Hound Dog

So we decided to spice things up around here this week a bit by bringing a new member into the family. Lily, Jack, Marcy and I have now been joined by Daisy. A whirlwind week ended with the little Bagle (Basset/Beagle mix) coming home on Saturday.

The week started off normally ... except for a holiday Monday and sick Marcy. Marcy got better by Tuesday night and the rest of the week was pretty quiet. On Friday, Marcy and Jack visited with friends Tara, Kate and Carter and Lily had a play date with neighbor Madeline.

On Saturday, I drove to pick up Daisy. We saw a picture of her on Wednesday and by Friday afternoon we decided to take the plunge and bring her home. Our friends Donna & Dave (who we bowled with a few weeks ago) adopted Daisy's sister Lily who they rename Ginger. I drove home with the two pups and the rest is history. So far so good ... Daisy is learning potty training, not to mouth and how to climb stairs. Lots of work but I think we are sure it is worth it :)

Anyway, onto the pictures ...


Dancing queen and king.


Jack and Kate.


Daisy and Ginger.


Checking out the kitchen.


Relaxing.


Checking each other out.


Ummm ... I am sure that Jack will appreciate this picture one day.


Continuing the trend of wearing Lil's shoes.


Getting adjusted.

School Spirit

A busy week in the books ... Monday was a regular day at school and with Beatrice for Lily and Jack, respectively.

On Tuesday, Marcy and I attended the information session for kindergarten - hard to believe that LIly will be off to the big kid school next year! Jack went with us to the school and had a chance to play with the other kids while we were at the meeting. He loved playing with the toys and the kids and Lily was so happy to have him there. She wished he could come back with her again ... she will just have to wait until June!

On Wednesday, cousin Alli was visiting so Lily stayed home from school to spend some quality time. She and Jack had a great time visiting. Thursday was back to school with an evening at Grandma Gail and Grandpa Tom's so Lily, Jack and Marcy could spend more time with Alli and Uncle Mike.

On Friday, Marcy took Lily to the pool for some swimming and chatted online with Aunt Tracy and cousin Casey. On Saturday we ran some errands and on Sunday we had a visit from friends Andy and Jenn. This morning, Marcy woke up under the weather so Jack and Lily and I kept ourselves busy out and about with a long walk, a trip to the park and some Chinese food for dinner. The dynamic duo are now bathed in bed and off to sleep.

That is where we stand now ... on to the pictures.


Playing outside with Alli.


Some coloring and some puzzle with Alli.


Riding around.


I am not sure what is going on here.

R
Ready for some sun.


Making a giant mess.


Playdough with Grandma Gail and Dora.

Bowling With You

So Marcy and I both wrote posts this week. I had not realized that she had written, so I wrote this ...

A quiet week here as we got back into the groove from our time away.

Lily was back at school on Monday and had a good time in her ballet class. Her semester end performance, her last at this school, is right around the corner! Kindergarten is coming up and she seems to be excited about heading off into the great big world, even if we are not ready for her to go just yet.

Jack was glad to be back with Beatrice and to his routine of visiting the library and the community center. In June he will be starting at his new school so he is enjoying his last few months with 100% of Beatrice's attention. His vocabulary continues to explode and he knows all sorts or words. His favorites this week appear to be "Stop it!" which he shouts whenever anyone other than him attempts to sing,

Not much else to report this week ... On Friday, Marcy took the kids swimming and they had a great time. On Saturday we ran some errands and relaxed. Marcy and Lily made some great home made chocolate chip cookies. Sunday started with swim lessons, then we went duck pin bowling with friends and finished off the day with dinner at Grandma Phyllis and Grandpa Maurice's house.

That is all for now. Onto the pictures ... and video ...

And she wrote this:

After getting back into the swing of things with school, Beatrice, and work, we had a fun, low key weekend. On Friday, Lily, Jack, and Mom went swimming, followed by a long nap by Jack, and Lily got to play with some of her holiday presents. On Saturday, we ran errands and hung around at home playing with toys and Mom and Lily made chocolate chip cookies - Jack got in another good nap. On Sunday, Lily had swimming lessons in which she worked on freestyle and floating on her back, then we went duckpin bowling with friends Donna, Dave, Sean, James, and Charlotte - both Lily and Jack had a blast, definitely a good winter activity! We finished out the day with a visit with Grandpa Maurice and Grandma Phyllis.

