Christmas Day

Today is Christmas Day!

Mom woke up Nick and said, "hey, would you like to open presents?"  Nick came out into the living room and put on his Santa hat, then he went back to sleep on the couch!

We got this picture from California.  Henry and Katie had a great Christmas morning!

And so did Ryder.

Mom said to Nick, "oh well, I guess when you get older it's better to sleep late."

Christmas Eve

This year Christmas Eve fell on a Saturday.  Mom asked Nick if he would like to go into New York City to see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular with the Rockettes.

It was a rainy day.  We walked passed the Macy's Christmas window displays.

On Avenue of the Americas, one building had giant holiday lights.

Another building had giant ornaments.

Finally we got to 49th Street and found Radio City.

Inside they had a beautiful crystal tree of lights.

Nick posed in front of this picture of the Rockettes.

We found our seats and got ready for the show.  Nick was happy, but he would not smile for the picture.

The Rockettes tap their shoes and dance in patterns, Nick really enjoyed the show.  At the end, all of the performers came out to take their bow.

Then mom asked if Nick wanted to see the big tree.  Nick knew the way to walk.  Mom used to work in that building, and we would go there all every year.

There were so many people taking pictures in front of the big tree.  We finally found a place to take our tourist selfie.

Christmas Outfit

A paper came home from school saying the kids were having a holiday party on the last day of school.  Mom bought Nick a new shirt and dad gave Nick one of his old Christmas ties.  It has Charlie Brown and Snoopy dressed for the holidays!

Visit from Grammy

Grammy came back to visit in December.  She told Nick, "I am going to California to see your cousins so I will not be with you for Christmas."

We took grammy on our nature walk.  Nick lead the way as we walked through the trees.

Then we sat on a bench high up and looked out at the fishing peer and Jones Beach tower.  Grammy said, "this is a nice nature walk, I'm getting a lot of exercise with you."

That night, grammy gave us our Christmas presents.  In this picture Nick is wearing candy cane ears and his new Charlie Brown pajama pants!

Nick's Little Christmas Tree

This year, mom and dad gave Nick something new for his holiday decorating - his own little Christmas Tree!

We opened the box and put the stand together.

Then we fanned out the branches.  The tree came with it's own lights so it was ready to plug in.

The tree sits on a table in Nick's room.  He decorated it with his colorful Lego's.  Mom said, "That's a Nick original!"

Hello Christmas Tree!

It is Nick's favorite time of the year, when we have a Christmas tree.  Nick has had the date on this calendar for months, it read "Dees Nursery Christmas Tree."

Mom and Nick went to Dees Nursery after school.  Nick found the perfect tree right away.

The men wrapped it up in twine and put it in our car.

After we decorated the tree, Nick turned off the lights and relaxed on the couch, just like he does every year.

Visit from Bobby

Bobby is dad's brother.  A few weeks ago, Bobby came to visit and told he us he leaving Long Island and going to live far away in Ithaca.  To say goodbye, we had a winter barbecue and mom took this picture of Nick, his dad, and his uncle until we see each other again.

Thanksgiving Pictures

This year we had a special treat, grammy came to visit for Thanksgiving!

We went to New York City to see a show, and had lots of time together on her visit.  She was very impressed that Nick ate Thanksgiving dinner with us.  While we could not be with Nick's cousins, we did FaceTime with them so we could feel close.

Here are some pictures from our holiday weekend.

Nick drew a turkey and put it on the refrigerator.

FaceTime with Henry and Katie

FaceTime with Nicole and Ryder

Relaxing with Grammy

Ryder's turkey-pumpkin that he made in school

Eating turkey dinner

Nature walk the day after Thanksgiving, walking off all that food!

Phantom of the Opera

This weekend we went to New York City to see an Autism friendly performance of Phantom of the Opera.  It is one of grammy's favorite plays, so we got a ticket for her too.

Grammy was very impressed that Nick sat quietly and watched the whole show!  She said, "wow Nick, you have come a long way from the old days when you would not sit quietly for Sesame Street Live."

