Strong National Museum of Play
Opening presents on New Year’s Eve with cousin Josh.
Flora and Rusty’s namesake, the “real” Rusty.
Archive for the ‘Holidays’ Category
Second Christmas 2011
Wednesday, December 28th, 2011Christmas 2011
Sunday, December 25th, 2011
Christmas Eve dinner at Taiwan Cafe.
Evidence that Santa and his reindeer were here.
The tree, minus a few ornaments.
The stockings.
Christmas morning loot.
Unwrapping presents.
The aftermath.
Christmas Dinner table. Flora filled out the seating cards and decided where everyone would sit.
Flora and her American Girl doll, Lizzy (short for Flora).
Charley getting steamy with Amma in the hotel hot tub.
Flora dunking her head in the hotel pool.
Mass Ave.
Tuesday, December 20th, 2011
Christmas shopping on Mass Ave. It was really, really cold.
The Nutcracker
Sunday, December 11th, 2011
Christine and I treated the girls to their first performance of the Nutcracker, a matinee performance by the Northeast Youth Ballet featuring several friends as the mice, followed by a yummy dinner at the bistro in town. The sets and costumes were pure candy for the eyes!
Home for the Holidays 2011
Saturday, December 3rd, 2011
This year we hit up “Home for the Holidays” with friends Christine and Ruby on Friday night for the lighting of downtown and Santa’s arrival via fire truck followed by a yummy dinner at Spice…then Saturday met up with friends Kelly, Alice and Elsie for cookie decorating, gingerbread house making, meeting Santa at the train station, and a pizza lunch. On the way home we just made it to the petting zoo to feed the baby goats and pet the llamas.
View Flora and Charley’s “Home for the Holidays 2011″ photos
Leftovers
Friday, November 25th, 2011
Thanksgiving 2011
Thursday, November 24th, 2011
Flora reads her “My Thanksgiving Book” during our Thanksgiving Meal Halftime Show. By the end of the meal, we were all stuffed on turkey, scalloped potatoes, spinach souffle, stuffing, roasted root vegetables, butternut squash, bread (Flora’s favorite), cranberry sauce (Charley’s favorite), and pie! We were all thankful to have Aunt Tracy, Uncle Chuck, Cousins Gregory and Jen, and Cousin Alex at our table this year.
Halloween Cookies
Sunday, October 30th, 2011
In between multiple Halloween parties and trick or treating opportunities, the kids made festive cookies with Gram K.
Alternate Halloween Costumes
Sunday, October 30th, 2011
The sailor suits just weren’t going to cut it for every one of the umpteen Halloween gatherings the kids had, so I introduce to you Pirate Boy and Cheetah Girl.
Father’s Day 2011
Sunday, July 3rd, 2011
Father’s Day started out with breakfast in bed (including a homemade placemat), followed by relaxing at the beach in Beverly and lunching at Billy’s Roast beef.
Father’s Day Breakfast
Sunday, July 3rd, 2011
Easter 2011
Tuesday, April 26th, 2011
We started off our Easter with an egg and basket hunt in the yard — it was warm outside but still wet from the day before — and a Peep. Then Marty made bunny pancakes with candy faces, so after all that sugar, we settled the kids down with their new movie, Shrek. The rest of the day we played outside, at lunch al fresco, and had a simple dinner of homemade macaroni and cheese, spinach, and broccoli. And of course we dyed Easter eggs then painted with the leftover dye.
Happy New Year!
Thursday, December 30th, 2010
Merry Christmas!
Saturday, December 25th, 2010
Christmas Eve, Taiwan Cafe.
Charley’s Christmas.
Christmas Morning Loot.
Flora’s Christmas.
Christmas Gingerbread.
Christmas Card Posing.
Christmas Turducken.
Christmas Visitors.
All Aboard!
Sunday, December 5th, 2010
This year we took a ride on the Polar Express (aka the MBTA). The kids climbed aboard with their special tickets, listened to a telling of the famed story, had a snack of chocolate milk and sugar cookies, were visited by Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Elmo, the Cat in the Hat, Rudolph, Frosty, and of course Santa himself, and even received a little bell — we all heard it jingle.
Home For The Holidays 2010
Saturday, December 4th, 2010
Another “Home for the Holidays” in town — this year we visited Corinthian Hall and had tea and cupcakes, fed the animals at the petting zoo, decorated (and promptly ate) giant sugar cookies, and checked out the model train display.
DTC
Sunday, November 28th, 2010
Moving on to Christmas, we took a subway ride to Downtown Crossing where we got to write and mail a letter to Santa, view the cut paper window displays at Macy’s, do a little shopping, eat lunch at Kennedy’s Midtown (clam chowder, Flora’s favorite!), and play at the Commons playground next to the Frog Pond ice skaters! What did the kids ask Santa for? Flora wants a “Puppy Pet Stroller” and Charley wants a “Spooky Guy.”
Thanksgiving Traditions
Thursday, November 25th, 2010
It’s another official Swan Thanksgiving here in New England … a big turkey and all the fixin’s dinner followed by hotel pool swimming, Dim Sum at New China Pearl, and candlepin bowling at the Wakefield Bowladrome the following day! But the best part was hearing what Flora was most thankful for … “My Mommy and Daddy.” Queue tear.
Happy Thanksgiving
Thursday, November 25th, 2010
Halloween Night
Monday, November 1st, 2010
Geesh, when did Halloween become a SEASON? Even I’m sick of seeing the kids in their costumes. But we persevered one more time for Halloween Night trick or treating with pals Ruby, Alice and Elsie. With the amount of treats they scored, they should be all set until next Halloween!
Trick or Treat
Friday, October 29th, 2010
Alice trick or treating from Alice.
Alice and Dorothy peeking out.
The gang of three.
Hatter meets Mad Hatter.
Best Buds
Thursday, October 28th, 2010
Ruby and Flora as Dorothy and Alice … Charley and Elsie as Hatter and Dessert … at their school Halloween party.
Film
Tuesday, October 26th, 2010
Sentence First … Verdict Afterwards!
Monday, October 25th, 2010
Friend and photographer Jessica Nyiredi takes the most amazing pictures of Flora and Charley — I am in total awe of the moments she captured of the kids in their costumes today. Of course I might be slightly biased by the subject matter : )
Curiouser and Curiouser
Sunday, October 24th, 2010
Sneak peak at this year’s Halloween costumes.