My New Camera!

A few pictures taken with my new camera!

NEW BIKES!!!!

Yes, those are DRUMS!
And an electric keyboard...Look out Naked Brothers Band and the Jonas Brothers...here come the Machan Boys!!!

Yes, I am posting to my blog on my NEW Laptop!

Sunset from the deck! Just having some fun with my camera!

Merry Christmas

Just a few Presents under the tree!

New Bikes for Dad and the boys!


Rob got kleenex and the boys got a few toys as well as cereal!

We love our new Nalgene bottles and Carabiners from Aunt Debby, Uncle John, KaiLeigh and MacKenzie!

Thank you Grandpa Brad..we love money!

Awesome sweaters and a cool toy from Aunt Bunny and Uncle Spike!


Thank you Grandma Judy and Grandpa Dave for our PJ's, slippers, and cool cash!

Thank you Uncle Jim for our "pay checks"! Thank you Aunt Marcie for our cool silver dollars!

Merry Christmas from the East Coast Machans!

SNOW...SNOW...SNOW

Standing on the top of this beautiful hill overlooking the golf course covered in snow...I felt like I was on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post...A Norman Rockwell moment!
The only two kids on the hill with helmets on! I am a good Mom!!!!


This time last year, Matthew was crying and begging to go back home. This year he was the first to see the ramp and take off toward it. He did ask me if he could....my first response was NO! I thought about it for a second, thought "why not?". So I said YES!...be careful...like that means anything! They had a blast!

Joshua's turn to launch off the ramp. He really caught air...I just couldn't time the shot! We were there for over two hours...I was so done after my three trips down the hill. Once time with both of them and once by myself. After the third trip my face was covered in snow, it was cold, and I had water and ice dripping into my jacket...I was done. Everyday I am amazed that I live in Connecticut and it is the most spectacular and breathtaking place. Again, I am blessed that I have been given the opportunity to be with my amazing family in such an amazing place. God has truly given me the ultimate gift...Life!

Let it snow...let it snow...LET IT SNOW!!!

We had the most snow ever in the past two days! It snowed almost all afternoon on Friday. We ended up with about a foot of it! We had a great time playing in it and watching it come down. Today, Rob decided to hop in the Jacuzzi for a while. As you can see we are covered and the heater is on! It was great inside but crazy getting in and OUT!

Last night we went to one of the few Christmas Parties that did not get canceled, since most of those invited were all within walking distance. Those that did need to drive opted not to go out in the snow. We had a wonderful time drinking yummy wine and tasty cosmos and eating spectacular foods provided by the fabulous hosts, Jim and Karen! No pictures of the evening but a lot of fun memories. We live in such a wonderful place. We are so blessed to have such wonderful neighbors and friends!

This was our first Snowman ever!!! We built this last week when a snowed too! IT lasted about a day or two! We look forward to building another one tomorrow. The snow was just not sticky enough today to build our next one! We are excited to be having a White Christmas. There is rumor that it might snow again tomorrow and maybe even on Christmas Eve! We'll keep you posted.

Christmas Time in New York City

The family headed to New York City today! We took Danielle to JFK so she could head back to Cali for her month long winter break. Rob, the boys and I, headed to Rockefeller Center to see

"The Tree".

We were prepared for the cold this time with our North Face gloves and jacket. However nothing can truly keep as warm as a roaring fire! We faced the crowds, stood in lines, and went into a few stores. There is nothing like shopping in NYC on the holidays!

The Latest Eye Report!

I keep wanting to take a picture of the eye and put on the blog but that would be weird! All is going well. Rob had his follow-up appointment last week. We would have liked a clean bill of health and hand shake saying see you some other time...but that didn't quite happen. There were some 'atypical' cells around the edge of the biopsy. This means that Rob has another appointment in a month and then another one in February. The Doctor's are looking at the way the eye is healing and will determine the next step...if any at that time. He will have to come back every year for the rest of his life even if there in no additional follow-up!

Thank you for all the support and prayers.

THE EYE!!!

Rob is doing well...Surgery went spectacular. even though it only lasted about an hour the doctors had to remind Rob that is WAS MAJOR SURGERY. Rob is trying very hard to relax and take it easy. Next week he has a follow-up appointment where we will find out the pathology and the next step. the worst it can be is CHEMO EYE DROPS...who knew there were chemo eye drops!!! The eye drops would catch any runaway cells.

Thank you all for you thoughts, phone calls, and prayers.

