Stepping Out On Faith

Having Some Camera Fun

2012-02-11T06:33:00.000-08:00

Every so often I let Laura and Paul take pictures with my camera. Yesterday, after school was one of those times. They love to pose for one another. . . It's pretty cute.

Dragon Dash!

2012-02-11T06:29:00.000-08:00

The Parent-Student Association in Lewisburg (PSA) has one big fundraiser a year called the "Dragon Dash." (Our mascot is the Green Dragon). It is kind of like a mini-Relay for Life in which the kids get sponsors to sponsor a 15 minute run that they do. The kids practice running in gym class, they talk about pacing, and all that good stuff, and the teachers talk it up too. Yesterday, was Laura's Dragon Dash and I must say, I am really proud of our girl. She ran for the entire 15 minutes with a smile on her face. There was music playing, the Bucknell track team was out there running/pacing the kids. The principal was running with them, as well as the teachers. It was awesome. . . A big carnival like scene. Thank you to family who donated money, the kids (grades K-5) raised over $30,000! Amazing!

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Winter

2012-02-11T06:19:00.000-08:00

So, for anyone living in the United States, or at least in the northeast, this winter has been very strange. Our weather system seems to be very confused. We've had many spring like days in which the birds have been out singing, flowers and trees seem to want to start budding, and we've had very little snow. In some ways, it's been nice. The kids have been able to play outside a bit more, but in other ways it has wreaked havoc on allergies, colds, all that good stuff. We did finally get a bit of snow last week. Just an inch. Not enough for a snow day or a delay, but just enough for the kids to bundle up and go play in the snow. So, here are a few pics of Laura and Paul in the snow. The best part is that Paul now enjoys playing in the snow, and they're old enough to go out on their own for a bit. . . So that their Mom can still stay warm inside until Dad gets home :-)

Yep, That's My Man!

2012-02-05T11:17:00.000-08:00

Living in Lewisburg, being married to a professor, we mark our year by semesters and by annual happenings. One of Lewisburg's annual traditions is the Polar Bear Plunge. People pay $20 dollars to swim in the Susquehanna River mid-winter. It's a fundraiser for the Downtown Partnership - a non-profit organization that works on community building between Bucknell and Lewisburg. Joe has participated in the Polar Bear Plunge almost every year we've lived here. Two years ago, I even "plunged" with him. Well, I've come to my senses - heck, I'm the girl who has a hard time getting into the swimming pool during the summer if the water temperature is lower than 70 degrees! But this year was the first year that the kids got to see their father walk happily in his duckie tie into the water. I couldn't help but smile. . .
:-) Yep, that's my man!

100 Days of School

2012-02-03T14:32:00.000-08:00

It's a tradition at Kelly Elementary to celebrate the 100th day of school. To celebrate the students get dressed up as though they lived 100 years ago. Laura wore her American Girl Doll nightgown that she got for Christmas and we put her hair in pigtails. I must admit - she looked really sweet. The following day, the students celebrated 101 days of school and got to dress up in their pajamas and watch "101 Dalmations." Laura wanted to wear her nightgown again (washed it when she was asleep) and off to school she went. Her teacher sent me this picture of her class on pajama day. I love this picture. I love their smiles, I love the character of all the students. I am blessed to be able to go in once a week to help out in her classroom and I've gotten to know many of the students. It is such a wonderful, special class. Because of these classmates and Laura's teacher, Mrs. Jamieson, Laura has had an amazing 101 days of school. We haven't had any tears, she's always ready and happy to go to school. It's been a great beginning for the next so many years (aaah - so many) of school.

Flowers in Winter

2012-01-22T16:10:00.000-08:00

We got our first snow this winter on Friday night. We woke up to a beautiful winter wonderland only to discover that our oldest was also not feeling well. We "weathered" the morning and then decided that we better take her to the doctor. So Joe did one of his least favorite things to do and snow blowed our driveway and I whisked Laura away through our winter wonderland to the doctor where we found out that she has strep throat (oh, and an ear infection - of course.)

Needless to say, the weekend that I thought would be full of sledding and making snowmen and snow angels, turned into a very low key weekend of hibernation. After a very busy holiday season, this kind of weekend was obviously what the doctor ordered. We baked cookies, watched some fun movies and just spent time together as a family.

It made me think of the flowers Joe gave to me this week. I asked him "why these flowers?" (you will understand when you see the picture) and he said that he liked the bright colors - so that we could have a little bit of color this winter . . . What a sweetheart! So,I guess what I'm trying to say is that even though we didn't get to go play in the snow - we still had color in our winter by just being together - all four of us - even if it was indoors.

Christmas 2011

2012-01-14T16:23:00.000-08:00

We spent Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa Tranquillo in Connecticut. We all had such a good time! The kids had a ball with their grandparents and uncles and aunt and Joe and I had some time to hang out together without kids - a rare occurrence. We even had a whole afternoon to read books. . . Yeh! We fortunately got some great pictures of the kids dressed up for church with Joe's parents. Enjoy!

2011 Moments Remembered: Eagles Mere, PA

2011-12-17T18:22:00.000-08:00

Joe and I celebrated our ten year anniversary in October this year. For our anniversary getaway we went up to Eagles Mere, PA which is about an hour away from Lewisburg. My parents came down to watch the kids (thank you Mom and Dad) and Joe and I enjoyed a night away in a beautifully secluded village on an edge of a lake. We stayed a beautiful little inn, walked around the lake, napped in the hammock, ate out for dinner and fell asleep early and slept in. It was wonderful.

