Stardate 64988.2 - Fun in the Snow

Once the sun came out and the wind died down a little we all ventured out. We made one aborted effort earlier in the day (photo immediately below) but it was cloudy, windy, and cold and the girls didn't last. I don't have snow pants or boots, but I do have my foul weather boots and pants for sailing, and with enough layers on under them (they are for summer use) they worked out pretty well.

Once we saw other people out sledding in the street we went back out and this time the girls had a blast on their new sled. Target was out of them on Sunday, but Cheryl saw a guy returning this one so she went and got it from the return desk on our way out.

Yeah, I'm not getting the car out anytime soon. Especially since I broke the damn shovel almost as soon as I started shoveling. I did the entire path from the car to the deck using Loren's small sand shovel, which I had luckily taken from the garage on Sunday in anticipation of Loren wanting to help shovel. Because I'm not getting to the garage anytime soon, either.

I'm a little worried about the weight on the gutters.

Later, while Kate napped, Loren played Nickelodeon Fit on the Wii.

Atlantic Highlands, NJ

Stardate 64987.18 - Blizzard!

Pictures from the morning of December 27, 2010 at our beach house.

The wind has created drifts. The table is clear but the door is blocked.

Our front door.

The side door to the deck.

Atlantic Highlands, NJ

Stardate 64985.43 - Christmas in NJ

We spent Christmas 2010 in New Jersey. Cheryl's parents hosted Christmas Eve, and the girls wanted to get dressed up for the event.

There was some Wii playing going on with Cheryl's Dad, her brother Steve, and nephew Ethan.

Steve was in charge of handing out gifts after dinner.

Christmas morning was spent at our beach house, just Cheryl, me, and the kids.

Later Christmas Day Cheryl's parents, grandmother, aunt Marie, and brothers and their families all came over to our place for a late lunch/early dinner. The cousins all had fun playing together.

And on Sunday (before the snow started) Loren and Kate showed up their new shirts while standing on their new trampoline.

Atlantic Highlands, NJ

Stardate 64985.42 - Decorating for Christmas

As I sit an watch the blizzard dump 12+ inches of snow on us the day after Christmas, I thought I'd catch up on posting pictures. Here are three from early December as we decorated the tree for Christmas out at the beach house.

Atlantic Highlands, NJ

Stardate 64924.56 - Thanksgiving Weekend

We didn't take too many pictures at Thanksgiving (in fact, we apparently never got the camera out during Thanksgiving dinner with Cheryl's family). But we did snap a few pictures outside cleaning up the garden a bit.

Loren likes to trace pictures and words in the condensation when the door is open.

Atlantic Highlands, NY

Stardate 64905.87 - Loren's Actual Birthday

On Loren's actual birthday we made a Bizzie Beaver snack that she found in one of her magazines.

This is supposed to be a beaver with a propeller-beanie on his head.

Cheryl got cupcakes from Crumbs for birthday dessert, which the girls just love.

Atlantic Highlands, NJ

Stardate 64903.14 - Loren's Birthday Party

We had Loren's 5th Birthday Party at the Galli Children's Theater. They put on a play for the kids and then there is pizza and cake. Exactly what a bunch of 5-year-olds enjoy! Multiple parents came up to ask us how we'd found the place, as they were thinking about it as a venue for their children's birthday parties.

Atlantic Highlands, NJ