Time to Go Home

On Thursday our Christmas visit was done and it was time to take the long car ride home.

We packed up all our things and carried them down to the lobby.  Grammy and Nick waited for mom to bring the car around.  

Grammy said to Nick, "I loved seeing you for Christmas and you were a good house guest this year."

Christmas Family Portraits

It wouldn't be Christmas without family portraits in front of the tree.

In this picture Nick was clapping and singing, it looks like he is saying, "oh no, no more pictures!"

Mom took another picture, this one was better.  It is grammy with her three grandchildren.

Then mom took a picture of the men.  This is Alasdair, Henry, Ned, Nick (on chair) and Shaun.

We took this picture a few years ago and Henry and Nick were so little then, not the case anymore.

Skype with Family Far Away

We use Skype to talk to family far away, we can see them on the computer.  On Christmas Eve we talked to Aunt Nicole and Uncle Brian, they are in California.  On Christmas Day we Skyped with Aunt Hilary, Sarah, Zoe, and Uncle Randy in Florida.

Uncle Ned walked around so everyone could say hi.  This is cousin Alasdair and Auntie Amelia with grammy talking to Hilary, Sarah and Zoe.

This is cousin Shaun, Epiphania and Solange talking to Aunt Hilary, Sarah and Zoe.

Then Henry and Nick got a turn.  Nick only said Hi, he did not want to say anymore words.  But everyone said it was nice to see him and how big he has grown!

Christmas Day

On Christmas Day we went to Henry and Katie's house.

The house was all decorated for the holiday.

Henry and Katie got Kindles for Christmas, they showed us how to play games.

We had two tables for dinner, Nick and mom sat with Henry and Katie.  Nick ate all his dinner.

The grownups sat at the big table, then we joined them for dessert.

Christmas Eve

On Tuesday, mom and Nick took the long drive to Massachusetts.  We got to grammy's building and helped her finish making the dinner.  Then Henry, Katie, Aunt Stefani and Uncle Ned arrived.

Grammy has a little silver tree, just like nana used to have.

After lasagna dinner, the kids sat patiently until we opened presents.

Baking for the Holidays

Everybody likes desserts at parties, especially at Christmas time.

Last weekend mom and Nick made cupcakes to share with our family.

And up in Massachusetts, Henry and Katie were making holiday cookies.

Hello Christmas Tree!

This weekend was one of the happiest days of the year for Nick, we bought our Christmas tree!

Nick was waiting outside when it was time to go to Dees Nursery.

We walked the grounds until we found the perfect tree.

Nick is so big and strong he was able to carry the tree by himself, mom and McKenzie did not have to help!

When we got home we put the tree on the stand and gave it water.

Then we put on the lights and the decorations.

When all the work was done we sat down and enjoyed the new tree.

Happy Thanksgiving

Today is Thanksgiving.  We made a big turkey dinner for Bob, Susan, Jesse and McKenzie.

This time last year Bob made us Thanksgiving dinner because our house was broken and we were living in the hotel.  Jenni and Ryan were with us too.  It was special because it reminded us that we did not lose the most important things in life.

Mom told Nick, "A lot has changed in a year, we have a lot to be thankful for.  We lost a lot of things in the storm, but everything we lost can be replaced. What a gift that we can celebrate Thanksgiving with our family again in our renovated home."

Rock 'n' Roll T-Shirts

Today Nick and mom shopped for food to make for Thanksgiving dinner.  When we came home we made molasses cookies so we can serve them for dessert.  Mom took this picture of Nick putting the cookies on the cooling rack. 

Nick was wearing his Beatles Let it Be t-shirt.

A few weeks ago mom took this picture of Nick wearing a Bob Dylan t-shirt.

Mom said, "you look so good in Rock 'n' Roll t-shirts!"

Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes

Nick likes mom to make chicken dinner on Sunday.  But today mom decided we would do something different, mom told Nick, "tonight we will eat meatloaf and mashed potatoes for dinner, and Nick will help with the cooking."

Mom took out the recipe and Nick mixed up the meatloaf ingredients.  Then we put it in the oven.

Next mom showed Nick how to peel potatoes.  Nick was very good at this. 

Mom said, "I don't like peeling potatoes, you will be my helper from now on."

After the potatoes were cooked we put them in the mixing bowl with butter and milk. 

When mom took this picture Nick was too fast with the butter!