2011 Moments Remembered: Woolly Worms and Butterflies

2011-12-17T17:59:00.000-08:00

Laura and Paul got a hands on nature lesson this last summer. We had baby robins hatch in our front door wreath, a box turtle made its home in our front yard, a pigeon randomly decided to rent out our garage, and we "hatched" butterflies from chryslids in our butterfly garden, and played with woolly worms. Here are some of my favorite pictures of Laura and her friend Eleanor playing with a woolly worm that they found in our yard as well as pictures of us letting our butterflies go free.

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree (Crash!)

2011-12-15T18:44:00.000-08:00

So, Christmas is not always the easiest time of year for me. I think, in part, because I set really high expectations of a Rockwell-like Christmas which just cannot be met. And in the end, I'm always disappointed. So, this year, I'm trying to set more realistic expectations and am trying my best to laugh at all the things that "go wrong" at Christmas each year. For example, the lights on our house half of which blink, and half of which stay still. Or even our beautifully, hand cut down, Christmas tree that by the second day had fallen over and is now bungy-corded to keep it up straight. Hmmm. . . And making gingerbread men with the kids only to have scraps of cookie dough all over our kitchen floor and our son cutting up already cooked gingerbread men with his scissors. (Deep breath!) So, Christmas is not always my picture perfect time of year, but it is a time of year when I'm reminded to be thankful for my husband and children who put up with my neuroticism and still, for some reason, love me for it.

2011 Moments Remembered: Friends, Fireworks, and Fireflies

2011-11-15T18:29:00.000-08:00

So, those of you who know Joe, know that he's really a "pyro" - meaning he loves everything fire: grilling, camping fires, bonfires, and fireworks. Every fourth of July, Joe goes and splurges on fireworks. We seem to have an annual firework display in our driveway each year, and this year was one of the most memorable. The Haussmanns and Gasaways came over. The kids played in the sprinkler, we made our own pizzas, watched some neat fireworks (thank you, Joe!), the kids ran around catching fireflies, and then in was bathtime and bedtime. Kate, Mae, and Emily spent the night so that the guys could hang out at the Haussmanns. It was one of those summer nights to remember and the guys making us breakfast the next day, was even better! :-)

2011 Moments Remembered: Thank Goodness for Girlfriends

2011-11-15T18:15:00.000-08:00

I honestly don't know what I would do without my girlfriends. Not only are the women in these pictures amazing people (Megan - somehow I need to get a picture of you!), but they are a few of the only women who know what it's like to be the stay-at-home mom of two young children with a professor husband who loves his job (which is good - but also means long hours) - because they're in the same situation. None of us have family close by, so we have become each other's de facto families. There's so much I can say about Katie, Megan, Emily, and Eustacia. But most of all, they're my dearest friends and I wouldn't be sanely going through this life without them.

2011 Moments Remembered: Tenure Time

2011-11-15T17:54:00.000-08:00

As I get ready for Thanksgiving and then Christmas soon after, I've started thinking about this past year, and have realized that there are some milestones I have missed and some wonderful moments that I forgot to share. So, I'm starting a bit of a series on 2011 milestones and moments. One of our biggest milestones was when Joe was awarded tenure. It is difficult to explain how momentous and important this is to those who may be outside the academic community. But not only does it mean that a very hard six years is over and Joe can "relax" (yeah, right!), it also means that Joe has a job for life - and therefore financial security for us.

The night Joe received his letter, we went to a really nice dinner, sat with some of our closest friends, and then partied the night away at Chrysalis. It was a night I will never forget, and I'm still so proud of my guy! He's a keeper!

Halloween, Act Three

2011-11-13T18:51:00.000-08:00

The final act of our Halloween 2011 was a wonderful neighborhood Halloween party at our neighbor's the DeSantises. The kids arrived dressed in costume, had some good 'ole pizza for dinner, and played a marshmellow game. The best part, though, was going trick-or-treating afterwords around our neighborhood. Enjoy some pics of our favorite Fox Hollow neighbors! (Paul is not in some of these because he was busily running from house to house to get candy. . . Oh, Paul!)

Halloween, Act Two

2011-11-13T18:46:00.000-08:00

Paul participated in his first Kinderfolk Halloween Party. He arrived dressed as a black cat to find out that one of his best friends, Zoe, was a cat as well - or rather - a "Caterina." I have never seen two "cats" so tickled. For me, it was so much fun to watch Paul sing and act out the Halloween songs that Laura learned two years ago. "Memory. . .!" I love you, Paul - my favorite black cat!

Halloween, Act One

2011-11-06T17:24:00.000-08:00

Halloween in Lewisburg is some times the never ending celebration. This year, due to the snow we didn't make it to one of the Halloween parades, which means that our Halloween this year was only a three act show. Act One was Bucknell's Halloween fair. I took Laura and Paul dressed in their Rapunzel and black cat costumes respectively. We showed up to find two more Rapunzels there! What a surprise :-) No other black cats, though. . . Phew.

Fun in the Fall!

2011-11-06T17:14:00.000-08:00

Joe took the kids to Homecoming a few Saturdays ago while Lisa enjoyed a day at the outlets :-) He met up with friends, Eustacia and Emily and their kids for some reinforcement. The bouncy houses were a hit and we discovered that Paul apparently has quite the swing (who knew?) Thank goodness for beautiful fall days!

