Making a Difference

As many of you know, Hurricane Sandy made a mess of a good hunk of Long Island.  Al and I wanted to help- and since we would be in NY the week of Thanksgiving, we decided that would be a good time to try and help out.  Samaritan's Purse was actively involved, so we signed-up to help them on the Wednesday that we were there- and Mom P graciously agreed to watch the kids so we could actually help.

It was rough- arriving in NY at 12:30am and then leaving the house at 6:30am, but we knew it would be well worth it- and it was!  We were able to help finish demo-ing a sweet ladies' house- it has been 5' under water as a canal was literally across the street from her.  She helped us most of the day and was incredibly grateful.  

After her house was done, we were sent to another house- this house was of an elderly couple- their bottom floor was totally destroyed.  It was humbling and sad to see so much "stuff" destroyed and yet both people helped were grateful to be alive and to have help getting things cleaned up.  It was a great day- exciting to see people living out the command to "love and help one another".

Starting our day off right- NY bagel egg sandwich!

The huge trailer full of supplies

After our training- we are wearing the bright orange shirts that showed we were a part of this group.

Taking out a wall- still wet even a month after the storm!

Taking a coffee and cookie break- that pile of debris is all from the ground floor!

Kindergarten Thanksgiving

Alden's kindergarten class hosted an amazing Thanksgiving Feast the day before Thanksgiving break.  I made Pilgrim Hat cookies for Addie's Thanksgiving Feast and was asked to make them again this year!  I am so excited that my planning period lines-up with many fun activities at the kids' school.  I get the best of both worlds- getting to work full-time AND still be involved in their classrooms!  

Alden's class is a group of super sweet kiddos- and his teacher is amazing!  It was fun helping set-up the Feast, serving the Feast and then helping with the crafts/dessert.  What an honor to see Alden interacting with his classmates- and the neat relationships he has formed!  I love that I can know his friends and a bit about his life during the day.

A sample for the kiddos to follow

Kissing his Momma!

SO well behaved!

The best part?  After the Feast, we headed home, jumped in Al's car, and headed for NY!  The kids were zonked out- they didn't even wake-up when we stopped for gas!

Bass Pro Christmas

Every year we go to Bass Pro Shop and visit their Winter Wonderland.  It's awesome- full of activities for the kids, an amazing Santa, and it's all FREE!!  Santa usually arrives the Saturday after Thanksgiving- but not this year!  He arrived the first weekend of November!  We held off going until the week before Thanksgiving.  We headed there after school on Friday- and it was fantastic!  There were no lines for anything and the elves were super happy and helpful!

Waiting to see Santa- we waited for 5 seconds- just long enough for this picture to be napped!

Running!

This Santa is amazing- so kind and so real!

The key difference in boys and girls- Addie immediately sat down to color while Alden started shooting stuff...

Can you tell he's biting his tongue?

Addie finally finished her coloring- she drove the train

Racing cars with Daddy

Working on his archery skills

Hunting, Wii style...

Arts and crafts while you watch the fish=perfection!

Fish up and close- some where the same size as the kids yikes!

They love this bear and insist on holding his nails for a pic every year!

And one of the favorite activities- riding the elevator into the fish pond!

It's the simple things in life- they loved this adventure at the "Dead Zoo" as they call it!

Christmas Sneek Peak

The weather was perfect, Shutterfly was having their amazing pre-Christmas sale, and I just couldn't resist- so I took some pics that may or may not show-up in your mailbox shortly!

Soccer Season Ends

The soccer season ended today- and it was bitter sweet.  Alden was finallllly "getting" how to play other positions other than Goalie!  It was also the best game his team had played all season- and they won, to boot!  I will brag a little bit- while Alden was playing Goalie, he stopped 5 attempts and he also showed that he has a pretty amazing punt kick!  I am so proud of him and all that he has learned this season.  He didn't let the fact that he was the youngest, by far, and the shortest, also, sadly, by far, stop him from giving it his all!  His coaches were amazing- I truly appreciated their energy and ability to teach a group of kids how to play soccer in terms they could understand.  It was an amazingly positive experience- I love i9 sports!! I am looking forward to the slight break and then we will enter basketball in January!

The Dolphins!  One sweetie was missing.

Alden and Olivia- she is his friend and we are excited that they will be on the same basketball team in January!

Trip Down Memory Lane

Addie had an assignment- to create a timeline of main events in her life.  In true Adeline fashion- and just like her Mom- she knew exactly what she wanted.  I had the difficult task of FINDING the pictures of those events!  Thankfully I knew where all the scrapbooks where- and armed with my cell phone/camera, I was able to take pictures of the pictures so we could print them off (slightly tacky, I know, but this is for first grade!).  I totally forgot to get a picture of her WITH the finished project- it turned out super cute and VERY pink.  Here are some of the events in Addie's life that she finds super important.

Born!

Brother born

First trip into NYC to get Becca Baby

First Trip to Europe to be Aunty Becca's flower girl

First day of preschool- Little Red School House in DE

First Real Trip to Disney- she went when she was 6mo old, but didn't go to any parks....

Graduated from Preschool

First tooth lost

She sure is sweet- I look forward to having the privilege of helping her make some sweet memories and look forward to creating many, many more!

Halloween 2012!!

Halloween was extra-special this year for several reasons.... First, it was our first day back in school after a surprise 2 day vacation thanks to Hurricane Sandy; Second, it was our customary 1/2 day; and Third, it would be celebrated without Daddy who was stuck in Atlanta, working.  We did miss Daddy, but didn't let it stop us from having a blast!

We started the day you should start any special day- Dunkin Donuts!!

When we got home from school, we made a batch of sugar cookies- to share with our neighbors during the post- Trick-or-Treating Party!

Once baked and cooled- and the kids had rode bikes, played on the swingset, and had a jolly ol' time, I was able to convince them to warm-up and decorate the cookies!  Our good friends even helped!

Once it was time for dinner, our good friends and dear neighbors had us over for dinner.  The Dad makes the best pizza EVER!  And he also decorated a pretty cool pumpkin, too!

The kid table- full of giggles, pizza and salad eating, and more giggles!

We then headed back across the street to get our costumes on!  1 Pirate and 1 Kitty coming up!

Candy was left- a full basket!  And by 8pm, there were literally 5 pieces left!

Addie LOVED running from house to house!  The weather was simply perfect- and we loved the cool, crisp, DRY air!

Whew- after visiting all but 2 small handful of houses on our street, we all crashed at a neighbor's house and enjoyed cider, cookies and fresh gingerbread!

Some of the loot and various costume piled on the stairs....

It was such a great time- perfect weather, generous friends, spunky kids to hang out with!!  We are so blessed!!