Kayla ~ 10th grade
Stephen ~ 5th grade
Bradley ~ 3rd grade
Cameron ~ Kindergarten
Andrew ~ Kindergarten
What do you do when it’s too hot to fish? July 24, 2011
You go fishing anyway. It is the way of our people.
Happy Birthday, Stephen! May 4, 2011
Stephen celebrated his tenth birthday at the Reading Phillies v. Portland Sea Dogs this year in Reading, PA. Additional daughter, Julie Miranto and the Gelband men (Maddox, Devin, and Brett) joined us for a beautiful sunny day at the park.
Stephen got to throw out a first pitch and the Phillies won the game 3-2 in a close one. The Sea Dog manager even got thrown out of the game. What more could a kid ask for?
Bradley is our MVP! April 28, 2011
Any kid that can blow bubbles like that is destined for greatness …
The Game Ball
Awarded for an awesome pop fly catch at second base!
Want to see a video of Brad getting a big hit and running the bases? Click HERE!
C-Lo (Cameron Logic) April 28, 2011
Me: “Cameron, are you staying here or going with Dad to Stephen’s game?”
Cameron: “I’m going with Dad. I’m Dad’s man.”
Me: “What about me?”
Cameron: “You have Andrew.”
Me: “Well, I want you, too.”
Cameron: “No. You have Drew, I am with Dad. And you can have Stephen. Dad and I will take Bradley.”
Me: “What about Kayla?”
Cameron: “Oh, we can just give her to a friend.”
It’s our game … March 8, 2011
A ball player’s got to be kept hungry to become a big-leaguer. That’s why no boy from a rich family ever made the big leagues.
~Joe DiMaggio, quoted in New York Times, 30 April 1961
I’ve come to the conclusion that the two most important things in life are good friends and a good bullpen.
~Bob Lemon, 1981
I was such a dangerous hitter I even got intentional walks in batting practice.
~Casey Stengel, 1967
There have been only two geniuses in the world. Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare.
~Tallulah Bankhead
What does a mama bear on the pill have in common with the World Series? No cubs.
~Harry Caray
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem – once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit.
~Al Gallagher, 1971
I see great things in baseball. It’s our game – the American game. It will take our people out-of-doors, fill them with oxygen, give them a larger physical stoicism. Tend to relieve us from being a nervous, dyspeptic set. Repair these losses, and be a blessing to us.
~Walt Whitman
When in Doubt, Wear ‘em Out! January 27, 2011
This morning we woke up to at least four inches of snow on the road. Dr. Otto-matron placed a robo call an hour after everyone left for school to announce an early dismissal. By a-little-after-lunch, Stacey (my faboo neighbor) and I had fourteen kids here – my five, her two (Devin & Maddox), two darling neighbors (Autumn & Patrice), Kayla’s Posse (JJ, Julie, Alex, Jackie & Brandon)! Thank God – Stacey had put two huge turkey breasts in the Crock Pot first thing this morning!
Less than an hour after getting off the bus, we had everyone dressed and the crew charged outside to brave the massive, wet snowflakes! Of course Fort-Building was the very first objective.
Autumn, Maddox, & Bradley made up TEAM 1. Their fort was substantial and built on the side of the hill so they didn’t have to work nearly as hard, but construction-wise, theirs was the only one that would pass Igloo inspection – very uniform walls, no cracks, no weak spots. Unfortunately, it was on the hill — once the sleds came out … well, you get the picture.
While we knew a battle would ensue, we weren’t prepared for this kind of battle. (hahaha! – I have no idea what Bradley & Maddox are doing here.)
Brad & Autumn could have a show on the “Home and Blizzard Network”.
At one point, I think there were 8 snow shovels in the back yard. Cameron & Drew wielded every one of them … often! Note to self: Get Cam & Drew some small shovels and point them towards the driveway!
Andrew was the only one willing to really slow down and participate in snowy day photography. Stinking cute! (Shout out to all our CJ pals!!! Once a Bulldog, always a Bulldog!)
Fly, Gracie!!! Fly!!! She had a blast out there. Many many puppy moments! (sniff sniff – enjoy them while they’re young … and the kids, too)
Team Two was comprised of Stephen, Devin, and Patrice. Their fort was impressive, to say the least. These dudes know how to roll some snow! Drew shovels around them, past them, into them … Shovel Drew!!! Shovel!
When all else fails, I keep taking pictures of Drew 
Mama’s baby-baby.
HOLY MACARONI – the little Sisyphus-es are photo-participating!
NO PAIN, NO GAIN, you little punks!!! (I’m sure that is what Patrice is telling them!)
Oh the agony!!! Somebody cue the “Rocky” theme music!
Ummmmm. How are they doing that? Oh! I see — they called in a couple of dump trucks. No wonder.
Come on, Cameron! Don’t give up!
That’s it, kid! Push that snow!!!
Naughty baby-baby.
Boys. That is all. Just “boys“. (said with an appropriate amount of motherly angst)
Peek-a-boo! Doesn’t he look like some weird little inverted turtle?
More fun tomorrow! 2 Hour Delay already on the books and it’s snowed about eight more inches since I took these. Yeeeehaaa!!!!
Kayla & Krew did not brave the elements, but instead broke in Stacey’s new board game. They played for hours and I can’t remember the name of it, but their laughter made the day so much warmer!
Blessed, I tell you. Blessed to the nth degree.
Good thing we had turkey & dressing for dinner – crowning this awesome day as a real day of Thanksgiving.
Snowy Days (sort-of) December 29, 2010
Depending on which side of the house you looked at, we either had a dusting or two feet of snow. The fifty-five mph wind gusts moved the snow around like a desert storm displaces sand. Of course, the hills were sort-of bare while flatter areas and places close to the houses were sort-of deep and perfect.
The good news is that the disappointment sort-of didn’t last. It was too cold with the insane wind to stay out very long.
Kayla went out with her new teensy-weensy Christmas camera to sort-of capture the whole thirty minutes of activities. I stayed inside and took this photo of her from upstairs. hahaha!
Bradley & Stephen made it up and down the hill a few times with Autumn and Patrice. Maddox came down as they were starting to experience frostbite, so the big Neighborhood Sledding was sort-of a bust.
Drew: Sort-of making a snow angel.
Sort-of never got the hang of it.
Stephen sort-of sledded right off his sled.
Everyone was sort of sketchy on the hill right beside our house after Stephen sledded right into the drainage ditch. (located inside the stick and plastic wrap barrier you can sort-of see in the middle right)
They look so happy. Nothing “sort-of” about that!~
“I’ll smash you in the face with this snow!” Nothing “sort-of” about that either.
The Myth Busters proved that your tongue really will stick to a flagpole in freezing temps. But will your tongue stick to your sister’s face? Sort-of.
Peek-a-boo! Sort-of.
Who doesn’t sort-of love a snowy day?
