Gymnastics

Gymnastics has ended for both kids. There was a bit of a show on Saturday morning. One of the reasons, I love Energy, is that it is focused on children and their abilities and growth, and less on showmanship. Each group rotated through the equipment - floor, beam, trampoline, bars and running. I am proud of each of the kids. Both progressed nicely through the year.

They will continue next year.

Another Great Meal at Thistle Hill Tavern

This time we took my parents and the kids. . . . and it was fabulous!

For starters we had - grilled asparagus, green pea falafel, zucchini pancakes and fried fennel. All were excellent. Both kids loved the fennel.

Salad - (1) Romaine salad with tristar strawberries (my favorite strawberry); (2) roasted red beet salad and (3) peach and buratta cheese salad (which was superb).

Dinner
Mark had the grilled octopus and loved it. . . . . ate the whole thing, except for two bites (one for me and one for my dad)

Papa - HAND MADE PAPPAREDELLE braised Fazio Farms rabbit, hen of the woods mushrooms, fava beans, peas, mint, pecorino

Adam - the best vegan burger he has ever had

Grandma -The trout

Naomi - the gratin, but Dave noticed that she did not like it, and asked if Rebecca could make a grilled cheese sandwich . . . . nice save Dave!!!!!

Me - Sea Bass - yummy

Desserts - one of everything! The cookie plate (one sandwich cookie, one biscotti and one vanilla wafer all homemade) with steamed caramel milk; two chocolate panna cottas (one for each kid), goat cheese tart with fresh blueberries and honey (to die for), buttermilk biscuit with rhubarb and the dessert special - fresh berry compote, which we all loved!!!!

A great dinner! It was nice for the kids and us to see Rebecca. The kids can't wait to go back again. Dave was really nice, and let Mark follow him outside to watch him work the awning.

Thanks for a great dinner!

Mark in a few years

Right now, Mark is at Camp Grandma, also known as the "Spa." There is a week between when school ends and camp starts. On Day 1, Mark went to Five Guys for lunch and had a double burger. Then he went swimming at the JCC pool. For dinner that night he had London Broil.

Today he saw Toy Story Three, and then did some bike riding.

Tomorrow is a bake-a-thon.

Last weekend we went to Canobie Lake Park, where Mark has grown tall enough to go on many of the larger rides, and he can go on many rides alone. One ride that he loved was the Canobie 500, which is driving a race car.

Photo included.

The Blind Side

I just rented that movie, and LOVED it. Oh my. Such a great movie. This is one of the best movies I have ever seen. I loved Sandra in it!

Excellent Customer Service - JetBlue

I just have to tell everyone, what a great phone call I had with Sharon, of JetBlue. In this day and age, I believe customer service has gone down the toilet. I hate waiting on hold, and I hate that no one on the other end of the phone cares, or can do anything about anything.

The other night, Adam and I booked our flight to FL with the kids to see Adam's grandfather. We finally had enough points on USAA to earn ONE FREE FLIGHT. Yes, I am excited about that. To save money, we are flying mid week . . . . to say even more money we are taking our two kids on an 8 PM flight (and if all goes well lands at 11 PM). However I wasn't willing to save even more money by booking a flight with a layover. Soooooooo hopefully that all goes well. And yes, I will blog about that also.

Getting back to my story . . . . . USAA and JetBlue. Got our emails with the confirmation of the flight, but no seat assignments. The last time that happened with United, I believed the company that I would have seats. . . . . together. HA. I must have been stupid, because first we did not have seats, and then once we got seats, we were all spread out. Amazingly people did swtich with us, once they figured out that the two year's olds mom was not sitting with the two year old.

So, I called JetBlue. . . . Sharon answered, and not only got us seats, but seats all together. On both our flight to FL and home. She was awesome. I did email JetBlue to let them know how happy I was that she helped me. I know she could have said "You will get seats when you get to the airport." But she did not. We have four seats together (two and two), and I am one happy camper.

Lets hope the rest of the trip goes this well.

Naomi

says the cutest things.

"When am I going to Drugland Farms" when in reality it is Drumlin Farms.

Another good one was Mark trying to explain that a baby grows in a womb and not a stomach. Naomi did not believe him. She kept looking at me thinking that Mark was fibbing.

Such a cutie pie. I think I will keep her.

Mark - I remember

Mark is about to finish second grade. I can't believe that. I remember so much about his past life, and how fast he is growing up.

I remember, how he was born three weeks before his due date.

I remember, that he slept through the night for the first time, on his two month old birthday, at my parent's house, while Adam and I slept at home for the whole night in two months.

I remember, his first airplane ride, at three months to FL, to visit his great grandparents.

I remember, his flapping.

I remember, how he learned how to read - he taught himself, by smooshing the letters together.

I remember, how excited he was when we got the mini van.

I remember, how much he ate in Denver when he was 18 months old - his favorites being white bean pate with truffles. On that same trip, I remember how after he ate a HUGE helping of black beans he slept in my inlaws room . . . . and he slept as he passed gas, all night long.

I remember his first day of daycare (and his last day).

I remember his first day at Angier.

I remember when he got ear tubes.

I remember, how they did NOT fall out, and he had to have them removed surgically.

I remember how he asked when he saw Naomi for the first time (all wired up) "Cool my sister has batteries. . . . will we go to CVS for new batteries?"

I remember how he told his friend this year, how he was in my womb, and came out (and how) and then proceeded to explain a C-Section is a special door.

I also remember how he asked recently, "I know how babies come out of the womb, but how do they get inside?"