We are Blessed to have you in our lives.

God Bless you all,

Christy and Rob

Rob has been named SHU Men's Volleyball Coach

ROB MACHAN

SHU Director of Volleyball Operations

Check out the link to one of Rob's many roles in life. Rob is working very hard this time of year. He has assumed the men's coaching role this year. He gets up at 6:00 AM for Men's practice 7:00-9:00 AM. The Women practice at 3:00-5:00 PM everyday as well. He is working very hard to make SHU's Volleyball Program as successful as it can be! Check him out at http://sacredheartpioneers.cstv.com/sports/m-volley/saht-m-volley-body.html.

An important update about Rob!

Rob is going to have surgery next week, November 13th, to remove an eye tumor. Rob has had this bump/redness/growth on his eye for a while . He recently went to an ophthalmologist who sent his to an ocular oncologist in Philadelphia PA!. We have a diagnosis of Squamous Corneal Conjunctiva. I will keep everyone posted. The outcome should be all OK. PLEASE KEEP HIM and the family in your prayers.

SHU Family Weekend

SHU FOOTBALL game!






That's the Fam...Taylor too! She is kinds part of the Fam now...She is from Chino, CA. So we will let her join the journey!




Doesn't that look good!!!

We had a great time!

Apple Picking - Beardsley Orchard, Shelton, CT

Matthew, Joshua, and our neighbor, Nick!

Matthew decided about 3:30PM today that he wanted apples! So we went apple picking at Beardsley's Cider Mill & Orchards just down the 110 in Shelton, CT. We found too many apples to pick and I can't remember which is which.

I think these are Jonagolds!

Happy times! I think we had fun!

I trained them so well...posing for the camera (MOM)!

One more pose the camera. Snacking on Apple Cider Donuts!

SHU Volleyball Update

The Sacred Heart Women's Volleyball team is having a great start this season.

Rob and the team have worked very hard to have the best record SHU has ever had 11-4 and the NEC matches haven't even started yet! Keep up with all the action. Home games are on internet at www.SacredHeart.edu Go to the Athletics websit...or Click the link in "My Favorite Websites".

Way to go Rob and the Lady Pioneers!

Where Do I Start?

This is not in any order...

Just a few pictures of some of our end of summer fun!
We took the Sacred Heart Women's Volleyball team to New York City. While the team saw a Broadway Show, Rob, the boys and I went shopping and played in Central Park!


Rob and Joshua


Matthew...NYC Central Park



After the park, the boys took their new found talents to the streets! Playing in front of the Apple Store.



Mystic Seaport
We took a little trip to Mystic Seaport. We had our hardwood floors refinished and new windows put in while we were gone. The boys had more fun playing in the hotel pool!




Look OUT!!!!



The Ships were amazing.



Well, Rob and I thought they were amazing! All Joshua and Matthew could think about was the POOL!



The Draw Bridge was pretty cool. We had lunch at Mystic Pizza. The movie was playing the whole time and the pizza was pretty good!


Not too soon after we got home....THIS happened!

The First Day of School. Joshua is now in third grade and Matthew is a Big 1st grader!

More too come...

Danielle arrives in CT...A Freshman at SHU...having a great time.
Rob's team is doing awesome 11-4.
Christy works in Monroe 3 days a week....

Joshua is preparing for his Jr. Black Belt

Matthew is having fun playing soccer (he has a Blue Belt now!)

Here's another good one! How did that happen?

Just when I thought things were going great...I got this really crazy e-mail from Jen. (Jen is my sister in-law, who was first my friend, my friend from HIGH SCHOOL, that place we graduated from). Jen, (my friend?) sent me this e-mail inviting us to our @) year high school reunion. Opps did I accidentally hold down the shift key? I bet you can figure it out. @) that is yes...TWENTY!

Holly cow, check this out...

Jen, Colleen, Christy, Leanna, Naomi, Rachael, and DeAnn

And you thought that was funny...Check us out!

Kelly, DeAnn, Leanna, Anita, Naomi, Erin, Christy, Rachael, and JEN!

This one is even better, cause Erin (Colleen's little sister) came to our Senior/Frosh picnic. Yeah, Erin just wanted to be like us! Still Does!

Anita, ERIN, Someone's little sis, Rachael, Jen, Christy and someone's little sis (mine I think)!

OK!

One More....

Are you ready?

Here it is!

Peace out!

Nothing more to say!