Seven Out

In traditional birthday style, we celebrated lucky seven over and over... and over again.

Marco woke up taller, ordered his in-class birthday song with screaming - hold the cha chas - and generally got everything he wanted... and more.  Over the course of the weekend, we had cupcakes in bed, cupcakes in the classroom, ice cream and dinner with friends and the batting cages with a class of boys - complete with cupcakes of course.  Our house is still littered with presents, wrapping paper and a smiling 7-year old.  :)

And here's the proof:

 (Note: new birthday batting gloves and jawbreakers in cheeks.)

Seven out.

Left to Right

Heather and I stole away with the kids for MLK, Jr. day to a winery in Sonoma.

The kids were really great and we stumbled on the very best wine steward who paid special attention to the kids and explained to them how to take a small taste of something and then explain what you like about it.

He poured them two grape juice tastings, explaining that you taste like you read, from left to right. The kids loved being treated so special.  Marco pulled out his wallet and bought them a bottle to share outside.

We took our picnic out to the lake and the kids ran time trials.  Olive took the victory and may have a future in cross country.  I credit her steady pace and stamina.  The boys are either sprinters, or they're lazy.

I think we nailed a relaxing day in the January sun.  And here's the proof:

Hello Santa

Marco's holiday season was brightened with what's possibly the most genius thing ever invented... the Christmas email video from Santa.

In case you missed it, you have got to see this magical video that kept Marco smiling and giggling through the whole thing - 30 times in a row.

Hope your season was magical too!

Happy Thanksgiving

Marco's first grade class put together this Thanksgiving video in computer class, complete with voiceover.  

...And just in case you don't have the patience to watch the whole thing - or perhaps Comics Sans frightens you as it often does me, I've pulled out the highlights below.

Here's Marco's screen:

And, Marco got a shout out from the new kid!  Note the flag, he's Greek.  Ha!

Happy Thanksgiving all!

Four little monkeys

In kindergarten, Marco struggled with being the odd man out of a trio of sports-loving best friends in his class.  I tried to explain that those boys were best friends at home just like he and Nikos, so he had to understand that they'd been friends longer.  (I left out that the 'cool' boy is the youngest of six kids and probably just 'slightly' more awesome than you.)

Well... two of the boys left Marco's class this year.

On the first day of school, Marco tore into the house and yelled, "Mom!  You're never going to believe it.  Guess what happened?  I'm Rowan's best friend now!"

Such a heartbreaking, and yet, successful turn of events.

So... here's Marco and his new best friend at the Parish picnic:.