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Sunday, February 3, 2013

Recent Pics

 
 How is it already February?
Twice so far this year I have been so proud of myself for writing a "3" instead of a "2" in the date. 
Unfortunately I wrote "2003" instead of "2013"!
Time really is flying.  2003 seemed correct for a second there as I wrote it.


Juts a few recent pics of our adventures.
 
Our church's Youth Group went skiing and tubing over Martin Luther King Monday.
It was the coldest day of the year so far.  Here I am using my scarf to keep me totally warm.
I look freezing, but I had a great time!!
 
Steven, Brennan, and Thomas had a ball tubing!


 
Here's the short course.


While cold, it was a beautiful day.  Here are some beginning skiers.

 
Warming up with some pizza, fries, and hot chocolate made for a great afternoon.
 
 
David and I attended our local "Dancing with the Stars" fundraiser to cheer on one of our neighbors who was part of the "local celebrity" half of his dance duo.  And we were there to cheer on Thomas's confirmation mentor and our wine club friend, Charlie.  Here is the newspaper photo of Charlie who served as the "local celebrity" with Rhonda, his dance partner.  They won!  It was fantastic!  Charlie and Rhonda did an evolution of dance routine that included the twist, Michael Jackson dance numbers, Vanilla Ice, Party Rock Anthem, and Gangnam Style.  They killed it!
 
 
 
What a difference a week makes, right? 
A late January morning looking out the front door, and my 3 men shoveling the driveway after a big snow.


 
Today the Youth group has their SouperBowl Sunday event (I spelled that right - Souper as in Soup).
After church the Youth serve delicious homemade soups in breadbowls as a fundraiser for their summer mission trips.  Last week they performed a skit to promote their fundraiser.
There is Thomas on the lower level left, serving as a football announcer.


David took me on a tour of his new building at work.  It was just completed and I know David's group is proud to have it just about finished.  This is the atrium joining the new building with the existing building that is now undergoing renovations.  It's a cool building!
 
There's a courtyard on the top floor that we stepped out onto to see some of the iconic buildings downtown in our city.  Such pretty views!!


 

 
Brennan's school had a Colonial Wax Museum on Friday in which all of the 5th graders researched a job from colonial times, dressed up and prepared a backdrop or display.  They also made a sign and button so that when you pushed it, the wax figure would come to life and tell you about his job.
 
Brennan was a Glassblower and did a great job on his research and speech!

 
We surprised Brennan with his own flip phone last week.  While he won't be using it much, it will be great to be able to stay in touch when I'm out and he and Thomas are at home.  Now if he can just remember to keep it turned on and charged!

 
David and I went to our local Philharmonic concert last night.  Gorgeous, gorgeous music performed by the orchestra and sung my Marja and Chasten Harmon, and Cam Collins - saxophonist.  They are local kids who grew up in town and have gone on to New York and Broadway to pursue their talents.  The music was amazing.  The Les Mis and Wicked songs were my favorites.  David was really impressed with Gimme Gimme from Thoroughly Modern Millie.
 
 And now, for a busy, cold Sunday afternoon!


Sunday, January 20, 2013

Fun Times

 
The new year has started out with tons of fun activities.
Here are a few that we've shared the last few weeks.
 
Our Wine Club got together to welcome Dave and Rosann's daughter Jocelynn Anne into the our little group.  Mary and Mike co-hosted with us and we had a great time catching up with everyone after the holidays.  I didn't take many photos, but wanted to share a few.

 
Jocelyn intently watching Mama
 
I thought Kroger did a great job arranging these flowers. 
I took in my simple vase and they made it look gorgeous!
 
We attending our local "Dancing with the Stars" event where local celebrities pair up with dance teachers and help raise funds for children's programming in our city.
 
This was our first time to attend and cheer on friends, neighbors, and (as it turns out) two of our principals!
 
The hotel ballroom was decorating beautifully for the matinee event that we went to.  I understand the evening one is a rowdy good time.
 
 
Before everyone was seated.
We had snacks and drinks as we learned more about the organizations that were benefiting from the fundraiser.  6 local celebrities danced and then we voted (with our dollars) for our favorite duo.
 
 
We didn't have the best seats for photo taking, but there are plenty of great shots on facebook and in our local paper of the event.  It was so much fun!
 
