It was a very pleasant evening for trick-or-treating. We went out with a group of the kids' friends several blocks away - our block doesn't have many kids. We (tried to get) started at 6:00pm; it was still light out and it didn't seem like there were many kids out at first. But as the sun set, everyone came out - and we even ran into or visited several more friends. Sarah was a snow princess and Nicholas was a baby lion.
David was reminded of days back at Trenton State College, when he and his friends used to walk Nimbus around campus, and people would come up and say "that dog looks just like a baby lion!". The school mascot was/is a lion as well.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Loose Ends
Too much going on lately - haven't had time to post or update the kids' pictures. They are updated now, though!
Sarah had her final soccer practice on Thu Oct 18th. For the last half of practice, before it got too dark, Coach David handed out certificates and some soccer-related goodies. Some of the parents brought some snacks and drinks to share. The season started off a bit rough, with only one coach and almost 20 energetic kids, but by the end Coach David could see some real improvement in the kids' skills, and it seemed like everyone had a fun season.
On Sat Oct 20th, David went railfanning (aka, trainspotting) with his friend Joe. We went to Point of Rocks, MD and hung out there for a couple hours and saw a few trains. At one point, we went for a little hike on the C&O Canal and decided to walk through an active tunnel. It looked short enough, but once we were halfway through, we had a second thought that maybe this wasn't the best idea. We made it through, however, and just in time, as a train came through the tunnel about 5 minutes later. After that, we followed this railfan guide and made our way west all the way to Shenandoah Junction, WV. In all, we saw 13 trains (technically, 12 different trains, as we saw one slow-moving/delayed train in two different cities) and had a great day. Here's some pictures.
On Sun Oct 21st, Alison had her cat clinic - and then in the evening we went to Baltimore to have dinner at Sarah and Toby's house. Sarah showed lil' Sarah how to spin yarn and then lil' Sarah smoked us in a mean game of Go Fish.
This area got a much-needed soaking rainstorm over 4 days the end of last week. The 4-day total at the rain gauge in the front yard was 4.37 inches. We're still running about 6 inches below average for the year, though.
The last 3 days (26th, 27th, 28th) Halloween came early. On Friday, Sarah's school had their Halloween celebration; due to the rain, the parade had to be held indoors. The Rockets class sang two Halloween songs they learned, and they made pumpkin loaf to share. On Saturday, the kids went to a Halloween party at a friends' house, and on Sunday, a Halloween party at St. Pius. Sarah is going as a Snow Princess this year, and Nicholas as a baby lion.
Sarah had her final soccer practice on Thu Oct 18th. For the last half of practice, before it got too dark, Coach David handed out certificates and some soccer-related goodies. Some of the parents brought some snacks and drinks to share. The season started off a bit rough, with only one coach and almost 20 energetic kids, but by the end Coach David could see some real improvement in the kids' skills, and it seemed like everyone had a fun season.
On Sat Oct 20th, David went railfanning (aka, trainspotting) with his friend Joe. We went to Point of Rocks, MD and hung out there for a couple hours and saw a few trains. At one point, we went for a little hike on the C&O Canal and decided to walk through an active tunnel. It looked short enough, but once we were halfway through, we had a second thought that maybe this wasn't the best idea. We made it through, however, and just in time, as a train came through the tunnel about 5 minutes later. After that, we followed this railfan guide and made our way west all the way to Shenandoah Junction, WV. In all, we saw 13 trains (technically, 12 different trains, as we saw one slow-moving/delayed train in two different cities) and had a great day. Here's some pictures.
On Sun Oct 21st, Alison had her cat clinic - and then in the evening we went to Baltimore to have dinner at Sarah and Toby's house. Sarah showed lil' Sarah how to spin yarn and then lil' Sarah smoked us in a mean game of Go Fish.
This area got a much-needed soaking rainstorm over 4 days the end of last week. The 4-day total at the rain gauge in the front yard was 4.37 inches. We're still running about 6 inches below average for the year, though.
The last 3 days (26th, 27th, 28th) Halloween came early. On Friday, Sarah's school had their Halloween celebration; due to the rain, the parade had to be held indoors. The Rockets class sang two Halloween songs they learned, and they made pumpkin loaf to share. On Saturday, the kids went to a Halloween party at a friends' house, and on Sunday, a Halloween party at St. Pius. Sarah is going as a Snow Princess this year, and Nicholas as a baby lion.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
40th Anniversary Party
This past weekend, we had a 40th wedding anniversary party for David's parents in NJ. The party doubled as a belated birthday party for David's mother. It was great to see so many folks that we don't get to see all that often. We had the party at a restaurant and had a huge breakfast buffet. Of course, we had to get our own cake at a local bakery and bring it in to share. The party was a surprise to David's mom, and she rode with us to the restaurant. Just as we were getting Nicholas out of his car seat and into the stroller, we noticed he had an accident that escaped his diaper and the car seat and everywhere. So we changed him in the hatch of the car, not knowing that the ~40 or so guests saw us drive up and were waiting and waiting for us to come in. Nicholas still charmed everyone once he was in his spare outfit, and we were still able to surprise Mom.
