Zaza and I took a brief trip to see our Brooklyn family as she missed out on our December visit due to fun in sunny Mexico. It was delightful, and while I once again failed to capture much of the trip photographically, please enjoy these snaps of us waiting for the F to take us to Penn Station and the Amtrak train that would carry us back home. C'ville is definitely home these days, but Bergen is my home stop!
Happy Birthday to the coolest polar bear in town!
We had originally planned to have Amity's super awesome spy party on her actual birthday, but 48 hours prior to this moment she was down for the count with a stomach bug, and we didn't want to risk "sharing" (or that some of the rest of us might be sick for the party). So, instead, we had a low key actual birthday, including a taste test of some Sugar Shack donuts (pictured here) and Brazos tacos for dinner. The actual birthday party was an insane feat of planning and execution and I can't believe we pulled it off, bit it included a laser maze, an escape room, may different kinds of codes to break, and a whodunnit mystery. It was such an event that we neglected to take a single picture, but believe me, it was grand!
Rung in 42 (the answer to everything!) with some of my favorite peeps over a lovely brunch at Firefly. Mimosas and coffee? Check! I really know how to party!
Amity participated in the 3rd and 4th grade Recital (nee talent show, nee nee variety show). She could have played piano, but chose to perform some Irish soft shoe (you can't tell from this still, but I assure you, it's a jig) instead.
We had a lovely trip to NYC over break. Highlights included seeing Klaus, seeing Erica, Emma and Chris, seeing our Brooklyn family, seeing Wicked, and... finally riding the Dumbo carousel! It was a good last day activity because it also included a 3 mile walk (which we knew would be followed by 8 hours of sitting in a car) and a lovely time was had by all. Not pictured here are both Evie and Sophie, who bravely accompanied Amity on the carousel!
Chanukah was on the earlier side this year, so it fell smack in the middle of concert/performance season and all of the other business that is the beginning of December. Nevertheless we did our best to light our menorah nightly, and in one case we even had M's guest menorah join us! For brevity's sake, I present a selection of menorah lightings for your enjoyment.
Both kiddos got to dress up for Halloween this year - K-4 always get to participate in the parade, and as the seniors of the middle school, 8th graders get to dress up, too. Zara went with a classic - RESISTANCE is a big theme around here, plus she's got the hair to do the Leia buns. Amity went Polar Bear, based on a literary character as well as just sheer love of the animal... but also doubled as an "albino wookie" to be a proper side kick for her big sister.
There were a lot of cool things going on before Halloween at the kiddos' school. Here's a few pics of those cool things.
We went to Festy! I've been kinda wondering about the site (it is also where they hold Lockn') and with our fave band Carbon Leaf on the bill there's no way we could miss it! We had a lovely time, it was a beautiful day and a great show! Cheers!
