Inlaws on Ice!

We took 'da burgh' by storm!

When Mark's siblings get together, you never know what will happen.  When there is a crisis, they band together and rise to the challenge, but when it's playtime...look out!

Our niece, Tori, wanted to go ice skating but sadly, Tori got hit during a basketball game and has a concussion, so she wasn't able to join us.  Maybe next time, Tori!

It's always exciting to go to Pittsburgh during the holidays, everything is decorated and looks so pretty!

Andy seemed happy to be there...

PPG Plaza is all set up for holidays. 

Santa is coming!

 

Everyone was there when we got there.  We were late (grrrr) because Andy had to stop at the cycle shop and buy a motorcycle helmet.

 

There was already a line to get in, but I made the most of the wait by warming up,   I practiced my pirouettes and other French sounding things while I waited...

 

 

I hate to admit it, but it really didn't help...

Well, it MIGHT have if I could let go of the hand rail...

 

~sigh~

But I never did...

 

The rest of the family?

 

My niece, Kayla, thought all she had to do was look pretty...

 

 

Or tease poor Tyler...

 

 

Kevin and Chelsea started out slowly...

 

 

And stopped to pose for the camera.  Aren't they cute?

 

 

 

Grandma Marsha was the first to go down, but out of respect, or because I was laughing so hard, there are no photos of this event..



 

I will say, those cute guys with the yellow shirts are quick to rescue grandmothers in distress!

 

Mike and Tyler found a new way to get in trouble, they ducked under Kevin and Chelsea's hands as they skated...

 

 

 

Ashley and I watched very carefully...

 

 

For photo opportunities!

 

 

Whew!  There were quite a few, this family is very photogenic!

Donna kept watch from the left side of the rink...

 

Mike strikes a pose!  He's down the equivalent of several bags of sugar and a few bags of flour...

doesn't he look great?

 

 

 

 After well all got tired, we sat down to plan our next move...

 

 

 

 And took a picture of our reflection...

 

 

 

And some tall buildings...

 

 

 

Finally we headed off towards Macy's but instead we ended up at

S.W. Randalls 

 

(this is how it looks in spring - I didn't take any pictures of this part of our day, I was too busy eating the delicious cookies Ashley baked and brought,)

 

We went to see the Pittsburgh Creche, which was beautiful!

 

 

 

 

After that, we discovered that Ashley and Kayla had never done something EVERYONE who grew up in the area has done over and over,,,so off we went...

 

Where?  Well, you'll have to come back tomorrow to find out.  I'm tired of typing and have tons of things to get done...

 

Hey, stay safe, stay warm and be a blessing to someone!

 

Love,

Jan

 

Okay, Chris, I hear ya!

It wouldn't be hockey without a fight...right?

Mark's family has always been close but most of them live in the same area, visiting was easy.  Our little family was 45 minutes to an hour away so drop in company was unlikely.  We did most of our socializing in the summer at the river or on holidays.

Mark's death was a tragic reminder of how short life  and how unpredictable life is and just  how important family is.  They have all stepped in to fill the void in our lives.  They were there when the boys and I needed them and they are still there.  We get together often.

One of the things we've been doing is spending Thursday evening with Mark's brother, Mike, his wife, Michelle and kids Tori and Tyler.  This past Thursday was no exception.  The boys and I went to their house to watch the Penguins smash the Capitols and to eat pizza.

The pizza was excellent.  We all ate our fill before the start of the game.  We were ready, happy and a family...except...

There seems to be one problem child in each family.  We always believed it was Tony but now we are thinking it might be Tyler...

Of course, no hockey night, no matter where we gather, would be complete without a scrimmage, even if it is Mike and Michelle's family room...

And of course, no scrimmage, no matter how innocently it begins, leads to a good old fashioned hockey fight...

It gets pretty intense at times...

But any hockey fight that ends with the floor being mopped with Ovechkin

Can't be all bad, especially when we beat the Caps, 2-1!

There, Chris...an update, now get out there and hit the trail!

Love you guys, now go out and be a blessing to someone!

Jan

For what it's worth...

Evenings can be long and lonely around here at the house on the hill.  Fortunately, I have been blessed with friends and family, both mine and Mark's.  I can't tell you how much I love it when  someone calls to say they are stopping by for a visit.

Tonight was one of those nights.  Mark's brother, Mike, his wife, Michelle and kids Tori and Tyler came for a visit tonight.  Tony made us tacos and Andy and Morgan came to help us eat them.  Tacos are his specialty.  They were delish!

Eating tacos was educational for us.  Tyler made his own, which was great, but the filling kept squirting out the bottom of his tortilla.

Aunt Jan to the rescue!

I always wondered what those purple clips were for...they sure kept those olives from squirting out!

After dinner, Michelle and I cleaned up the kitchen while the rest of the gang went out to the garage to play........

Garage hockey!!!!!

Sorry, there is so much junk in the garage that you can hardly see Andy in all his goalie gear...look closely...

Tyler in action!

Looks like Mike got the short end of the stick?

Tori was right in the game!

Tony didn't do too bad either...

 Suddenly, someone remembered that we need to be careful...wear protective gear.  Mike was the first to comply...

Didn't seem to help his game much...

Who won?

It was a tie!

Maybe we can have a rematch next time?



~sigh~

I am blessed!