february 24th - it's friday night!

Nomad night for pizza under stars.  The kids had a little pre-chocolate appetizer of bent spoon soft serve. Gemma loved hers so mich she had to be sure to get every last drop.  She was also a little hopped up after eating daddy's affogato. 

Happy Birthday CJ! ❤️️

 

february 23rd - mr congeniality

The insanely warm weather continues and so does Alex's popularity at school. Apparently, he is a classroom focal point. One of the administrators has twin boys who just moved into Alex's class and she says they talk about him all night long. 

 

february 22nd - the doctor is in

 

february 21st - a legend

Great Grandmom Jordy passed away this morning after recently turning 88 years old. She was the sweetest woman in the world and spent her life doing everything she could for her family, which is on the larger side. 7 children, 14 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren.  Daddy still remembers (vividly) the time spent living at Grandmom and Grandpop Jordy's house. There were 7 adults and 4 Burger Boys at 24 Olympia Avenue for 7 months. 4 bedrooms and 1 bathroom, but somehow it worked.  Lots of fun memories and traditions over the years:

• Christmas Eve waiting for Santa to come through the neighborhood on a DeCou fire truck which signified Christmas could begin
• Grandmom was the only one who used tinsel on her tree
• Playing football on Olympia Avenue and getting yelled at by Mrs. Dill
• Easter Egg hunt in the backyard and being the only one who always remembered Dottie's hiding spots
• Playing hockey in Pathmark parking lot on thanksgiving
• Spending the only money we had at Anthony's buying pizza and playing video games
• Knowing everyone in our family understood that when you referred to "the field" you meant the undeveloped lot nextdoor where we played wiffle ball. Repeatedly ripping line drives against "Shorty's" house. Never knowing whether he got that nickname before or after he cut his toes off with his lawnmower.
• Learning to ride a bike down 'dead man's hill'
• Watching matinee movies at the 'Eric' theater in Independence Mall next to Dunhams
• Uncle Ryan splitting my head open with a rock behind Kistardt School
• Uncle Ryan getting shot in the finger with a BB gun (well deserved)
• Aunt Dawn's 57 dogs. Loved Teddy. HATED Bronco. 
• Believe it or not...firing shotguns in the air on new year's eve. In Trenton. A tradition ruined by ISIS.
• Halloween. Grandmom never actually answered the door. Every kid in the neighborhood would just wander in to her rocking chair where she would be drinking tea and have to guess who you are before giving you candy...trying to mix in with the others and fool her was the ultimate goal.
• Knowing Grandmom's phone number was 888-3108 even though you haven't dialed it in 15 years. 
• Remembering the color of the rotary phone she had next to her rocker
• Never knowing what her basement looked like due to pure fear
• Grandpop welding my bike back together and when it finally could not be fixed, I had a classic schwinn bike by the end of the day. Probably picked it up between two jobs. 
• Understanding at 12 years old how much someone can really love another after witnessing how crushed Dottie was when Grandpop passed away.
• Never being able to unlock the damn screen door
• Uncle Kurt's nudey magazine collection...educational
• Grandmom coming to see our band play a gig at a bar and everyone in the place buying her drinks..."awe thanks hon"
• Meatloaf, chicken and dumplings, vegetable soup, rice pudding, pumpkin pie
• Still remembering Grandmom smiling, being the sweetest waitress at Phillip Arthur's bringing out ice cream.  
• Even when she had nothing, she made sure every grandchild got some cash for christmas
• ❤️️

 

february 20th - the baby gorilla

Daddy and the kids had off for President's Day, so we had a daddy day at the Philadelphia Zoo. Gemma finally got to see "the baby gorilla."  First stop on the tour was to get a Philly Pretzel!  After the zoo, the kids requested lunch at Morning Glory and playtime at Palumbo.  Their first choice was Hawthorne's but they are closed on Mondays. Bittersweet being back in our old neighborhood...the kids loved it. 

 

february 19th - spring weekend in february

Beautiful day in Princeton so we went for a walk around town. Gemma found a walking stick "like big uncle mike", we had lunch at jammin' crepes, ice cream at bent spoon, and a spin on the swings at the park. Gemma also had a bout with carpenters' crack.

 

february 18th - our new life

Gemma had ballet and insisted she have an audience "for the beginning" so that we could all see her in first position.  She did an amazing job and was the most well behaved, best dressed ballerina...even though she is the youngest. 

This evening, we had dinner with the Lucc's at Nomad and then went to a 'dive in movie' at the Princeton YMCA. Interesting experience filled with children and chemicals, but the kids absolutely LOVED it. Gemma was like a fish...so awesome. 

Spent some time outside enjoying the 65° weather today too. Also, took notice of the fact that it has been almost one year to the day that we knocked down the original house that sat on 277 since the 1950s. Fond memories, making new ones, same land, same blood, bigger mortgage payment. 

