Pittsburgh Steelers Airplane (Charlotte Airport July 2011)

Back in July when I flew out to visit my dad in North Carolina I had a layover in Charlotte and to my amazement as I was walking to my gate I looked out the window and there was a Steeler's airplane...go figure. Had to get some pics of course.

Summer Happenings 2011

Wow...hard to believe the summer is near an end. Lil' G goes back to college on the 27th and it has us all a little bummed.  I know Jacob is taking it hard. Jake and Gracie start back to school on the 29th.  Lil' G got a job as a summer camp counselor which worked otu great because Jake/Gracie both attended camp this summer and got to spend lots of time with their big brother.  I got to visit my father over the 4th of July holiday down in North Carolina and me and the kids took a trip to Long Island where they got to meet my side of the family for the very first time - during my visit I attended my 25th high school reunion and got to see so many good friends.  I even got to see my BFF from back in the day Stacy Ann.  I stopped by her house (the house I onced lived in back in the 80s) and we spent about 5 hours catching up and just BSing...we needed so much more time though - 5 hours wasn't enough.  I did not realize just how much I missed her until I saw that smile - she hasn't changed at all through the years and still has an amazing personality (the type of girl that just lights up the room when she enters).  George took the kids to a Pirates game back in July for Jacob's bday and they all had a great time - Jake's Uncle Adam and cousin James went with them - Big G said it was a great time.  Georgie took the kids to the Little League World Series on Aug 25th and sprained his ankle that night and wouldn't you know we were getting on the road to Long Island the very next day - thank God for cruches. The trip to Long Island was nice, but the drive was horrible. A trip that should have only taken 4 to 4.5 hours took us 6 hours to get there (took a wrong turn and ended up going directly through NYC) and on the way back to PA it took us 7 hours - traffic was horrific.

TWA Flight 800 Memorial

Flight 800 (TWA 800), exploded and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near East Moriches, New York, on July 17, 1996, at about 8:31 p.m., 12 minutes after takeoff, killing all 230 persons on board. TWA 800 was a scheduled international passenger flight from New York to Rome, with a stopover in Paris.

During my visit to Long Island last week, my Aunt Elena took me and the kids to Smith Point beach (a place I use to hangout at when I lived on Long Island) and we got to see the memorial that was built in honor of those killed on TWA Flight 800.

Long Island - August 2011

Well me and the kids traveled to Long Island, NY on August 19th to visit family and I also got to attend my 25th high school reunion while I was there.  During out visit we stayed with my Aunt Elena and Uncle Tony. I went to my high school reunion on Saturday (August 20th) and I got to see dozens of friends I have not seen in years.  I also got to see several family members (some old, some new) that I have not seen in years and was also my childrens very first time meeting my side of the family.  I attached some photos of the visit.

 Georgie and Aunt Elena

 Georgie & his Great Grandma (Enza)

 Franky & Gracie

 Grandma

 My cousin Anthony and his wife Amy and their three beautiful children Gabe, Jack & Peyton

(this was a bday celebration for Gabe & Jack)

 Gabe & Jack's bday celebration!

Georgie, Aunt Elena, Grandma, Aunt Dot and Uncle Ely

Me and my babies - Smith Point Beach - Long Island

Smith Point - Long Island, NY

Me and my babies - Smith Point Beach - Long Island, NY

 Georgie & Aunt Elena

 Gracie Girl

Jacob



Quite, Bossy and the Clown....

All three of my kids have something very unique about them. Georgie has always been quiet and pretty much always kept to himself...he was never one for words or expressing his feelings and it was always hard to make him laugh....shoot Georgie never even showed any sort of excitement when Christmas rolled around and he knew Santa was coming. Christmas morning I would be downstairs bursting at the seams waiting on him to come out of his bedroom and see all the presents that Santa got him and there would just be a blank stare on his face - he's just very quiet and reserved and is not one to express his emotions.  Gracie...she is all girl and it took some time for me to get use to having a girl after having two boys. I thought for sure she would turn out to be a tomboy with having two brothers but she's just the opposite.  Gracie is 7 going on 17. She is very articulate and at times I forget I am talking to a 7 year old.  She is always prancing around the house in my high heels (I find my high heels everywhere) and playing teacher or mommy with her baby dolls. She is very bossy, demanding and likes things a certain way (her way, of course) Those of you who are actually reading this are probably thinking "wow...she sounds a lot like you Dawn" :) LOL.  Anyhow, she's stubborn and can be a handful at times - but she is my princess and my heart just goes pitter-patter whenever she is around me.  My Jacob...well he is pretty outgoing and through the years became the household "clown" doing silly things to make us laugh.  Just to hear him laugh brings me so much happiness...there's nothing quite like being in my bedroom and hearing Jacob across the hall just bursting out with laughter over some of the silliest things.  Jake is my loving and caring boy...he is very sensitive to other people's feelings...he is what I call a "pleaser" - he loves to make people happy and is always concerned about other peoples feelings. He often just comes up to me and gives me a kiss and hug just because...I never have to nag him for love - my other two it's like pulling teeth to get some love and affection out of them LOL. Jake was difficult up until the age of 4 and then all of a sudden one day he blossomed. He has this incredible personality and always knows just what to say to put you in a good mood when you are having a bad day.  Geeze his laugh alone can bring a smile to my face...he's just so goofy!  I attached a photo of Jake in one of his moments:)

Funny Pic

I was taking pictures using my cell phone and I selected an option that allowed me to make the picture "distorted" looking...I took a pic of Gracie and it came out hysterical....me and the boys got a good chuckle out of it but she found it to be offensive and embarrassing (everything is embarrassing to her nowadays...go figure...must be the age LOL).