Our wine club friend Charlie, who was also Thomas's confirmation mentor, was the big winner of the coveted trophy!  Charlie and his dance instructor partner, Ronda, did a "Dance Evolution" choreographed dance that included Thriller (note Charlie's sequined glove), the Twist, Party Rock, and Gangam Style.  It was truly awesome to see!
 
In addition, the boys' first elementary school principal also danced.  She choreographed and danced with one of our neighbors.  And Brennan's current principal also danced with an all-male group as part of the post-contest entertainment.  Really fun to watch.
 
David and me
 
 
Mike and Mary
 
This year David and I have started doing one-on-one activities with the boys, outside of our normal running to activities and doing errands.  We tend to go about the same time on the weekend.  The boys are LOVING this new weekly "boys' night" (as they call it).
 
 This weekend I got one-on-one time with Thomas.  We went to the library (his favorite place in the world), went to his tennis lesson with Coach Brad, then over to Yo Ma Ma for yogurt and a chat.  Really fun!
 
Coach Brad videoing Thomas serving on his iPhone so he can play it back and talk about the arc 
 
 
 
 
David took Thomas out to a really nice restaurant in town last weekend and told Brennan they'd go there this evening.  Brennan of course headed straight to his room to change clothes (not necessary), and showed up in his suit and tie.  Unfortunately, the restaurant was closed on Sundays so they headed to Puccini's for Italian.
 
This kid cracks me up.  He so earnestly wants to look nice for his boys night out.

 
 It's all about food with Brennan.
Last weekend I spent time with Brennan having sushi (his favorite, not mine) and we practiced roller skating the week before his big party.
 
 Brennan is in Physical Therapy and one of the new thing we're doing is going to the gym a couple of times a week after school.  I snapped these photos last week.
 
 Thomas working his abs
 
And his arms
 
Brennan working his abs.
He loves that there are tv's hanging on the walls.

 
 And I started architecture tour guide training last week.  Here is a photo from our Visitors Center on facebook.  I'm at the head of the table in cream.  I'm looking forward to the training!  And just realized I need to get on my homework.  Stat. 
 
 Thomas asked that I share his photo with his coffee drink too.
They looooove coffee (in this case - decaf frappuccinos as a birthday treat)

Happy 11th Birthday, Brennan!

 Can you tell where Brennan chose to have his 11th birthday party this year?
Skateland!
 
It's always fun having a Friday birthday - you get to celebrate at school (with cookies for your classmates), but it's also a weekend, so you can have your party ON your birthday!
Brennan says Friday birthdays are really the best birthdays. 
 
It's also a "silver birthday" as a Scottish friend let me know - he was also born on a Friday (and don't I remember it well.  He was scheduled for a Monday morning c-section, so I had hair and nails appointment that Friday, along with lots of family members coming in over the weekend.  But, SURPRISE!)
 
After a super fun birthday at school (lots of birthday singing and celebrating apparently)
 
We made a quick trip in to Target for some birthday party necessities and a Starbucks run.
"It tastes like Paris!", Brennan says.
 
We all went out to eat, then we headed to Skateland to party, party, party!
 
Classmates Megan, Brennan, and Akshat  
 
Dad and Thomas
(Dad in no shoes, Thomas in skates, but still, that boy is getting too tall!)
 
Thomas and best bud Nathan
They had to leave the party early to go to church for a Junior High Lock-In and 4:30 a.m. IHOP visit - they had a ball, and Thomas still made it to tennis by 12:00 the next day!
 
Brennan's church friends - Claire, Cora, and Sydney
 
 Super sweet classmate, Megan
 
 Super sweet classmates who take very good care of Brennan for me - Anna, Kennedy, Megan, and Grace & Sami on the bottom row
 
Cora, Brennan, Claire, and Claire
Brennan was super excited about introducing classmate Claire to church friend Claire
 
Anna, Kennedy, Cora, and Sydney
 
I love this one!
Brennan and Claire
 
Classmates Will, Sotaro, Brennan, and Akshat
 
Neighbors Steve and Rolan
 
Instead of gifts Brennan asked for canned goods for our local food bank.
But everyone brought cool cards - this one is from the girls in his class - he apparently sings a ton at school to drive them all crazy (sounds like our afternoon errands time), and they love it.
 
Brennan loves skating!
 
Limbo time!
 
 Classmates Molly, Claire, and Brennan
 
Church friends Rebecca and Emma 
 
Unfortunately I cut off Brennan!
 
Skateland Cake
 
Singing Happy Birthday
 
 I love this boy!!!
 
Happy 11th Birthday, Brennan!