Thanksgiving 2014

We had a really fun time with Alary, Nora, Cathy, and Zak staying with us temporarily for a week this month. Alary kept herself amused with the kitchen bowls, while Nora loved playing with the boys & their toys every day. They are now in their new house-- in NJ!-- and we look forward to seeing them more often!

We had a fantastic Thanksgiving at the Konopack's house! Below, the boys play 

Followed by Thanksgiving #2 at the Lacina's house!

A nice turnout, with lots of my cousins, and their kids, too ;)

Eataly & Radio City

 

So check this out!
Jim's violin teacher was playing in the orchestra during the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall this season. He surprised me with two tickets for the show... and I took him to Eataly beforehand to enjoy some fooooood!
Above, we split the meat and cheese platter, along with some divine fig and apricot spreads. I'm pointing to a sign that lists info about Il Duomo (which is the Cathedral that we visited in Milan).
Below, an awesome espresso machine.

 

Freakin' awesome gelato.

And below, you can see the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree still in the scaffolding on the right.

Mike's on the left of the conductor. 

Rockettes ;)

OK, best part was BACKSTAGE TOUR!

That's the camel paraded thru at the end of the show. Below, markers on the stage where the dancers stand. The "silent bell". The angel's wings. 

 

 

 

The Performances

 
Trenton was in a Reader's Theatre performance this fall. He was the Big Bad Wolf in "The True Story of the Three Little Pigs"... he also read a poem aloud with some friends (below).



 
 Oliver dressed up as "Flying Squirrel", participated in Drum Circle, and sang Turkey Songs.

 

At church, Oliver sang with the other kids during the service.

Christmas card pic ;)

The End of Fall Soccer, 2014

Little man with his prized soccer trophy. 

Turns out, he's a darn good goalie. Blocked a ton of shots in the last two games. 

 Big man had the fantastic experience of being on an undefeated soccer team this season. Which was incredible, considering it rained just about every week when they were supposed to have practice. Below, he replicates the pose taken by the athlete in his trophy:

 

Brother spending time together on the playground.
And Trenton doing something strange that made me smile. :)

Franklin Institute Visit

Road trip, anyone? Super Grover 2.0? Bueller?

Kids had off for Teacher's Convention... but that's no reason not to do some learning! Jim took the day off from work, and we spent all of it bumming around in Philly!

Checking out replicas of brains! Having bones of other animals eat OUR brains! ;)

 

 

The boys were thrilled to show Jim all of the neat stuff they'd seen the last time we visited, in May. Above, Oliver kicks a goal! And they experiment with erosion on a water table. Below, gears and machines.
There was an ENTIRE ROOM that we had somehow missed last time we were there!

 

 

Dinner was at an Ethiopian restaurant. It was... interesting. Everyone tried some, which was the goal ;)