gabriella & jd (and alex! and vincent!)

pictures Alex's piano recital, Vincent at preschool, Chuck E Cheese birthday party, Grannie's, snacks, home haircut. =>black and white piano recital pictures 70 degrees, playing outside, lunch at Bistrot du Coin with Kathleen and Marek, picking up JD at Dulles. Christmas Eve Checking on the new roof at our house, lunch in DC at Taberna del Alabardero, the zoo, visit to Carrie's. Christmas Day Lamb for lunch, presents, Kurtz Christmas at Greg and Vicky's, after party at Mrs. Mudd's.

Last Saturday was the La Fête d'hiver (Winter Fair) at Alex's school.  Z and GG came to see Alex sing with the entire second grade.  Then we had a nice sushi lunch in Bethesda.  Sunday was the first snow storm, no school on Monday, and Tuesday was the second snow storm.  Alex and Vincent enjoyed playing outside even though it got wet and slushy pretty fast.  Alex decided to shovel our sidewalk on his own without being asked.  Love it! Winter Fair more pictures two snow days artistic black and white shots And yes, that is a hawk in our backyard.  Seems they like to hang around the bird feeders.

We went to see the train display at Brookside Gardens which Vincent and Alex really enjoyed.  We also had some warm weather after the freezing cold of Thanksgiving which was nice. We were able to play outside and go to the park. trains more trains pictures Mace, Suzanne and Eddy came over for a meal and a visit.  The boys played outside it was so nice. pictures Elmo slippers and popcorn snacks with Eddy. pictures Candy Cane City afterschool, Vincent at school, a visit to Grannie's. pictures Warm weather, raking the leaves with Grannie.

Madame HARRINGTON October 2013   CE1 (Second grade) click on picture to enlarge 

an original by Vincent We had a very nice Thanksgiving for the second year in a row at Hotel Hershey with the Spivak cousins (except for David who is in France), Aunt Adele and Uncle Ed, and Z and GG.  I don't have any pictures since I checked my camera with my coat, oops. We had a very busy week leading up to Thanksgiving, it was Grandparents Day at Vincent's school and Z and GG and Grannie were able to come.  On Wednesday we had a visit in DC with Toots and Poppie who were staying at the St. Regis one block from the White House, and Rachel and Jon and Sam and Bea who were in from Austin, and Aunt Shana. playing outside with Grannie Grandparents Day day before Thanksgiving Grocery shopping, Toots and Poppie in DC, Hanukkah gifts, Rachel, Jon, Sam, Bea, Shana, DC at night. Thanksgiving and day after Driving to Carlisle, Hotel Hershey lobby, fun at Bruce and Marjorie's, Days Inn, next day a visit to the US Army Heritage and Education Center ....

We've been busy with school and work and soccer and traveling so there are lots of pictures to catch up on.  Alex's last soccer game of the fall season was a draw and they will receive a trophy for their school.  Nov 1 Nov 6 Nov 7 Z and GG came out to the 'burbs to visit us. Nov 9 Kingston's birthday party   Vincent's classmate Kingston's 2nd Birthday party at the Trolley Museum.   Alex's last soccer game CE1 " Last match for our little ones who finished the season with a 4-4 draw against the other undefeated team in the conference.  They were led 4-1 and came back with the encouragement of the crowd tied at 2 min of the end!  They could win in the final seconds ... but this score parity leaves undefeated and first tied teams!"

We were busy with school, soccer, and Halloween.  Alex dressed up as a skeleton and Vincent was a fireman.  Alex and Vincent enjoyed trick or treating for the second year in a row. pictures Rose's Annual Halloween Party.  A beautiful sunny day this year for the party. pictures outside, fall foliage pictures Pumpkins and pumpkin carving.  pictures Halloween pictures Alex's soccer team is undefeated!  " Saturday, November 2 :  The CE1/CE2 won their seventh game in a row 2-1 against a very combative team ... they are one game off the perfect season"

  Vacation to Fort Lauderdale for Alex's Fall Break.  Sunny, warm, beach, pool, nice hotel and good food.  We stayed at The Atlantic Hotel and Spa and visited Bonnet House Museum and Gardens and Flamingo Gardens .  We also found an indoor arcade for Alex to play putt putt. arriving, hotel, beach pictures more pictures second day pictures Bonnet House Museum and Gardens pictures more pictures Flamingo Gardens pictures more pictures last day, swimming pictures

October 17 Preschool, playing, trains, rain, a Birthday meal(s), a vineyard, naps, snacks, raking leaves with Grannie, Alex's school, haircut, lunch at Grannie's. October 18 sunset, raking leaves, more sunset October 19 Alex's 4th soccer game.  Alex played goalkeeper and his team won 6-1. Halloween open house cooking, Vincent's Halloween costume for friends open house October 20 A beautiful sunny clear Fall day in DC.  Lunch at Cantina Marina with Z & GG, a nice walk on the Mall and in the Hirshhorn sculpture garden and gardens behind the Smithsonian castle.  Then back for a snack at Phillips on the waterfront and to the Capital Yacht Club to end the evening. more day in DC

A heatwave and the government shutdown - a very different October so far. Sept 21 Vincent at preschool, outside digging dirt, Candy Cane City, and Spencer's 15th birthday. October 1 Drawing, eating, reading, yard, Alex's school, park, the dentist and a removal of a kitty tumor for Lincoln. October 7 Alex has 4 teeth pulled, Eastern Market for lunch with Z and GG and Shana.

