Dr. Seuss's Birthday

In honor of  Dr. Seuss's 110th birthday, we had green eggs and ham for breakfast this morning.

This is what a grumpy teenager looks like when his mom tells him to smile for the picture.

And this is what Anders always looks like when he has his picture taken.  He loves it.

Bounce Town

Over February vacation we went to Bounce Town with our friends The Hollands and The Longs.  They had a bunch of big bounces houses to play on.  Some had slides.  Other had cool things to climb on.  They also had a climbing wall for those brave enough to try it out.  Here is Matthew climbing on up.  Ends up Matthew is quite the Mountain Goat.  

Smith College

There are a plethera of small liberal arts school in our area.  And many of them have amazing green houses and botantical gardens.  Callie, a friend from church, organized a trip for us during Smith College's flower show.  There were tons of amazing blooms.  It made spring feel within reach.  Which is nice because we are still FREEZING!  Most of the moms who went had babies.   Matthew and I enjoyed playing with the little ones.  

Yankee Candle

On the Thursday of break we headed off to Yankee Candle.  Their flag ship in Deerfield has fun displays and super great toy store, and even a stage when automated hillbillies perform daily.  During the school break they had free lego kits for all the kids and performances by some of the local dance studios.  Of course we invited all our friends to come along with us.  It is always more fun in a group.

Here are all the little kids on a boat you can climb on in the toy store.

The Holland kids were really into posing with the displays.  Here is Gavin with a nutcracker.

And here is Zoe with the Wicked Witch.

Here is what a Zac, aka teenager with a cell phone, looks like when dragged on family outings.

And here is what a husband does when his wife drags him along to hang out with a bunch of kids and their moms.

It really was a fun day.  Thanks for coming Friends!

Sledding

I am a three season mom.  I don't do winter.  Luckily, we have good friends who do.  Herb Holland graciously took my boys along with his to go sledding during February Break.  

Don't they look joyous?

Lego Movie

Wednesday is $5 movie day!  So we set off to see the new Lego Movie. It was great. I did feel bad for the father.  I mean the moral of the story is that you should allow the kids to mess up your perfectly organized assembled Lego kits.  We did love the theme song, Everything Is Awesome.  It sure it catchy and I am sure we will sing it a lot.

The had these fun displays in the lobby. 

 Here is Anders.  See his cute little face in the back row

And here is Holden.

Remember, everything is cool when you're part of a team.

Hot Chocolate

We love our hot chocolate.  Of course when you put creamer in it and put loads of whipped cream and toppings on it, who wouldn't.  One of the things that I love about our hot chocolate habit, is when  we sit around the table to drink it and visit.  

Ballroom Dance Team

Fifth graders in selected Springfield Schools have the opportunity to partipate in a Ballroom Dance program called Over The Top.  The start at the beginning of the year and learn a tango and a cha cha. Then in January there is a "dance off"  to decide who gets to represent the school as a member of the Ballroom Dance Team.  Holden was very nervous, but I am pretty sure I was more nervous.  He looked so handsome in his shirt and tie.  He danced his little heart out and much to my relief he was chosen to be on the team.  He will continue to practice until the city wide competion in May. 

Here is the team.  Good job kids!

Interview with a 13 Year Old

1. What is your favorite color?
Orange
2. What is your favorite toy?
Books
3. What is your favorite fruit?
Pears
4. What is your favorite TV show?
The Aquabats Super Show
5.  What is your favorite movie?
The Hobbit: Desolation Of Smaug
6.  What is your least favorite chore?
Cleaning the bathroom
7. What is your favorite animal?
Narwhal
8. What is your favorite song?
Monster by Imagine Dragons
9.  What is your favorite book?
House Of Hades
10.  Who is your best friend?
Tomy Lewis
11.  What is your favorite dinner?
Chicken Parm
12.  What is your favorite breakfast?
Hash Browns and Sausage
13.  What is your favorite game?
Transformers
14.  What is your favorite thing to play outside?
Ultimate Frisbee
15.  What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas
16.  What is your favorite subject in school?
Science
17. What is your goal for this year?
Be Kinder
18. Do you think you reached your goal for last year?
My goal was to get better at math and I did get better.
19.  What do you spend your time thinking about?
The future
20.  What do you want to be when you grow up?
Chemist

Happy Birthday Banner

Another family tradition, the birthday banner.

He is 13.  Can you believe that we have a teenager?  Because I can't.

Dinner with the Lewis Family

Our good friends the Lewis Family came over for dinner.  We have started a tradition to have them over the first part of January for a holiday meal.  It all started with yam balls.  The Woolstenhulme family has a tradition of making yam balls for both Thanksgiving and Christmas.  It makes the holidays complete for me.  

The first Thanksgiving out here, I took them to share with the New York Metzgers and let's just say they were less than impresseed.  And to add to the tradegy of the situation, my boys don't even like them.  So for many years (to my sadness) my holidays were lacking in Yam balls.   But then magically we had the Lewis Family over and I cooked a tradtional holiday meal (ham, stuffing, potatoes, rolls, and yam balls) and guess what?  The Lewis Clan LIKED them.  I knew they were good people.  :)

After dinner was over we were all entertained by a puppet show performed by Damian, Matthew and Anders

We are blessed to have such good friends!

Christmas in New York

Nearly every Christmas finds us in New York spending time with Joe's family.

It is very relaxing to visit, watch TV, enjoy the tree, and just sit.

We also make it a point to visit all of Joe's Aunts.  Here the boys are admiring Aunt Marie's decorations.

We always pick a few Christmas Carols and practice them so we can sing to the Aunts.  They love it.  The boys not so much.

Father Son Selfie

Holden's Primary Talk

Christmas Card

This year I had the grand idea of making our cards.  I had each of the boys draw Christmas pictures that I matted and put on the front.

Joe wrote a wonderful poem for the inside of the card.

Sometimes the space between stars

on that one sky black night,

reminds us of better times

when we didn't have to try so hard

to achieve the most right

thing for each other, thing for another

Family, friend, neighbor, stanger

Maybe we can pause on that night

and choose the space between the stars.

Instead of noise,

listen to silence,

instead of being hurt,

practice kindness.

Instead of caring for our wounds,

doing what's right.

And here is the picture.  Our boys are getting so big.

The cards turned out really cute, but they were a lot of work.  Someone remind me of that, next time I decide to make our cards.