Then we sat down to eat, and Nick ate his whole dinner and asked for more. 

Mom said, "thanks for helping in the kitchen, it was fun to cook something new together."

Baskin Robbins

Nick misses his summer ice cream shop on the West End, but they are closed for the season.  Tonight dad agreed to take Nick to Baskin Robbins.

Nick was happy, he got his cotton candy ice cream with rainbow sprinkles.

And he spent some time with the ladies behind the counter, they were happy to see him.  They said, "hey Nick, welcome back, where have you been!"

One Year After Hurricane Sandy

October 29 was one year since the storm that broke our house and our town.  We had to live in hotels, grandma and grandpa's house, and an apartment.  In June our house was fixed and we moved back home, but this has been a long year of our family and our town. 

On Tuesday night we went to a ceremony outside City Hall.
 

Each family got a candle and lantern.



We listened to speakers who talked about how far the town has come, and they reminded us about families who have not come home yet.



We put our lanterns in the fountain to remember their struggle and light the way home for them.

Then we all walked to the new boardwalk.
Mom and dad told Nick we are fortunate to be home.

Spiderman Goes to the Dance

Last week, Nick went to the Best Pals Halloween Dance.

We kept the invitation on the refrigerator to remember the day.

McKenzie bought Nick a great costume, Nick was Spiderman!

Mom took pictures outside.  McKenzie showed Nick how to shape his hands the way Spiderman does when he spins a web.

But mostly Nick was running around the yard

and swinging from the tree, just like Spiderman!

Mom picked up Nick at the dance, his teachers said he had a great time.

On Saturday Nick got to wear his costume again at AHRC. 



And he gets to wear it one more time, on October 31 for Halloween.

Little Portraits

Mom has new portrait pictures of Henry and Katie, they are sitting on mom's desk.  Mom keeps telling Nick, "don't touch the pictures please," but Nick likes to look at them.  

Then mom said, "wait, I have little copies of the portraits, you can have the little pictures and then you can look at them anytime you like."

A Visit from Henry and Katie

On Friday, mom gave Nick surprise news. 

Mom said, "your cousins Henry and Katie are coming to visit."

The cousins enjoyed Gino's pizza for dinner together.

The next day we went to the Fall Festival in town.  Nick did not want to go, so he stayed home.  Mom showed Nick the pictures on the computer.  This is Henry and Katie on the carousel. 

Mom and Henry rode the Ferris Wheel together.

We were high in the air and we could see the whole festival.  Mom does not like heights, but Henry loved the view.  He was pointing out the ocean, the bay, and all the tall buildings.

We got a picture of Stefani and Katie on the seat behind us, Katie was not scared at all.

Mom said to Nick, "I'm sorry you did not come with us, you would have had a good time at the festival.  At least you still had a fun visit with your cousins."

Nick's Pool is Closed

October is here, it is too cold to swim in Nick's pool outside, so now the pool is closed.  The cover is on top, and Nick is sad.  Mom told Nick, "don't forget, the pool will be open again in June."

Yet Another Beach Weekend

This weekend the weather was sunny and over 70 degrees.  It as beautiful weather for sitting outside and playing on the side of the house.  But Nick wanted to go to the beach.  Mom said, "sometimes it is cooler at the beach, we will wear sweat shirts just in case we are too cold.

When we got to the beach there was good news.  The boardwalk has been built up to Lindell Blvd, we could see people riding their bikes up above!

Then we went down to the shore line, the air was very comfortable and the water was not too cold.  We stayed a long time with our feet in the water and watching the waves.  Mom asked Nick if he was having a good time but Nick did not did say any words.  Mom said, "that's okay, lots of people come to the beach to be quiet and clear their thoughts.

Good-Bye Summer

Today was a beautiful sunny day.  Now that it is September the weather is getting cooler.  Mom told Nick it is time to say good-bye to summer.   

We have been going to beach on Sundays.  Today mom told Nick he had to keep his sweatshirt on, and he could not go in the water past the knees because there are no lifeguards on duty.

When we came back to the house Nick ran into the pool.  Mom told Nick it is too cold to go in the pool, but Nick did not listen.  He jumped in the water and then jumped out shivering and said, "towel! towel!"

Mom said, "it is the end of September, we are going to close the pool because it is too cold for swimming.  That's what it means to say good-bye to summer."