Carry That Weight

We have been really busy the past couple of weeks and our blogging schedules have been thrown off by our home renovation project as we have had more dinners out and some later than anticipated nights.  Also, after 8+ years we are getting a bit lazy with the camera and the kids are not as cute as they used to be - kidding!

Things should be back to normal in a couple of weeks and maybe this blogcation will re-inspire us for more consistent future postings.  That being said, I can see the schedule cutting back to once every other week rather than weekly.  We will have to see.  Maybe we will just transition over to a Lily and Jack Twitter feed as blogging is so passe' now.

Anyway, things have been busy around here with soccer & tennis (for both kids), lacrosse (Lily), tee-ball (Jack), Brownies (Lily) and a host of birthday parties and play dates.  These kids have full days and sleep well at night!

Jack had his kindergarten orientation last week (which he really enjoyed).  He can't wait until school starts next year.  Lily is just finishing up her first long range project - she had three weeks to build a caterpillar from scratch.  She has done a great job and has really managed her time well along the way - there has been only minimal parental involvement (cutting toothpicks in half).

The house project (which started in mid-February) is almost through which is a good thing since we (all of us) are done with it!  It has been an intense slog but it has come together really well.  Once the floors are dry on Thursday we will have a brand new kitchen and eating area, a new powder room and a sun room that has been converted into a pantry, mud room area and kid's study.  The kids have a room of their own to study in with two desks and space for a computer.  They are both excited to have a work space off the kitchen and Marcy and I are excited to have a place to put all their stuff!

Since our last posting, Jack has adopted a new pet - a hamster named Henry.  Henry even went to school today!  Henry is very busy and seems to have adapted to his new home ... he is nocturnal though so he gets very busy after Jack goes to bed and often has to be moved out at night.

Lastly, before the limited pictures we have, we would all like to wish Uncle Stephen a very happy birthday.  He is celebrating today so these are very timely birthday wishes.



Jack loves tee ball.  Here he is playing first base.  He made a great play in the field this weekend.


Getting ready to hit.


Running the bases.


On base.


Lunch after soccer and tee ball.


Lily drew the unicorn on the right free hand yesterday.


Our friends Julie and Paul stopped by - they used to be our neighbors but decamped to Vermont - and this is a shot of Lily and Jack with Bea and Charlotte.

Begin West Movement

Many weeks since our last post.  During the void we had a great trip to Colorado for Spring Break and have been busy around here.  I was a bit under the weather last week and then the days just started getting away from me.

Colorado was lots of fun and the kids had a great time visiting with their cousins and friends Brooke and Anderson.  We had a nice time with Tracy, Stan, Case and Garrett.  We had the bonus of Aunt Kelly and Bodie being in Colorado as well.  To top it off, our friends Mark and Kristen (along with Brooke and Anderson) are in Colorado for two years so we were able to spend some quality time with them as well.

We were able to ski at Keystone (twice), Breckenridge and Vail.  We also had a chance to go sledding and tubing.  We had lots to eat (thank to Tracy, Marcy and Kristen) and lots of fresh air.

We came back to warming temperatures and an almost complete home reno project.  It was back to school for Jack on Tuesday and Lily on Wednesday.  In between our return and school they had dentist appointments, visits with Grandpa Maurice and Grandma Gail and Grandpa Tom.  Lily is full into lacrosse and soccer and Jack started up tee ball.

Here are some pictures and videos from the last few weeks ...  There are a lot more pics and videos so we may have a part two at some point.


Clowning around.


All smiles.


The three cousins.


Serving time ... Jack is really into flashing the peace signs.  It his is Nixon phase.


Skiing.


Lily, Brooke, Anderson & Jack.


A very studious group.



Working on a trap for big foot.


Tubing.



Easter eggs.


Lil loved spending time with Garrett.


Eggs with your cinnamon roll?


Easter goodies.


Lily at her lacrosse game.


Action shot.

