september 27th - smoothy time

Lucy now waits in the morning for fruit smoothies. Once the blender goes on, she gets nuts until Mommy starts feeding her smoothy with a straw. GemGem had soccer tonight and she was trying so hard to score a goal. Looked like she was ready to start tackling kids. 

september 26th - snacktime

september 25th - little helper

Lucy’s favorite morning chore is helping to unload the dishwasher. As soon as she sees it open, she is on a mission to get to it. 

september 24th - the letter d

It is really fun watching Gemma get excited about learning. Her new class has been awesome for her...and us. Each week is a new letter that the lesson plan incorporates. We talk about words every day for the entire ride to school. That is, when she is not singing her improvisational songs. Yesterday was a twenty-five minute rendition of a song about “peace and harmony.”

september 23rd - e a g l e s 🦅

Alex got to experience his first live Eagles game today and he was a champ. Unfortunately, the weather was not very cooperative and we got rained on from kickoff through the end of the game. Fortunately, it was a good game and the birds came out with a win. Alex (and 50,000+ others) were particularly excited to witness Carson’s debut after being out of commission for the last nine months. He protested a great deal when I told him he had to wear a poncho, but in the end I think he was secretly appreciative I forced it on him. We had sanwiches and pre-game drinks (beer and ginger ale) in the car and pretzels/M&M’s at the game. Alex even figured out an innovative way to feed himself M&M’s through the neckhole of his poncho. Hopefully, next time will be more pleasant. 

Gemma and Lucy got to spend the day with Mommy. Gem even got a new wonder woman outfit that she is VERY proud to strut around the house. 

september 22nd - lookin’ purdy

Gemma went for her second haircut with Lila for a girls day at the salon. She had a great day and she and Lila had lots of fun doing “girl talk.”  Even Siena turned on Mommy and Aunt Tracey when the older girls let her into the club. “No Parents at this table.”  We went to the park in the afternoon and had dinner at the Drebys so the kids could hang out. 

september 21st - date night

These three are trouble togather, but Lucy’s smile makes it all ok. Grandmom Burger came over tonight to hang out with them so Mommy and Daddy could go out for a date night. Can’t remember much except ordering pommes frites while waiting for our chocolate soufflé. Pictures show we had a little fun...at least Mommy did:) When the arms are up, it is a good sign. 

september 20th - daddy night

This morning, Daddy took Alex, Gemma, and Lucy for morning coffee and pastries. Alex opted for a cookie and Gemma got a croissant bigger than her face. Luckily, Alex was around to help her finish. Soccer night for Gemma and girls’ night for Mommy means pizza at Nomad with Daddy. The three of them were little angels at dinner and even better for triple bathtime. Suprisingly, all was quiet by 830...even after the giant cannolis. 

september 19th - yom kippur

While some atone, we enjoy a day free of work and school. Daddy and Alex got to hang out all day. We started out with a one mile run, then a bike ride, lunch at the grill, and ice cream at Thomas’s. Not a bad day given we were also crossing off a list of tasks/errands that Mommy gave us to complete. 

september 18th - 💩 day

Gemma had an appointment with a specialist today to make sure there wasn’t anything else going on with her poop situation. We learned a lot about poop. We must have heard the word poop 100 times today. We did get out for a special lunch before her appointment. This having only one kid to deal with stuff is amazing.  After her appointment, she had to have blood drawn. It was like wrestling down a rhino. She screamed bloody murder...only about six feet away from the waiting room. As we walked out, we could see by the looks on peoples’ faces that they were reconsidering. Poop. 101.

september 17th - development

Gemma is loving her new class and all the things she is learning. She told us all about how she “learned to organize things in graduated order.”  Her teachers think she is hilarious. Lucy is now bathing vertical. Accomplished and pleased with herself. 

september 16th - temporary only child

The ease of one child continued this morning with an extended stay in bed and a three-person run around town. We took Mommy’s route and she is a champ. It was tough to keep up while pushing a stroller that pulls to the right. We picked up the big kids at Beeps and Grandpa’s house and hit Terhune for some late morning fun before the Eagles game. While the boys watched the game, Mommy and Gemma cooked up some apple sauce. 

september 15th - eleven years and three humans later

Another year of marriage in the books and we celebrated with a morning packed full of kid activities. Gemma had gymnastics and Alex had soccer, so we had to divide and conquer. Gem did awesome at the gym and was really excited to show off her new moves. Alex scored six goals so he was naturally proud of himself.  Lucy went with the boys so she got to watch soccer and roll around in the sun. 

