Wet, Wet, Wet

Fall activities are in full swing in these parts and we finally have the weather to match the season ...  The kids had busy weeks with school and activities.  They also took some time out to decorate for Halloween - the yard is covered in cob webs with a scarecrow and a tombstone among other things.

Lily had a bunch of swimming with her first meet on Saturday.  She had a great time and swam really well.  She continues to improve from the summer and I am sure her skills will continue to improve from here.  Jack is continuing with his swim lessons and will be ready to join Lily on the team next year!  Plenty of pictures below!

On Tuesday, we had our weekly visit with Grandma Gail and Grandpa Tom.  Cousins Wes, Trisha and Colin also visited for dinner.  Lily and Jack had a great time playing with Colin.

On Friday night we went to our new synagogue for the first time as Lily and Jack had their first event there to kick off the hebrew school year.  Jack got to hang out with his friend Nate and both Lily and Jack had a good time.  Grandpa Maurice was in town so he joined us for the event.

Saturday was Lily's first meet.  She swam freestyle, back stroke and breast stroke.  She had large cheering contingent as Grandma Gail, Grandpa Tom and Aunt Kelly all came over for some time at the pool.

On Sunday Lily and Marcy had a quiet day around the house and Jack and I went to the Redskin's game.  It was a bit chilly but fortunately, the rain held off until the game was almost over.  After a busy weekend, Jack slept well last night - before going to bed, Marcy checked in on him and found him fast asleep on the floor.  He had fallen out of bed and had not even woken up!

Today was Open House at Lily's school - parents could come observe the classroom.  We got to see Lily in music class practicing her Thanksgiving play, and Lily in her classroom doing some reading comprehension.  She has a great teacher and class.

Anyway, here are the pictures and video from the week.


With Colin.


Green goggles.  Getting ready for warm up.


In the pool.


Getting ready for her first race.


The fans.


Taking the blocks for her 25 breast stroke race.



The freestyle video.


Finishing up freestyle.


The backstroke video.


Jack ready for the game.


Drinking some water at the game.

The Suburbs

A quiet week in these parts.

We went to an Orioles game, celebrated Yom Kippur, Lily did lots of swimming and Jack worked on lots of arts and crafts at school.  Lily's swimming continues to improve and she seems to be enjoying her new team.  Her first meet is this weekend!

The weekend was nice and quiet.  We did some stuff around the house and went out to dinner a couple of times.  On Sunday night we visited with cousins Wes, Trisha and Colin who are in town from Kentucky along with Grandma Gail, Grandpa Tom and Aunty Kelly.

Here are the pictures from the week.


At the Orioles' game with Grandpa Tom and friends Maddie and Mr. Greg.


Talking baseball with Grandpa Tom.  Not long after this shot the two of them were on the big screen as Jack was dancing along to the music.


Clowning around on movie night - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.


Lily showing off the hole from the tooth that was pulled on Friday.


Jack's Pirate Pumpkin.


Lily working on her black cat pumpkin.


Jack's drawing is on the bottom.

Sleepwalkin'

Two weeks since the last posting...

we spent last weekend in Montreal celebrating Rosh Hashana with Bubbie, Donna, Stephen, Emilie, Stephanie, and other family.  We spent a lot of time eating and just hanging out, it was great to spend time with everyone.

This weekend we had Lily's birthday party sleepover.  The girls - Sofia, Lucy, Maddie, and Marley - had a great time playing, watching movies, and getting their nails done.  We capped off the weekend with a trip the National Book Festival downtown with an impromptu trip the Natural History Museum.

Swim practice and Brownies continues, and Jack starts flag football in a few weeks.  Jack reports that he is learning about artists at school and informed us that they learned "about Georgia O'Keeffe who paints pictures of flowers." :)

Happy Fall!


A little left over from Lily's back to school night.


Getting some swimming in at the hotel pool.


At a family portrait session - Jack taking it all in.


On the way to synagogue.


...


Sharing a laugh with Bubbie.


At the birthday party with Marley, Lucy, Maddie and Daisy.


The next morning.


With Martha at the National Book Fair.


With a cat.

Eight Miles High

Hard to believe that 8 years ago today this little person was born!  Marcy and I both extremely proud parents of a wonderful kid who works hard in school, is a great big sister, a caring friend and is a loving and kind person.  We will be the first to admit how lucky we are to have her around.  My only fear is that since the first eight years have gone by so quickly (and been so amazing) that the next ten will surely do the same and before we know it our little Lily will be off to college and on her own wild adventures.  Where is the pause button when you need it.  Anyway, enough reminiscing, we have news from a busy week to cover.

