17 August 2008 - Pool Party

Hey Everyone,

August has been a foot race for our family. We've been very busy with summer fun, cooling off from the heat, and getting ready to go back to school. Although I documented Jessica's birthday in my August 10th posting, I thought you'd enjoy this photo a group of Jessica's friends playing volleyball in the back yard in hula skirts.
On Saturday, we had a ward pool party. The weather turned a bit cool, but it was sunny and actually the temperatures reached the 80s so it was warm enough to swim. This is Jessica taking the plunge out of the slide.
The smaller girls enjoyed the kiddie pool with the frog slide.All in all, it was a good week and we had lots of fun.

Matt, Joanne & girls

10 August 2008 - Jessica's Birthday

Hello everyone,

Happy birthday to Jessica today. It was good to talk to those of you who called, and thanks for the presents too. In addition to her birthday, we've had an eventful week. I attended an Explorer Scout high adventure trip from Wednesday to Saturday. Joanne stayed home with the girls, which I think wasn't terribly fun for her, but she was a good sport. Our high adventure was at Ohiopyle State Park in the Allegheny Mountains. We stayed busy for three full days by kayaking, climbing, caving, biking, and camping. It was fun, but we were glad to come home on Saturday, dirty and tired.Aunt Jennifer arrived yesterday. The girls love visitors, and this summer we've had a pretty steady stream of them.
This is Jessica opening presents on her birthday after church. She is 9 years old now. Madeline was sure to stand by, in case any help was needed opening presents.Emily helped make a happy birthday for her sister by assisting on the pineapple (shaped) birthday cake.Behold the finished product!Ugh! Another Webkinz. In spite (or perhaps because) of this, Jessica has had a very happy birthday.

Have a great week,

Matt, Joanne and girls

3 August 2008 - Fun in Delaware

Hi all,

This week was a ton of fun. We spent the weekend with Karl and Jolene. With a couple of Karl's in-laws from Oklahoma and his cousin Jeremy, we went to Philadelphia and saw a Philadelphia Phillies game. We went to church on Sunday and took some time to relax.
This is us at a small beach on the Chesapeake Bay. Emily found a clam, which she thought was outstanding.

Joanne got lots of 'me' time with Trevor. He is a smilin' kid.
The kids all had a blast together all week. They had a lot of fun playing together in the yard. We even went bowling and to an arcade. Before we left town, Karl, Jacob, Jeremy and I caught a third baseball game, this time at the new Washington D.C. ballpark. We watched the Nationals play the Phillies. On Wednesday, we drove home and spent the rest of the week readjusting to normal life.

Matt

27 July 2008 - Washington D. C.

Hi Everyone,

It's been a busy summer, and I've been a little lax in writing my updates. I'm getting back on track now.

On the 21st of July, we drove to Washington D.C. so that I could attend some work-related meetings at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Joanne, her mom, and the girls had to stay in a hotel because they weren't allowed to stay at the institute with me. We did get to go out to a Cuban restaurant with Jerry and Danae, her mom and our family for Joanne's birthday.
This is Joanne's birthday cake on July 22nd, compliments of chef Aunt Danae!

After the meetings were over on Thursday, we all met at Jerry and Danae's house and Joanne's mom stayed there while our family headed north to Karl and Jolene's house in Delaware.Among other things, we got to go see some baseball on the trip. This is Camden Yards in Baltimore.Here is Trevor, Karl and Jolene's littlest guy. He was so cute that he and Jolene appeared on the Jumbotron.It was hat night at the ballpark, but the hats actually had a Miller Lite logo on them, so they wouldn't give any to the kids. We let the kids wear them though. Ths is Amanda, Amber and Jessica, with Emily standing up in the background. In all, our group was comprised of 27 people include our family, Karl's family, their cousin Jeremy's family, Jerry and Danae's family, and our friends Jenni and Ed who live in the D.C. area. We had such a large group we were acknowledged on the Jumbotron between innings. It was a ton of fun.

