Amity's 7th birthday (observed)

Amity turned 7, and then a few days later we had a party where the kiddos built crazy contraptions from recycling and then they decorated their own cupcakes. Finally, there was a glow stick dance party to burn off the sugar...

Happy 7th Birthday, Amity!

Celebrating 7 years of having Amity in our lives, which is pretty awesome. Happy Birthday to this incredibly kind, sweet, clever, hilarious, caring, creative, assertive and wonderful kiddo! We love you!

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Resistance!

Amity modeling our Marmee-crafted pussy hat. Vive la résistance!

Happy Chanukah!

Chag Sameach!

U8 Team Green

Coaching U8 soccer (with world's best co-coach, CCC) is one of my absolute favorites. This particular group of not especially creatively named players - I think we probably ended on Green Chilis since they had been the Red Chilis the two previous times - was such a pleasure to coach. They progressed and developed a ton as individuals as well as in their work as a team, playing together. It really is a delight getting to hang with these kiddos. I'm a lucky duck.

Happy Halloween!

Zara was a quarkbeast (see the very excellent The Last Dragonslayer series by Jasper Fforde if you want more background info) and Amity was Murray, a little bat with a very big heart from Cynthia Rylant's Gooseberry Park (and it's sequel). Both kids went literary, and both suggest you read the respective books that inspired their costumes.

Poke-e-nose with the MMs

We spent a marvelous long weekend in the Poconos with our dearest friends the MMs. The older 3 in this picture have been friends since they were 3, 1 and 1 and the youngest member doesn't remember life without the other three. Sadly, however, she also doesn't remember how wonderful it was to have these lovely Canadians as our neighbors for a good 4 years. But we keep the dream alive and reunite every so often, and all is right with the world when we do.

First Day of School: 1st and 6th Grades

Ready for another fabulous school year. Also, for the first time in 3 years, no one is new at school anymore!

Hiking Hightop

Some kids were at camp. Their grown ups, one younger sister, and 2 dogs went hiking. It was lovely.