy enjoying his cake! He really loved this and had so much fun with it!

~Well...after a long, busy weekend, we are in slow motion here today! Have to straighten up the house, and get ready to have guests for dinner tonight. A team from our church left for Zambia on a missions trip this morning, and I'm having one of the families for dinner tonight and fellowship. Ron is working at the garage, and her husband and one of her sons left for Zambia, so it will be a nice chance to sit and visit together. Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend, too...have a blessed week! ~Sue~