A girl's day out shopping!

Instead of a party this year, Megan and I decided it would be fun to go shopping to celebrate her birthday.
She was allowed to bring along one friend for our venture to Easton.
She was also okay with sharing the time with her cousins, one of which is having a birthday, an 18th! on Nov 24.

Megan had received some gift cards to spend, so off we went.
We started at Macy's...

Her friend Brooklyn found matching jammies and was the first one to purchase something.

Megan waited patiently to pay for her jammies, lip gloss, and shirt while Kara used the time to text.

They all took a quick break in the bedding department.
By the way, Macy's at Easton does not sell kid's shoes!

After Macy's we headed to American Eagle, Harry and David for samples and chocolate pretzels (pic above), Planet Smoothie, and then ended our day at Gameworks.
Megan thought it was a pretty cool birthday!

Reflections on Rachael!

This is my niece, Rachael.
All of my nephews and nieces are special, but it's not often I get to capture them in pictures.
I was there when Rachael was born, 6 months after Ian. She will be 14 in May.
She also joined in our girl's shopping day out, but didn't have much cash to spend.
So, in this pic we were trying to convince her mom to buy this coat for her!
We had a little mis-information about the actual price (AMERICAN EAGLE!), but in the end she got to take it home.

Our Wednesday evenings...

Ian and I decided it was time to try something new.
It seemed the cold weather had arrived, and wasn't leaving anytime soon.
Megan has gymnastics on Wednesday and we weren't sure how to spend this time!
Sometimes we would clean up, cook dinner, work on homework, etc...
But we wanted something more.

We found FAMILY NIGHT at the roller rink!!

Oh my gosh, what a riot!
This is the same roller rink that I learned to skate in, and was the big hangout when I was 14.
Needless to say, I took my time adjusting to being on skates...
By the end of the evening, I was actually going pretty fast!
2 major blisters later...

We went again tonight and had a great time!



Do you recognize this carpet???

There goes Ian! He is a regular speedy skater!

We had a lot to laugh about!

Bring back any 80's memories?????

Megan is 11!

My baby girl is 11 today!
I wanted to share with you a photo history of her as well.


Here is the Megan as we know and love her today!

Her incredibly flexible ways...

Her many talents...

And just her general cheeriness are what come to mind...

A few of Megan's favorite things!

Chocolate!
Chocolate donuts!
Did I mention chocolate!!!!!

Getting dressed up, going shopping, hanging out with me?

Sleeping. ahhhh.

Just being beautiful Megan. And feeling great!!

A taste for travel and the finer things

At age 7, she got an inside tour of Yankee Stadium!

Developed her taste for finer things

Wasn't afraid to investigate further

But always had time for a laugh!!

More of Megan

Her toothless smile, age 6

Cards with Grandma

Yum Yum licking the batter

Already getting those biceps!

There was the short hair and dance phase...

I am a big proponent of kids trying many things so they learn their likes and strengths.
This time it was dance.
So, Megan had to start out with Jazz at Patti's dance studio.
Here she is a few years ago on performance day.



A dance move.

All together now! (or maybe not??)
At Midland Theatre

Big brother presents the dancer with flowers!

Friends, a smile, and determination

are what defines Megan Nicole!

Here, friends get together to sell lemonade.

Enjoying a nice warm May day!

Best friend Makayla graduates at Flying Colors next to Megan!

Someone is proud! And already likes to wear fancy dresses!!!

Spring when Megan was 5

Hard to imagine Megan anything close to shy, right?
Here she is Easter of 2003.

Her first t-ball team.

A budding athlete?

Determination was clear from the start!

Off to the circus!

I believe these may be the oldest digital pictures I have of Megan.
We went to the circus one night with our neighbors. It was spur of the moment and the beginning of my life becoming spontaneous. :)
We had a great time!
I came home from work, grabbed the kids, grabbed the neighbors, and off we went in my minivan at the time.



Here is Megan, age 5, enjoying a frosty with Savannah.

She REALLY wanted to ride the ponies!

And who could miss the elephant!!