november 23rd - turkey time

It is officially Thanksgiving and we have this thing down for round 2 after friends-giving. Mommy and Daddy used some six-sigma training to make prep very efficient...buttoned up. The kids usually love watching the parade in NYC, but as soon as Ben and William showed up, interest was minimal. They spent the day playing, watching movies, and running laps around the house. Gemma was very excited for Uncle Frank to show up...mostly because she decided on her christmas request. We had lots of fun, lots of food, lots of booze. Uncle Mike and Aunt Amy even got to enjoy their meals on the way out...all in one day...in very different ways:)

november 22nd - honey visits

Alex was pumped to wear his new Eagles jersey to his last day of school before Thanksgiving break. Gemma broke out the umbrella for the miserable rain we had this morning. 

Alex also brought home his class pet, Honey, who will be staying with us for the weekend. Most kids only get Honey for two days, but Alex gets to take care of Honey for “four whole days.”  Tonight, Honey got to go to Nomad with us for pizza. 

november 21st - CP turkey feast

It was the Community Park Thanksgiving Feast today and Mommy was able to attend to help it go over smoothly. Alex and his classmates had a lot of fun. They all came into the cafeteria with their turkey hats on and their own placemats that they made. Gemma also dressed up for school today to kickoff the holiday weekend in style. 

Daddy picked up Alex early from school since he had a half day and we played all afternoon. Hit the playground at school, played soccer at home, and played ball by the fire until dinner time.  Alex made a lantern with his flashlight and a Gatorade bottle. 

november 20th - churnin’

Alex made homemade butter today at school and he was amazed. He said he put the cream in and ‘shaked it and shaked it.’  He made Daddy stop on the way home to pick up bread so we could all try the butter. 

november 19th - picture day

We took some pictures today for our holiday card, but not before Alex and Gemma made a big breakfast for Daddy. They had multiple courses planned out and Gemma ‘did the dishes.’  It was amazing to watch each course served.  Each one required a discussion between Alex and Gemma. 

november 18th - happy birthday charlotte

Mommy made an awesome breakfast this morning so Alex and Daddy would stay warm at the last (20°) soccer game of the season. Alex got a cool trophy that he is really pumped to add to his collection. We celebrated Charlotte’s 4th birthday down in Tabernacle. It was a great low key party...even had a piñata....enough said. 

november 17th - alex’s production

Alex put on a puppet show at school today. He and his friend Neta put on the ‘Little Red Hen’ for his class. We went out for Friday night pizza at DeLorenzo’s with cousins Farrah and Ashlyn. The kids have been asking to see them for a while and we finally made it happen. The occasion demanded ice cream at the Halo Pub for dessert!!!

november 16th - big sister

Gemma is now talking, hugging, and kissing the baby. She will usually koss the baby goodbye before she leaves for school. She is going to be a great helper. 

november 15th - cartoon love

november 14th - hell on earth

Alex and Gemma both went for the first dentist checkup in the Princeton area. We took them to a place that came highly recommended and they were really great with the kids. Alex actually had his first real cleaning, where they stab your face reapeatedly, and he was a champ.  Gemma was a pro at spitting. 

november 13th - workin’ it

Alex continues to align himself with the ladies of kindergarten. Smart. 

november 12th - rest and digest

The day after friends-giving and we kicked it off properly. Pumpkin pie for breakfast followed by multiple rounds of leftovers. Eagles are on their bye week, so Alex was a bit bummed. The weather is finally feeling like late fall so we stayed in our “pajammies”...as Gemma says...and did arts & crafts. 

november 11th - gobble wobble

Mommy did it again. We had another amzing Friends-giving and the food was fantastic. The dynamic continues to shift in favor of the children. We had 14 adults and 17 kids this year. The mayhem was slightly more controlled but still one or two kids that need detention. This year Alex seemed more like on of the big kids. He is really growing up:(. Gemma told Daddy she had “loads of fun playing with Addison and Charlotte.”  Next year we will hve at least one more kid crawling around. Burger baby #3 may be the final addition to this annual shindig. 

november 10th - calm before the storm

Alex had the day off from school. He went to after school program yesterday and we had to pick him up early because he did a face plant on the asphalt. Today he stayed home to help mommy get ready for friends thanksgiving. We had a nice lunch for three where we were reminiscing on the days of having a single child. 