Foxy Mamas Throw a Block Party

2011-09-18T11:20:00.000-07:00

We officially live in the neighborhood called Fox Hollow. No one really knows this except for those of us who live in Fox Hollow since the name is not posted anywhere. Yesterday we threw a really fun neighborhood block party. The kids road their bikes, put on a magic show, and played until the sun went down. It was a lot of fun!

Hands, Hands, Hands!

2011-09-18T11:05:00.000-07:00

We have a new grace that we sing before dinner many nights. The first phrase goes "Hands, hands, hands, thank you God for hands. Food, food, food thank you God for food. . " You get the idea. Well, Paul came home on Friday with his first project from pre-school, a mold of his sweet three year old hand. When Laura came home from school that afternoon and saw his hand, she immediately asked to see the one she made two years ago at Kinderfolk. Thankfully, I was able to find it in safe keeping down in the basement with the rest of her notable preschool projects. It really touched my heart looking at their two hand prints next to each other. I still can't believe that my two children are in some form of formalized schooling. I feel so blessed that they both love their teachers and are having a positive experiences. That's all I can ask for. I also feel so blessed to have these molds of their three year old hands to keep and to pass on to them when they leave our nest. I know I still have mine . . . somewhere. . .

Mariposa, Mariposa!

2011-09-18T10:59:00.000-07:00

Someone once said to me the other day that it sounded like we had a wildlife reserve going on in our house. I wouldn't quite go there . . . We just had baby robins and goldfish and have a pet woolly worm on our deck. But we did take care of four caterpillars who built chrysalids and then hatched as four beautiful butterflies in our butterfly garden. I must admit, it was pretty cool watching the metamorphosis of the caterpillar turning into a butterfly (did I use that word correctly?) And, plus, the kids loved their new friends. Alas, we let them go on a beautiful day last weekend. Have a beautiful fall, butterflies!

Flood Playdate

2011-09-17T17:38:00.000-07:00

Thank goodness for good friends and neighbors. During the Flood of 2011 the kids were out of school for two and a half days. Okay, so that may not seem like a long time, but for some reason, our two lovely children were bouncing off the walls. So thank you, friends, for saving my sanity during those days. I love you!

The Flood of 2011

2011-09-17T17:33:00.000-07:00

Thought we would post some photos from the Flood of 2011. It was quite the event in our area as the remnants of Hurricane Lee came through central PA. Bucknell even closed for a day - a very rare event! Laura was out of school for two and a half days. To keep us sane, we got together with friends each day for playdates. Joe went downtown to check out the scene and to help people try to save some of their belongings. As for us, thank goodness for our two sump-pumps and the fact that our electricity stayed on. Phew!! Here are some pictures of a flooded out Lewisburg. Pretty amazing.

Paul Goes to Kinderfolk!

2011-09-07T11:49:00.000-07:00

Even though it's a rainy day, that did not dampen Paul's spirits. He was so excited to be going to pre-school that he could hardly stay still. I dropped him off and he hardly even said goodbye! As for me, I thoroughly enjoyed my first morning of "freedom." Went to Target and on my way home found myself singing the "Hallelujah Chorus." Wow!

Laura's First Day of Kindergarten

2011-08-24T18:09:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe, but our Laura just finished her first day of kindergarten today. A bittersweet day - but mostly on the sweet side since she was so excited and seemed to have such a good day at school. As I was putting her to bed tonight, she said to me "Mommy, I wished you could back to school and take the school bus, because it's so much fun!" I just pray that her excitement for school continues throughout the years to come. In the very least, it was a good first day. Thank you, God!

Cape Cod, Take Two

2011-07-14T18:23:00.000-07:00

Some pictures from our last few days in Cape Cod. We took a beautiful walk in the MA Audubon Society Sanctuary. The kids had a ball with all the little crabs. We then went on my favorite walk - the Cedar Swamp walk by Marconi Beach. It was a fun vacation. . . Wish we had more sun - but lots of good memories were made. . . The Cape continues to be such a special place to us. . . chilly or warm!

Cape Cod Potato Chips

2011-07-14T17:53:00.000-07:00

Following the Zooquarium we headed into Hyannis for lunch and then to the Cape Cod Potato Chip factory. YUM! These are some of our favorite potato chips, and we had a ball watching how they were made and then eating a few of our own at the end!

The Zooquarium

2011-07-14T17:50:00.000-07:00

We seem to be notorious with our luck to get chilly weather in mid-June in Cape Cod. Some times it's just hard going to the beach when it's in the high 50s or low 60s. . . So, instead, one day we went to the Zooquarium. I had been curious about the place for a while and as members of the Eastham Public Library - we got to go for free! (Yes, my cheap self is coming out.) The kids loved it - especially the peacock and the baby alligator.

Plimoth Plantation

2011-07-12T18:34:00.000-07:00

We decided to take a day trip, go off the Cape for a bit and visit Plimoth Plantation. I discovered last year that the Davises are descendents of Thomas and Joseph Rogers, a father and son who arrived on the Mayflower in 1620. Joseph Rogers is even buried in Eastham, MA where Mom and Dad Tranquillo have their home. As the history buff, I thought it would be fun for Laura and Paul to see what it was liked to live in the "olden days." So, off we went and had a lot of fun. The kids especially enjoyed dressing up in costume and playing "Pilgrim." A nice diversion from playing princess! :-)

Cape Cod, Take One

2011-07-12T18:12:00.000-07:00

This is our third summer going up to the Tranquillo house in Eastham, MA on Cape Cod. What a special place for us. It holds so many memories for Joe and I as we used to go up to this house in college, just the two of us. What's even more special, is that we're creating memories for Laura and Paul. Enjoy these pictures of the kids clamming and playing on the beach - Cape Cod style!

