Happy Birthday Daniel!

Tuesday, April 19, 2022

Happy Birthday Daniel!  I wish we could have made your special day even more special, but having been gone all weekend (and with both of our favorite bakeries closed on Mondays), we could not get a big, fancy birthday cake.  We did manage to make cake cups (complete with birthday candle) and open presents though.  Next year we have to do better - D will be celebrating the big 50!  Happy Birthday!

   

Easter Drive-By

 Monday, April 18, 2022

During the Covid lockdown in 2020, the City of South Charleston did an Easter bunny drive by.  They continued the tradition this year with another Easter bunny drive by and what do you know?  One of our favorite rink staff, Nick, was escorting the bunny!  Emily was thrilled to receive 2 South Charleston eggs and get to wave to one of her rink buddies, too.  

   

Easter 2022

Sunday, April 17, 2022

We had to delay Easter baskets until we got home from Philadelphia, but that was totally fine because it gave us all something to look forward to when we got home!  Emily did get two little t-shirts with plants on them (she's in an I love plants phase) while we were still in Philly so she would have a gift on Easter morning.  Then at home there were baskets for Em and Dad!

   

   

Zoey was interested in the baskets, but Emily was mostly interested in her giant Peep bunny!

   

HAPPY EASTER!!

Visit to Philadelphia & Training with JJ

 Friday, April 15 - Sunday, April 17, 2022

Since last year we have been talking about getting Emily a choreographer.  We tried getting some help at Sun Valley, but it wasn't really all that great in the end because it all got changed as she grew into her program.  This year we finally made a connection with Johansen Jones ("JJ") for short.  He used to skate in some professional shows with JD and Alexis, so JD made the connection between JJ and Heidi and we were all set!  We headed up to Philly over Easter weekend for some training and new choreography.  Heidi even came too!

We got to sleep in a little on Friday morning and then we headed to the Patriot Ice Rink over the PA border in Delaware.  Emily got to try out the spinner!  She was super excited about it and actually did pretty well.  Then it was time for our first 5-hour session with JJ.  She skated her little legs off and when we left, she had a new short program! 

Then later that evening, Daddy arrived, and we got to meet Charles, Alison, Everett and Griffin for dinner and ice cream.  It was so fun!

Then, after what seemed like the shortest sleep in the world, we were back up again on Saturday and ready for another 5 hours with JJ and this time, they were going to work on the long program.  JJ and Emily really hit it off and when we were finished, both programs had really come a long way!

   

   

When we finished at the Patriot Rink on Saturday, we also got to come back to JJ's home rink and skate a little there too.  It was a fun way to cap off a great weekend of skating!  Then it was time for dinner and this time we got to meet Laura, Andy, and Jacob for dinner.  Laura isn't in the picture because she was actually working that night, but she did come early in the evening and ate with us before having to go back to the hospital.  It was great to see everyone!  Heidi came with us to both dinners too, but she took the pictures, so she isn't in them.  :-(

On Sunday morning (Easter!) it was time to head home.  Our flight wasn't until a little after noon, so we had time for a nice Easter brunch in downtown Philly.  We don't get to eat many fancy breakfasts, so this was definitely a nice treat!  Heidi had avocado toast and the rest of us had this amazing apple crumble French toast.  It was soooo good!!

   

We are already plotting our next opportunity to see JJ and work more on choreography (not to mention her double axle).  This was a great trip!  OH!  And on our way to the airport, we got a quick view of Independence Hall!  We could see where the Liberty Bell was, but you couldn't really see it from the street.  Maybe next time...

Washington, D.C. Tour

 Friday, April 1, 2022

We couldn't travel all the way to D.C. and not do something cool.  So after the short program, we went on a guided tour of Washington!  We started out at a neat little market where we grabbed a bite of lunch (and a sweet treat).

Then we were on our way to see the Unites States Capitol, the Library of Congress and the United States Supreme Court.  Due to the time and other restrictions, we were not able to go inside, but even seeing them from the street and taking a picture was pretty neat.

   

Our next stop was The White House!  On our way there, we also saw the National Arboretum, the Andrew Jackson monument and the First Presbyterian Church (where the President attends services).

   

   

Our next stop was the Washinton Monument and the WWII memorial - with a stop to appreciate the cherry blossoms too!

   

   

   

Then we were off for a tour of the whole Washington Mall area - starting with the Korean War Memorial (which was partly under renovation). 

   

We made our way up the mall to the Lincoln Memorial next.  Not pictured - the fact that the sun went away and the wind picked up and it was very chilly

   

   

On our way back down the mall we visited a few additional monuments before stopping for a bit at the Vietnam Memorial.  Such a moving memorial.

   

   

Then it was finally time for the Jefferson Memorial - my favorite!  The tidal basin is just so beautiful, and with all the pretty, pink cherry blossoms it just could not be missed.

   

   

   

Once we finished with all the monuments and memorials, it was time to head back to the hotel.  But, before we did, we found a little outlet mall and could not resist a brief stop.  And Emily was the big winner - she got a great buy on a cute little new Kate Spade purse.  Definitely a full, and very fun, day in our nation's capital!