Uncle Frank and Amy came into Philly today and the adults spent an entire day of drinking and eating. Jackie and Grandmom Burger watched the kids, so it was on like donkey kong. We went to the oyster house for lunch and to bistrot la minette. Lots of fun.
december 21st - mommy bakes
Alex finished out his school year with a fun day at the park. Mommy spent the day baking cookies so we all benefitted from some evening snacking on our favorites.
december 20th - alex zooms
Alex went ice skating for the first time EVER today with his buddy Drew and he had a blast. The first time around, we took it slow, but then we went "very very fast" according to Alex. He did such a great job skating with daddy and he did it on his own hockey skates. Even Gemma went for a spin around the rink with daddy and smiled the entire time...at least until snack time and then she found a seat:)
december 19th - gemma's day
Cherry Hill mall has an entire "seeing santa" experience that almost made Gemma's head explode. Her obsession with Shrek competes very closely with Alex's obsession with Santa, so it was a magical day. First, we went to Nordstrom's for the kids to have their feet measured and get new shoes. Alex picked out the brightest red sneakers on earth but had to settle for blue and green because they didn't have his size. Gemma, however, made the PURPLE suede boots that she picked out fit. Even if it kills her, those boots were hers.
When it was our turn to see Santa, the kids learned to fly a sleigh, made a digital gingy, and we got an IMAX experience that took us all the way to the North Pole. This thing is put on by Disney so it meant 1) the ride was legit, with wind and the whole nine yards 2) it costs as much as feeding a small family for a month. We got some personal time with Santa, and Gemma pushed Alex up to sit on his lap. She did not want any part of it...but did keep him abreast of her continuing desire for a baby doll.


After seeing Santa, we drove to Millersville for the pre-Christmas family dinner. Alex brought Candyland that Jackie gave him for Christmas and we played 100 times. Dinner turned into lunch since we all gathered around the island eating turkey all afternoon while it was being carved. Alex and Gemma had fun during the actual dinner playing with all the kids (and a suspicious baby).
december 18th - corporate mixer
We had our annual corporate holiday party with Jackie, Fred, and Emily this evening. It has been a holiday tradition the past three years, where we get together and go out for dinner (and each year there is another child with us). The kids helped Emily open her present whether she liked it or not. Jackie made Gemma a scarf, which she wears very proudly.
She is so funny...Gemma is anti-Daddy right now, but when she gets pretty clothes she still has to show Daddy immediately:) We went to Cucina Forte and all the kids did great. Alex and Gemma mostly so they could have chocolate cake!
december 16th - stay out of her way
Poor baby has a fever today and is not feeling very well. The Gemma attitude always gets taken up a notch when she is under the weather, so we are in for quite a treat. That cute little face is very deceiving...her hat is hiding her devil horns.
december 15th - QWERTY skillz
Alex is gaining skills to prepare himself for the workforce. For the past couple nights he has been saying "daddy, can I borrow your white computer so I can do some work?" He practices typing his name over and over and is up to about 10 words per hour. He already knows how to use return, changes font colors, backspace, spacebar, and understands the need for a period at the end of ALEX B.
december 13th - margaritas and sunshine
Special christmas tree pancakes for santa's little helper, running some holiday errands, and a nice al fresco lunch at the cantina. Spring weather in December is making life easy.
december 12th - a very furry (and special) christmas
The annual Christmas date with Sesame Place today. One key difference from last year was the fact that it is now 70° and there were about 700% more people there, which made it difficult to move around. Mommy officially re-designed her own methods of crowd control in her head given she was a disgruntled customer:) The Burger clan did, however, manage to get the royal treatment because we know a guy (or a girl inside a guy).
We went to the holiday song and dance show, which the kids LOVED. Alex even went up on stage...lots of other kids were going up before the show, so Alex whispered in Daddy's ear..."daddy if I go up on stage, will you take a picture of me." Hilarious!
After the show, Cookie Monster brought out his friends for our kids to meet the characters one on one. Gemma almost lost it when she saw Abby Cadabby. Alex wanted nothing to do with anyone except Cookie Monster. It took a bit of explaining to the kids why they are so special and got to meet the characters...they just think it is part of the show and don't realize that the thousands of other kids are just dollar signs!
