airgami, genesee river

Right in downtown Rochester, 5 stories high is this amazing balloon sculpture!  The theme this year is the Genesee River.  An amazing tree full of spider webs, robins and so many little things to discover.  Or how about the bear with a fish in its mouth, cat tails next to the river, the 'High Falls' coming down or the hot air balloon overhead.  AMAZING!!!

catholic schools week mass

Today kicks off Catholic Schools Week with a mass at Our Lady of Lourdes.  Ambrose choose to be in the choir and even had a solo.  Blaise wanted to help take up the gifts.  The church was full of students in uniform and every part of mass was lead by the students.  Of course if you ask the boys the best part was the food afterwards . . . go figure.

rit visit

The Wolf and Webelos Den had a tour at RIT of the Construct (Maker Lab) and BAHA Lab.  We saw 3D printers, laser cutters, machines used for cutting metal and the Formula 1 car that the engineering team raced in Germany!  I think after this trip Ambrose is ready to enroll in RIT and Blaise wants to be a race car driver.

mlk day fun

Just the other day we were going to Strong Museum all the time.  Now my boys are older, bigger . . .the Berenstein Bear exhibit seems tiny, they seem to tower over some of the toys.  Elmo isn't very cool anymore but the arcade is.  I'm not sure when this happened, I must have not been looking . . . my boys are growing up.  BUT they still had plenty of fun at the museum - racing cars, slanted mirrors and yes they still squeezed their bodies into the train.  I admit it was humorous watching them ride around in the train where I used to have to hold their hand and 'talk' them into sitting in a certain car.  Not this day, they ran to the engine and were busy talking the whole ride (occasionally giving me a wave). 

Later in the day on MLK, we met friends at the trampoline park, Altitude.  Us and everyone else in Rochester was there.  I spent the whole time counting and recounting (making sure I could see all the kids). . . they came home nice and tired!

scout work

As a 'Scout work' assignment Blaise had to develop a menu, go grocery shopping and help prepare a healthy meal.  His menu was:  homemade chicken tenders, lemon roasted potatoes, green beans and homemade applesauce.  His favorite part was 'dredging' the chicken in order to make the tenders.   He really enjoyed the meal (amazing how you put in the effort, how much better the food tastes).  Although he isn't taking over the kitchen yet, he definitely likes adding in suggestions and helping out!  WIN!

enjoying gifts

The latest in posing . . . cover your faces with one of this year's Christmas gifts.  Ambrose the Meccano robot and Blaise the Guiness World Records Book.

destin, florida

We are ready to fly to Florida . . . .Destin here we come!

 Great waves, boogie boards and fun with cousins.

 One of many sandcastles built with this amazing white, 'perfect' sand.

 The breakfast nook, a favorite of Ambrose and Isabella to eat at.

Ambrose decorating his sand castle.

Blaise finishing our castle (Blaise and I built 3 different castles throughout the week).

Red, white and blue jellyfish!

sea cucumbers

The beautiful pool and hot tub . . .includes a swim up bar that I served lunch at one day.

The view from the front of the house.

The amazing kitchen, I could get used to this one.

Gulfarium, Damian and Blaise found a dolphin.

The dolphin show.

teeny tiny starfish

Ice cream with the cousins

Beach time with cousins

13 - from oldest to youngest - Caitlin, Morgan, Hudson, Eli, Isabella, Ambrose, Toby, Henry, Blaise, Max, Margaret, Sebastian and Harper.

 Siblings - Cathy, Sarah, Andrew, Theresa and Damian

 family beach photo

 Grandma's elves made the trip!