"I'm DRIVING!" more Vincent preschool pictures His teacher, Ms. Debra, told us Vincent is very animated in class. A WORD FROM MS. DEBRA about the Toddler class-- The children are adjusting well in the classroom ~ learning the daily routines ~ helping set up snack ~ cleaning up ~ sitting on the potty.  The children are exploring the classroom and all the different works. Favorites include washing hands and painting.  The Children are learning new songs and singing "old" favorites. You may hear them singing new songs around the house. We have also gone on a few walks. The children do very well holding each other's hands and seem to enjoy going out and about. " pictures A ton of pictures of Vincent playing outside. pictures Another ton of pictures from Alex's second soccer game.  JD is the official team photographer.  Alex's team won 1-0.  The official report "Les CE1/ CE 2 l 'emportent 1-0..resultat obte...

It's not Halloween yet, but.....Alex is practicing pictures rides at the Mall Vincent at preschool So nice of the teachers to take pictures and email them to us. more pictures Back to school night, piano practice for Alex (the lessons have started!), park after school (Candy Cane City in Rock Creek Park), Frank-Eli's birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese, and another park.

Alex (#4) is playing soccer with his school and this year the team is part of a league with games every Saturday.  His team won the first game 7-1 and Alex even played goal keeper for the second half. soccer pictures more soccer pictures with snacks afterwards Vincent's preschool picnic

pictures Back-to-school night on Tuesday for Vincent, then Wednesday was Vincent's first day back to preschool.  He was glad to see his teachers and friends from last year.  It was also Rosh Hashanah. more pictures We took advantage of the nice weather and went to the park afterschool.

Tuesday was back to school for Alex.  He is in second grade (CE1, cours élémentaire), at Lycée Rochambeau .  He was very excited to see his friends from last year and meet some new ones.  Not much else to report.  We'll spend the next week getting back into the groove of things. pictures more pictures Labor Day Weekend We spent the weekend in DC, and for some reason ended up being where lots of folks were - Baltimore for some good Italian and then Port Discovery, but we didn't realize it was the Grand Prix.  Then on Sunday we went to the Air and Space Museum which apparently everyone else decided to do since it was hot and humid.  Alex's friend Frank-Eli came with us.  Lots of running around the massive museum and some cool airplanes. pictures more pictures

Saturday was the event of the summer - the Cahoon End of Summer/David's 50th Birthday party!  A ton of folks and a ton of fun - home brewed beer, smoked meat (and lots of it), moon bounce, splatter art, ice cones, cornhole, and good times with good friends.  And Chris Campbell's band "Old Lady Afro" played.  So much fun. pictures more pictures after the party... The Day After pictures end of summer pix ...food, Vincent, cooking, eating, backyard pool fun

Visit to Wilmington A trip to Wilmington to visit Toots and Poppie.  Museum of Natural History and Joe's Crab Shack on the water.  On Wednesday we went into Philadelphia to the Seaport Museum and then had sub sandwiches at Sarcone's deli . more Wilmington World's Tallest Lego Towe r article more Philly Seaport Museum, Little Italy, Legos, trucks from the attic, lunch in Ellicott City at a French restaurant . pictures piano, popsicles, yard, more popsicles, train table Savage Mill To meet up with Suzanne, Eddy and Angie for lunch.

pictures eating, rides at the mall, park, Rock Creek a few of Vincent

Today was the last day of both Alex and Vincent's summer camps.  It was also the Bar-T Ranch Parent show.  Alex's group 2B-Boys performed to "Circle of Life" from the Lion King.  There was also an ice cream truck and Italian ice. pictures pictures from the camp photographer video - 2B-Boys perform "Circle of Life"

haircuts But who can complain, really, when it was actually chilly last week in DC in August?  Odd, but we'll take it after one of the hottest summers ever last year.  Alex continues his adventures at camp, where it was "Team Olympics" and Alex was on the green team.  What would we do without Party City for supplies? pictures More camp, Grannie, Alex lost tooth #5, challah, Pho, playground, haircuts at Olypmic Barbershop Kensington, dinner outside at The Limerick Pub in Wheaton (good food and drink). more pictures Vincent's pajama day at camp, Alex's green team day at camp, lunch at Jaleo in Bethesda. Alex camp pictures He's in all of them - see if you can spot him. Alex swimming video pictures - Frank-Eli came over to visit pictures - goofing around the house pictures - reading, Green Team day, outside