Braces & Bangs

Well, its a little hard to see in this picture, but it is probably the best that I am going to get. Madison got braces in October!

She also got bangs! Madison has not had bangs since she was a little girl.

Madison ripping the guts out of her pumpkin.

Field Hockey 2010

This year Madison made the J.P. Case Field Hockey Team.

The season was so much fun!

Here is #8 Madison in action!

Its very difficult to get good shots during the game.

Madison about to take a great shot - and score a goal!

Meanwhile - Kasey finds a way of entertaining herself during the field hockey games. Can you guess what her favorite thing to do is? The mud on these fields is that lovely clay stuff - that NEVER comes out in the washer. Check out the face she is making - she is mad that I slowed her down and plucked her out of the mud!

Where are her shoes?

This child removes her shoes whenever she can!

Fall Birthdays

Allison celebrated her 10th birthday with a few friends.

Madison, Gianna, Simon, KC, Allison, Grace, Katie, Amanda, & Clown Bob

The kids baked a special cake for Bob's birthday!

I couldn't help it - this is such a great picture...

The girls were helping Daddy blow out his birthday candles.

(Notice KC is prepared with fork in hand.)

Madison celebrated her birthday as well with a slumber party.

(However, the 7th grade girls were too cool to pose for pictures.)

Happy Birthday to Grampa Tom, too! The kids would have loved to bake you a special birthday cake! We love you and miss you!

5K Fun

Madison and Allison ran their first 5K on October 17th! The girls participated in J.P. Case School's second annual 5K. It was a gorgeous morning and the girls did really well!

Allison, Runner 244 & Madison, Runner 245 - right before the race began.

The racers lining up...

On your mark, get set...

GO!

There is Madison and Allison (left corner - Madison has on Blue #8 tee and Allison's little hair bun is right beneath her.)

The 5K route went right through our neighborhood.

Bob, Simon, and KC rang cow bells and cheered the runners on!

There is Madison - on her way to the finish line.

She completed her first 5K with a time of 27:54.

Allison completed her first 5K with a time of 31:29. Allison also received an award for being the youngest runner!

We are so proud of the girls for doing such a great job! (Especially since we were in Long Island the night before at a party and didn't arrive home until 2:00 AM.)

AIDS Walk 2010 (Better Late Than Never!)

Our family participated in AIDS Walk NY again this year. Friends and families joined us - making it a FABULOUS time!

The start of the walk in Central Park...

Katie, KC, Allison, Madison, & Simon

Ava (being shy) & Keri

A wonderful day for a stroll through Central Park!

For all of you Beatles Fans out there (Dad)...

Simon, Allison, Katie, Madison, Emma, & KC sitting by the Strawberry Fields plaque.

Of course - the kids only know the Beatles and John Lennon from Rock Band, but they all loved this memorial to John Lennon.

Next was the American Museum of Natural History.

After the museum, we all enjoyed the beauty of Central Park.

Allison & Simon on one of the jogging paths.

Of course - rock climbing by the Great Lawn.

Then it was off to the Central Park Zoo for a private, awesome party!

We cannot wait until next year! We would love for you all to join us!

Summer 2010

This is what Summer 2010 looked like...

Go Yankees!!!

Summer was a great time to see family and share special occasions.

Danielle celebrated her confirmation and graduation.

It was so nice to see our North Jersey family!

John, Danielle, & Beverly

The Goo turned 3!

Kasey

Grandma Sonia had all 6 of her grandchildren together for her birthday!

Theo, Madison, KC, Gram, Allison, Simon, & Vincent

My little man turned 7!

Simon

The dog days of summer...

Madison, Allison, neighbor Patrick, Simon, KC, and neighbor Kyle

KC & Allison - lazy days lounging by the pool.

Allison and Kasey

Madison, Charlotte, & Allison

Family from California came to visit.

Diane, Jeff, Theo, KC, Stacy, Madison, Sonia, Bob, Simon, Allison, & Vincent

Our family from Minnesota came to visit.

Madison, Allison, KC, Lilly, and Charlotte singing on stage at the Boiler Room. KC sang Lady Gaga - with the best back-up singers and dancers!

Kathy & John

Cousin Joey

We loved seeing everyone! We miss you all and can't wait until we see you again!

Everyone was prepared for Earl to do major damage to the shore.

Well, Earl came.

(A few of my storm chasers got right to work.)

And Earl left.

There was actually very little rain. Although the skies were gray and the winds were strong. Cape May beaches were closed for 2 days, but the water was crazy warm!

No swimming for 2 days - but loads of surfing!

(A treat for East Coast beaches!)

And just like that - summer was over!

School started and now we have a 7th grader, a 5th grader, a 2nd grader, and the Goo.

The Lion King

A few weeks ago, the cast and crew of Alice in Wonderland, Jr. went on a field trip to see "The Lion King". Following tradition, the teachers and directors wanted the students to experience the stage on a "larger scale".

In the past, the trip was into New York for a Broadway show. This year, the teachers and directors decided to take the kids into Philly instead to see "The Lion King" at the Kimmel Center.

We loaded the bus at JP Case Middle School and headed first to Cheeburger Cheeburger for dinner. (PS - Teenage kids never stop talking. There was never a quiet moment - not even when they were eating.)

Then the bus headed off to Philly. Our on-board movie was, of course, the JP Case Production of "Alice in Wonderland, Jr."

Some of the kids outside the theater.

Allison and Shay outside the theater.

Allison holding up her Playbill - which is called the "Showcase" in Philly.

I saw "The Lion King" 12 years ago in New York, and thought it was fabulous! I have never seen a show in Philadelphia. Although I think the actors did a great job - there is really no comparison to a show in New York. (The crowd in Philly is just not the same - there were kids talking, babies crying, and a completely different feel to the theater.)

Intermission.

Shay and Allison had a fantastic time!

It was a great evening for all of the cast and crew! Looking forward to next year's production!