Mama Robin and her Nestlings

2011-06-29T18:24:00.000-07:00

For some reason, birds seem to love our front door wreath as a place to build their nest. We've had three nests within the last year and a half . . . All with eggs. I guess the expression, "third time's the charm" rings true. About two weeks ago we noticed four blue eggs in our new nest. The mother robin was very attentive and we made sure to not go in and out the front door as to not disturb Mama Robin. When we arrived home today, we had a wonderful surprise! Three baby robins were peaking their heads out of the nest, beaks wide open. Mama Robin was close by taking care of her nestlings! What a beautiful sign of life. . . We can't wait to watch these baby robins grow in the next two weeks before they take flight.

Doubleday Field

2010-10-24T18:12:00.000-07:00

On our way out of town, we stopped by the infamous Doubleday Field, where baseball was founded. We had a real "field of dreams" experience. . .

Ommegang

2010-10-24T18:09:00.000-07:00

Ommegang is one of Joe's favorite breweries. Of the beers they brew, Abbey Ale and Three Philosophers are Joe's top picks. We went on a behind the scenes tour and then had a five course dinner paired with beer. It was amazing. Our group was a lot of fun and we left the brewpub a very full and happy (slightly drunk) crowd!

Sights and Scenes from the Cooperstown Area

2010-10-24T18:04:00.000-07:00

Cooperstown is on Lake Otsego and right on the beginning of the Susquehanna River. This is meaningful to us, since we live on the Susquehanna River and see the river almost every day on our way to and from work and from town. To make the most of our time in Cooperstown, we took in a Cider Mill, the Fenimore Art Museum on Lake Otsego, and then paid homage to the Susquehanna River. It was one of those beautiful fall days, and the colors were amazing.

Holy Cow!

2010-10-24T17:53:00.000-07:00

It's almost a must to see the Baseball Hall of Fame when in Cooperstown, NY. Joe was in heaven as we walked through the Hall of Fame and the rest of the museum. It was a real homage to baseball and in particular - to the Yankees. Note the date on one of the pictures. Jeter made an amazing play during a game on our wedding date in 2001. We remember watching that game after our wedding. . . October 13, 2001 - a really special day!

Cooperstown, NY

2010-10-24T17:46:00.000-07:00

To celebrate our nine year anniversary, we went to Cooperstown, NY for the weekend. When most people think of Cooperstown, they probably think of the Baseball Hall of Fame. While we did stop by the Hall of Fame, our reason for going to Cooperstown was for. . . . BEER. One of Joe's top three breweries, Ommegang, is in Cooperstown. Lisa found a bed and brew package which included a behind the scenes tour of the brewery with 5-course dinner/beer pairing. We had an amazing time away for the weekend . . . Enjoy the pics!

Too Many Pumpkins! :)

2010-10-21T17:47:00.000-07:00

The book "Too Many Pumpkins" is one of our favorite fall books. And, although we love pumpkins, we're getting into pumpkin galore season! Here are some pics of our first round of pumpkin carving. Tomorrow we head to Ards for our annual hayride and pumpkin picking. Should be fun!

A Running Weekend

2010-10-17T18:19:00.000-07:00

We often have a "running weekend" but it's usually us running around with the kids. But, for once, both Joe and I participated in races in the same weekend. I did the Milton 5K with some friends on Saturday morning, and then Joe ran his first trail marathon - the Dam Full! Crazy! Joe came in 7th place out of 120 people. It was amazing. Thank you to Emily and Eustacia and Doug for coming out to RB Winter to support Joe. You guys are awesome!!

Ms. Tharp

2010-10-13T09:55:00.000-07:00

Joe is part of a committe that is organizing what Bucknell calls the "Forum Series." The theme this year (sorry, Joe) has something to do with "thinking outside the box." Twyla Tharp was the first speaker in this series and we got to meet her! She is this very petite woman with a huge, dynamic personality. It was such a delight to meet her and to listen to her speak about the creative process.

Fall Funny Faces (and Sleeping Beauty, too!)

2010-10-03T17:57:00.000-07:00

Laura and Joe were playing around with the camera - making "funny faces" :) Although, not a funny face, my favorite is the one of Laura as Sleeping Beauty with Joe - sound asleep next to her! :)

First Day of Pre-School, 2010

2010-10-03T17:52:00.000-07:00

Here's Laura on her first day of pre-school. We bought her a new first day of school dress, which, as you can tell, she enjoyed showing off! Pre-school is going well, so far. She loves her teachers and especially loves all the crafts that they do. She is especially excited that she gets to skip nap time each afternoon!

The PA Grand Canyon

2010-09-09T18:10:00.000-07:00

We decided to try camping one last time for the season and spent two nights at the PA Grand Canyon outside of Wellsboro, PA. We all had a blast. We enjoyed hanging out by the fire, saw some beautiful views, took a nice hike by the rim of the canyon, and just enjoyed hanging out as a family away from all distractions.

End of Summer Fun

2010-09-09T17:53:00.000-07:00

Some fun pictures of the kids hanging out around the house :)

Camping with the Malusis Family

2010-09-09T17:46:00.000-07:00

In early August we went camping with the Malusis family at the Hidden Valley Camping Resort, which is only 15 minutes away from Lewisburg. We stayed for only a night to see how the kids would do. The kids surprised us all and loved camping!! We enjoyed roasting marshmallows, running around the field (naked), swimming in the pool, and sleeping in the tent. Enjoy the pictures!

