Hi-Ho Cherry-O

Or, as Benji calls is, Ho High Cherries.

Brunch with Gammy

In honor of Gammy's big birthday, we got dressed up for brunch at the boar's head. Here are Kevin and Benji, all ready to go:



Abby was wearing "ladybug" pants, so Benji insisted he be allowed to wear a ladybug outfit as well. Happy Birthday, Gammy!

Playing in the Park

In this unseasonably warm weather.

Bendaroo Glasses

My Friend Katie

First Shaving Lesson

Or so says Daddy.

Reading Together

Torah Study

Ladybug and...

Cowboy-bride?? This is some pretty classy dress-up

How to Eat Raspberries

Mentoring

Abby's Sunday School class is studying the mitzvah of "welcoming." This week, they welcomed the kindergarten class next door to come and spend some time with them. Here is Abby reading to 5-year-old Samantha (whom she also knows from Greenbrier):

Pick-up Soccer

Our friends the Cohens came to visit last weekend with their beautiful children Ella and Will. The weather was great, so we headed to the park, where the kids (and adults) ended up in a soccer game. They sort of actually played right:

New Year's Eve

We got back from our trip just in time to have a quiet New Year's Eve at home with the Lamy-Peterson clan. The kids were thrilled to have one last present opening session:



Benji especially likes his new walkie-talkies:

And Abby her new "olden times" costume:


Happy New Year to all!!!

Meeting Clara

We stopped on our way back to Virginia to have lunch with Patrick Craven and his adorable daughter Casey. Here is Abby with Clara, who took to her right away.

More Cousins

Visiting with the Payne cousins:

Scenes from Christmas Morning

Next Stop: West Palm Beach

Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Our busy Christmas break continued with our arrival in NY and flight to Florida the next day, followed by a whirlwind trip to Universal Studios to see the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

We got up before dawn to catch the first "Water Taxi" to the park:



The kids in front of Hogwarts Castle, while the sky is just starting to lighten:


Our favorite stop - Honeydukes:


Where we bought lots of product:


In front of a butterbeer cart in Hogsmeade:


By Zonkos Joke Shop:


Platform 9 3/4:


It got hot in the afternoon, so we bought the kids some sunglasses:

All in all an exhausting but fun day!

Christmas Trip, part 1

We had a crazy busy break with lots of travel. We started out on the very first day of vacation by going halfway to NY and stopping in Hershey Park. It was very cold, but the kids enjoyed a few rides and shows: