First snow!

A day late, but a very nice effort on the part of Mother Nature.  Of course I wouldn't be saying this if I had to go to work today.  The snow started early on Sunday, December 26th and it still flurrying a little now at 10:30 am on Monday, December 27th.  Very cold, and very windy, but my very crazy children went out into it. 

Tree Decorating 2010

I know I am late posting this.  Better late than never I always say. 
From our house to yours...peace on Earth.

Jack is now playing basketball

He's on the Heat.  No one was allowed to have #6, which I think  was smart of the rec league.  There would have been fighting over it.  (LeBron James #)

Notice the very sweet John Stockton era shorts. 

Jack and Jax. 

Happy birthday to my sweet girl

Avery Rose turned 9 on Thanksgiving.  Its the first time that her birthday has fallen on the holiday.  I cannot believe how time flies...I remember the first time I saw her.  Doesn't seem that long ago, really.

I caved and bought her a Pandora bracelet for her birthday...she's been asking for one for awhile now. 

Happy birthday, baby girl.  Since the day I knew of you, my world has never been the same. 

This pic is a little late in arriving

But its so very wonderful.  This is Jack after his team won their last game of the season.  Although I sound like a total cornball when I say it, I can't express how much joy this very moment brought to my heart.  Thanks Tracy for capturing it...

BOO!

Avery is a vampire, and Jack is Harry Potter.  Although truthfully, I think he looks like a cross between Harry Potter and Simon from Alvin and the Chipmunks. 

Jack's soccer team won their last game of the season

The Fireballs had a tough season, but they really pulled it together at the end.  Trophies will be awarded at a very fancy ceremony/dinner on Thursday at the Pizza Shoppe...the finest in East Longmeadow dining. 

Now on to basketball...

Besties...

This is Jack and his best buddy, Jax.  I love that they are still young enough that they will still hug each other.  Right after this picture was taken, they immediately dropped to the ground to wrestle.  :)

This is Avery and her BFF, Mya.  It was Mya's birthday yesterday, and Avery gave her a "best friends forever" necklace with the heart that breaks into two parts.  Cutest thing I ever saw. 

A very cool fact about Jax and Mya are that they are brother and sister...makes play dates very easy :)

Pumpkintown USA

Went with my friend Jen and her cutie girl, Maddy. 

Avery took the last 2 pictures.  I like her eye.

Apple picking!

Jack has started playing soccer

Here are a few pics from his first game last Sunday
He's a natural, of course.  And cute as a button

Now for a few updates

As I mentioned, Avery is now in the 3rd grade.  And leave it to my darling daughter...she met the school nurse in record time...day 3.  Got a call that she had a fever, headache, sore throat and a stomachache.  WOOHOO!  Let the games begin.  She's not had the best holiday weekend.  I am going to try to get her outside to play a little today.  She walks home from school to Dan's house, so she got her first cell phone.  I was not thrilled about this, but I do feel safer knowing she has it.  Its come in handy a couple of times already, actually.


Jack is in 1st grade now.  I asked him how he liked his teacher and he said "I think I will do just fine with her, but I think she is going to be hard on the ones that have trouble learning".  Can't wait to meet her.  This kid is all boy.  Eating and moving 100% of the time. 

I am still happy at my new job, and I am still teaching at HCC.  Classes start tomorrow actually, and I have my 2 biggest classes ever.  Should make for an interesting semester.  I know I have promised it before, but I really do plan to try to keep this blog going.  Happy Labor Day!

Didn't I say I was going to keep up with this?

Rats.  I promise to try harder.
Here is a picture from the first day of school....Avery has entered 3rd grade, and Jack has entered 1st.  I am not sure where the time has gone.

Sorry that I am so slow...here are Day 5 pics

These are all at a beach in Wells, ME, which is a place I have very fond memories of.  The day was perfect here, but we only stayed a few hours because I think we were all ready to come home.  Next vacation might be right here, however...I just noticed that Avery looks miserable in all these pictures...I can assure you she wasn't.  Just tired I think.

We are home

We actually got home last night-I will post last day pics in a bit. I took this one to show you how many miles we went...my trip odometer flips over at 1000....

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

and sunset...

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

And by tired, I mean wound up

So we are in the parking lot next door getting the rest of the sparks out.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Day 4. 800 miles logged. Never so happy to see a Comfort Suites Hotel ever

Not too many pictures from today.  Most of the day was spent driving.  And fighting in the car.  And throwing stuffed lobsters at each other.  Seriously.  Between the 2 of the kids they have bought 6 on this trip.  In different sizes. 

So we got up early and left Machias. 

Then we drove, and drove, and drove.  We stopped a couple of times...but this one I captured on film, because it came at a point when the three of us were so irritated with each other that we had to get out of the car.  Some travel angel smiled down upon us right outside of Damarascotta and gave us this little rest area.  Car stopped.  Everyone falls out.  Everyone runs off in a different direction. 

Its amazing what 5 minutes slightly apart will do. 

We pushed the rest of the way through (shockingly it was Jack that said "hey, why don't we watch a movie?") and we made it to Biddeford in one piece.  We are tired. 

Tomorrow we will go to the beach somewhere if the sun is out, potentially stop again at the Kittery Trading Post, and then head back to Western Mass.  I needed to take this trip with them, but if I mention doing it again next year, remind me to go back and look at these blog posts, would you please?

3 people.  Small car.  Over 1000 miles in 5 days.  Yikes.