Back On Line

It has been a long time since our last post ... this may be our longest time in between posts ever.  A lot has happened since December 18th.

We had a nice visit with Casey, Garrett, Tracy and Stan the week before Christmas.  We celebrated Christmas at Grandma Gail and Grandpa Tom's house with Aunt Kelly, Great Uncle Mike, Great Aunt Jeannie and Cousins Alli and Davis.  We also visited with Great Aunt Jenny, Great Uncle Carlton and Cousins Valeria, Liam and Alex.  The kids had a great holiday season and between Hannukah and Christmas they collected a lot of loot.  Santa brought the kids the skateboards they asked for and we got them a Wii.  Due to the weather, the Wii has been a bigger hit than the skateboards.

After Christmas, we headed down to Florida for our annual visit.  We spent a bit of time with Cousin Steph before she went back to New York and then spent the week with Bubbie, Great Aunt Donna and Great Uncle Stephen.  While in Florida, the kids did three mornings of golf camp and spent lots of time at the pool.  We also spent a day at the beach with Grandpa Maurice and then visited with Grandma Phyllis.  We also had a chance to have dinner with Great Uncle Jerry, Great Aunt Eve and Cousins Derek and Graeme who were in Florida for a visit.

After a rockin' New Years' Eve (Lily and I made it to midnight) - Marcy went to bed first, followed by Jack who almost made to midnight - we flew home for a school day and back to the regular schedule.  Lily and Jack have been back to swimming and other activities and all has returned to regularly scheduled programming.  It was a great three weeks!

Here are some pics ...


Lily, Jack, Casey & Garrett on the way to the bus stop.  Lily was very excited to have her cousins at the bus stop!


At the Native American Museum.


At Air & Space.


Checking out the telescope.


With Santa.


Garrett got a new chair for Christmas and he liked it a lot.


Opening presents before Casey and Garrett headed off to visit with Uncle Stan's family.


Pirate presents with Grandma Gail.


Checking out stockings and new skateboards on Christmas morning.  Check out the new pjs.


Opening presents with Aunt Kelly.


Playing the Wii.


A little football with Cousin Davis.

FLORIDA ...


At the beach.


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Lily dug a big hole.


Jack showing off his ribs.


With Grandpa Maurice.


Jack and I dressed alike one day.


At golf camp.


Ready to go.


Playing games with Uncle Stephen.


Ready for 2013.


New Year's Eve with Bubbie.


Heading home.


After this weekend's swim meet.

Bright Lights

We had a nice week celebrating Hanukah - thanks to Donna and Stephen for sending presents to open every night!  Also Lily and Jack were very excited to find out that cousins Emilie and Stephanie are treating them to Annie on Broadway this summer!

We had a relatively quiet weekend (for once).  Jack started basketball and according to him he made every basket he shot! ;)  Saturday night we went to dinner in Fredrick and then saw the Christmas lights in Seneca Creek State Park.  On Sunday, Jack had a pirate birthday party for his friend Oliver.

Tracy, Stan, Casey and Garrett arrived on Monday and stayed with us both Monday and Tuesday night before heading to Grandma Gail and Grandpa Tom's.

Enjoy the pics!


Working on shrinky dinks.


Very serious.


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Finished project.


Street hockey with neighbor Michael.




Lights.


Checking out the lights through the sunroof.

Take Five

This is a milestone post ... number 450!  We have lots to share with you from this past week.

The big event of the week was the celebration of Jack's fifth birthday!  It is hard to believe that Jack is already five.  Grandma Gail and Grandpa Tom skipped their weekly visit this past week as they were out in Colorado spending quality time with Casey and Garrett and Tracy and Stan.  They returned in time for Jack's party on Saturday though.

On Friday, Jack got up nice and early so that he and Marcy could go get doughnuts for his class snack.  Before school he opened presents that were already in hand (lots of awesome sport stuff).  Then he had a great morning at school with his friends.  In the afternoon he headed off to the doctor for his annual check up.  All was well at the doctor and we all headed out to dinner with Grandpa Maurice who was in town for the birthday celebrations.  As a surprise for Jack, after dinner we went to Build-a-Bear where he got to make his very own teddy bear.  It was his first visit there but Lily showed him the ropes as she has many Build-a-Bear creations.

On Saturday, we were up nice and early for the last week of flag football.  Jack had a good time with his teammates and collected his first trophy.  After a quick lunch at home it was time for Jack's party at BounceU a local moon bounce spot.  Jack and all his friends had a great time bouncing around.  Even Marcy and certain grandparents got involved (pictures below).  After the party, we came home and Jack got to open all of his gifts.  Needless to say, he did very well!  Then it was off to dinner and by the time the kids were home, they were ready for bed.

On Sunday, they were both off to Hebrew school and then swim lessons and then Jack had a birthday party for his friend Becket.  We capped off a busy weekend with movie night.

Here are some pictures.


Looking at a new Star Wars book with Lily.


With his new street hockey sticks from Aunt Donna and Uncle Stephen who also sent along balls and pucks.  Cousin Em provided nets so Jack is all set.


Football time.


Getting his trophies from his coaches.


At the party.


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In the wind tunnel machine.


Cake time.


Ice cream Power Ranger cake.


Marcy accidentally bought trick candles that re-lit.  Jack could not blow out and it was quite funny!


The gang.


Trying on his Transformers' mask from Aunt Kelly who joined us for dinner.


Racing cars with Grandpa Tom.


A quiet moment at dinner.

Life in the Fast Lane

So it was back to school after a nice Thanksgiving holiday.  It was Lily and Jack's first full week at school in a while!

We had our regular weekly visit from Grandma Gail and Grandpa Tom and there was plenty of swimming and homework to tackle.  The week led up to an BUSY weekend.

On Friday night we had movie night - pizza and Madagascar 3.

On Saturday, Lily was picked up at 6:30 a.m. for day one of her two day swim meet.  Marcy headed out about an hour later to cheer her on and Jack and I got ready for flag football.  It was very cold but Jack had a great time playing on the local high school's artificial turf field.  After football, Jack and I ran a couple of errands and got home just in time to see Lily and Marcy off to a weekend Brownie's activity.  Jack then headed off for a play date with his friend Beckett.  After the play date,  Jack and Marcy picked up Cousin Emilie who was in town and came by for a visit.  We all went to dinner and then Emilie watched the kids so Marcy and I could go to a movie.

On Sunday, it started all over again!  More swim meet - Emilie tagged along to a very hot pool.  Then it was home for lunch before heading out to swim lessons.  Jack is taking swim lessons on Sunday afternoon and Lily is doing a clinic at the same time so we had a bit more time at the natatorium!  After swimming, Lily headed home with Marcy, Emilie was off the train and Jack and I headed out to the bowling ally for neighborhood buddy Noah's birthday party.  Jack had a great time bowling, eating pizza and cake.  Then it was off to Chuck E. Cheese's for school friend Hailey's birthday party.  Then it was time to go to home and go to bed!

Another crazy weekend in the books.  It should calm down this weekend - the end of football (although basketball starts the next week), a little more swimming and ... oh, that's right, Jack turns 5!

Here are some pictures and video.


Consulting with Marcy.


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Getting some instruction from Coach Jen.


Back stroke.  Lily's times in back and breast strokes are getting much faster.


A really bad bowling picture.


Games at Chuck E. Cheese.


Eating some cake.