 

 

 

february 17th - educafied

Gemma the artist. She made a very interesting sculpture out of purple tape. In the words of Alex, she was "quite" proud. Alex had fun with magnets and learning about science stuff. 

 

february 16th - let down

Gemma had an amazing day at school. She was super into everything going on and she had her long awaited valentine's day party. Mommy went in for Alex's on Tuesday and it was not really a party. We decided not to go for Gemma's and it ended up being like prom for preschool. Gemma came home and basically said, "why didn't any of you a-holes show up for my party?" 

Grandmom Burger came over for homemade pizzas and brought Mommy's favorite holiday sugar cookies. The kids got to help bake!  

 

 

february 15th - tv buds

 

february 14th - love day

Gemma embraced the day of love. Alex, not so much. Mommy made special "x" and "o" pancakes for the occasion and the kids got cool new mugs. Alex had his vday party at school today and got lots of cards. Gemma's is not until Thursday so she sat watching him with her best frowny, WTF face on...poor baby.  She did get flowers from Daddy which made her feel slightly better. 

 

 

february 13th - breakfast for dinner

Mommy and Daddy were both in new york city today. Mommy was the lucky one to get home earlier and took the kids for chocolate chip pancakes at PJ's. They LOVED it and were all wound up with sugar coursing through their veins when daddy got home for bath and bed. 

 

february 12th - boosting the economy

Mommy helped Alex and Gemma get their valentine's day cards together for all their little buddies at school. Alex had Blaze and Gemma had butterflies for this manufactured holiday. Lots of rules for school. Apparently kids can even be allergic to paper. 

 

february 11th - alex ❤️'s new position

 

february 10th - it's friday, praise jesus!

Really long week. Finished strong with lots of booze and nonna's bird nests. Who knew thanksgiving leftovers in february would be this amazing. Carb city. 

 

 

february 9th - wtf?

Spring yesterday and 10 inches of snow today. Needless to say the kids school was closed. Chalk up one more day of lacking productivity for work. Lots of fun. Gemma even danced for us...youtube has blocked the sound for copyright reasons but still magical. 

february 8th - avoiding feb blues

It is 65° in February and we celebrated by getting the kids outside on their bikes for a spin around the neighborhood. Grandpa celebrated by going out and buying a convertible.  Then, we made him buy us dinner!

 

february 7th - alex going to K

Mommy went to community park today to register Alex for kindergarten in September. The first step in shaping America's next great mind...provided we are not invaded by the chinese before the fall. Gemma got a special delivery from big uncle mike. This bear showed up in what was a little larger than a shoebox. Engineering marvel. 

Alex is making up for lost time at school by teaching Gemma US geography. 

february 6th - truancy

Another sick day for Alex and Gemma was home (not so sick) for her 3-year annual checkup. Two visits to the doctor in one day.  Juggling meeting all day with two monkies running around.

 

february 5th - super bowl sunday

We went to Uncle Frank and Aunt Amy's tonight to watch the superbowl and celebrate Jack's 8th birthday. Gemma picked out her own outfit for the occasion. 

 

february 4th - grace and books

Gemma had another day of ballet this morning and she was upset with daddy and alex for not coming to watch. She got over it quickly when she and mommy went to the library for story time.

february 3rd - sister's orders

Gemma loves dropping Alex off first so she can make sure he puts all his stuff away and signs in to class. She also gives him orders and explains everything she is doing. Today her explanations were sang to the tune of itsy bitsy spider. 

 

february 2nd - what?

 

february 1st - dragonflies

Gemma is loving her new classroom. She is Miss independent. The only one that shows up with her own bag, which she unpacks upon arrival. Sits down and butters her own toast...even brought her own umbrella in case of inclement weather. 

 

january 31st - artistic juices

Alex and his buddies created their own interpretation of a rain storm today at school. Lots of fun and group collaboration. 

 

january 30th - daddy night

Mommy is away in Washington DC, which is also know by Gemma as "where Donald Trump lives."  Daddy didn't want to cook so it was sushi night. Alex and Gemma love edamame and dumplings. Alex liked the shrimp tempura, but Gemma just picked the mango off of the spicy tuna. 

 

january 29th - cars galore

Daddy and Alex went to the Philly Auto Show today for a look around at the newest models. Alex loved being able to get inside of all the cars and his favorite was the new BMW M240i. He knows Grandpa is getting this car soon, so he's looking forward to a ride around town. He also said he really liked the cargo van...just after he sat in a $100k jaguar. Go figure. 

GemGem went with Beeps and Mommy for a girls day at the salon. She got her nails painted. Very proud. 

 

 

 

january 28th - birthday dreby love

 

january 27th - early birthday love

Mommy and Daddy are going out to dinner for Daddy's birthday tomorrow night, so we HAD to have birthday cake with Alex and Gemma to celebrate. The two of them helped blow out candles and helped even more in eating some sugar.