We went to the holiday song and dance show, which the kids LOVED. Alex even went up on stage...lots of other kids were going up before the show, so Alex whispered in Daddy's ear..."daddy if I go up on stage, will you take a picture of me." Hilarious!
After the show, Cookie Monster brought out his friends for our kids to meet the characters one on one. Gemma almost lost it when she saw Abby Cadabby. Alex wanted nothing to do with anyone except Cookie Monster. It took a bit of explaining to the kids why they are so special and got to meet the characters...they just think it is part of the show and don't realize that the thousands of other kids are just dollar signs!
december 11th - the mollers
Cousin Shara got married tonight so the kids spent the evening at Beeps and Grandpa's while Mommy and Daddy did adult stuff. Of course, they ate cookies. Spent some quality time with Grandpa...Alex was very excited to tell us that Grandpa let them use markers. I was assured..."he watched us."
december 10th - school days
Alex's first semester (or whatever pre-schools have) is winding down in the lead up to the holidays. It was a rocky first couple days, but he quickly decided that he loves school, learning, and hanging with his buddies....if only this enthusiasm could carry him through the next 20 years. Very proud of him. Hopefully he passes his finals.
december 8th - baby steps
Mommy is out of town tonight so we had romper room in the basement. We talked to the kids about how interior demolition started happening, so they started taking turns operating the bull dozer to practice for when the real thing goes down.
december 6th - daddy sunday
Alex and Gemma ran errands with daddy all morning around the neighborhood. Everywhere they went people gave them cookies, so it was a supercharged adventure.
december 5th - christmas joy
Today was our breakfast with Santa and both kids were super excited to let the big guy know what they want for Christmas. Alex even brought a torn out page from his toy catalogue so he could be sure Santa knows exactly what he wants...and doesn't get some bobo version of his "yellow crane." Gemma brought a page too, but she didn't get to it. She was petrified to go within Santa's wingspan so she just shouted "baby" when Santa asked what she wanted. After our personal visit with Saint Nick we got our own carriage ride around Logan Square with a horse named Chipper.
As if we did not get enough overload on holiday cheer at breakfast, we drove up to Newtown for the Shady Brook Farms holiday light show. They have over 5 million lights and it was quite a racket. Alex and Gemma loved it because we pulled over and let them climb up front as we drove through. Alex repeatedly said he "very liked" the lights throughout...with an occasional yank on the steering wheel to help daddy drive.
december 4th - mazeltov
Alex had his Hanukah show today at school so we all went to see his performance. Although he has been practicing he was not really trying to steal the show. He is a little too much like daddy to break out his jazz hands and hit the high notes. He did, however, get pretty chummy with a couple lady friends. Gemma was not sure how to respond to dradle songs, so she just acted out by flashing everyone.
december 3rd - more festivities
Daddy is away in London for work this week so mommy took the kids out to see the tree lighting in Rittenhouse Square. Lots of fun and excitement when the big guy in the red suit showed up.
december 1st - prevention
These two ding dongs had to go and get their annual flu shots today. This was the before photos...not quite as happy on the way out. Gemma took it a little better than Alex did but M&M's were the only thing keeping them from full meltdown mode.
november 29th - alex's favorite day
Went for our city-style Christmas tree adventure, which included a rooftop view while we picked through the trees. The kids giggled the whole time and were very big helpers to get everything home. Most people pulled their cars up, but daddy opts to carry it home three blocks. Gets harder and harder each year because mommy always picks out 8-footers. Alex tried to pitch in too in order to take some of the weight off :)
november 28th - a balmy end to november
Almost December and it is close to 70° in Philadelphia. We took the kids out for a stroll around the Christmas Village in Love Park. Mr. Christmas (Alex) was very excited to see the tree but he was bummed it was too warm for snow...although it did allow for lunch at an outdoor table at Parc. Gemma was in heaven...pancakes and pommes frites. We ended the day with a trip to the fancy toy store on Pine Street so the kids could pick out a special treat.
november 27th - princeton tree lighting
Not quite residents yet, but the kids really enjoyed seeing santa claus and the lighting of the tree in Palmer Square. Should be a fun tradition if we ever make it into our new house.
november 26th - bring on the carbs
Some kids dress up for thanksgiving...ours got undressed. Alex and his cousins ran around so much at Uncle Frank's house that he got a bit over heated and had to strip off his shirt. Even at meal time, he decided to keep it real and go native.