All This Time

A quiet week around here as we gear up for our Spring Break trip to Colorado.  We are looking forward to visiting with Aunt Tracy, Uncle Stan, Cousins Casey and Garrett and Aunt Kelly who will be out there as well.  Hopefully, we will have some good skiing as well.

Lily had her first lacrosse practice this week and one of her last swim practices of the season.  She is well on her way into spring sports.  Jack is getting ready for t-ball which starts in a few weeks.

Over the weekend Lily had her friend Marley's birthday party and had time playing with friends.  Jack also had some spontaneous playtime with neighborhood friends and got to go to his first Cap's game which they won 5-3.  It was an exciting game and Jack had a great time - he got see an Olympic gold medalist while we were waiting for the elevator and sat next to astronaut during the game.

Here are the pictures from the week.


Lily showing off a timeline of her life that she made as a school project.


Jack?


Jack ...


Eating some matzah at the sedar after school on Sunday.


At his first Caps game.


With Meatloaf, her new American Girl Doll pet.

Swimming Pool

Lily has essentially recovered from her eye injury - it was pretty bad Monday and Tuesday but the swelling went down by Wednesday and the bruise is essentially gone.  Lily seems no worse for the wear and is excited to go skiing in Colorado in a few weeks.

On Tuesday, Mom and the kids went to the Churchill vs Quince Orchard high school basketball game, it was either Districts or Regionals (?) - unfortunately Churchill lost.  The kids did get to see Gheorge Muresan (formerly of the Washington Bullets) for the second time since they also saw him at the Wizards game.  (Dad fled to Arizona in anticipation of Snowquester and left us to fend for ourselves through the torrential snowstorm.)

Wednesday brought Snowquester and we were ready for 10-16 inches but the storm ended up as a complete bust at least for us.  School was cancelled, work was cancelled, and while it did snow there was little to no accumulation because it was so wet and heavy - by the afternoon it was rainy and slushy.  The kids ended up building forts inside instead of snow forts!

Thursday it was back to school and work.

We had a gorgeous weekend and the kids spent lots of time outside riding bikes/scooters, playing on the playground, and hanging with neighborhood kids.

Lily also wrapped the swim season with her 'Mini Champs' meet - thanks for coming to watch Grandma Gail.

Overall she had a good season, improving a half second in 25 free and 4 seconds in 50 free.  She has a few more weeks of just practice (cutting down to just once a week) and then she may take off a few weeks before the summer season begins - she is excited for summer swim team!

Lacrosse practice starts this week for Lily, and soccer starts for Jack at his school.  He is actually playing in two leagues, one thru school and one with his future kindergarten classmates (which starts after spring break).

Hope everyone has a good week!  Happy St. Patrick's Day!


Lily's eye on the mend.


With Grandma Gail at the swim meet.


On the block.


Some freestyle.



Being a clown at the yogurt store.

Black Eyes, Blue Tears

Not much new to report this week.   Grandma Gail and Grandpa Tom had an extended visit on Tuesday night as they watched Lily and Jack while Marcy and I went to the Caps game.  On Wednesday, Grandpa Maurice came into town and we had a nice visit.

On Saturday we headed up to Whitetail to go skiing for the day and to allow the kids to get their mountain legs back before our annual Colorado trip.  All went well until Lily was taken out a by a rookie snowboarder.  She and I were stopped waiting for Jack who had fallen down when a guy kind of lost control and took her out.  Unfortunately, as she was falling, his board came up and clipped her in the eye right above her goggles and below her helmet.  As you can see below, it left a temporary mark. She is on the mend now but it was very good fortune that she was wearing goggles and a helmet.

On Sunday, Jack and I went downtown with Grandpa Maurice and had a nice lunch. Lily was in Sunday school and then the two of us when to the Lady Terps basketball game.  After the game, we had a quick dinner out and everyone came home for an early  bedtime.

Special 40th birthday wishes to Uncle Stan today.

Not too many pics but there are a few videos below.


Lily and Jack skiing.


Jack skiing ... and falling.


Lily's shiner.


After the fall.


Jack coming through the mini-tunnel.


In serious conversation with Grandpa Maurice.