Have a great week,

Matt

20 July 2008 - Chicago

Hello everyone,

Well, I'm back from my week in Chicago, and fitting in a quick update before heading off to Washington D.C. I was in Chicago for a training class on a data mining software package called Clementine. I'm using it in my teaching now. My classes were held in the Sears Tower, which is right in the financial heart of Chicago.

Today we had a baptism in our ward. I took my turn in welcoming them to the ward during the baptismal service. As I was speaking, I shared with those in attendance the fact that as I walked around Chicago this week, I saw many wealthy people, people getting in and out of limos, staying in fancy hotels, and eating in very expensive restaurants. But what I also saw was that very few of them looked very happy. I then shared with this newly baptized family that I believed that this was because money cannot buy happiness. The father of the family was so happy after his baptism that he could hardly sit still. I told him that happiness only comes from our Heavenly Father's plan, and that families are central to that plan. We can't take our money with us, but we can take our families, and that is what brings us true happiness in our lives.

Part of my trip to Chicago was supplemented by some time with Joanne. Her mom arrived at our house on Monday, and on Wednesday afternoon, Joanne flew out to Chicago to spend the last two days there with me. I had surprised her by buying tickets to see the musical Wicked!, which I highly recommend if you can catch a performance of it (click the pic).Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Grandma was setting the bar high for summer entertainment. In addition to taking the girls back to the Children's Museum, she also took them swimming.
And the girls had a summer day camp at Mingo Creek Park. Madeline waded in the stream with Grandma while the older two were at day camp.
Joanne even got in on the action before leaving for Chicago.
They also spent plenty of time on the swing set too.
Tomorrow we'll head to Washington D.C. for some meeting I have there, followed by some time with Jerry, Danae, Karl, Jolene, Rebecca, Jeremy, and all their kids. It'll be good to see some family, even if they are all on Joanne's side of the family ;-)

Best wishes to all,

Matt, Joanne and girls

13 July 2008 - Children's Museum

Hello all,

Well, I do admit I've gotten behind in updating my blog. It's been a pretty crazy couple of weeks. I won't go in to all the details, but this week leading up to my departure for a week in Chicago was very busy for me. We had a very sad tragedy occur in our ward this week, which both required some of my time and took its toll emotionally on me, as the bishop of the young lady and her two children who were killed. They were not active in the church at all, but I still have struggled to deal with my role in her life and the senselessness of what happened.

Aside from that sadness, we did find some time for some happy events, include a visit to the Pittsburgh Children's Museum, which the kids always enjoy. This is Jessica in the ant farm.Emily is being an abstract artist here:
Madeline is more of a realist in this painting:
I also got the climbing wall done on the playhouse. We obviously still need to paint the whole thing. I've still got to work on the windows and sand box too.
Other than that, I can't think of any other news. We're keeping busy and staying happy.

Best wishes,

Matt and family

6 July 2008 - July 4th

Happy 4th of July!

We had a good 4th of July week. We always miss being closer to family on holidays, but the neighborhood had quite a festival, so we had a good time getting to know people better. They had a pretty amazing fireworks display, which the girls were afraid of (mostly Madeline), and lots of sparklers. The older two girls were not afraid of the sparklers.

Emily made Patriotic fruit skewers for the holiday, but Joanne said the star fruit was too sour to eat, so that part just looked pretty. The rest of the fruit was tasty.It has been a bit rainy this week, so indoor play, including this puppet show, was required to keep the kids from going nuts.
We worked on the master bathroom a bit more, adding a new recessed vanity.
The girls also got to go to the zoo in Pittsburgh, which they thought was fabulous. The kids with them are Emma and Chase Stephens.
Jessica thought it was cool to get a picture of this Doree fish (from Finding Nemo).
I guess that's about it for our week. Hopefully you all had a good 4th of July too.

Matt & family