We had a lunchtime meal with the Burger clan and then went to Grandma Beeps and Grandpa Mike's house for dinner. The kids both loved Thanksgiving dinner...dessert the most when they shoved their faces directly into the whipped cream. We had a toast (gemma got heavy into the aqua purificata) and the kids said what they are thankful for...
Alex - christmas trees...of course
Gemma - her baby doll
november 25th - wait...not everyone loves santa?
Mommy took Alex to school this morning for his Harvest Fest celebration and made a stop for Alex to pick out some bagels. If mommy had only known, she may have picked out an even more Jewish snack to bring and compensate for Alex's complete disregard for his synagogue school. When mommy got there, she noticed a board saying "what are we thankful for"...after looking for a bit, she found 'Alex B. - christmas trees"...ha ha ha...not jewish.
Daddy and Gemma spent the morning shopping in the italian market and hours cooking a braised rabbit ragu. For a minute she packed her backpack because she thought she was going to school too. Eventually she decided hanging with daddy was better and helped pick out a nice cheese and meat spread. She tried aged gouda, brie, proscuitto, and pepperoni. Loved them all!!
november 24th - sibling love
Alex was showing off his new shirt that daddy brought him back from san francisco. Gemma was obviously unphased by the idea of it while she ate her banana.
november 23rd - daddy time
Daddy is back to spend some quality time watching Shrek for the 3,000th time. Alex was excited to show off that he learned how to be the horsey while daddy was away.
november 22nd - sunday funday
Gramps and Grandmum were in town for the evening and could not get enough of playtime with the kids. We went for a Hawthorne's breakfast and these two were in rare form. Gemma has a new split legged stance that she thinks is hilarious and she will basically copy anything Alex does.
november 21st - down the hills and 'round the bend
Daddy came home on the red eye this morning just in time for a long drive out to see Thomas the Train in Strasburg. No sleep for 36 hours not recommended when walking amongst 2,000 children.
Gramps and Grandmum got Alex and Gemma tickets gor a ride on Thomas (and Percy!!!), which both Alex and Gemma were so excited. Mommy drove to the railroad...recklessly according to Alex because he got car sick and made Daddy switch with her...but as soon as we arrived he was magically cured with an ear to ear grin.
november 20th - no dogs allowed
Mommy and the kids went out for a mexican feast with our neighbors Chip and Mickey (and Sandy) tonight. Gemma chowed down on some guacamole and Alex was upset that Rufus the dog wasn't able to come to dinner.
november 19th - abandoned
Mommy had to go out of town too for a meeting in Hartford so the kids were with Jackie and Fred for an extended day of crafts and dinner. Gemma had a great time at her class while Alex was in school and then they both painted some hand turkeys for thanksgiving.
november 17th - bye bye daddy
Daddy had to go to San Francisco today for the rest of the week. Not fun. Alex and Gemma walked daddy to the door and Alex loved the big black truck that drove to the airport.
november 16th - daddy time
Daddy got home early so we went for bike rides to washington square and did a few wind sprints through the park. Then went to dinner at bainbridge street barrel house and ordered enough food for an army. The kids ate whatever we told them to because daddy brought home special treats for dessert from House of Cupcakes in Princeton.
november 15th - officially holiday time
Took the kids out to get ahead of christmas pictures...cannot believe it is that time of year already. The only one ready for it is Alex (aka Mr. Christmas). If he had his way, his future career would involve the north pole. We went all over the city, but ended at franklin square for some hot chocolate, a ride on the carousel, and a premature light show.
november 14th - girl time
Uncle Frank's army of children cam down tonight for dinner and GemGem really liked hanging out with the girls.
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