The big kids went to Beeps and Grandpa’s for the night and Lucy got to celebrate with the adults. The plan was to cook at home until we went for drinks, got a great table, and put down the first drink. It turned into a marathon after that...filled with wine, many plates, and some randomness. At one point, some old lady asked to put her stuff on our table because she had to clean up her dog’s poop. Which, was fine until she engaged us in conversation at our table...dangling her bag of poop in our vicinity.  Lucy loved being along for the ride and just chilled the whole time. Having one kid is a breeze. 

september 14th - now it is fall

Welcome back barbecue at Community Park tonight was a ton of fun. Much different this time around when we know two dozen of the kids running around the playground. Gemma and Lucy helped Mommy during her volunteer time to get people name tags. Alex loved showing off his new monkey bars skill attained through 40+ hours a week of practice at summer camp. 

september 13th - back to school night

Mommy and Daddy got to go to Alex’s school and meet all of his teachers tonight. We got to sit in his desk and go through all of his things. So fun to see everything he has been working on so far this year. One of his pieces of artwork (top center) was pretty cool. The shirt color means he has no pets, the buttons means he has two siblings, his pants color means he speaks one language. Shoes were supposed to be favorite color. Daddy knew something was up, but everyone tried to say that red must be his favorite color. The next day, Alex told us they were out of blue paper.  Daddy wins!

september 12th - mechanically inclined

Gemma has been learning about electronics in school this week. Today, they all had a chance to take apart a radio and learn about the parts. Her teachers were very impressed that Gemma picked up the screwdriver and cracked it open in 20 seconds. “I use tools every day with my dad and I know how to take all things apart,” she says. True story. 

september 11th - say cheese

Lucy doing her best 85-year old man impression. 

september 10th - alex ♥️’s rosh hashanah

Alex just started school and already has multiple days off. Today he is thankful for Jewish holidays and the fact that Mommy let him have soda with his grilled cheese. Mommy pretends Alex picked the restaurant for lunch, but it’s grilled cheese. 

september 9th - mommy is still our champion

Mommy’s run was rained out this morning and the weather is absolutley miserable. The hard work wasn’t for nothing...look at that butt. The weather kept us indoors so the whole family got involved in competitive friendship bracelet making. Seems counterintuitive, but someone has to be the winner. Daddy!  Lucy has two teeth popping through the bottom just like Alex...we have some fun nights ahead of us. 

september 8th - weekend already?

Saturday Target run and got Alex some new soccer gear for this season. Once the rain tapered off we had to get out of the house for some coffee and hot chocolate at Small World. Gemma was workin’ the sporty spice look. 

september 7th - some things never change

First week of school, first pee on the trail on the way home. Gemma loves folding laundry with Mommy, but does it with an attitude, of course. Some of the stuff she comes out with is amazing. 

september 6th - athletic gemgem

Gemma is playing soccer this year and she is very excited. She did a great job and was really aggressive. She was like “did you see me steal the ball from that kid?”  Gems even scored her first goal and did a slight dance afterward. We all went to watch and she was very pleased...she even called Beeps on the phone to make sure she was coming. 

september 5th - we have a 1st grader

Alex’s first big day and he is pumped to be back at Community Park. The whole family walked him to school this morning and it was really fun to see all of his friends and parents out in front of school. Alex’s smile when he found out Makani was in his class was priceless. With all the schools being close to our house, it is pretty cool to see the new energy buzzing outside. Damn kids are everywhere. 

Alex chose “DADDY’s” french toast for breakfast and “MOMMY’S” milkshakes with burgers for dinner. Simple meal. Simple man.