Monkey in a Tree

2010-08-09T09:14:00.001-07:00

Joe is being highlighted in an article in the Bucknellian on "creative engineering." So he got his very own photo shoot. . . We call Paul our "monkey" a. . . hmmm . . . I wonder where Paul got it from?

Joe and Lisa - Nine Years Out!

2010-08-09T09:12:00.000-07:00

Bucknell is highlighting Joe and I for their Dual Career website, so we got a free photo session a few weeks ago. We haven't had pictures like this taken since our wedding, almost nine years ago. Fun! :)

New York, New York

2010-08-01T18:52:00.000-07:00

Lisa bought tickets to a Richard Shindell concert in NYC for Joe's birthday. Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Davis, we got to spend the entire day in NYC on our own. We dined at a Turkish restaurant for lunch, went to the Whitney to the the Burchfield exhibit, walked through Central Park and lounged on the lawn, ate some really good sushi, went to the concert (which was great, by the way) and walked through Times Square on our way back to the car. It was a fabulous day!!!

Trip to New Jersey

2010-08-01T18:41:00.000-07:00

We just came back from visiting the Davis grandparents in New Jersey. On Saturday, we took the kids to Turtle Back Zoo, the zoo Lisa went to growing up. The kids enjoyed the animals (especially the farm animals. Hmmmmm, I wonder why?) Oh, and the budgies - they were a hit :) We had a really good, laid-back visit. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!

Knoebel's!!!

2010-08-01T18:32:00.000-07:00

Knoebel's amusement park is one of the best all-American places in our state and in the United States for the matter. It's a family owned amusement park with free admission, pay by the ride only. You can even bring in your own food and picnic! We went after work one Friday night with the kids for the first time this summer and we had a ball! Laura, our dare-devil girl, went on the log flume with Joe and on the pirate ship. Oh, and our girl went on the roller coaster twice, and imitating the older kids, decided to do wave her hands in the air throughout both rides. Paul even got into the fun, too (although, it's hard to get a smile for the camera out of our little man.) We plan on going back with Grandma and Grandpa Davis in a couple of weeks, and if we're lucky we may even fit in a third trip.

Peaches and Plums, Ooooooh!

2010-08-01T18:26:00.000-07:00

Our good friend Megan's mom and step-dad bought an orchard about twenty minutes away from us. A couple weeks ago we went with Grandma and Grandpa Tranquillo to pick peaches and plums. Fun was had by all as we picked (and ate) the fruit in the orchard. The plums were especially delicious. We took home several pounds of fruit and we made plum jelly and plum pie. Yum! (The pits are now in our back yard and we're hoping that maybe one will take and we'll get our own fruit tree!)

Paul's First Swim Class

2010-08-01T18:18:00.000-07:00

Joe took our little guy to his first set of swim classes. He did great and loves to kick and blow bubbles and play in the water - especially with Dad!

Sandbox 2010

2010-08-01T18:15:00.000-07:00

One of our favorite things to do is hang out with good friends. The Malusis family came over and for the first time we had 30 minutes of uninterrupted adult conversation thanks to the sandbox. It was wonderful! :)

Fourth of July, 2010

2010-08-01T18:12:00.000-07:00

On the actual Fourth of July, we had our good friends the DeSantis' family over for a BBQ and then set off fireworks in our driveway with Laura and her good friend Eleanor. Joe's inner "pyro" comes out each Fourth of July and he went all out with the pyro-technics and ended his fireworks display with Laura's favorite - "The Princess Tiara" which proved to be quite the display!

Rickett's Glen, PA

2010-07-04T12:14:00.000-07:00

We've been meaning to go to Rickett's Glen pretty much since we moved to PA. So, yesterday, on a whim, we got in the car and went. It's a beautiful park in the hills/mountains of Pennsylvania with about 20 waterfalls and a gorgeous lake. We took the main loop hike and then grilled by the lake. We will definitely be going back.

Paul Turns Two!

2010-07-04T12:05:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe that Paul is already two years old. In some ways it seems to have gone by quickly, in other ways, it's seems like a lot has happened in two short years. Either way, Paul is turning into one fun little boy. He is beginning to talk and his personality is really taking shape. It's hard to find him without his "blue" (blankie), but when he is without he is almost always on the move! Happy Birthday, Paul. Mommy, Daddy, and Laura love you so much! (We also checked out the new Barnes and Nobles that just opened in downtown Lewisburg. Exciting!)

Lewisburg's Fourth of July Parade

2010-07-04T11:58:00.000-07:00

If you want to see a small-town America parade, come to Lewisburg. The Veterans Association of our area always sponsors a Fourth of July parade the weekend before the Fourth. Complete with Uncle Sam and fighter jets flying over head, for the kids the best part of the parade is all the candy. For us parents, the best part is watching our kids have such a good time :)

Pilgrim Spring Walk

2010-07-04T11:48:00.000-07:00

In addition to Truro Vineyards and going to the beach, in our top three things to do at the Cape is to take walks/hikes. We have several walks that we enjoy, but here are some pictures of the Pilgrim Spring walk where the Pilgrims first found fresh water. We were very proud of Laura for she took the lead and did the whole walk all on her own two feet!

First Encounter Beach

2010-07-04T11:43:00.000-07:00

Our favorite beach at the Cape is First Encounter Beach. It's called "First Encounter" because this is where the Pilgrims first met the Native Americans. It's on the Bay side and when the tide is out, there is a ton of sand and wading pools to play in. One day Joe dug up some razor clams that were delicious (at least, we thought so!)

