first time skiing

Yesterday we went to Brantling (a ski place in Sodus). The plan was for Ambrose to get on skis for the first time. While he was getting fitted Blaise kept saying 'I ki, I ki' (translation: I ski, I ski). So we got a pair of skis for him too, the smallest pair they own which just happen to be 2 sizes larger then what he wears. Both Ambrose and Blaise had an hour lesson with a private instructor. Funny thing, when the instructor for Blaise came up you could almost read what he was thinking in his head - 'this is going to be the longest hour of my life'. I'm sure Justin (Blaise's instructor) was much more willing to teach someone interested in snowboarding or someone older. But Blaise turned on his charm, giggled through the hour and had Justin in the palm of his hand. He learned how to 'pizza' his skis and put his hands on his knees and went down a tiny slope with the biggest smile on his face, fell and got right back up and did it again . . . repeat, repeat, repeat.

Ambrose also learned to 'pizza' and 'french fry' during his lesson while also getting assistance to go up the tow. He did a great job and showed me after lunch how he loves to french fry or go really fast down the hill. He would fly down and stop at the last second, smile and go do it all again.

No fear, all fun, what a great day!

Christmas in South Carolina

South Carolina where it is normally warm,
we spent the days wrapped up in blankets reading and playing.
This year it snowed on Christmas Day (it hasn't done that in 46 years!)

Santa arrived and brought a 'special' set of Lego's for Ambrose.
Who has since put it together a number of times,
according to the directions and his own creations.
And Santa brought a clementine for Blaise . . . funny story, Blaise opened up another gift first (a small set of duplo legos and was just crying out - where is my clementine???) Don't worry he found it in his stocking.

Lights were dancing, capes on, super heroes came to life.

Four boys dressed alike, giggling/drooling/not sitting still/looking/not looking at the camera/some loving the camera . . . how incredibly cute!

visiting with the cousins in SC

We spent some time in South Carolina visiting my family over the holidays. These two handsome guys were two of the best gifts over the holidays. It was wonderful to sit back and watch the two of them move, smile, giggle and have fun with their two older cousins. Since coming back home, Blaise and Ambrose ask all the time when they can see Victor and Sam again. They look at pictures daily on our frig of their cousins in South Carolina.

Sam is busy trying to take a few steps and is not content to sit still. Victor sits back and takes everything in, nothing gets past this guy. What a wonderful treat to spend the holidays with the four boys!

letter for Santa

After visiting Santa last week, Ambrose keeps asking Damian and I what we want for Christmas. I keep asking for a new camera and Damian just keeps telling him that he hasn't decided yet.

There is something magical about being 5 and seeing Santa. As we grow older we may not 'hear the bells' (according to Polar Express) or we may not 'believe'. I'm going to argue we see magic in different ways . . . for instance I love receiving hand written cards/letters at the holidays. Or how about watching my son last night watch 'Polar Express' and smile from ear to ear when Santa handed the boy the bell and we all heard it ring. AHHHH, so many magical things . . . we just need to stop and enjoy them.

So I decided I need to write a letter to Santa too . . . I just hope I've been a good girl.

simply divine

Favorite ornament from Betsy that she handmade
Blaise praying at lunch
Willow nativity set, a gift from my parents
Handmade ornament from Sarah
Playmobil nativity set from a neighbor
Cross hanging in our entrance way
Statue of Jesus from my parents

So many illustrations, so many blessings.
(my assignment today for my photo class)

the last couple of days

Sunday afternoon I took the boys to Barnes and Noble for a holiday story time. Can you tell someone is excited to see . . .



SANTA! Ambrose told Santa we would be in South Carolina and asked if he could deliver our presents there. He asked Santa for a special Lego set and Blaise asked for a clementine (yeah, you read that right).


Afterwards we drove around looking at Christmas lights and drove down to Main Street to look at the Liberty Pole all lit up.

Today, after preschool we did some shoveling and I found these angels . . .

Park Avenue Holiday Open House

After school Ambrose mentioned that he asked his teacher if they could go caroling down the halls of the school and each kid carry an instrument. I love this idea but I'm guessing this might disrupt the other grades (K-6) and their classes. We (Damian and I) often comment on how much he has matured since the beginning of school . . . sharing his ideas, participating in circle time and so much more! How wonderful!

Tonight we went to the annual Park Avenue Holiday Open House. We strolled down the avenue to take in the lights, saw horses pulling a wagon full of people, warmed ourselves by a bonfire, window shopped and listened to some carolers. Although it may not have been Ambrose strolling down the school halls singing he enjoyed the music filling Park Avenue this evening. And now he is all nestled in bed.

A wreath framing a light along Park Avenue. Today's 'Picture Holiday' assignment was to 'frame' an image of the season.

Another framed photo - looking into our house as the window frames our Christmas tree.

the white stuff

You can see it falling
faster and faster it comes
wet, very wet
small and large
as I tilt my head back, it hits my forehead
clings to my eyelashes
my tongue is out to catch it
as I raise both of my arms up
close my eyes to experience it
. . . snow, the white stuff.

Today, December 1st, lots of the 'wet' kind.
Clinging to the trees in its beauty,
dashing inside to grab the camera
try to keep it dry
one quick shot across the street.

Well, this is good
but from the window it is even better.

thanksgiving

I'm thankful for wonderful time with family. . . including (but not limited to) . . .

