SJ on the Move

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Mini April Vacation Trip

Since we just bought a new car a few weeks ago we were anxious to take it for a road trip. We decided to head to Pennsylvania to visit Nathan's college friend and go to Great Wolf Lodge hotel and indoor water park.

Here is the link to the photos from Great Wolf. I should upload pictures of visiting Nathan's friend's zoo later!

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The new way to make a photo album: photo books by Shutterfly.

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Merry Christmas 2013

“So this is Christmas, and what have you done?
Another year over, and a new one just begun.”
Merry Christmas!
This year we eschewed our traditional paper Christmas letter for this digital version. We’d like to pretend that it was all part of an effort to reduce our carbon footprint, but the convenience of the cloud during this busy Holiday season and the fact that this allowed us a precious few extra hours to put together our thoughts on the year were the main drivers. Next year we’ll prove our true digital hipness by sending it all in a series of tweets – NOT! J
Once again, the kids continuously outdid their parents in the personal improvement category. Jayden continues to attend pre-school three days a week with his best friend, Asher. He’ll be starting kindergarten this Fall at Hardy School. It seems like just yesterday that Sydney was starting there, too. Jayden celebrated his fourth birthday in May with a pirate themed party, and has been enjoying playing with toys related to robots, dragons, and ninjas. Jayden has become and expert at playing Temple Run on the Kindle. He started playing soccer this past Fall, and has been taking swimming and ice skating lessons during the seasonally appropriate times of the year. Jayden has also enjoyed “helping” Mommy with baking in the kitchen, and especially the eating part.
Sydney, now 9, has been tearing her way through 3rd grade – especially in reading and rocking her multiplication tables. She placed on one of the town’s travel soccer teams, so Saturdays this Fall were spent barnstorming around to various towns enroute to compiling a 6-2-2 record for the Arlington Avalanche. She’ll be playing Futsal (indoor soccer) and taking ice skating lessons this winter before Spring soccer starts up again. When not playing school, playing games on her Kindle, or making rainbow loom bracelets, you might be able to catch her practicing her violin – but you have to be quick J


Last year’s Christmas letter said that,  “Jill hopes to do fewer activities”. Unfortunately, Jill ended up as a PTO Vice President and Nursery Coordinator at Highrock Church, so that was one wish for 2013 that was unfulfilled. There doesn't seem to be a dull moment in her days with various volunteer work, kids and household responsibilities, but she did get a weekend away in June to celebrate her 40th birthday with the friend she’s had for nearly that long! The big 4-0 also gave opportunity to celebrate with a few close friends during an adults-only dinner party.

This February will mark ten years for Nathan at Simon-Kucher & Partners which has coincided with 3 World Series victories for the Red Sox, a Bruins Stanley Cup, a Celtics Championship, and a SuperBowl victory for the Patriots. Not bad. This year found him in the usual LA, San Francisco, and New York/Philadelphia haunts, but also brought him to Madrid (twice), Lisbon, and Germany. He continues to play Ultimate Frisbee on Sunday afternoons, and this year had the added benefit of being accompanied by Sydney – who instantly became a fan favorite.

Our family highlights for the year included our family vacations with a trip to Disney World with Jill’s parents in February – it is definitely the place where memories are made. In August we spent two weeks with Nathan’s parents in Maine, swimming, fishing, and visiting StoryLand. Sydney also has the opportunity to try her hand at tubing on the lake.
We probably should be sending a Christmas card to the X-Ray technician at Harvard Vanguard given our many trips there this year for Sydney, Jayden, and Jill – but our hope for 2014 is that we will be able to put in permanent storage our collection of crutches, aircasts, and knee braces!  May the new Year bring good health to you as well!


Many Blessings,
Nathan, Jill, Sydney, and Jayden

Saturday, June 29, 2013

End of School Surprise

To celebrate S's successful completion of 2nd grade I decided to arrange a surprise brunch and visit with her BFF to the American Girl Store. S was so shocked with we stumbled across M in the parking lot of the mall and was even more so when she discovered we planned the whole thing!


S and M enjoyed brunch with their dolls and then shopping around for a few accessories to purchase with their spending money.


S enjoyed her surprise visit and was pleased with her end of year gift.


J decided he wanted a monster popper toy for his end of preschool gift. It's not quite as picture worthy, but I mention it just the same so one day he is not looking back on this blog wondering where his surprise was!

Thursday, June 20, 2013

A Future in Acting?

No question that S loves drama. She loves dress up, too. In 2nd grade you study Fairy Tales and part of the assignment the kids were given was to choose a minor character in a fairy tale and rewrite the story from their perspective. Then each child had to come to school in costume and read their story in front of the class and the parents. S choose the Wicked Stepmother of Snow White.  Here's her story:





 
 


You probably know me, the wicked stepmother of Snow White. Well, you know the story of Snow White or at least you think you do. Well, let me tell you the story, the real story, by Ann Bray White, me. Well, let me get to the story.

One day I saw this man. He was walking along the road. I immediately fell in love with him and after dating for two months he asked me to marry him. Well, after the marriage I met his daughter, Snow White. I hated her at once because there was this girl in high school and she bullied me so much. I wanted to kill her and I thought it was her. This was my chance. I need to find a plan to kill her. I thought up one. I called a huntsman. I told him to kill her and bring me back her liver so I could eat it. But that plan didn’t work.

 One day I asked my mirror, “who is the fairest of them all?” The mirror answered, “Snow White.” “My, my, my,” I said, “I need to kill her.” I thought up another plan to kill her.  So, I dressed up as an old peddler woman. I went up to Snow White’s cottage. I gave her a poisonous apple. I knew she would die.  After that I was invited to a wedding. When I got there some police came up to me and arrested me. But then after I got put in jail I heard that the prince married Snow White. As I was telling you I thought Snow White was a different girl. That is my side of the story. The true story.  The End.


p.s. You can visit me at Fairy Tale Jail.   


Tuesday, May 28, 2013

the Big 4!

Each year we get to celebrate J's birthday with a backyard BBQ with his few closest buddies and their families. this year J requested a Pirate themed party and that's what he got! It was very fun and the weather was perfect to be outside!
The Birthday Boy!
 
 
 

 
the Pirate cake!

The pirate ship watermelon and fruit salad!

J never eats much (except the cake) at his parties. This time he probably only ate that one bite of pickle!
 


J, S, and some friends!

Monday, April 08, 2013

A Fun Day!

Nathan's birthday often falls around Red Sox Opening Day. This year his day was on their home opener and we were lucky enough to score 4 tickets to the game. The kids enjoyed getting out of school early, taking the T (although it was so crowded at times we really thought they would get squished!), and having their hot dog lunch. It was a rather warm and sunny day so we left hot in the 7th inning, when the game was scoreless, only to find out later that right after that was when the scoring happened. In the end the Red Sox got the win and we were happy to have had a fun day to celebrate Nathan!

On the T!

 

The Family!
 

Thursday, April 04, 2013

Straight on to Easter!


After posting last about our fabulous February trip to Florida I couldn't image posting pictures of the kids enjoying the many snow storms we got during February and March. So, I thought I'd just skip to Easter so we can put winter behind us!

Here are the highlights:
J's first year dying Easter Eggs!

Rice Krispie Easter pops - yum!
 

Kids in hats!
 

Kids on a hunt!

The petting zoo at our church's Easter celebration party!
 
The duck!

 
The pony rides!

 
The joys of childhood!

 
J enjoying large balloon!

 
J consumed by large balloon!

 
The cute kids!

 
The whole family!