Gingerbread Destruction

This is what we had to do to distroy our gingerbread house in MA because fireworks are not allowed

Snow Storm

Back in October was the last time we had any snow. (And only the second time it has snowed here this year) And it wasn't very much either. The problem was that the trees still has almost all of their leaves on them, and the snow was wet and heavy. Result, trees were down EVERYWHERE.

 This is the view from the front of our house.  The tree you see laying down on the right and left, is actually split in four.  It used to stand as the tallest tree in the roundabout.

 We had church and school canceled due to widespread power outages

Our power was out for 2 1/2 days.  Thank goodness for this generator.  We bought this generator when we lived in Indiana in fear of power outages due to tornadoes.  We never used it in Indiana.   We are now so grateful to have it!

(Some people near us were without power for a week and most did not have generators.  Brrrr!)

Thankful Turkey

Our Thankful Turkey

We have a thanksgiving tradition of making a turkey out of a small box. Then cut a hole in the top and write on little pieces of paper things we are thankful for and put them in the turkey.  By Thanksgiving the turkey is stuffed, and we open it up and read the things we are all thankful for.  It is fun because every year our turkey is a little different than the year before.  This year it has darts for eyes!! 

Halloween

Lauren's Halloween Performance

 She had a Xylophone solo

Such a cut 5th grader

Boogie on down

Happy Halloween

This year we had a Nerd, a Zombie, a lion, and Darth Vader.

(Yes, our little princess was Darth Vader of all things)

Pumpkins, pumpkins, pumpkins

We spent a Saturday driving from pumpkin patch to pumpkin patch trying to find one that you could actually PICK your pumpkin.  We could not find one.  So we ended up at this pumpkin patch where the pumpkins are already picked, and you just pick out which one you want. But we still had a great time!

Elle felt like such a big girl

The kids so annoyed by mom wanting a picture.  Enough already!

Pumpkin Carving

So serious. Such concentration.

Kate being gross. So Dad's idea!  Eww!

Apple Picking

We went apple picking at Smolak Farms in the Fall.  The kids LOVED it!

 How many people do you know who wear a Tutu to go apple picking?

 We wanted to get the REALLY high apples.

Grandparents visit part 4

                                     

Quincy Market

                                      

 Bumpa, Nana, Kate, and Elle watching the street performers

 Dustin helped the street performers

These goofy street performers were pretty entertaining

 Fort Independence on Castle Island

 Grandma and Kate were running laps around us

 Bumpa, Parker and  Dustin

 This was really funny.  Dustin was trying to catch this crab.  The crab was making it difficult.  Dustin finally won.

Silly Bumpa

Lauren with a crab claw earring

 Wingaersheek Beach

The weather was great the whole time we had family visiting, except for the day we planned to go to the beach. Of course.  It was VERY WINDY!  But that didn't stop us from having one of the funnest days of all.

 We had a blast exploring.  Wingaersheek is the best beach for exploring.

Lauren thought that because she had rain boots on that she could go in the water.  She got soaked!

There were thousands of clams!  It was so interesting.  It sounded like crunchy leaves when you would step on them.  And there were so many, there was no avoiding them.

We absolutely LOVE when we have visitors. 

So come visit!!!

Grandparents visit part 3

USS Constitution W/ Grandma Marcia

 The girls loved the USS Constitution Museum

 Elle laying in a hammock like a Sailor would have

Martha's Vineyard

 We all loved going to Martha's Vineyard

 The kids loved the ferry ride over.  It was about 45 minutes.

 Grandma Marcia with her "New England" grand kids

photographer Lauren took this picture

 On Martha's Vineyard there is a village of probably close to 100 little "Gingerbread" cottages.  They were all so cute and we really loved looking at all of them.  This one is for sale.  Lauren and Parker wanted to try out the chairs on the front porch to make sure we like it before we put an offer in. 

Boston Commons

 Notice Elle in the bottom left, refusing to get in the picture. Hah...I showed her.

This person was a crazy weirdo!  No, not Grandma, the guy!  But it was so funny to watch him play "music"