Sunday is Fried Chicken Night

Every Sunday, Nick wants to have the same dinner - fried chicken and mom's home made mac and cheese.  Last weekend, mom said "you should help make the chicken."

Nick helped with the breading and cooking.  In this picture Nick is tending to the chicken on the stove.  Mom said, "you will help more often, this is delicious!"

Pacific Playground

Last Sunday, mom and Nick went out in the car to run some errands.  Nick told mom he wanted to go to Pacific Playground.  Mom said "we have never been there together."  Nick showed mom the way.

It was a nice warm day at sunset, and Nick had a great time on the swings and climbing on the tower.  We could see a beautiful sunset and kites in the wind from people on the beach enjoying the day.

White Post Farms

Every year that Nick has been in Long Beach schools, he has gone on an October field trip to White Post Farms.  It is one of his favorite field trips, he always puts it on his calendar and he is all smiles when the permission slip comes home!

Nick's teacher sent us some pictures from the tip last week.

Halloween Dance

Every year, the Best Pals club has a Halloween Dance at the high school.

Nick dressed up as a chef.  He wore the Looney Tunes apron mom bought for dad many years ago.  In fact, this apron is older than Nick!

There were lots of games to play.  Nick did not like ping pong or fuse-ball, but he was great at basketball.

At one point some of the teachers were posing for a picture and Nick walked into the middle of it.  They said, "Hey Nick, come get in the picture with us!"

When we were leaving mom saw a new mural on the school walls.  It is a beautiful view of our boardwalk and the ocean.

Fall Festival

Every year the town of Long Beach has the Fall Festival.  This year, Nick's class helped to setup the festival the night before.  Nick's teacher sent pictures, he looked very happy to be there doing setup work.

Mom remembered all the years that we have taken Nick to the festival.  Here are some pictures of Nick in the pumpkin patch over the years.

Beautiful Sunset

Now that the weather is getting cooler mom and Nick take more walks together.  One night we went to the beach and watched a beautiful sunset.

First the sky was filled with colors of yellow, orange and gold.

Then the sun changed into an orange ball and fell below the horizon.

Mom said, "we are so lucky to live in Long Beach and see beautiful sunsets like this."

Pasta Night at the High School

This month the SEPTA group hosted a Pasta Night at the High School.  Mom and Nick went together, we ate good food and saw Nick's friends and teachers.

Here are some of the pictures.  We got a very nick picture with Luke and his mom, and at the end of the night Nick was helping out the DJ with the music!

Getting Ready for Halloween

At the end of summer we put away all of our red, white and blue patriotic decorations to get ready for the next holiday - Halloween!

Nick was excited when mom hung the spider lights in the living room.   He also loves the old ceramic pumpkin, every day he comes home and turns on the light inside.

FaceTime with Family

Nick is always asking about his cousins Henry, Katie and Ryder.  Today mom told Nick, "Your cousins are together in California this weekend.  We will do FaceTime and you can see them on the computer!"

Here are Nick's cousins.  We had a good time seeing them and catching up on FaceTime.

Verrazano-Narrows Bridge

After our week long trip to Maryland and Washington DC, we took the long drive home.

One of the highlights from the drive was the Verrazano Bridge, it looked majestic as we passed over during sunset.  Mom took this picture from the car when we were on the Belt Parkway.

Madame Tussauds

We saw many famous and historical people at Madame Tussauds!

Posing with George Washington.

Shaking hands with Thomas Jefferson.

In the theater with Abraham Lincoln.

Walking out of a meeting with Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill.

With Martin Luther King Jr. in front of the Lincoln Memorial.

Standing near AirForce 1 by President John Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy.

On the moon with Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong.

Greeting crowds with President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton.

 Talking with Oprah.

Mom wanted a picture with Stephen Colbert.  This was the best picture taken by Nick.  

Holding a press conference at The White House.

Sitting at the President's desk.

Mom and Nick ended the visit posing with President Obama and Michelle Obama!