Electricity

We are glad January is over and we are desperate for spring to arrive! The beginning of the week started out with Mom sick and in bed, and Dad holding down the fort. Mom got well just in time for school to be cancelled on Wednesday due to snowy weather. Before the storm hit, Mom, Lily and Jack went to lunch and then to see 'Tangled' in the theatre - the kids really enjoyed the movie and Jack stayed seated the entire time, only talking a few times. We exited the movie to a winter wonderland with the snow coming down hard. We settled in to wait out the storm, kids in PJs, and in bed, and then the power went out. We woke up Thursday morning and our house was 61 degrees so we headed to Grandma Gail and Grandpa Tom's and were there thru Saturday morning. G&G really came thru for us with warm beds, dinner, and some fun sledding. Grandma Gail watched the kids all day Friday so Mom and Dad could go to work and check on the house which had by then had dropped to 49 degrees. Thankfully by Saturday morning the power had returned so we finally returned home. The rest of the day the kids played in the snow and we had movie night. On Sunday, the kids made a ship out of an enormous box, we ran errands, and then all of us went swimming with Aunt Kelly. Today it was back to school and work, although we are anticipating a wintry mix tonight into tomorrow, so we will see what the status is with school.

Without going into any specific details, Jack is officially potty trained, with minimal accidents! He was earning matchbox cars for "dropping the kids off at the pool" but is now just going because that is what you do. :)

Lily is doing well at school (when she goes ;)). She was tested today and she said did really well reading an entire book. We also took a trip this weekend to Target because she wanted to participate in a project collecting cold weather items for the homeless, this has been addition to collecting cans for the homeless, two projects that she took very seriously.

Enjoy the pics!


Sledding with Grandpa Tom.


Working on her fort.


Snow angel.

Rocky Mountain High

Long time, no post. We had a great but quick trip to Colorado and then we forgot our camera so had nothing to post last week. Since then we have stayed busy and both Marcy and I have been battling various winter maladies/colds. We both seem to be on the mend.

So we traveled to Colorado on a Thursday and we hit the slopes on Friday. Jack and Casey spent the day at school together while Lily was in ski school. On Saturday we all visited the mountain together and Jack and Casey both had a chance to try out the bunny slope. Lily spent the days skiing with the grownups. Sunday was tubing and some outlet shopping and Monday we were back skiing with the little ones in school.

We headed home on Tuesday after a treacherous ride to the airport. We made it to the gate for the plane with only minutes to spare! Wednesday was back to regular business.

The rest of the week was quite normal with back to school and work. On Saturday Jack and I got haircuts and on Sunday Jack attended his first birthday party -a gymnastics event.

That's all for now - here are some pictures and video.


Checking out the snow cat.


Testing out helmets.


Carrying his own equipment ... for about ten seconds.


Ready to go.


On the slopes.


With Casey.


Lily skiing.


Clowning around.

In Transit

New post tomorrow. We forgot our camera in Colorado and it should be arriving tomorrow. Check back for new update, pics and video tomorrow ...

She Came In Through The Bathroom Window

Good week back at school and work but unfortunately no pictures. :(

On Saturday, Stuart and Lily went skiing at Whitetail - Lily had fun at ski school while Stuart tore up the slopes, and they took a few runs together in the afternoon - CO bound on Thursday!

Mom and Jack spent the day at home, and we did some extreme potty training, we essentially went cold turkey from diapers to underwear. It went well and he went to school today in underwear and had no accidents. Still not 100% trained (need to work on #2) but he seems to picking it up quickly.

Will have some great pics and video from CO next week!

Aeroplane Flies High (Turns Left, Looks Right)

A busy two weeks around here are in the books. Since our last posting we have survived Christmas, avoided a blizzard, visited Florida, Jack and Lily attended their first hockey game and Jack went to his first football game. It was an action packed holiday.

Lily wound down her first semester at kindergarten and it was a smashing success. She is on the cusp of reading by herself and her writing is fantastic. Her social skills are growing in leaps and bounds and she is turning into a full fledged little person.

Jack is completely acclimated to pre-school and loves going in everyday. This weekend he is going to be working on potty training - whether he likes it or not - and hopefully he will be on his way to taking care of business the right way.

Christmas was great as always at Grandma Gail and Grandpa Tom's house. Lily and Jack scored with gifts from Santa and all their relatives. We spent time with Aunt Kelly, the aforementioned Grandparents, Great Grandma Katie, Great Uncle Mike and Aunt Jeanie, cousins Alli and Davis, Great Uncle Carlton and Great Aunt Jenny and cousin Alex. It was a full house.

On Sunday after Christmas we avoided the first blizzard of the season and jetted down to Florida for a visit. We had a busy with trip but got to spend quality time with family - we visited with Bubbie, Aunt Donna, Uncle Stephen, cousins Emilie and Stephanie. We also had a chance to see Grandpa Maurice and Grandma Phyllis and Great Uncle Jerry and Aunt Eve.

Although the weather was a bit cool, it warmed up as the week went on. We went from jacket weather on Monday to pool and beach weather by the end of the week. The kids had a great time at the beach and loved playing in the sand and water despite the frigid temperatures.

While in Florida, the kids got a chance to go their first hockey game. The Montreal Canadiens were in town and Uncle Stephen was able to secure some great seats for the whole family. We had a great New Year's Eve at the game and the Habs (who we rooted for temporarily) were able to pull out the overtime 3-2 win. It was very exciting and the kids loved the action and the crowd was really into the game.

We returned home on Saturday night and visited with Grandma Gail and Grandpa Tom for dinner. We were home in our own beds on Saturday night and everyone slept well after a busy, full week. Jack and I capped off the weekend with his first Redskins game. It was a rainy, late afternoon game and he made to the third quarter before he was tired and ready to home. He passed out in the car an slept all the way through until this morning.

A great two weeks - thanks to all the family who welcomed us into their homes and visited with us. We had a great time.

Enjoy the pics.


Opening a Christmas Eve present.


Jack working with a flashlight.


Checking out stocking goodies.


Opening some goodies.


Jack and the Buddha.


Lily and the Buddha.


Lily and Cousin Steph.


Feeding the ducks with Grandpa Maurice and Grandma Phyllis.


At the beach.


Discussing politics.


A little sandy.


A close up.


With Em and Steph.


With Aunt Donna.


Playing nicely at dinner.


At the hockey game - temporarily pulling for the Habs.


With Bubbie.


At his first Redskins' game.