Country Pie

Thanksgiving 2012 was a rousing success.

We started off on Monday with Lily's school show - the Turkey and the Eagle.  The show was a rousing success and Lily had a great time.  Monday was a swim night so off to practice she went.

On Tuesday we had our weekly visit from Grandma Gail and Grandpa Tom.  Since it was short week, there was more swimming at night.

Wednesday was a half day at school so the kids came home early and got busy with various activities.  Emilie and Stephanie, who were visiting for the weekend, arrived in time for dinner.  After bed time for the kids, the cooking began.  Lots of cooking ... turkey, mashed potatoes, corn casserole, pumpkin cookies, stuffing, hello dollies and more.  Emilie and Stephanie did great work in the kitchen and food prep went very smoothly.  (It probably helps that we have two ovens now and that we are not in a tiny kitchen!)

The kids hung out with their cousins in the morning when Marcy and I went off to do the local Turkey Chase run.   When we came home the turkey (all 27 lbs) was headed into the oven after a long night in the brine.  Before lunch we had a fun neighborhood touch football game which will hopefully become an annual tradition.  By early afternoon we were joined by Grandma Gail, Grandpa Tom, Great Aunt Jenny and Great Uncle Carlton, cousin Alex and cousin Valerie, her boyfriend Ed and cousin Liam.  It was a great meal and everyone had a great time.  The big Redskins' win certainly helped make for an even better holiday.

On Friday we ran some errands and then put up the Christmas tree and some other holiday decorations. By dinner time Emilie was back on the train and we headed out to dinner.  We went a bit fancy and it was kind a disaster but at least Stephanie, Marcy and I had a nice meal.

On Saturday we had Jack's football game.  It was freezing.  No touchdowns this week but he had a great time with his football buddies.  The rest of the day was around the house and we took a short trip out to take Stephanie to the train station.

On Sunday we headed out to get Jack his birthday present, a bit early.  A new bike that he picked out himself.  The kids played with some neighborhood friends in the afternoon.  And just like that, a four and half day weekend was over.

Here are some pics and video.


Lily as a turkey.


In their respective costumes.  Jack worked all week on his Native American costume.


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Getting ready for the game.


Headed for the endzone.


On his way.


Tom carving up the turkey.


Digging in - Lily, Jack and Liam.


Decorating the tree.


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Cousin Steph helping out.


Working on a window cling.


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Getting dressed up.


The wish bone.  Lily's side won.


It was very cold at flag football.  Lily and Steph bundled up.


Football.


The new bike.


A little Sorry with Sammy and Izzy.

Now Get Busy

We are getting ready for Thanksgiving in these parts and recovering from a crazy busy weekend!  Let's start at the beginning of the week ...

Monday - Lily had swimming.

Tuesday - We had our normal visit from Grandma Gail and Grandpa Tom.  Grandpa Maurice arrived in town and joined us for supper.

Wednesday - A quiet day ... homework, neighborhood play dates, etc.

Thursday - Lily had more swimming.

Friday - We had a nice dinner out with Grandpa Maurice and then it was off to bed to gear up for a crazy Saturday.

Saturday started out with flag football for Jack.  Then it was off to his friend Stuart's birthday party - an Angry Birds theme.  From there we had quick pit stop at home before it was off to a neighbor friend - Lucas' birthday part - a gym party.  While Jack and I were at those parties, Lily was off to Maddie's birthday party - horseback riding.  From there it was off to Eliza's rock climbing party.  Then everyone came home and we had friend's of Marcy's from college over.  We all slept well that night.

On Sunday, Lily and Jack both had Hebrew school and then it was off to ice skating with their neighborhood friends.  After that it was off to Lucas' house to crack open a birthday pinata.  Then both Lily and Jack had play dates with respective school friends Micah and Beckett.

With that, a full, well lived weekend was in the bag.

We don't have too many pictures but here is what we've got.


Rock climbing.


A little higher.


Skating with friends.


Jack working on his moves.

Fixin' a Hole

First things first … somehow during last week’s post I forgot all about Halloween so we have to start with a recap of the big event.  Lily dressed as a vet again this year (it seems to be her go to costume.  For her school parade she had a crate with a dog that she carried around and she had her scrubs and she looked very professional.  By trick her treating time, her patient was abandoned so she could carry more candy.  As a result, she looked more like a doctor than a vet but either way she was all dressed up.

Jack, who has never really seen the Power Rangers, elected to be the blue Power Ranger.  He too modified his costume between day and night.  During the day he was all decked out with his mask and looked like a very professional Power Ranger (I am not really sure what they do).  By evening, he ditched the mask and looked like a kid walking around in a blue muscle suit.  Regardless, his dressed down version did not seem to affect his candy haul.

Both kids had Halloween parades at school and then in advance of the trick or treating all the neighborhood kids got together for pizza and running around.  Then all the kids from the neighborhood went trick or treating together.  It seemed like everyone had a good time and there was plenty of candy to go around.


Carving a pumpkin.


Getting some advice from Aunt Kelly.


Lily did a little face painting.


In costume at school.


Dr. Lily


Lily and her classmates.


Ready to head out.


The neighborhood gang.


Home with their haul ... notice Jack pulling candy out of our bowl that we had left out to supplement his take.

Now on to more timely news … It was another busy week of swimming and flag football and soccer and brownies for Lily and Jack.  Jack has been enjoying his Friday soccer sessions at school and he really loves playing flag football on Saturday mornings.   His catching and flag grabbing continues to improve and he managed to score another touchdown this weekend. 

Lily had some fun craft time at Brownies this week and made a very nice centerpiece for our Thanksgiving table.  She is swimming twice a week and had her second meet of the winter this past weekend. The meet started early so were up at 5:45 yesterday morning to get over there on time.  She had a great time and was ready to get back to the pool today for practice!  On Saturday, while Jack was at football, Lily attended a lacrosse clinic at the local high school.   She got a chance to learn a bit about the sport and to see if she liked it.  There was a positive review and we may sign her up for the spring season.

The rest of the weekend was filled with impromptu neighborhood play dates.  There are so many kids around that it is easy to find someone to play with just riding your bike around the circle.  It was a busy weekend and now we will start to get ready for Thanksgiving which is just one weekend away!

Have a great week.


Going for a tackle.


Lily at her lacrosse clinic.


Breaststroke.


Jack enjoying a mid-meet donut.


Backstroke.


Her first 50 free.

Come Running

We luckily avoided the storm last week and finished up a easy three day school week.  Lily was busy with swimming and Brownies and Jack had his first field trip of the year.  On Friday, Marcy escaped for girl's weekend so Lily and Jack and I had to fend for ourselves.

We started on Friday with Lily's big Boosterthon event.  It was a great success as she and her classmates ran 35 laps around the field at her school.  They were all very excited and had a great time.  Later that day we had a nice dinner out with neighbors Ben and Noah and their dad Jesse.  We came home for movie night - the new Tinker Bell flick.

Saturday started off with Jack's flag football practice/game.  Grandma Gail stopped by to watch and see  Jack's game.  We ran some errands after football and then came home for some time around the house.  After some down time we off to the library and then we went to paint your own pottery and then to dinner and then see Wreck it Ralph.

Sunday morning everyone was up bright and early as the kids did not quite understand the time change.  Lily was off to Sunday school and Jack and I went off the supermarket.  Lily had an afternoon haircut and then Marcy came home!

Here are the pictures from the weekend ...


Ready to run ...  Lily is in the middle there.


Running the outside of the track.


More running.




Getting laps marked off.


Complete!


Lily and her pottery that is painted.


Jack and his multicolor football piggy bank pottery.