Holiday fun

We do many fun activities leading up to Christmas, including seeing the holiday lights at the zoo, decorating both the big family tree and each kid's own little tree.  The holiday season gets kicked off with a Thanksgiving visit from Auntie DoDo and Uncle Joe and a family picture with "you know who".

Reindeer at the zoo

Playing penguin at the zoo

peacock and cow lights at the zoo

Santa at Boston Holiday Market

Visiting with Santa outside of Macy's holiday windows

Maddy's (red) and David's (green) trees

Little stockings (with signs) for some of David & Maddy's animal friends

New nutcracker friend

Ho Ho Ho!

New Kung Fu belts

Both kids just got their next belt levels- Green for David, and Yellow Star ("plus") for Maddy.  Here are some pictures from their tests:

Halloween!

Halloween is, of course, the most important holiday for kids (after Christmas), with many celebrations: costume party and parade at both school AND scouts, party at daddy's office, and (the big Kahuna) trick-or-treating in the neighborhood.

Maddy's pumpkin decoration for school (David did the right side)

David practicing yo-yo tricks at daddy's work party

Maddy checking out the big black cat

Maddy waiting for her balloon animal

Scouts Halloween party

Maddy at school costume parade

David at school costume parade

David is the grim reaper and Maddy is a good witch

Fall fun

Here are some pictures from various fun events, including the scouts court of honor, where David and Maddy both got some new badges.  At the bottom is a video with David (orange belt int the front row)  leading the Kung Fu class in some moves (Maddy is at the far left of the front row).

David playing flag football

Medal from Flag football

Sitting in the fire truck at Danehy Park day

Hugging Jumbo the elephant at Tufts University day

In swimming class

Flag salute at scouts court of honor

Maddy lights a candle before getting her badges

David lights a candle before getting his badges

Kid's birthday parties

Every year, the kids make out like bandits as they have 3 birthday parties- one with family over labor day, 1 with their friends, and then a small Popsicle party at school with their classmates.  This year, David went bowling and had pizza, and Maddy did arts & crafts (made stick hobby horses).  At the bottom is a video showing off their new spy gear from Auntie DoDo (Ann)

David and best buds Ellis and Aiden 

Mmm, piazza!

Maddy's stick horse, Disco

Checking out their new spy gear

First day of school

David is in 3rd grade, and Maddy is in 1st.

Summer fun

Here are some videos from the camp show ("whole world in our hearts", and "best summer ever") and other fun shots.

Peacock at Southwick zoo

New "turtle" friend

Feeding the birds at the zoo

Which two should we take home??

Hanging out with a frog at Frog pond

Earning tiger and dragon patches from Kung Fu camp

Trip to Storyland

We went to Storyland (in NH) for the third time in August, and it was just as much fun as the first time.

Chatting with Cinderella in her pumpkin

Maddy makes a new feline friend

Dino alert outside of the roarosarus roller coaster

Rock climbing at Diana's baths

Learning how to forecast at the weather museum

Pictures from France

Here are some shots from trip in June.

Pretending to eat a giant churro at Treport beach

Hanging out at the mall

On the docks in Rouen

New alligator friend

Parcourse in the park

Outside a cathedral