Summer Has Begun....Lake Tobias

The weather here in PA is hot and humid and it seems like you can count on rain at least 3 days a week. This past weekend I took the kids to Lake Tobia where they went on a safari ride and to the petting zoo. We were there for a good two hours and the kids were finally like "can we go home...it's too hot" - They weren't joking...it was miserable. Below are a few pics at the zoo.

Gracie's Dance Portraits (2012)

Below are pics that were taken at The Studio for Gracie's upcoming dance recital in June. I scanned the pics so they are not as clear as they appear in the actual pictures. I wish they would have used a different background with the white costume - white on white just does not look good if you ask me but Gracie still looks cute/adorable and that's all that matters.

Gracie's First Holy Communion - Saturday, May 5, 2012

 Gracie & Daddy

 Kisses!

 Gracie - Our Lady of Lourdes Church

 Gracie Margaret

I am very grateful that we had a beautiful day for Gracie's First Holy Communion! Gracie's brother Georgie, her Grandma, Godparents (Uncle Adam and Aunt Missy) and her cousin James came down from Altoona and my two besties Audra and Kori also came to celebrate the special occassion. Above and below are some pictures we took at home and at the church (Our Lady of Lourdes, Enola, PA).

 Aunt Missy, Uncle Adam (Godparents) & Gracie

 Grandma & Gracie

 Georgie & Gracie

 Daddy, Mommy & Gracie

Kori & Gracie

May 3, 2012

May 3rd was a busy day. I had work and Gracie's open house at her school (West Creek Hills Elemenary) and it was also the 2nd anniversary since my mom's passing.  I decided last year that I wanted to set balloons out along the Susquehanna River every year on the anniverary of her passing.  So right after work I headed to the store, bought my balloons, wrote my special message on the balloons and drove over to the Harvey Taylor Bridge to say my little prayer and to set them free.  I miss her...I wish she was here so I could tell her just how much I love her!  Ah the things I should of...could have...and would have done if only she was still here.  After my moment honoring my mother I headed home to pick up princess for the open house at her school.  Above and below are some pictures I took of some of the work she displayed and some pictures of her and a few of her classmates.

Georgie Turning 20

Hard to believe my baby boy will be 20 years old this month. Guess he's not such a baby anymore, huh? He's a handsome young man and has his dad's smile! I am a very proud mom!

Grace - 2nd Grade - 7 Years Old

Jacob - 5th Grade - 10 Years Old

NY Rangers Hockey

Well the tied series between the Rangers and Senators came to an end last night with the Rangers winning the game 2-1 and moving on to the next round to face the Washington Capitals. Keeping fingers crossed. I want the Rangers to take the Cup this year for one reason and one reason only....for a dear friend from back in the day "Tammie" - I know she watching from above...I just know she is.

My Dad...

Below is a picture of my dad (middle) with two of his friends from back in the day. It had to have been taken sometime during the 70s.

Pat McGee ~ Bob Chaimowitz ~ Gary McGee

Tap & Jazz Costumes

 Tap Costume

Tap Costume

 Jazz Costume

Jazz Costume

Gracie and her dance class will be performing three different routines during this year's recital (ballet, tap and jazz).  This weekend Gracie had her dance portraits taken at The Studio - I cannot wait to see them.  In the meantime, I managed to get a few pictures of my own.  I took some pictures of Gracie in her tap and jazz costumes but I didn't get a picture of the ballet costume.  The ballet and jazz costumes are too big and we had to reorder them in a smaller size so I will take some more pictures once the costumes come in. 

Gracie's 1st Holy Communion

Family & Friends

GRACIE’S FIRST HOLY COMMUNION

SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2012 ~ 10:00 A.M.

OUR LADY OF LOURDES, ENOLA, PA

LUNCH AT OUR HOME AFTER CEREMONY

PLEASE RSVP BY APRIL 23RD

717-440-6143 or dclapper@eckertseamans.com

Easter Pics

Easter 2012

In Christianity, the Easter celebration is held to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus, which Christians believe happened three days after he was buried, having been crucified by Roman authorities just outside of Jerusalem. Easter takes place at the same time as Jewish Passover and, as such, is not a fixed date on the calendar but instead moves around.

Finally...St. Patrick's Day Falls on a Saturday!

I am elated that St. Patrick's Day falls on a Saturday this year. You would think the Harrisburg annual St. Patty's Day parade would be on the 17th, right? NOPE! The parade is going to be on the 24th..what the??

St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17, the saint's religious feast day and the anniversary of his death in the fifth century. The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for over 1,000 years. On St. Patrick's Day, which falls during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. Lenten prohibitions against the consumption of meat were waived and people would dance, drink and feast--on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage.

Gertrude Hawk Chocolate Fundraiser - Online Orders through March 30th

Hi Family and Friends:
We’ve (The Studio) kicked off our fundraiser through Gertrude Hawk Chocolates and we are offering a variety of delicious chocolates and gifts!

A website has been setup specifically for The Studio fundraising campaign. All purchases made on that site will be credited toward me and all proceeds will be awarded to our great cause.

To connect to this site, please click here

or copy & paste the following URL into your browser:

http://www.gertrudehawkchocolates.com/index.cfm?act=fundraising&cmp_id=7745&mem_id=42754

You may also go to http://www.gertrudehawkchocolates.com/index.cfm?act=programs
and enter the Participant No. 720157-007 to access our group’s site.

Thank you for your support,

Grace Clapper

Tammie....

A friend from back on Long Island passed away February 29th. It broke my heart when I first heard the news. I never thought in a million years I would be going home to Long Island for one of my friend's funerals! I was unsure if I was going to make the road trip but after thinking about it overnight I knew I had to go home. Tammie was a part of my life back in the days when I was living in Rocky Point. Me and Tam were diehard NY Ranger fans and we were always sporting our NY Ranger jerseys/jackets/t-shirts etc...You rarely, if ever, saw a girl walking the halls of Rocky Point Junior Senior High School wearing NY Ranger attire, but me and Tam were different...and made sure everyone knew we were die-hard NY Ranger fanatics.  Oh man...the bus rides to and from school BSing about the game the night before....gosh...I could go on and on about all my memories....but the most special memory I have always cherished was the train ride to Madison Square Garden.  My dad took me and Tammie to our very first NY Ranger game.  I can't say enough kind words about Tam but when I think of her and picture her face I see her smiling and that's what I will always remember....that beautiful smile.  If you think about it, Tammie isn't gone...because we can still see her.....we can see her through the eyes of her children...she's there.

Tammie (Lodico) Smith - June 23, 1969 - February 29, 2012

Gertrude Hawk Chocolate Fundraiser

Gracie's dance studio (The Studio) is having a Gertrude Hawk Chocolates fundraiser. If you would like to purchase some goodies click on the attached link. If the link does not open you can always copy and paste it to your brower.
 

http://www.gertrudehawkchocolates.com/fund-raising/participants?act=fundraising&cmp_id=7745&mem_id=42754

Ash Wednesday

In the Roman Catholic Church, Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, the season of preparation for the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday.

Flowers From My Son for Valentine's Day