. . . reading with cousins

. . . wrestling with cousins


. . . Thanksgiving day hike


. . . although a bit nontraditional, excellent food from Marios (thanks Uncle Andy for carving)


. . . time visiting Grandpa (and having everyone together)


. . . Grandma and Grandpa


. . . decorating (and eating) cookies - thanks to Uncle Matt and Henry for baking the cookies


. . . new wonders by little ones so dear


. . . an outing to Lollypop Farm


. . . an outing to the bowling alley


. . . and so much more! We love all of our Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and Grandparents; we miss you already!

have a happy thanksgiving

This evening, Damian took Ambrose to our church's soup kitchen while I was working at the Y. Their visit was timed with the soup kitchen serving Thanksgiving dinner. Our soup kitchen cooks several turkeys, makes all of the side dishes, bakes pies, etc.

Ambrose had mentioned he wanted to do something for Thanksgiving; so we came up with a project to hand out to each person at soup kitchen. We made cards with the words 'Happy Thanksgiving' written on them by Ambrose. Blaise and Ambrose stamped thumb prints and I made the prints into turkeys.

Damian said that he very nicely stood at the end of serving line and handed a card to all 140 people in attendance. To each person nice and loud he said 'have a Happy Thanksgiving'. He then proceeded to hand a card to each of the workers.

Damian and I are so proud of what he did tonight, what a wonderful way to learn about giving.

restaurant is now open

A sign hangs on the door: Wendy's OPEN.

A menu scribbled on a scrap piece of paper:

Grilled Cheese

Cheeseburger

Soda

Frosty's (use tickets)

Water

Milk

Kids Meal (toy included)

Heart Cookies

Hours of cooking, serving, giggling, more serving and lots more giggling!

Now, this one is for you, oh wait or is it for me?

visiting the weather man

For Ambrose's birthday I set up a tour of a local TV station with the head meteorologist, Glenn Johnson. He spent 1/2 hr. taking us around the station, showing us where they film the news and the control room. He talked to us about what he does before the news every day and how he prepares his 'weather story'. Ambrose even got to make up his own weather story by adding rain, a sun and a hurricane to a US map and then saw it in action.

Ambrose turned 5

This weekend we had Ambrose's 'weather' themed birthday party. We made rain sticks, painted rainbows, hung the temperature on the thermometer, played weather bingo and read 'Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs'. What a great time with cousins who were able to come into town, school friends, church friends, playgroup friends and neighbors (a lot of kids!)

Ambrose had a great time helping set up, greet everyone and when I asked what his favorite part was - he said weather bingo.


His favorite gift, his new hockey jersey! Sssshhhhh, he doesn't know that this week we are going to a local TV station, Channel 13 to tour the station with the head meteorologist! I can't wait to see his face!

the cow jumped over the moon

Joe Regan (Shaggy), Sawyer Matzky (dog), Clementine Matzky (witch), William Schreiber (spider), Noah (star wars), Catherine Regan (Daphne), Katie Stanley (cheerleader), Mary Grace Schreiber (ballerina), Adelaide Matzky (Dorothy), Blaise (cow) and Ambrose (the moon)

Blaise by default (i.e. already had the costume and it fit) was the cow. When I asked Ambrose what he wanted to be he said 'the moon'. Funny I was thinking . . .farmer, but of course the moon, not sure why I didn't think of that right away.

Ambrose enjoyed running from house to house and sorting candy when we came back home (I remember doing the same thing as a kid. In case you were wondering, the candy with the highest number, tootsie rolls at 18.) Blaise tried to keep up but we helped by running along with the big kids and carrying him. He did such a good job with saying 'thank you' and always followed this up with 'and have a good night' . . . he heard one of the parents say it and then repeated it at every other house. Too cute!

picture fall ends

Today was my last day of Picture Fall, here are some of my favorite photos I took for the class. Only 30 more days until the next class starts (but whose counting?) Picture Holidays!

Now I just have to find out where Santa is going to be so I can ask for that new camera . . . SLR please!

circus

I won tickets to the circus (good thing because boy those aren't cheap!) And not to sound to cheap-o here but a flashy spin around thing was $22, popcorn $7 . . . so we got some peanuts.

The boys definitely enjoyed the show but that may have been second to us watching them, since they were entranced. And what isn't to love? People shooting out of canons, high-wire acts, lions, elephants, hilarious clowns, etc. WOW!

When I asked the boys what they liked best, Ambrose commented 'I liked everything' and Blaise commented 'the motorcycle'. The motorcycle was a Harley on display that was ridden away at the start of the show. At first the noise scared him but then a huge grin appeared and he kept asking why the motorcycle wasn't coming back.

my explorers

Where can you go on an expedition and meet Lewis and Clark? learn about maps? go on safari and wait to see wild animals in your little make-shift hut? find Blackbeard's buried treasure? fly to Mars and program a satellite? build a pyramid and meet a Pharaoh? go on TV and give a weather report?

We did all of this and more at the Strong Museum today at the National Geographic Map new exhibit. WOW, what a great time. My explorers are ready for more . . .

more photos

More photos from my Picture Fall photo class:
connections:
my muses:


bounty (of sunshine, Ambrose was trying to catch it):


juxtaposition:

mid-month message:

good day sunshine:


take some time out:


texture in b/w:

subtleties: