Softball/Baseball and Brownies

I went to Columbus, OH a few weekends ago and got to enjoy a little game of softball in 95 degree heat! I cannot imagine how hot the kids were that were playing! UGH! my niece did awesome and it was so fun to see her play!

After the game - thumbs up from Aly!


Team meeting after the game...the coach gave them all a $5 Starbucks gift card! They were so excited!


The next day, also 95 degrees out, we had the all star baseball game for my nephew. Two kids from every team are chosen to play and he got selected...we were very proud!!! 

His little sister had a girl scout cookie sale table (not good with the chocolate cookies) they all got melted-ugh! So my brother will be buying a LOT of cookies! HA HA! This is my mother holding her sale sign...LOL


Even though his team did not win and advance; he did awesome!!! And he was selected as the MVP from his team! Go Brody (green shirt #1 in this picture)!


Team photo....


Our little MVP!!!


It was a fun and exciting weekend of really hot outside games!~ HA HA!

Half Asleep Monday

Happy Monday morning everyone!

I am going to be half asleep at work today due to the time change and weekend activity.

I drove to Columbus Friday after work to help with my nieces dance competition on Saturday.

We all went out to dinner at Liberty Tavern in Powell, Ohio. It was fantastic food! I shared a buffalo chicken wrap with my niece and it was fantastic!!! 

Here is my niece, Aly, posing with the replica of Lady Liberty herself!

After dinner we went home to chill, catch up with each other and watch some TV.  Here me and Aly are chilling on the couch!

On Saturday morning we headed out to the dance competition at Vern Riffe Center in Columbus. 

Here is my sisters coffee lid from GetGo...looks like a panda or a sloth, no??? HA!

It was a long and fun day of hair, makeup, lashes and costume changes. I love being a Dance Aunt with my whole being! My sisters and I danced our entire childhoods so I miss the excitement of the competition! I have no kids so it is so fun for me to help out with my nieces so much!!!

There is a game changer in the world of cheer and dance competitions. At these competitions, everyone has a makeup suitcase and and dance/outfit bag.  Here is what I am talking about...

You have to have all of your makeup and hair accessories together and readily accessible so everyone has one of these...

And you also have to be ready for any emergency...ripped tights (extra pairs available) even STATIC CLING or STRAY HAIRS. So, you bring a bag with anything you could possibly need inside that also has a pull out rack to hang costumes on so they do not wrinkle or get dirty. Everyone had one of these...nifty, hugh??

So now imagine 5000 girls in the small roped off changing areas with their Moms and dance Aunts and Grandmas and friends, etc. Everyone one of them has the above items...it is REALLY crowded to say the least! Some mothers make circles and have an open area in the middle for their kids....really not polite when everyone is really crowded in together. So, the kids all change in front of each other.

At this competition we started to see these!!!! 

 They are a pop up and easily portable changing tent!!!! It is 3 foot by 3 foot and 6 feet high. If nothing else, they keep everyone out of your little 3 foot space!!! There were a lot of them and to me, they are a game changer. My nieces are at the age where they don't want to strip down in the middle of a crowd and I felt the same when I was their age! I would have loved to have one of these when I was a kid!

So, to thank them for allowing me to help, I bought them one for the next competition!!! It should arrive at their house this week!! YIPPEE!


So, onto the dancers!!! Here is Aly (front row in the pink) during her Musical Theater number...

And here is Aly and Kyleigh...Aly in the back and Kyleigh in the front of their lyrical dance number they are in together! The music was God Blessed the Broken Road (one of my favorites).

And finally Kyleigh is on the left in this picture for her tap routine.

I wanted to post the videos but apparently I am not allowed until competition season is over. That is according to their dance teacher so I will respect that...I suppose! HA!

It was a really long day - awards were at 10:45 PM...yes, crazy right?!?! The kids were all peppy and awake but I would not say the same for the adults! HA!

We got home around midnight and then lost an hour because of the time change.

We had to get up at 7AM so my sister and her family could drive 4 hours to Kentucky for a volleyball competition. Yes, for a day!!! So I drove back to PA Sunday morning. I talked to my sister last night and they were headed home around 10PM last night.

I did not go along because I would not have gotten home until 2AM and I would not have made it to work today - HA!

Thanks to my sister and her girls for always making me feel needed and wanted as your dance Aunt! I love you so many bunches!

I hope you all had a fantastic weekend as well...I am heading to your blogs now to read all about it!!! HUGS!

Every dance or cheer in competitions? How about changing in front of others in gym class, ugh!?!? Travel over the weekend? Did you do anything fun last weekend?

What a Whirlwind Weekend of Sports

Hi everyone!! I hope you all had an awesome and fun-filled weekend! I was planning on a weekend hanging out at home since I had no plans but I decided to make an impromptu run to Columbus, Ohio to take in a few of my nieces and nephews games.  They are only young once and I figured my next few weekends are going to be busy with flooring projects so I better get a visit in while I can - LOL!!!

I arrived late in the afternoon but just in time for this guys soccer tournament...Such a cutie!!!!

Action shot....

  And another...he almost got wacked by the ball....UGH....

 I missed this sweet girl's soccer game but she stayed in her gear just for my picture...HA!!

 She even posed for an action shot...HA!

And this beautiful child has gynastics and dance but nothing on the weekends so I will have to get her pictures another time :-(  Instead, we opted for a photo shoot!

The kids put together a Haunted House...in all places, the bathroom!!! It was very small but very scary (as you can only imagine!) LOL!!! Half are laughing and half are acting scary....HA!!