Truro Vineyards. . . Delectable! (No, really!)

2010-07-04T11:40:00.000-07:00

One of our favorite places to go on the Cape is Truro Vineyards. It is about a 15 minute drive from Eastham on Rt. 6, right off the highway. They have a wonderful wine tasting outside and have some truly "delectable" wines. One of our campy favorites is their "cranberry red" - suited up in a lighthouse bottle. But they also have many other wonderfully tasting, sophisticated wines. If you're ever at the Cape, like wine, stop by the Truro Vineyards.

Davis Family Connection to Eastham, MA

2010-06-15T17:17:00.000-07:00

Lisa's dad is the family historian and discovered last year that one of our ancestors, Joseph Rogers, arrived in Cape Cod on the first voyage of the Mayflower. He is buried in the Cove Burial ground in Eastham, MA, the very town that the Tranquillos have their house on the Cape. What a treat to get to visit the grave of this Davis ancestor!

The Great Island Trail, Wellfleet, Cape Cod

2010-06-15T17:14:00.000-07:00

Joe and I stepped back into our "hiking boots," put the kids in backpacks and went on a six mile trek out to Great Island. We hiked in a picnic lunch which we had on the beach and enjoyed trekking through the woods and across sand dunes. Beautiful Cape scenes.

Cape Cod Early Snapshots

2010-06-15T17:08:00.000-07:00

We arrived at the Cape late Friday night and have been having a blast these last few days. Here are a few pictures of the kids on vacation to give you a little "taste" of what we've been doing.

Our Four Year Old!

2010-05-07T17:51:00.000-07:00

Laura is now a "big girl" at age four. Some times we feel like she's four going on fourteen! She is an imaginative, talkative young girl who loves to sing, tell stories, and do projects. She is so entertaining and we love her so much! Her birthday celebration seemed to last a week! The grandparents came in the weekend of her birthday to celebrate. The night of her birthday we had our friends the Malusises over for pizza and cake. The following weekend Laura had her princess party with all of her girlfriends. We like to think that she had a fabulous birthday. . . The pictures will hopefully tell the story!

The 2nd Annual Running of the Bison

2010-05-07T17:39:00.000-07:00

If anyone knows Lisa, they know that she is not an athlete by any means, especially not a runner. To challenge herself, Lisa has taken up running and has now run two 5Ks. Lisa ran her first 5K with her new friend Emily. It was sooo much fun! Thank you Emily, Mark, and Joe (and the kids) for cheering me on! It was so worth it and felt so good!

Mudfest Trail Run

2010-05-07T17:31:00.000-07:00

Joe has gotten really into trail running and is impressively good (without much training!) So, in April we drove two hours to Reading, PA for the infamous Mudfest. It was a gorgeous spring day, so while Joe was on his run, Lisa and kids ran around and played with the other spouses and families in the field. As always, at the end, Joe had his glass of beer. . . Seems to be a tradition! :)

Easter 2010

2010-05-07T17:24:00.000-07:00

We had a beautiful Easter this year. The weekend before we dyed Easter eggs and the kids played on Joe's trumpet. On Easter Sunday we had our close friends the Kelleys over (with Martie) for some grilling on the deck. The kids ran around in the yard and played. When I think back to our Easter, I feel really blessed to have such wonderful family and friends.

Kids in Connecticut

2010-05-07T17:17:00.000-07:00

Grandma and Grandpa T took care of Laura and Paul while Joe and I were in Portland, OR. We spent a day with them in CT when we got back and visited some lively Southington goats that made national news. Grandpa cut Paul's hair for the second time. We all had a good time! :)

New York City, 2010

2010-05-07T17:10:00.000-07:00

Joe bought tickets to see "Sondheim on Sondheim" for Lisa's birthday. So, in to New York we went for a day while Grandma and Grandpa Davis watched the kids. We had a stellar time! We walked across the Brooklyn Bridge for the first time since we got engaged (ten years ago!) We ate in Chinatown, picked up cannoli's in Little Italy, and had Indian for dinner. The show was fantastic and brought back many Trinity memories. Thank you, Joe for an amazing birthday present!

Portland's Japanese Garden

2010-03-21T18:37:00.000-07:00

Joe and I absolutely loved the Japanese Gardens in Portland. It is at the top of our list of things to do in the city. Let the pictures speak for themselves!

Portland, OR

2010-03-21T18:24:00.000-07:00

Joe and I went to Portland, OR last week over Bucknell's spring break. Joe went to the American Physical Society Conference while I spent the week sightseeing. We had a ton of fun in Portland. They have three of our favorite things: good coffee, great wine, and awesome beer! Oh, and they also have delicious Asian food of all varieties. We did a lot of walking, went to Powell's Books, Deschutes Brewery, met up with my high school friend, Sirikit, ran along the riverfront, had the maple-bacon donut at Voodoo Donut, walked all around the Japanese Gardens in Washington Park and in just enjoyed being together digesting lots of good food and drink.

Oh! What a Humdinger!

2010-03-21T18:11:00.000-07:00

Joe ran the Geisinger Humdinger a few weekends ago. It's a 7 mile trail run in Danville, PA. He lucked out with a beautiful day which was also fun for Lisa and the kids as they played outside in the woods waiting for Daddy to finish. The finish was quite dramatic - with runners sliding down a snow slip 'n slide :) Daddy came in 4th in his age group. Pretty good for a guy who doesn't train!

