Concord, NH

Yesterday we spent the evening in Concord, NH visting with Trine's sister Mette. We had a lovely dinner followed by a walk through the bucolic little town, stopping to take some pictures by a cute little tree. Afterwords the kids got to go swimming in the Holiday Inn Pool (which is where Mette was staying). It was a good visit for all of us and we could all talk about our niece who we are all dying to see. Oh yeah, and I guess we all miss Greg and Trine too.

Hannah and Sophie and Mette in Lobby 

Hannah and Sophie in the Holiday Inn Pool 

Sophie by tree 

Hannah by tree 

The Lee Family 

Mette, Deb, and the girls 

christmas card picture

okay guys I need your help. I took some pictures of the girls yesterday for our annual christmas card. But, I can't decide so I need your input. I've given each picture a letter (e.g. choice a, choice b, etc). Choose which picture you like the most, for a christmas card, and send me an email (or comment it). Remember, for some folks this is the only time they will see them all year so it has to be good representation.

BTW, it would help if you gave me your reasoning behind your choice. If there is a tie it may be the tie breaker.

Thanks again.

choice g 

choice f 

choice e 

choice d 

choice c 

choice b 

choice a 

November 13th - still snowing

There is really a lot of snow outside. It just isn't supposed to be like this on November 13th. The girls are so excited there are no words. They were up at seven this morning ready to suit up and go out. I told them they had to wait until 9:00 for the sake of our neighbors. In the meantime they got their gear ready. Hannah, being the little homemaker that she is, even put newspaper down by the doors so that when they came in with wet boots it wouldn't ruin the floor. Bless her little soul. They pulled out snowpants, mittens, hats, etc. and fought over what belonged to who. They put on long johns, warm socks, courdoroys, turtlenecks, wool sweaters. They sweated. We ate breakfast. Finally at 8:55 I could take it no more and I let them out. It is now 10:00 a.m. and they are still outside playing happily. After I write this I am going to get my own boots on and then I am going out to shovel. Did I mention that Gene is in Portugal? Oy.

Sophie trudging through snow to neighbors 

Girls playing 

November 13th - the snow grows 

First Snow

Well, it's November 12th and we've had our first snow in Chelmsford. It came before we even had time to rake! In fact, all the leaves aren't off the trees yet. The kids are so excited you'd think they grew up in Florida. Hannah has been home from school for 1 hour and she's already made the world largest snowball, a snowangel, eaten snow (looking out for the yellow stuff) and is now sipping her first cup of hot cocoa of the season. Of course, this snow is not going to help with the premature excitement for the holidays. We've already been listening to "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas" since the leaves were still green. The snow will not help matters.

Well, I have to go suit them up again. Did I mention that Gene is busy sunning himself in Portugal?

Happy Holidays! (oops, I guess they're getting to me)

"the world's biggest snowball" 

About to get hit 

A successful bob for Cameron. Extreme Bobbing! 

Cameron bobbing for an apple 

Our Witch and Butterflly 

Hannah and Sophie with our "trick or treaters" 

Hannah and Sophie eating marshmellows 

Hannah bobbing for apples 

Happy Halloween

At 5:45 a.m on Halloween it was apparent it was going to be a VERY LONG DAY when Hannah and Sophie woke up READY to go trick or treating at the obscenely early hour. I would also like to offer gratitude and appreciation (very sarcastic) to whoever invented Daylight savings!!

By 10:00 a.m. I decided to throw together an impromptu Halloween party with some neighbors to hopefully get rid of some of this incredible energy. The kids came over at around 1:30 and we played a few games (eating marshmellows off strings, bobbing for apples, and blowing popcorn across a tarp). The kids really enjoyed bobbing for apples and decided that the best way to get the apple was to submerge your entire head. Several changes of clothes were made. But, at least the kids ate a few apples before they went trick or treating!

We ate a quick dinner. Hannah professed at dinner that she was no longer a carnivore or a vegatarian and so she could not eat anything on her plate. Apparently, on Halloween she had become a candiovore. Considering the situation we mostly let her get away with her behavior although I think she managed to choke down one carrot. As if that made any difference.

The kids went trick or treating and brought home their usual loot. At which point our little candivores ate themselves sick and then crashed. Sophie fell asleep on the couch at 7:30 (this time a non-sarcastic thank you goes out to whoever invented daylight savings). Hannah made it a little later. Of course Sophie didn't brush her teeth before she crashed so this halloween will probably cost us $700.00 in dental bills!

Hope you all had a happy halloween too!

is the curse over