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.

Hurricane

Lots of wind blowing outside as the storm formerly known as Hurricane Sandy passes through.  Somehow, power has managed to stay on tonight.  Lily and Jack had school canceled today and tomorrow and work has been canceled for both Marcy and I on both days.  It is a bit of a mess out there.

We had a busy week which was highlighted by Jack's first ride around the block on his bike without training wheels.  Lily had her regular swimming during the week along with Brownies.

On Friday, Jack worked on riding his bike without training wheels and he seems to have it almost down now.  Friday night dinner was out with Grandpa Maurice who was in town for the week and provided baby sitting services on Wednesday night.

On Saturday, Jack had his second week of flag football - he seems to be really catching on.  In the afternoon the kids had a bounce house party and had a great time.  In the evening Lily had a splash down party with her swim team.

Sunday was busy as we readied for Hurricane Sandy.  Lily had Hebrew School in the morning and then we were at the Kennedy Center in the afternoon for a kid's concert with the National Symphony Orchestra. After the show, we came home and carved pumpkins with Grandma Gail, Grandpa Tom and Aunt Kelly, and celebrated Stuart's/Dad's birthday.

Sending out special birthday hugs and kisses to Great Aunt Donna who celebrates her birthday on Sunday!
Also sending out special thoughts to cousin Emilie in Manhattan who is currently without power and holed up in a hotel!

Happy Halloween!!



Two wheeling.



Jack riding his bike. (Note:  The tree that you see right in front of him, the entire tree came down in the hurricane, fortunately no damage.)

Number 5 in your program, number 1 in your heart ... playing some zone defense.



Hula hooping.

Jack and Clancy.


Dr. Lily (the vet) and Jack the blue power ranger @ The Kennedy Center.


Jack making a silly a face.


Fiddle practice.


Lily with some amateur face paint (she washed it off as soon as she got home). :)


Playing the harp after the kids concert.

Games Without Fronteirs

A normal busy week around here - no rest for the weary.  Marcy and I both had colds all week but the kids fared just fine - perhaps all the chlorine protects them!


Lily had her normal week of swimming but a short week of school as the there was no school on Friday for a teacher work day. Lily is working hard at school and making new friends.

Jack had his normal week of school and is working hard on his letters.

On Friday night, we had all the neighborhood kids over that recently moved in. In the past year, nine kids under nine have all moved into our little circle. The newest family with two girls Lily's age just moved in across the street last week. It is nice as there are no shortage of kids to play with! All the kids had a great time - and it was a very noisy affair! We had a nice time getting to know our new neighbors as well.

On Saturday, Jack had his first day of flag football which was a big hit. We also continued to work with Jack on his two wheel riding. He is coming along well. We also visited the pumpkin patch and picked up our carving pumpkins. Later on that evening, the kids had a babysitter and a fun time playing hide and seek with Kate.

On Sunday, Jack had his first day of Hebrew School and had a great time. Lily was there too so it was a quiet morning of running errands.  In the afternoon Jack went to a birthday party for one of his classmates and Lily went for a play date at Maddie's house. Needless to day, everyone slept well Sunday night.

Posting by Marcy: Lily and Jack want to send out special birthday wishes to Dad who celebrates his birthday on Wednesday.



All the kids.


Practicing his kicks.


Getting ready for the play.


...


Hike.


Touchdown!


At the patch.


Picking pumpkins.


Looking for the biggest.


Carrying it home.


...


Feeding the goats.


On the river.