Daddy is Brave!

2010-03-21T18:03:00.000-07:00

Joe let Laura cut his hair the other day. A brave man as well as a great dad!

Kids Playing Dress Up

2010-03-21T18:00:00.000-07:00

By having an older sister, Paul is definitely in touch with his "feminine side!" Our kids are in a wonderful phase right now of playing together. It's so great to see. Enjoy the fun pics!

Valentine's Day, 2010

2010-03-21T17:56:00.000-07:00

We had an amazing Valentine's Day this year. Joe and I made cioppino together for dinner Saturday night and then had sour cream cherry nut cake for dessert. On Sunday, we had a small celebration with the kids. Laura got the fairy wings she had been waiting for and was a happy girl. It was a wonderful weekend and we feel really blessed to have such good friends and family and to have each other.

Tricks!

2010-03-07T17:42:00.000-08:00

Paul has now mastered "Tranquillo Tricks" with Dad. He has even perfected the "one footer." :)

One Degree of Separation - RFK, Jr.

2010-02-22T11:53:00.000-08:00

Joe and I were privileged to meet Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. a couple of weeks ago when he came to Bucknell. He gave a very spirited talk on the energy challenges facing our country and world. It was a really thought-provoking evening.

Polar Bear Plunge!

2010-02-21T12:37:00.000-08:00

Everyone knows that between Joe and Lisa, Joe is the one who pushes the envelopes and lives "outside the box." Well, one of Lisa's New Year's resolutions is to start living outside the box as well. So this year, Lisa and Joe did the Polar Bear Plunge together. The water was 34 degrees and it was about the same temperature outside with a 17 degree wind chill. Call us crazy, but it was a blast! Next year I'm going to go in even deeper! :)

PA Farm Show

2010-02-21T12:33:00.000-08:00

The PA Farm Show is apparently the largest farm show in the country. It is insane! We went with some of our best friends - Lisa and her two boys, Nate and Mitch and had a ton of fun amidst all the crowds. The highlight of the show were the milkshakes at the end!

Route 104, PA

2010-02-21T12:23:00.000-08:00

We decided to take a field trip one Saturday afternoon and drive along Route 104. We started in Mifflinburg and ended in Selinsgrove. On the way, we stopped at Penns Creek Pottery (a jewel in this area), Shade Mountain Winery, and had lunch at Cruisers Cafe. We had a ton of fun as a family and it was a perfect way to get out and do something different on a winter's day.

Yuengling Brewery

2010-02-21T12:22:00.001-08:00

About three years ago, Joe asked to go to the Yuengling Brewery in Pottsville, PA for his birthday. Well, we finally made it there and had a fantastic, winter day out!

Paul's First Haircut

2010-02-21T12:16:00.000-08:00

Grandpa Tranquillo is the family barber, so when it came to Paul's first hair cut, we knew exactly who to ask. Paul was a real trooper and he looks like a real little boy now.

KidCity, Middletown, CT

2010-02-21T12:15:00.001-08:00

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas. . .

2010-02-21T12:13:00.001-08:00

Pre-Christmas Celebrations!

2010-02-21T12:10:00.001-08:00

Indian Braves and Pumpkin Pie!

2010-02-08T19:35:00.000-08:00

Halloween Week

2009-11-04T18:48:00.001-08:00

Halloween is a really big deal in Lewisburg. So, the week up to Halloween was filled with a ton of fun parties/get-togethers. Joe took the kids to the Bucknell Halloween party on Sunday, we then went to our playgroup Halloween party on Thursday, and then to Laura's pre-school parade and party that Friday. Laura decided she wanted to be Sleeping Beauty. So she dressed up in all her pink, princess finery. Enjoy these pictures sent to us by friends.

Corning Museum of Glass

2009-11-04T18:44:00.000-08:00

Joe had a very short fall break. Even so, we decided to take advantage of one of his days off and go up to Corning, NY to their museum of glass. It was a fun day trip! The museum is extensive. We were there for only about an hour (that's about how long we could keep Paul away from wanting to touch and put his mouth on everything!) But a person could spend almost the whole day in the museum. We'll definitely go back when the kids are a little older.

Let it Snow!

2009-11-04T18:35:00.000-08:00

We got an early snow this year on October 15th. Laura came home from pre-school and the kids got into their snowsuits to play in the wonderfully, wet white stuff. Laura was down in it making snow angels. Paul, though, not so sure of the snow. It was fun to have a winter-wonderland for a day, but I must admit, I'm hoping for a long fall of mild weather!

Fall in Lewisburg

2009-11-04T18:29:00.000-08:00

Not only is fall my (Lisa's) favorite season of the year, but fall in Lewisburg is beautiful. One of our favorite places to go to is Ards Farm where they have a ton of fun fall activities (corn maze, hay house. . . corn box. . . and animals to boot). Here we are out enjoying the season.

Bravo! Ballet!

2009-11-04T18:22:00.000-08:00

Laura is really in to ballet right now. She loves reading all the "Angelina Ballerina" books and Lili books. You can often find her practicing arabesques, plies, and her curtseys. It's very sweet. So, about a month ago, Lisa took Laura to see the Suzanne Farrell Ballet Company at the Weis Center. It was Laura's first "night out" to a real performance. The girls got all dressed up and Laura made it through to the second intermission. At which point, she declared that she did not like the boy ballerinas and wanted to go home. Oh well! We tried! She still talks about it and we've promised her we will take her to another ballet where there are all (mostly) girl ballerinas :)

First Day of School

2009-11-04T18:16:00.000-08:00

Our little "big" girl started pre-school this fall at Kinderfolk. Laura loves pre-school. She barely says goodbye to me when I drop her off and always comes out of the door at the end of the morning with a big smile on her face. Enjoy these first day of school pictures. We're so proud of her!

