Facial Hair

I can't grow much of a beard, but I like to try to grow one every once in a while. Generally, it occurs over a long weekend and I shave it off before I go to work on Monday. This past Thanksgiving I started my standard long weekend facial hair tradition, but midway (Saturday) through I decided to try the mustache. Right before we were to head out and take the kids to build-a-bear, I converted the beard to a mustache.....here was the result...

{joe walks down the stairs sporting the new look}
Amy: What the hell is that?
Joe: It's my new look.
Amy: Shave it off now, we are going out in public.
Joe: nah, I kinda like it
Amy: Please shave it off
Joe: You don't like it? It's sexy, Tom Selleck style. You know Magnum PI.
Amy: Sexy? The police wouldn't let you within 500 feet of a school with that thing on your lip. Shave it off, it's creepy.


Check out the Tom Selleck cool below

A few videos for you sunday night viewing pleasure

Kate is quite the dancer....

Here is Tommy bouldering. We find it fascinating watching him problem solve on the wall. Which foot should go here, which hand should go here, etc.

Tommy with Coach Pete

Year End CSA Gathering

Last weekend was the year end CSA get together. Cider doughnuts, chili and pony rides...

Climbing

We enrolled Tommy in rock climbing at the local YMCA. We were not sure how a three year old would do in a rock climbing class, but he likes to climb on stuff at the house, so we decided to give it a shot. The results......he loved it!! It is kind of funny seeing a bunch of three and four year olds hanging out in helmets and harnesses. No pictures of him climbing up the wall, but we will try to get one of him next week.

Here is game they played called shark attack, not much climbing going on here, but they were having fun.

We also signed up Kate for mom and daughter Gymnastics. No pictures, but she sure did leave an impression on other moms. I believe they said "My she sure is strong willed". Kate does not like to wait her turn or get off the trampoline when her turn is done.....but she sure did have fun running away from the instructor when the instructor was trying to get her off the trampoline.

Halloween Happenings

It sure has been spooky here on Juneau Ave......

Friday night Tommy and Kate went to the Halloween Party at their school. Here are the kids getting ready for the party.

Tommy was not just Batman, he was Bat-Tommy

Tommy chillin with his bud Richie

Haverhill conducted the Trick or Treat activities on Saturday. The Juneau Ave gang stormed the houses together. Below is Tommy, Mason and Tyler.

Kate with her boyfriend Evan

Tommy in his glow in the dark skeleton PJs

Kate in her her Hallowween outfit

And now some random pictures.....

Papa and the kids

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Random Thoughts + Cali Trip Report

First, the random thoughts..

• Amy got a new job at the Lowell Community Charter Public School. Started a couple of weeks ago. Everything is going well.
  
• Our kids have a fascination with toilet water. A while back we posted about Tommy and toilet water. Now Kate is into the toilet water. After she eats she likes to go into the bathroom to get toilet paper to wipe her face off. Every once in awhile she feels the need to have it wet to wipe her face off. Have you figured out yet how she gets the toilet paper wet? What makes it more problematic is the fact that Tommy forgets to flush the toilet sometimes. Don't worry folks he only has #1 down on the toilet, not yet #2.


• More toilet fun. The up stairs toilet is clogged. Nope, it's not because it was sloppy Joe night yesterday. It is because there is a comb stuck in there. Tommy is very proud he clogged the toilet. [Update - Joe had to replace the toilet because the comb was so stuck]


• Tommy had his soccer pictures taken this morning. You know the kid in the school photos who is never looking at the camera, never smiles and sometimes is picking his nose. Yup that's the T-Man
  
• And now on to California

A couple of weekends ago, the Fam packed up and headed out west to attend a wedding and visit Uncle Katie, Uncle Johnner and Cousin Ben (ed. note: Uncle Katie is Tomminese) in Davis, CA.

Overall the travel with the kids went fairly well, if you exclude:

1. The moron at the Southwest counter who made us late to the gate which resulted in us being the last ones on the plane, which resulted in us sitting in completely different rows. Not fun being 6'3" , sitting in the middle row with an 18 month old on the lap and a person requiring a seat belt extender on the right. Also, not fun is sitting next to a 3 year old that really wants to sit next to daddy.


2. Kate having a MASSIVE blowout while sitting on Joe's lap and him (and her) stinking like bleep for the rest of the trip.


3. Tommy singing loudly "whistle while you work" and singing louder when we ask him to tone it down.

Points 2 & 3 all happened in the last 15 minutes of the flight, but made it feel like the last 15 hours.

Enough with the travel, on to the good stuff. A couple of points before we get to the pics

• The weather was great. Mid 80s and dry


• We had our first experience with In & Out Burger. Double Double Animal Style with chopped chilies, cheese fries well down and an Arnold Palmer. Yum Yum. We loved it!
  
• Great farmers market in Davis. We hung out there Saturday morning. Check out KT's blog to see the kids getting crazy with balloon swords at the Farmers Market.


• Davis, CA has a Mediterranean micro climate which allows for growth of some non-New England fruit trees. Figs, Olives, Oranges, Lemons, Limes, etc. Eating fresh grapefruit off the tree was awesome

Ever seen a pumpkin growing in a tree. See below. Katie and Jonathan's neighbor have a pumpkin growing in an Orange tree.

We went to this great park in Davis that had a 60 foot slide made of cement. While the cement is smooth enough to slide down with out help, the locals slide on card board enhance the experience. While this sounds neat, it is a bit extreme. Part this feeling is do to the fact that Joe took out Ben while sliding down down this monster at about 30mph.

Greg and Susan's wedding at Solage in Calistoga, CA. It was a great wedding.

A few pics of Kate and Tommy