Last Snowstorm 2010

Today we got walloped with a blizzard that in some places brought two feet of snow. We got somewhere between a foot and a foot and a half, and that was more than enough fun plowing and shoveling out the driveway.




Helena and Jonathan helping Daddy shovel




Apparently the shoveling only lasted a few minutes because they took a break




Snow angels




Posing before they head inside




Helena showing off the homemade pretzels she made with Mommy




Sara getting creative on this snow day - pretzel dogs for lunch!




Helena showing off the "J" pretzel for Jonathan...




...and the "H" pretzel she made for herself (Mommy got an "M" and Daddy got a "D")




Jonathan enjoying his snow day lunch

Holiday weekend in Atlatnic City!

There wasn't going to be much to do this weekend because of the Christmas holiday, so we invited Sara's family from Boston to join us for a few days in Atlantic City. Beside the adults taking time to gamble (Sara and my brother-in-law Ron did really well on the slots), the kids swam, watched movies, and went to the Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum. Unfortunately, we had to rush out of town early Sunday morning to avoid the impending blizzard!





Family picture in the pool




All of the cousins together in the hot tub with my brother-in-law Ron and Sara. My nephew Josh did not make the trip, so we found another kid in the pool area to fill in for him in this picture.




Sara with the kids




Jeff taking a tub with Jonathan




Helena and Jonathan having a snack




Bubbe helping Jonathan put on his shoes




Cousins picture at the foutain at the Tropicana

Rough Day

The flu has struck Jonathan's daycare class. He has been home most of this week with an ear infection and bronchial infection. Of course, he has enjoyed playing around the house...but I guess it all finally caught up to him. This is a shot of his passed out on one of his chairs in the family room a few minutes ago. He just curled up in the chair, pretzel still in his hand, and fell asleep. Must be nice!

Happy Hannukah!

Yesterday we celebrated Hannukah with a family party. Sara made her famous chicken egg rolls, homemade latkes, cookies, and jelly-filled donuts (this is why Jeff runs 10 miles a week).




Jeff's contribution was making icees for Helena and Jonathan while Sara plated the food




This is hard work to grind down one ice cube. Now I see why my parents never bought this for me. It's worse than freshly-squeezed orange juice!




"Can't a boy enjoy his icee?"




Oh, the pain of finishing your icee and not having anything to fill your cup up with!




Up close and personal with the donuts

Happy Thanksgiving!

Not many pictures to show for the few days that the family was in Boston, but after stuffing our faces over the holiday, it is back to the grind tomorrow!




Jonathan during the car ride to Boston




Helena showing off her new Madeline doll




Helena and Jonathan with cousins Avi, Kobe, Gabby, and Zack




On Saturday, we took the kids to a local play gym to run around and get tired before the car ride home (which ended up being longer than expected). This is Jonathan pretending to fish in a pool (well, he may think he is really fishing for all we know).




Helena, Avi, and Zack on a toy plane

Breakfast club

Helena and Jonathan with their friend Jordan having a pre-breakfast snack this morning at daycare

Pre-Thanksgiving Feast

Jonathan and Helena's daycare held a Thanksgiving feast for the students and their parents today. There was more than enough food to feed all. Helena contributed to the feast with a homemade cornucopia she made with Mommy, as well as homemade pumpkin squares. Jonathan contributed by making sure to eat all the food that was put on his plate.




The cornucopia before it got baked

Working the Fields

It was a nice Fall day (and Helena and Jonathan were up an extra hour early because of the time change), so they "volunteered" to help Daddy outside raking leaves.

Happy Halloween!

Helena is ready to go out Trick-or-Treating




Jonathan wasted no time after his nap getting ready as well to go out on Halloween








Posing with Jonathan's friend Jordan




Waiting for somebody to answer the door




Jonathan will not be denied the opportunity to get more candy




Searching the neighborhood for more houses with candy

Halloween Parades

Friday was a busy day because Helena had a Halloween parade at public school followed by a Halloween parade for Helena and Jonathan at their daycare later in the afternoon.




Being the youngest actually pays off - the kindergarteners get to lead the parade!







Posing with super heroes




Toy Story reunion



Class picture




Fast forward to the daycare parade. Jonathan was so excited when he saw Mommy and Daddy, it brought tears to his eyes. Daddy worked the door to get a good view of the action.




Helena got face paint since her last parade




Jonathan got over the tears to show off his costume and his cape




Jonathan as Count Dracula has some game...and the eye of one of his female classmates. Of course, Jonathan has has his eyes on the cookie in her hand, as he motions in sign language for "more" to eat.




Helena skipped lunch to save room for two Halloween parties




Jonathan got over the sadness once he found the food




Helena and her teacher Ms. Daniella