Gemma came home from school and things got nuts. Dance PARTY!!!!!!

november 9th - thankful

Gemma had a stellar day filled with cookies. 

november 8th - school fun

Gemma is taking advantage of having girls to play with, although, there is a lot of drama. Her class is all girls with only two boys. God help her teachers.  Alex has been telling us all week about his scarecrow, and we finally got a glimpse. His class is 13 boys and 4 girls. God help his teachers. 

november 7th - vote for change

november 6th - proud

november 5th - 🍕 🦅 🏈🛋🚽👌

After dinner last night in Philly, we picked up pizzas from Santucci's to bring home and eat today for the Eagles game. We barely left the couch. Eagles threw up 50 points against the #1 defense in the NFL. Not a bad day. 

november 4th - dinner in south philly

Cruised down to our old neighborhood for dinner at Blue Corn and a spin by Seger Park. It was a lot of fun being back down in Philly and Alex and Gemma were awesome. Pointing out their favorite things and all the things they "remember."  Gemma wanted Daddy's margarita...they both got some pretty special desserts. 

november 3rd - sweet gemma

Gemma had coffee with Daddy this morning at Small World. We had a slow trip to school, made slower by some snacks. She was a big helper raking leaves too...although she did more jumping than raking. 

november 2nd - new pitch

Alex got to play on the turf field today for practice because they have lights at the field. He loved it and did not stop sprinting the entire time. 

november 1st - reviewing the haul

Alex and Gemma only want to talk about candy. By now, I think they could recite the nutrition facts. 

october 31st - boo!

Alex's big Halloween party today and Mommy got a front row seat. The kids had a lot of fun at their party and Daddy and Gemma came for the parade. So many kids running around...would not want to be responsible for one bit of it. 

We waited for dark and went trick-or-treating on Jefferson. The kids were so excited to go out and get candy. Gemma did such a good job...she was basically screaming at people, "trick or TREAT...THANK YOU!!!!"  They both came home and counted how many pieces they got. Gemma had an unusually high concentration of Almond Joy's. She said, "I didn't know, I just liked the packaging."

october 30th - getting educated

october 29th - solidarity...E-A-G-L-E-S

Daddy has been extremely under the weather this week and we just took it easy today. Alex and Daddy love watching football on Sundays. It helps that the Eagles are having an awesome season.

october 28th - say cheese

Got some fall pictures of these two ding dongs today. It was so beautiful outside and we spent lots of time at the battlefield. Alex really loved hearing the history. Went to Uncle Frank and Aunt Amy's for pumpkin carving and Halloween festivities. We ended up with batman and batgirl jack-o-lanterns. Good job Mommy!!!

october 27th - dress up time

Gemma had her Halloween parade at school today and she acted too important to acknowledge us...too cool for school hanging with her friends. Alex came with us and had a blast playing with some of his old friends. 

There was the annual Palmer's Square parade in town that we went to and listened to music afterward. Princeton University's band was there and Gemma loved the drums. We got a jump on the crowd and let the kids go through all of the bouncy houses...followed by dinner at Witherspoon Grill. 

october 26th - training on location

Gemma had a not-so-far-afield trip at her school today. The fire department came and showed the kids all the rescue trucks and equipment. It has reaffirmed her desire to be a firelady. Mommy had wine night at our house, so Daddy and the kids went out for Nomad night. Well behaved. Well desserted. 

october 25th - the basics

Alex learned how to draw a bat today at school in anticipation of Halloween. He came home and taught Daddy and we drew pictures all night. He is now and endless fountain of knowledge. 

october 24th - brain fatigue

Alex had a rough day of learning today at school. Today, he told Uncle Mike that his favorite subject in school is math. He is either positioning for a good christmas present or he really does enjoy math. Alex had been telling us randomly how to add things AND he counts endlessly while walking around the house. 

october 23rd - firelady

Gemma says she wants to be a firegirl when she grows up. Not sure she realizes what that entails but for now, she likes the hats. As long as she can drive the truck, she is in...