Finger Paints

2009-11-01T18:28:00.000-08:00

Some fun pictures of Laura and Paul finger painting. Laura is quite the finger painting expert now. Paul, however, preferred eating the paint! Also thought I would include a picture of my two dancers :)

Bar Harbor, ME

2009-11-01T18:20:00.000-08:00

Joe and I went up to Bar Harbor, ME in mid-August to enjoy some time together without the kids (thank you Mom and Dad T. for watching Laura and Paul!) It was quite an adventure. The "check engine" light in our car went on our first day there. So we spent our first morning at the mechanic, but other than that, we had an amazing time together. Camping in a tent never felt so good! We climbed to the top of Cadillac Mt., picked blueberries, enjoyed amazing views, ate popovers at Jordan Pond, devoured lots of seafood, went to a brewery and winery, and just spent lots of quality time together. Amazing.

CT River Ferry

2009-11-01T18:15:00.000-08:00

To mark the end of the "lazy days of summer" we went on the CT River ferry - the oldest, continuously running ferry in the country. It was a lot of fun to be outside and to hang out with Grandma and Grandpa T and Uncle Mike and Uncle Vinny. Laura still talks about the ferry today when we drive by the Susquehanna River which is close to our home. We may have to go on it again when Paul gets a little older!

Grandpa Davis' Birthday

2009-09-13T18:32:00.000-07:00

We descended on the Davis grandparents in NJ to celebrate Grandpa's birthday. It was a particularly big birthday year - but the fact that he has lived to see another birthday is a miracle. It's been almost a year since Dad's heart transplant and he's is a new man. We're so thankful!

Storm King

2009-09-13T18:21:00.000-07:00

One of the highlights of our summer was a day trip to Storm King in New York state. Lisa's parents watched Laura and Paul for the day so that Joe and I could "play hooky" so-to-speak. Storm King is an outdoor sculpture experience. Top notch contemporary/modern scultpures "dot" several hundred acres of farm land. From Henry Moore, to Calder, to Andy Goldsworthy, Maya Lin, and Lichtenstein. It was an amazing experience to walk through the fields and take in the view. To top it off, we dropped in at a winery on the way home for a fun wine tasting and small wine festival. It was a beautiful day, one that will be hard to forget. (Thanks, Mom and Dad!)

Sidewalk Chalk Festival

2009-07-31T18:34:00.000-07:00

One of the organizations that Lisa volunteers for, the Lewisburg Arts Council, hosts an annual sidewalk chalk festival. Adults and kids come downtown and draw on a sidewalk square. Some of the drawings are pretty incredible. . . all the way down to our kids and their beautiful scribbles. Since Sara and Lisa were helping to man the registration desk, the dads took the girls and Paul out for dinner and then to the festival where they drew for about 5 minutes (if that) and spent the rest of the time running around. Oh, what it is to be young!

Fourth of July, 2009

2009-07-31T18:16:00.000-07:00

It's becoming a tradition that we spend the Fourth of July going to the Christensen's neighborhood parade with our red wagon and flags and then spend the evening with our good friends Sara and Dave Kelley and Mike and Lisa Malusis and their kids. The weather was amazing, the food - good, ole' American hot dogs and hamburgers, and the fireworks - great entertainment. The girls played dress up, and the boys ran around. Going to the pottty seemed to be the "in" thing to do for our 3 and 4 year olds. Fun was had by all!

Paul's First Birthday

2009-07-31T18:03:00.000-07:00

Paul turned the big ONE on June 27th and we celebrated his birthday in style with family and friends. Both grandparents were in town, including Tia Helen, Uncle Mike and Uncle Vinny. Lewisburg traditionally has its 4th of July celebration the weekend before the 4th so we enjoyed a fireworks display Friday night and the big Lewisburg 4th of July parade Saturday morning. Friends came over around noon for lunch and cake. Speaking of cakes, Grandma Davis made an amazing train birthday cake for Paul. It's hard to believe our "little dude" (Joe's nickname) is a year old. Bittersweet!

Summer Vacation in Cape Cod

2009-07-29T18:54:00.000-07:00

We had our first family vacation as a family of four at the Tranquillo house in Eastham, MA on Cape Cod. We had an incredible week. There was no Internet connection - so for a whole week not a single computer was opened in the house. Instead, we spent our time taking walks, playing in the sand and water, tasting wine, tasting beer, eating and reading, and enjoying each other's company. Laura discovered a lot about the seashore on First Encounter Beach in Eastham - (named so - for it is believed the Pilgrims first encountered the Native Americans at this beach.) We learned that our kids love the sand and water! Joe took Laura out kayaking and they collected mussels and clams which we later ate with Grandma and Grandpa Tranquillo who spent the second weekend with us. We had an amazing time and can't wait to go back next year. Thank you, Mom and Dad T for sharing your home with us!

Lewisburg - Relay for Life

2009-07-29T18:51:00.001-07:00

Lisa joined a Relay for Life team this year and got to know a great bunch of women. The Relay theme was music of the 80's. So, to get in the spirit, we all donned 80s prom dresses. Our own team member, Kristen, won best dressed, and our tent won for best decorations. It was a lot of fun and we're looking forward to next year's!