Xmas trip to NJ

We hit Madison and Spring Lake.

Christmas morning

Merry Christmas!

Scenes from Birthday Weekend

We go back-to-back, throwing Fiona's 8th birthday party on Saturday followed by Henry's 5th birthday on Sunday.

Fiona turns 8

Fiona starts her day with a birthday celebration at school and ends her day with birthday cake.

First snow

Fiona, Floppy J. Rabbit, Henry, and Dad head to White Park to enjoy our first snowfall of the season.

Thanksgiving

We host T & Salzars and the Parkers.

Gaba's 65th!

We make a surprise trip to Madison for Gaba's 65th birthday.

Presidents Clinton and Obama come to Concord

On a crisp, clear morning, with a crowd estimated to be 14,000, which would make it the largest political rally in state history, two presidents came to our little town. Due to my touch football connections (seriously), we managed to get four VIP tickets, which allowed us to bypass the incredibly long line snaking up and down Main St. and head right in to an area very close to the stage. We heard Senator Jeanne Shaheen speak, followed by Governor John Lynch and then heavy hitters, President Bill Clinton and President Barack Obama. Our close proximity didn't impress Fiona and Henry, but it did allow me to get some great pictures. I was also able to squeeze up close and shake Clinton's hand when he worked the rope line after the stump speeches. (I got edged out by the time Obama came through.)

Soccer in photos and video

Please enjoy this multimedia experience, spanning the last two weeks of Henry's fall soccer season. It culminates in Henry netting a hat trick, with all three goals miraculously captured on film. I also figured out the slow-motion feature in iMovie, so be on the lookout for that. Without further ado, I present...

Photos from two weeks ago when it was sunny and warm:

Video from last week, when it was much colder, featuring Hat Trick Henry Elliott:

Alternatively, to see the boy's hat trick in all of its HD glory, click here.

Fiona, five years apart

I took a picture today of Fiona that reminded both Samantha and I of a picture of her from what turned out to be almost exactly five years ago. My, how our little girl has grown.

Hair Salon Saturday

After a few YouTube tutorials, Mom gives Fiona a new hair style. And then lets Fiona return the favor.

Soccer action shot

Henry and Ellie battle for the ball.

First day of school

On a rainy, late August morning, Fiona heads off to 2nd grade while Henry heads off for Multi 1 at Woodside.

Vacationland 2012

We caught the tail end of the Prestons' week in Diamond Cove. What was once an old army fort, Fort McKinley, on Great Diamond Island in Casco Bay is now a small resort community. After a brief two-night stay in Diamond Cove, we headed up the coast (or would that be down east?) to Pemaquid to see Gaba and Granny.

Seattle, in pictures and videos

We had a great week with Poppy and Nana. And we have the pictures and videos to prove it.

First, take a photo tour of the greater Seattle area. Highlights include the Space Needle, the Fremont Troll, and a ferry boat ride.

Where did we take the ferry to, you ask? Well, I'll tell you. We took the ferry to the Olympic Peninsula. Specifically, the Olympic Game Farm, a game farm in scenic Sequim filled with wheat bread-loving game.

And finally, we leave you with a garden train tour, courtesy of Poppy's friend, the Australian John Morrison. Impressive, to say the least.

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

I don't know if it's the Reds' current five-game winning streak or perhaps our trip earlier in the month to see the Fisher Cats in action, but Henry has been working diligently on Take Me Out to the Ball Game this week. This morning, he got all the words down.

And as a bonus, don't miss Fiona's contribution after the song, which had to be inspired in part by the Target Lady.

4 Rowell St.

Ain't she a beaut?

Henry on the pitch

See Henry in action in his first soccer practice. Go Team Purple!

Poppy and Nana visit

Fiona: featured reader

Fiona was one of four students selected to read at this month's Community Meeting at Walker School. She wrote a story about Claude Monet and read beautifully in front of the whole school.

(Click the Vimeo link in the lower-right corner of the video player above to watch the video in HD on Vimeo's site.)

Egg Hunt

The cousins traveled all the way from Maryland for the famed White Park Egg Hunt.

Vermont playdate

We visit the Van Horns in Vermont.  Fiona and Henry had a ball with Ethan and Kai.

Fiona takes the court

Scenes from the Green Street gym:

Kickball with Salzars

T and Salzars visit, and Salzars joins us for game of kickball.  For some reason, these are the only pictures we took the whole weekend.

Scenes from a belated birthday party

Fiona and friends paint pottery and enjoy ice-cream cake.

Henry's big ski day

Henry is officially a skier. He can now ski from the top of Pats Peak to the bottom without assistance. Well, he needs help getting on and off the lift, but once he's on his skis, he insists on skiing on his own. Dad's bent-up ski pole he used to hold onto? So last year. The little rubber worm that clipped his ski tips together? So last week. The boy is out there making turns and getting down the mountain all by his lonesome.

We've had some fun ski days the past few years, but yesterday topped them all. We skied with Anneliese and Ellie, and Henry was able to keep up with the girls, so for the first time, we skied as a family instead of separate, rotating units.

See Henry in action:

A Boy and Half a Pig

It's a love story.

Xmas pics

Spanning NH and NJ...