Sunday morning was Hockey for this sweetie...

Action shot again...

And then flag football for the same kid! He is the one in the center pointing below..kids these days just go and go all day! HA!

 And action again...

The only child I missed from Columbus, Ohio is my oldest niece Kyleigh. She is becoming a young adult way too quickly. I missed her volleyball game as it was early Saturday and her dance is during the week so I will definitely get those photos at a later date!

The only thing I have of Kyleigh from this weekend is her and I created a video of us dancing to the Drake challenge and I will not dare post that on the internet...she was great but her Aunt Annie left something to be desired! HA HA!

Have a great start of the week guys - HUGS!

GOTR Columbus 5K

I spent last weekend with my family! We all went to Columbus to enjoy a little family together time and a little race time!

This is the welcome my sister and I got when we arrived! A welcome banner in chalk that covered the WHOLE driveway! Awesome!!!

 We started the weekend by going to a few games of soccer for this little cutie! She had a tournament and played A LOT this past weekend!

Sitting in the rain and enjoying soccer!! LOL!

This is Saturday morning! We were all registered to run in the Girls on the Run 5K in Columbus! It was both of my nieces first 5K's and they killed it! This is my sister and her running buddy my niece!

And my other sister and my other niece (her daughter)...

 This is a group shot with our running buddies! Basically Girls on the Run pairs up one girl with one runner that goes at their pace so the girl is never running alone! You can encourage the child and also just plain keep them safe!

Girls on the Run also tries to show that exercise and running is fun! The girls wear removable tattoos and color their hair - they also wear tutus and design their own shirts!!! So cute! 

My other nieces hair...

So stinkin cute!

The matching rainbow Dash sock girls!!

This is the view of the Start right before we took off! There was a light drizzle the whole morning but the crowd was so excited!

And the crowd behind us.... it was packed!

 Our group!!!!

And we finished!!! Aly and Kyleigh's first bling!! Love running for medals! HA! My niece did great and did not complain ONCE!  If anyone is looking for volunteer options this is a great one! Almost every school has the program and you can volunteer to be a running buddy there!

The exhausted car on the trip home - LOL!!!

 Sunday was spent watching more games! We got to to see my other nieces soccer game!!! Pink number 12!

So cute!!!!!

 And my nephews soccer tournament - they won! WHOOP!

Thanks for reading!

Anyone running their first 5K, 10K? Anyone else a running buddy?

I hope everyone had an amazing weekend and I wish everyone a great week!!!

Brody is Four?!?!

What an amazing weekend I had!!!! I ran up to my parents house on the lake on Friday night and noticed that it is finally starting to THAW!! Yea! Spring in definitely on the way!!! Here is a shot of the back yard leading to the lake! Soooo ready for Winter to take a hike!!!

Here is a shot of a lonely swan swimming around fishing! She was in this little melted patch in the ice just swimming around and around ducking her head under and fishing while she swam. It was so calm and peaceful to watch! Love the lake and the its wildlife!! 

Picked up and envelope of a bunch of things my parents saved all these years for me...pictures and report cards, etc. I found this little gem tucked in there -  I think this one was from 3rd grade! LOL!!! This was pretty much like every report card...there was a theme! HA

 I packed up a bunch of healthy snacks on Saturday morning and headed out for a weekend in Columbus! I went to visit family and celebrate two very special people - my niece and nephew both had a birthday this month! Madelyn's party was last weekend (she turned five) and Brody's party was this past weekend (he turned four)! I already had plans for last weekend so I could only make it out this weekend to celebrate both!

Got from Pennsylvania to Ohio and the gas price dropped about 50 cents a gallon!!!!!! Crazy how that works!!!!

This is a picture I sent to boyfriend to let him know I arrived safely at my destination after a three hour drive. I stayed with my brother and his family since their kids were having the birthdays that month.  He messaged back and said I look like I am being held hostage!! HAHA! I am the one in the back - LOL!

We quickly styled my nieces hair in adorable braids and  headed off to meet up with my sisters family so I could see everyone and we could ALL hang out! I love that my family is close and likes to spend time together!!  The kids all love to be around each other so much it is so much fun to see them hang out together too!

Where did we go you ask?!?! Costco - of course!! We love our family Costco trips!!! HA HA

All the kids corralled into the carts and enjoying their samples of jelly beans that day! Such fun! I adore each and every one of these little darlings!!!!!

After all the kids went to bed; my sister and sister-in-law and I ran out for a fun night at Target and Walmart! We are a shopping family in case you cant tell! HA! I found this amazing gem for myself as I LOVE Batman!!! It was $3 on clearance and has a velcro cape so you can wash it!!! LOVE IT!! 

I also found this version for my brother-in-law! AWESOME at its finest! Also only $3! Score!

 




















 
 Here is a selfie from Sunday morning! That was Brody's actual birthday! He woke up and ran into his sisters room and yelled...I am four now! It was so cute! So this is the official first selfie from when he was four-we hopped in the car to go get balloons for the party with my brother!!!

Here is a shot of my nieces and nephews that are from Columbus minus one that came a little later. The one on the far right is the birthday boy!!!

A shot of his awesome cake!!!! The woman standing behind in the cream colored coat is Brody's Grandma (my sister in law's Mother) and she actually created that amazing planes cake!!! It was really cute!

Blowing out the candle...

And the whole group together!!!  What a great day and awesome party!

HERE is a link to a video of the noise level from the party!!!! HA!
 
HERE is a link to the AMAZING-ness that is my niece! She turned five last week and in this video she rides her cousins bike without training wheels for the first time!! Amazing!

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