New Niece!

Just thought I would post up a quick picture of RyGuy with our new niece Sophie (Sophia Ryan) and her sister Hannah!  We're so lucky to have such cute nieces (and a cute nephew in Buffalo too!)!

Ry had a great time in China, but he seems pretty happy to be back home!

Now that he is back and my summer classes are winding down, we're set to finish up the apartment and have some friends come visit!

Pictures of the new place soon!

Gold Medal for Hannah!

In honor of the Olympics, we took Hannah out for her very first skate around the rink!





It started out with extra socks so the too-big ice skates would fit and the cutest ever pink panda helmet!





The first laps were basically me & Uncle dragging her around. When I asked if she wanted to go around for a third time or take a break with Nana & Poppop, she said "Around again!!"

After I held her up for a while, she started to stand up straight on her own!

And then it was just Hannah & Uncle!

She liked sitting "in the box" and watching the other skaters, but never for very long.

She wanted to get right back out and skate!

There were a few falls, but no tears! Just a snowy butt!

She had so much fun with Mommy, Uncle & me!

But refused our help at the end!!!

Here are some videos of her skating all by herself!

Everyone is just so proud of her!

Winter break in Buffalo 2

In addition to Snow Fun, my mom and I took Nephew to the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. I haven't been there in years! It was fun, but I think Nephew enjoyed the gift shop the most!

Here are my 2 favorite pieces:

(1) Giant card table. Mom & Nephew for size. The 4th chair is actually propped against the wall a few yards away!

(2) Best. Painting. Ever.

Winter break in Buffalo!

After Christmas, Ry & I traveled to Buffalo to visit with the family! As usually, we took Nephew out for some fun! Here's our day at the Snow Park in Niagara Falls on New Year's Day! -- it's actually open 365 days a year, and Nephew is already looking forward to another trip there this summer!

Here's the snow tubing hill!!

Uncle Ry at the bottom!
The boys going down in a double tube! Nephew's first time "Ice" Skating.
(It's not really ice ... it's some weird frictionless surface)

Taking a break in the snow piles on the "Ice" Rink

Uncle Ry, Nephew & Aunt Kel "playing hockey"

I think he had fun!
(Even if Aunt Kel did threaten to make him sit in the car while we had all the fun!!)

Nephew in NYC!

It was a few weeks ago now, but it's taken me a while to upload some photos to my computer!

Nephew, my older brother and my sister in law came to visit Ry & I at our new place for the long weekend! We hung out, watched a movie, went to NYC and then carved pumpkins during football! It was lots of fun and we can't wait until they come visit again!

Here are some photos for you!

We love to ride the (staten island) ferry!

*********************

Because it has a great view of the Statue of Liberty!!
*****************

Nephew was sooooo excited to ride the subway ....

...then he rode it and it wasn't that exciting!
*******************

We checked out ground zero and then made it to the Central Park Zoo before it closed!
****************************

It was such a beautiful fall day and we had fun running in the park!
*********************

Nephew and Uncle Ry got the same socks at the Zoo gift shop!!
Who doesn't love puffins??
************

PS -- Nephew started reading Twilight!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from RyGuy's family!

(With it being Hannah's first Halloween, Ry's sister has requested that we begin a new family tradition -- family photos every halloween!)

A weekend visit!

Even though I suppose I should be working this weekend ....

I am excited because Nephew, my older bro and his wife are all coming to visit this weekend! They haven't visited me since Nephew was a baby (less than 1?) and now he is almost 6 (his birthday is in a few weeks and we won't male it home, so I might even attempt some birthday cupcakes today)!

We're going to head to NYC for some fun in the Park! And who knows what else!

Hope you have a fun weekend too!

wow, kids!

We spent the morning with niece Hannah (because Mama and Nana had some appointments to attend), and boy, am I tired!

She's a great kid and pretty well behaved, but we were up at 5:30 to drive to her place and then ran around playing with her until lunch time! After she ate and fell asleep in her highchair, Ry & I spent the afternoon running our own errands and then got home exhausted!!!

How do you parents do it?

A plea to my friends -- Relay for Life 3!