Today is National Feral Cat Day! Support "Trap, Neuter, and Return" or TNR!!
Today is National Feral Cat Day! Support "Trap, Neuter, and Return" or TNR!!
Sunday, October 7, 2007
7th Anniversary
Alison and David were married 7 years ago today!
Nicholas decided to celebrate by being up from midnight to 2am. On the agenda for today: cleaning the interior of the cars and installing the bigger car seats for Nicholas; going to the local hardware store for a new furnace filter; watching sports; napping; and going out with the kids to dinner.
David and Ali had an anniversary dinner without the kids two weeks ago at The Melting Pot with Steven, Jenne, Bryan, Anne, and J.J. Thanks to Mom-Mom and Poppy for watching the kids!
Nicholas decided to celebrate by being up from midnight to 2am. On the agenda for today: cleaning the interior of the cars and installing the bigger car seats for Nicholas; going to the local hardware store for a new furnace filter; watching sports; napping; and going out with the kids to dinner.
David and Ali had an anniversary dinner without the kids two weeks ago at The Melting Pot with Steven, Jenne, Bryan, Anne, and J.J. Thanks to Mom-Mom and Poppy for watching the kids!
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Busy lately
Here's some things we've been doing lately: went to birthday party for one of Sarah's friends, went to the St. Pius church picnic, went to the volunteer fire station to take a free family portrait that our neighbor gave to us, and finally, Ali hosted a PartyLite at our house. And that was just on Sunday. *grin*
Sarah's started ballet again on Thursday afternoons, and soccer is continuing on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. "Coach David"'s exhausted by the end of practice from running around the field and encouraging (aka, yelling to) the kids to "don't pick-up the ball". The kids are having a great time, so David's happy. They even are now bringing their flashlights to use at the end of practice as the sun sets.
We also went as a family to the doctor to get a flu shot. Nicholas also had some more booster shots. In order of fussiness and drama, sum of both before and after the shot(s), from least to most: David, Nicholas/Alison (tie), Sarah. In order of who ended up with a sore red spot on their arm/leg, also from least to most: David, Nicholas, Alison, Sarah. Nicholas did get a runny nose on Friday though.
Sarah's started ballet again on Thursday afternoons, and soccer is continuing on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. "Coach David"'s exhausted by the end of practice from running around the field and encouraging (aka, yelling to) the kids to "don't pick-up the ball". The kids are having a great time, so David's happy. They even are now bringing their flashlights to use at the end of practice as the sun sets.
We also went as a family to the doctor to get a flu shot. Nicholas also had some more booster shots. In order of fussiness and drama, sum of both before and after the shot(s), from least to most: David, Nicholas/Alison (tie), Sarah. In order of who ended up with a sore red spot on their arm/leg, also from least to most: David, Nicholas, Alison, Sarah. Nicholas did get a runny nose on Friday though.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Oh Oh It's "Magic"
Bruce Springsteen released his album "Magic" today; I (David) have only listened to it a handful of times so far. :) My review: it's awesome! I love his solo stuff - but I also love the E Street sound - and it all sounds great on this album. Plenty of saxophone (go Clarence!), organ, piano, and loud, loud guitars. It's the first full up-tempo E Street album since "Born in the USA". Go out and get it! Don't believe me? - check out some reviews: Rolling Stone (5 stars), Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Entertainment Weekly. Or check out some live footage from Bruce and the band's recent appearance on the Today show. If you only have time for one song, click here and check out "Livin' in the Future".
I've gone on and on about the music - and haven't even mentioned the lyrics yet. They're fun and smart and dark and topical, all at the same time. The lyrics to a couple of the songs just absolutely break your heart, but the music is so joyous that I can't wait to sing them aloud with 20,000 of my friends when I go to the concert(s) in D.C. in mid-November. As usual, every song has a line or two that's just outstanding; my favorite (so far) from "Long Walk Home":
"You know that flag flying over the courthouse
means certain things are set in stone -
Who we are, what we'll do, and what we won't."
I've gone on and on about the music - and haven't even mentioned the lyrics yet. They're fun and smart and dark and topical, all at the same time. The lyrics to a couple of the songs just absolutely break your heart, but the music is so joyous that I can't wait to sing them aloud with 20,000 of my friends when I go to the concert(s) in D.C. in mid-November. As usual, every song has a line or two that's just outstanding; my favorite (so far) from "Long Walk Home":
"You know that flag flying over the courthouse
means certain things are set in stone -
Who we are, what we'll do, and what we won't."
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