My Little Teacher

I will often pop my head into Gracie's room to see what she is up to (you never know with her) and on this particular occassion she had all her stuffed animals (I think there's a barbie in there somewhere too) seated prim and proper as she read them all a bedtime story. She is always doing something with her stuff animals, babies, barbies...I often wonder what goes on in that little mind of hers...her wheels are always turning and she's always thinking of something.

They Sleep!

 Jacob

Princess Gracie

They are such angels when they are sleeping...so angelic looking, huh? NOT! 

Below is another pics I took of Gracie sleeping a few nights later - had to take the snapshoot...too cute....
she even had a little sunburn going on underneath her eyes - not sure why she fell asleep like that...she looked adorable though!

My Nephew - Blane Russell Clapper

Eckert Seaman's Annual Outing

My firm's annual outing was at City Island here in Harrisburg, PA where we had a catered picnic and enjoyed a Senator's baseball game. The Clapper family even managed to get on the big screen and win $20 giftcards to Red Robin by playing the "Burger Shuffle". It was nice that we could all finally do something together as a family. Oh...did I mention the weather was all but "grueling"?? OMG!

 Me and hubby (George)

 Jake & Gracie

 My handsom son Georgie

 Gracie & Lil' George

 Jacob

 Gracie & Mommy

 Hubby and Lil' George

Kendall, Gracie & Jake with "Grounder"



So Far Away.....

Visit to Grandma & Grandpap's House - Weekend of July 23rd....

George and the kids headed to Altoona the weekend of July 23rd. George, Lil' George, Adam, Jacob and James all headed to a Pirates game for Jacob's birthday while Gracie stayed behind and spent some quality time with the family Below are some pics of George and the latest addition to our family (Blane) who does not look too happy in this photo LOL.  In the background is Gracie and my father-in-law (George). Additional photos are of my mother-in-law (Kathleen) playing a board game with the grandkids. We have good news....we recently found out that we are expecting another little niece or nephew. My brother-in-law (Mike) and sisteer-in-law (Nicki) are expecting their third child - Andrew and Noah (my nephews) will soon have a new baby brother or sister....and we can't wait to welcome the new bundle of joy into the world!

 Gracie, George with baby Blane & Dad Clapper

 Jacob, Gracie, Grandma & Annie

Gracie & Grandma (playing board game)

Jacob's 10th Birthday - Pirates Game

This year for Jacob's birthday George wanted to go to a Pirates game - blah!!! I don't do baseball games - my kid's games I can sit through, but NOT pro games - I find them to be incredibly long and boring - I am into hockey and that's it!  George, Lil' George, Jacob and his cousin James and Uncle Adam all went to Pittsburgh on July 24th (Jakes 10th birthday) to see the Pirates play the Cardinals and the Pirates won the game in extra innings - the final score was 4-3 Pirates. Below are some pics George took at the game. Jacob & James both got free jerseys at the game - it was free jersey day for all kids - now that's pretty awesome!

 Jacob - Georgie - James

 (Left to right) Adam - James - Jacob - George

 Jacob & James

My boys - Jacob & Georgie

St. Jude's Hero - Marathon - November 13, 2011

Well Fam and Friends - I decided I would participate in the St. Jude Hero's Marathon on Sunday, November 13, 2011 at City Island here in Harrisburg Pennsylvania. I am currently training as a walker but might opt to run some of it too.  Below is the link to my homepage if you would like to make a donation.  Your kindness and generosity are very much appreciated.  Thank you.

https://waystohelp.stjude.org/sjVPortal/public/displayUserPage.do?programName=heroes&eventId=177726&userId=649449

Pool Party - June 24, 2011

Gracie 

 Jacob

 Gracie Girl

My Little Man Jake

The kids had lots of fun at Hampden Township Pool where the Daisy Troop(s) had their end of the year party which included siblings.  Jacob jumped at the opportunity....my kids love to go swimming. Gracie pretty much kept to herself and practiced her handstands and flips and Jacob opted to be in the deeper end of the pool where the big slide was. The party was from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. and they were all tuckered out when it came time to go home.

Dance Recital - June 11, 2011

2.5 hours....yes....2.5 hours of "recital fun" - How I managed to sit in one spot that long is beyond me, but I did it and it was so worth it. The week of the recital was a busy one - lots of rehersal and I pretty much saw the recital 3 times before the actual performance on Saturday (June 11th) - long evenings....very long evenings - all the time and energy was worth it though - my princess shined! Gracie and her entire dance class did a spectacular job and all their time and hard work paid off and surely showed.  I was the proud mommy sitting in the crowd literally do her dance routine with her from my seat...I was so nervous for her but there was NO reason to be nervous - Gracie had her two dance routines DOWN!! She knew exactly what she was doing. I took lots of pics and it will take me some time to get them posted. Attached are some pics of me and the kids after the performance.

Daisy to Brownie - Bridging Ceremony - June 4, 2011

My Little Daisy is now a........................

BROWNIE!