Dear friends,

As many of you know, my dad was diagnosed with cancer about 6 years ago. He has been doing well and is currently trying new treatments to stay healthy. There is no "cure" for multiple myeloma, a blood cancer that affects the immune system.

In his honor, I am again taking part in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. This is a great event that raises money for cancer research and cancer survivors. For 24 hours this weekend, my BOGS team will walk the track at a local high school to raise awareness!

This is my third year participating in Relay for Life. With your help and support, the last two years I have reached my goal of $500 donated in honor of my dad! Thank you all!!

I urge you to visit my webpage and make a donation. Both in support of my dad and in honor of everyone that you know that has been affected by cancer.

Every little bit helps! Just a few dollars really does make a difference!

Thanks so much for your support and contribution!

Go to my Relay for Life webpage by clicking here!
or cut and paste this into your browser:
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY09PA?px=6186164&pg=personal&fr_id=16833

THANK YOU!!

Memorializing with Hannah!

It's been a few days since I last put of photos of our niece Hannah, so I thought I'd share some of the cutie from Memorial Day Weekend! We had a great time with her -- a BBQ at her house, playing in the rain, going to the local fair (where I totally beat RyGuy TWICE in the watergun game and won 2 giant prizes for Hannah), and (the next day) dinner out (Hannah's Favorite) and some more fun! Enjoy this little cutie!!

Hannah at the restuarant -- she loves dining out!
*******************

Uncle Ry teaching Hannah how to ride a tricycle
*******************

Hannah & Mommy on the Carousel!
**********************

So cute!!
*************

Trying hard to blow BUBBLES!
**********

"Say Cheese"!
*************

Dancing in the rain!
****************

Aunt Sneks had to join in the fun!
**************

She's ridiculous!
***********

A video of her favorite Uncle Ry activity!
(I just love her laugh!!)

Mom's Day in B-lo!

Ry & I shuffled off to Buffalo over Mother's Day weekend, for no special reason except to visit the family!

We had a great time! My parents, lil bro' & Kel have purchased a new house and Ry & I broke in to check it out! It's awesome and I still can't believe my parents will be moving from our childhood home this summer (but I am very happy for them!)! We also saw Nephew sing in the choir at church and my sis-in-law made an amazing Mother's Day dinner for all of us! Oh, and Nephew gave me plenty of beautiful Mother's Day drawings and paintings and a plant! There's no official "Aunt Sneks Day", so I appreciated the thought! :) Our final visit was to Anna & Gorgeous to visit their new "baby" (AKA, Ziva the dog!)! SO CUTE!!

Can't wait for our next visit to Buffalo in July!

Nephew singing in the choir (he's the littlest guy in front!)!

******************

Ziva the puppy, biting my knee right after she peed on me!
(What is with creatures peeing on me??)
***************

Ziva!
(So when is the real baby coming, Anna & George???)
***************

Easter Cuteness!

We had a wonderful Easter with Ry's family and I just had to show a bunch of cute pictures of Hannah, because her princess dress was so adorable! She also had a cute pink bonnet, but she didn't feel like wearing it at that moment! She did like wearing my bunny slippers (a gift from Nephew!)! And seems to be very excited about the sidewalk chalk we got her (Can't wait for summer)! Enjoy the cutie pie!

Happy Birthday Hannah!

Our niece Hannah turned 2 a few weeks ago, and we had a fabulous time at her Mickey Mouse Clubhouse birthday party! There were so many family members there to celebrate the first birthday that Hannah celebrated with us! We can't wait for next year's party!

Here are a few photos of the exciting day:

"Mama" dressed as Mickey!
(The rest of us had cute Mickey ears ... but I will save those photos for blackmail)

***********************

So many presents!

***********************

She's so good at looking at the cards! She loves them!
(Our's played the Mickey Mouse song!)
***********************

I hope everyone liked the Mickey-shaped cake I made!

(And Ry carried on his lap for the whole 30 minute drive)
*******************

And Hannah had her own cookie-brownie-cake with a giant "2" and Mickey!
**********************

HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY HANNAH!!