Mt. Sinai Turkey Trot 2016

After I ran my first 5K, James asked me incessantly about running in a race with me. I told him he could do the kids fun run the next year, but the concept of a year is still long for him to grasp, so he kept asking. Despite his enthusiasm, I know that he's still slower than I am. Given how much energy children have, their inability to run well for any distance must be some kind of parent-child-survival mechanism? So when I saw a local 1K coming up, I decided this was perfect because most fun run are a full mile and 1K is only .6 miles.

#299 is 5M, and #298 is 37F

 

Stretching

He still struggled. He was sick, but he's not much of a runner yet as you can see by this 3-year-old girl kicking his butt. Final time: 9:50 minutes.

Good effort, buddy!

Finishing strong

Failed finish line photo

*James's 1K Race Stats:
Time: 9:50, Pace: 16:4/mile, Place: Towards the end
5 M, Bib #299, Division 1K Fun Run

Thanksgiving 2016

We hosted Thanksgiving at our house for the second year. Kevin made the turkey again, but I observed carefully so that I could duplicate his method next time. He also made fabulous creamy mashed potatoes. I made the sweet potatoes, mom made some stuffing, and Bob made spaghetti squash. We also had jellied cranberry sauce, biscuits, three kind of apple dessert: pie, crumb cake, and apple crisp, and of course vanilla ice cream. The food was all a great success. We also had a lot of fun though most of it was after the kids went to sleep.

James, Jen, Bob, Kevin, bits of mom, (not pictured: Miranda, and me

Kevin took this one so you could see my mom and Miranda

Flashback to Kevin carving the turkey

Miranda spent hours playing with the pilgrim shakers

Post-turkey nap with James and Jen

Mom, Miranda, Jen, James, Bob

Me and Kevin

Family picture. James felt sick all day so this is the best we got.

Jen is awesome with kids.

James's Fall Kindergarten Art 2016

Some of my favorite art that James has brought home from Kindergarten so far:

Square jack-o-lantern?

Poofy candy corn!

Tree changing colors

Cornucopia

Rainbow turkey!

Stick-together Native American and Pilgrim turkey

Handprint turkey! So cute!

Movie Date: Trolls 2016

So it was my goal to take James to a movie for his half birthday, but I fell behind on half birthday celebrations. Then he missed a birthday party because we were going to Mike Havi's wedding. His kindergarten class was invited to watch Trolls for the birthday party. So I was finally motivated to take him to make up for both things. Then it occurred to me that Miranda could probably sit through a cartoon movie by now too, so off we all went.

Super excited to share a movie theater popcorn

Movie selfie

Trolls!

Dancing in the aisle during final credits.

Miranda is Two and Half 2016!

Miranda is two-and-a-half! A month ago... but you guys, it's hard to remember to do these things the second time around. Miranda has been chatting a lot more, even at Mommy n' me where she used to be so shy she wouldn't talk or sing.

1. What's your name? Firanda. What? Viranda.
2. What's my name? Mama
3. How old are you? Miranda. Are you two? Yeah. Are you three? Yeah.
4. How old am I? Mama. (Same answer as six months ago.)

5. What is your favorite animal? Pink elephant on my head.
6. What is your favorite color? Pink. I mean purple and pink. Purple and pink.
7. What is your favorite food? Nanas and treats. (Bananas and treats.)

   What's your favorite breakfast? Dirt.

   What's your favorite dinner? Dirt.

8. What is your favorite book? Pink. (She does have a bunch of pink books she carries around because of their pinkness. She also loves her Dora Princess book.)

Who me?


Miranda loves driving at 2.5 years old

9. What is your favorite song? Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

10. What is your favorite toy? Bunny and babies.

11. Do you sleep with anything at night? Milk and books. (This is true, but I take them out of crib when she falls asleep.)

12. What is your favorite TVshow? Big Friend. (True. She also likes Goldie and Bear, Masha and Bear, and Lego Ghostbusters.)

13. What were you for Halloween? DocMcStuffins!

14. Are you funny? Yes.

15. Who is your best friend? The bunny and the babies.

As you can see from some of her answers, Miranda wasn't terribly cooperative this time around so I couldn't ask her about her thoughts on the meaning of life like at her 2-year-old interview.

Mike and Havi's Wedding 2016

Mike and Havi got married! It's always wonderful to go to a wedding when you know that couple has made the best decision ever. I mean look how happy they are in the photos. Also in real life!

Havi circling Mike

Looking at their guests

They had a beautiful Jewish ceremony in New York. Havi's childhood friend Shanna performed the ceremony and she was amazing. Shanna loves the bride and the couple. She sang beautifully, played the guitar, and was generally a wonderful officiant. She even kindly explained some of the Jewish traditions to the non-Jewish guests.

Married!

Smashing the glass while Jen and Damian watch on Skype (They had a baby!)

Married kiss!

Very happy Groom's parents, Fran and George

Then it was on to the cocktail hour with so much delicious food that everyone ate like Michael Phelps. "But it's so good," we kept excusing ourselves.

Clous represent! Kathy, Andrew, me, Kevin

With Mike and Havi! Bunch of old married people.

Andrew is on a world-wide selfie tour!

Close buddies enjoying cocktail hour

Then it was time for the super fun reception! The live band kept everyone dancing the entire time.

Live band

Beatuiful flowers

We had a great "cousins" table! Kevin, Andrew, Amanda and Caitlin

Lindsay and Matt (Also at our table Eric, Bella, and me)

Mike is our family so we'd probably love him even if he weren't also the most fun person ever. Seriously, Mike is basically the energizer bunny of fun-- a quality he gets from both of his parents. This while still being a smart and functional adult. Rare indeed! And Havi is a super exciting addition to the family. She's somehow the coolest, most fashionable, and down-to-earth person. And gorgeous. I think there's actually a rule against people simultaneously possessing all those qualities. Are some of them even contradictory? I don't know because she makes it work.

 

First dance- great match

 

Love!

Hora time!!

Mother-son dance.

 

Donna, Fran, Robert, and Patricia

Cake time!

 

Cutting the cake!

Possibly my favorite part, but it's hard to pick, was the part celebrating Havi's dad's Morrocan heritage. Mike, where were the Scottish kilts? 

 

Morrocan chair dance!

 

Everything is better with a fez

Havi's dad jamming out on the drums

Fran and George are rocking the kasbah

Fantastic wedding! Congratulations on what is sure to be a fantastic marriage too!