My boy is eleven. ELEVEN!

Birthday Boy!

Yup, yesterday was a special day.  We will always remember the day my dad had his colonoscopy.  Why you say?  Because my mother was over my house (which at the time was in Lynn) biding away the hours until she could pick my dad up from the hospital.  It was in that hour or so that I went into labor with Ethan.  How convenient?!  So Gammy packed up Fiona and Zevon and went to get my dad (who was surprised to see the additional two bodies in the car) and Scott and I headed to the hospital.  That afternoon we had a son in our arms!  It was that easy.  And I have to say Ethan has been pretty remarkably easy ever since.  He lavished in 70 degree weather with his cousins for his birthday...speeding around in his new rollerblades and even playing a game of hide and go seek outside after dinner!  Like summer!  I am so grateful for my wonderful family who joined in the celebration of this amazing kid, and for the fact that Scott and I have these super-fun, kind, compassionate, healthy, strong, wise beyond their years kids.  Three cheers for colonoscopies and kids!  Hip-hip hooray!

We have had some very wet, heavy snow lately.

Look at this cool bird.

Scott got us some tickets to a huge indoor college track meet in Boston.  So interesting to watch these kids give it their all!

We also watched as this man broke the world record for fastest indoor mile.  3:49!!!

A quick walk downtown on a school day for sandwiches...

Fiona origamied a bra for her brother for Valentine's Day.

She created and filled this box for Scott and I.

All kinds of treasure inside!

This was what Ethan made us.  Too cute!

Fiona's gift to her brother.

What was left after a howling game of "Pictionary" at the Goodwin's house.

Our newest challenge.  1000 piece.

Fiona, Ethan and Cate playing in Cate's new backyard.

Neptune enjoying some Fiona snuggles.

Neptune the therapy dog...

Fiona's newest skirt design.  We just had to give it a twirl at the art museum.

My girls little art installation for Ethan's birthday.

Insane weather yesterday!  It's cold and raining today...with snow forecast this afternoon!

Ethan's birthday menu.  Dad's homemade sauce and meatballs.  YUM.

His sister's origami card.

Cathy Love.

Who knew they made remote control Lego vehicles?!  Meagan, looks like you hit all the nails on the head with that one!!!!

This kid is formulating some serious wishes.

And may they all come true.

Same the Same (as Ethan used to say)

Things are steadily moving along.  "Same the same" is what Ethan used to say.  It's a good thing.  Fridays are my favorite day of the week.  I think I have mentioned why...MFA.  We get snow, it melts, we get a kinda warm day here and there, we take lots of walks, bake lots of bread, work hard in the classroom, play hard in the yard for hours, visit with friends and family.  We're happy.  That's all that matters, and I am intent to keep it that way. 
     This time last month we were on the brink of a VERY bad time.  Little did we know we would all get the terrible flu and loose our precious dog Zevon in the course of ten miserable days.  Throw in a visit from my sister during the darkest hour and you have it!  So I am (with trepidation) keeping my fingers crossed that we weather this short month with as little drama as possible.  We have Ethan's 11th birthday to look forward to, and let's not forget Valentine's Day!  Here's to health and happiness.  Never take it for granted.

MFA photo bomber...

So grateful for the woods near our house.

Ice Queen.

Such winter light.  I missed it. 

Started making sour dough... Yum.

I admit.  Seeing daffodils in the market gives me a touch of spring fever.

Fiona has been running with Scott.  Look at that track star!

Ethan's mini masterpiece.

Fiona/Van Gough's mini masterpiece.

Purple Finch couple in our window feeder.

Fiona made this skirt by hand!  She was pumped to wear it to class!

Ummm, what can I say?  He can't help looking this good.  Don't be a hater.

Scott, Rothko.  Rothko, Scott.  

Cardinal!  We are all a bit obsessed with this feeder.

Ethan's in the blue with his pal Milo.  He loves baseball on Saturdays.

Poop imogie cupcakes for the Superbowl.  'Cause Tom Brady performed like...poop.

 

Did I mention I LOVE the MFA?

Two Museum of Fine Arts trips under our belts and the kids and I could not be more in love with that place.  Of all the art museums I have been to, in the USA and abroad...the museum in Boston has always ranked number one.  Gammy drove us in for the first class.  She and I wandered the Rothko exhibit and made our way through the gift shop in the two hours Fiona and Ethan were in class.  We did catch a glimpse of Fiona with her group...  As is our museum day tradition, we ate our packed lunch in the cafeteria before heading together to the Takashi Murakami show.  Wow!  Bright!  Happy!  Big!  Intense!  Thoroughly engrossing.  It would be impossible to keep your mind on your own thoughts at this show.  Too much to absorb.  If these works of art made noise they would be screaming! 
Last week we also had the pleasure of hosting Cate for a night while her parents moved into their new house!  The next day Scott and I and the kids brought Cate home and helped with a little of the set up of the new place.  It is an adorable split level in Salem.  Fiona and Ethan can't wait to sleep over there soon!
We were in Plymouth on Sunday to celebrate my sister's 28th birthday...again.  Thankfully the weather has been unseasonably warm the last few days, allowing for the kids to play outside.  Meagan's empty pool provided hours of "white trash" (sorry if I offend anyone with that statement...for those of you with empty trash-filled pools..) entertainment for the kiddos.  The Patriots were kind enough to provide an exciting game and a win for the occasion!  Superbowl, here we come!
These last few weeks have really zipped by.  Fiona is still going strong at the sewing studio.  This week she intends to begin making her own clothes.  Ethan is loving his baseball clinic that he attends every Saturday.  The coach doesn't mess around, and the kids are all business. 

After a warm, wet snow.  They made an alien.

And its babies...

Fiona (far left) with her class. (She never even noticed me.)

Happy flowers everywhere!

They were smiling like the flowers...but you already knew that.

Aren't I nice to pose with these strange children?

Huge!  And red!  My favorite color!

Gammy instructing Fiona on her 1968 Singer machine that she is letting Fiona borrow indefinitely.

Cate and Fiona working on an art project.

3-D coffee mugs with steam!

Tough morning of T.V. in bed.

In Cate's new home!  Video games in her room!

Cool kids walking home from the "T" after art class in the city.

Did Fiona or Ethan come on a walk with me?

Ellie's.  Before the swing broke...

Inground pool/playpen.

Man with fire.

Men with fire.

Birthday girl!!

Watching the Patriots stomp the Panthers (or is it Tigers?...whatever, it's a big cat)