Lily had another successful week of second grade.  She is catching on at the new school and making friends left and right.  We knew that moving was the right decision but I think we were worried about how long it would take Lily to get acclimated.  This has not been a problem at all and so far she is really thriving.  Jack is also really comfortable at his new school and is making lots of new friends.  He likes his classroom and all the toys they have to play with.  So far so good for him as well.

On Tuesday, Grandma Gail and Grandpa Tom came over for their first weekly visit with the full new routine and all went smoothly.  Jack was picked up and Lily was met at the bus on schedule.  A well oiled machine.

On Thursday, Lily had tryouts for one of the local swim teams for the winter session.  We did not realize that tryouts were going to be quite as competitive as they turned out to be.  In total, about 70 kids showed up for 20 slots.  A couple of Lily's friends from the pool were at tryouts or had previously been on the same team.  Lily swam great - as good as she has ever been in the pool - but she did not make the team on the first day of tryouts.  So, she had to go back Friday and she made it!  Practices start this week and she is very excited.

On Saturday, we ran some errands and then had some friends - Jack's pal Oliver - over for dinner.  Jack also spent the early part of the day at his friend Carter's birthday party.

Sunday was family party day.  Lily, Jack and I headed to the airport to pick up Grandpa Maurice who was coming in for the big day.  Later on Aunty Kelly, Bodie, Grandma Gail and Grandpa Tom all came over for a bar-b-que and presents.  Lily cashed in as usual with puzzles, legos, games, books, drawing stuff, more legos, bracelets, craft stuff, an American Girl doll (Ivy - Julie's best friend), a new softball glove and an iPod touch.  She had a great time and everyone enjoyed dinner and home made cupcakes made by Marcy.  Needless to say, the kiddies slept well on Sunday night.

Monday was back to school and work but Marcy woke up early to make a special birthday breakfast for Lily - homemade pancakes.  The kids then had cupcakes with friends at the bus stop after school  We finished out phase one of the birthday celebration with dinner at Lily's favorite burger restaurant (where she gets grilled cheese).  Grandpa Maurice joined us for dinner and then helped put the kids to bed with bed time stories.

Special birthday wishes to Cousin Stephanie whose birthday is Tuesday - Happy Birthday.

With her birthday haul.

Figuring out Ivy was in the box.

Her new friend ... Ivy is very photogenic.

Checking out some Harry Potter Lego.

Her new glove ... it needs some working in.

A proud owner of a new iPod. A lustful little brother.

Making jewlery with Grandma Gail's help.

Cupcakes.

Candles with a little help from a mischievous little brother.

Breakfast art.

Working with Legos ... under the balloon that reminds us how old Lily is.

Good Life

Summer is officially over, and we have kept very busy and seem to be settling in to our new digs...

Tomorrow marks Lily's second week of 2nd grade and Jack's first day of Pre-K at the same school he went to summer camp so it should not be too much of an adjustment.

Lily's first week of school went well.  She figured out the bus and is beginning to figure out where everything is in the school.  She has made some friends and really likes her teacher.  She is also very excited about her locker which she can decorate with magnets.

Jack had a busy no-school week.  On Monday night, he spent the night at Grandma Gail and Grandpa Tom's and on Tuesday they visited Burke Lake riding the train and carousel before picking up Lily from school.  On Wednesday, he had a play date with his friend Stuart and then his dad Stuart picked him up and they went to lunch.  On Thursday, he spent the day with Grandpa Maurice, eating breakfast and lunch, going to his office, and running errands.  On Friday, Mom and Jack took the tandem bike to D.C. to ride with Aunt Kelly - we saw the White House, Washington Monument, and Capitol.  We capped off the week with a trip to the pool.

We had a nice relaxing weekend, with a visit to the D.C. fish market and eating crabs with friends Debbie, Bill, Fisher and Stuart.  We celebrated Labor Day with Grandma Gail, Grandpa Tom, and Aunt Kelly.

Sorry about the lack of pictures, we will have more next week celebrating Lily's 8th birthday!!  This week all we have are shots of Jack!


Jack is very in to driveway hockey these days.


With Aunt Kelly at the White House.


Recovering at lunch from a long bike ride!