Lily is really working hard on spelling and sounding out words and is constantly reading books with her leapfrog pen. She has also mastered the days of the week, and after making a real clock at school is now working on telling time. Jack is a talking machine - he forms sentences "Come back here Elmo" (that was in the tub) and "Where Lily go?" are just a few examples. He can identify shapes, and is doing pretty well with colors. He essentially likes to give a running commentary as to anything that is going on around him, and will continue telling you it is dark outside or that he sees the moon until you acknowledge him. Beatrice has been working with him on a large alphabet floor puzzle that she got him for Christmas in which he jumps from one letter to the next. He also continues to be a troublemaker and always wants to play with whatever Lily has, and when he goes to timeout he generally thinks it is funny and tries to be cute. He has zero interest in potty training so we will give it another few months. We have received confirmation that he will start at Lily's school in mid to late June so we would love to start potty training before then but fortunately it is not a necessity for him to go to school. Lily and Jack are getting along reasonably well. and I often find them in the bathroom, Lily on the toilet reading a book to Jack who is sitting on the stool.

We didn't have the camera this weekend, only got some shots of duckpin bowling, will try to do better next week!

All the news that's fit to print ... twice! Only one post next week ...

Jack found the baby toys hidden in the shower and was having fun checking them out.


Jack bowling. He kept wanting to watch the screen on the camera!


Lily's turn.


This is the weekly news feed at school:  Lily is a bit excited about the upcoming visit by her cousin Alli.  The word "house" should obviously be inserted after "my."  

The Christmas Waltz|Florida

Christmas, New Year's ... two weeks since our last post and a lot to catch up on.

Since our last visit we have had a chance to see friends, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and Grandparents. Endured cold, sickness and a trip to Florida. Let's start at the beginning.

After a short week of school, Lily and Jack spent the day before Christmas Eve with Aunt Kelly who was visiting and babysitting. Then it was off to Grandma Gail and Grandpa Tom's for the Xmas festivities. Also visiting were Aunt Tracy, Uncle Stan and Cousin Casey. Christmas Eve started off normal enough but ended with Marcy have the stuffing knocked out of her by the stomach flu. Ten hours later she was fine but it certainly dazed her ... Christmas would go on though.

Friday morning was mayhem at the grandparents with wrapping paper flying everywhere. Santa took good care of Lily, bringing a guitar, some Princess & Prince dolls, a vet kit ... the list goes on. Jack got some tools and dinosaurs and books and so on. That was before presents from Aunts and Uncles and Grandparents began (American Girl clothes (three new outfits)). Needless to say, there are a few new toys and books in the house now.

With Marcy feeling better, we packed up to head home so that we could leave early Saturday morning for a visit to Florida. There we had a chance to see Aunt Donna, Uncle Stephen and Cousins Emilie and Stephanie. We also had a chance to visit with Grandpa Maurice and Grandma Phyllis. Before any of the fun could begin, however, Jack was visited by the stomach bug. Since we started the year with meningitis, finishing it off with the stomach flu was no big deal. That being said, Jack was sick every half hour from 1 am until 4 am. He was fine the next day and then it was my turn to be sick. Somehow, Lily avoided it and no one else in the house got sick.

After everyone felt better, we kept busy with trips to the pool, riding bikes, a visit to the ocean and a rockin' New Year's Eve. We had a great time visiting everyone and returned home on Saturday.

Special thanks go out to Aunt Donna and Uncle Stephen who were such great hosts (even putting up with our illness) and to Grandma Phyllis and Grandpa Maurice for hosting our day at the beach.

On to the pictures ...


Lily and Aunt Tracy smushing Uncle Stan.


Casey and Jack in their matching Christmas Eve pajamas.


Opening presents.


Checking out her vet kit.


Julie dressed up in a new outfit - complete with goggles and snow board. Julie also got a cowgirl outfit and a figure skating outfit, complete with skates and blade guards.


With Aunt Kelly in hats from Aunt Tracy & Uncle Stan.


Julie checking out the snowman after hitting the slopes.


Our annual Florida face painting.


Playing with cars and Uncle Stephen.


Horsing around with cousin Stephanie.


Celebrating Jack's birthday.


Jack checking out the sand at the beach.


Lily investigating the ocean.


Jack avoiding the waves with the help of Grandpa Maurice. About half an hour later, Jack got really adventurous and was in the water up this knees. Then he got stung by a Man-of-War and we had to take him home!


On New Year's Eve at dinner with Aunt Donna.


Fancy Nancy at bedtime.