The One With The Happy New Year

Today is New Year's Eve.

2016 was a memorable year. It had:

• The Trump election
• Massachusetts legalizing marijuana
• The retirement of David Ortiz
• The ridiculous suspension of Tom Brady
• The ability of the Celtics to lure a top free agent - Al Horford
• The untimely death of stars such as Prince, George Michael, Alan Thicke, Carrie Fisher
• The Rio Olympics and drama around it
• The release of a Star Wars movie that is not truly part of the main story line


We also saw the passing of Molly - very sad!

What a year.

Here's wishing everyone a happy new year.

The One With the Christmas Puke

Surely, you have heard of the legend of the Christmas Poo...the story carved out by South Park years ago. Well, we have had our own story of the Christmas Poo (you can search this site for it).

However, Christmas 2016 was the holiday of the Christmas Puke...literally!

Poor Bri developed the stomach bug that Kiff had the week before. Of course, we were worried about that but thought we were in the clear until 4:00 AM on Christmas when we heard the pitter-patter of feet. Realizing that it was much to late for Santa's arrival, it could only mean one thing - someone going to the bathroom.

The next thing we knew, we heard the unmistakable groan of someone yaking!


And Yak she did...five times on Christmas....marking a Christmas we will never forget.

Sure, we did have many great memories in spite of the raging puke - from Kiff and I watching a Godzilla movie, to some neat snacks later in the day....but this one will go down as the year of the Christmas Puke.


Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

 

The One With The First Day Of Winter

It arrived yesterday. That old, fateful, shortest day. The first day of winter.

It was chilly.

It was cool.

But it arrived.

Happy yule. 

Now the days

Grow longer

Stronger

Making their way

Toward steadier days

The One Where We Watch Brain Games

Today, we watched Brain Games together. It was fascinating.

We learned a few things:

• Dark chocolate helps reduce stress.

• Chewing come helps reduce stress.

• Giving information to your brain quickly puts it into a mode that helps shut down short term memory to cope.

• Positive reinforcement can help people complete stressful task 80 percent of the time when playing the game Perfection (vs. negative reinforcement, which allowed a 20 percent success rate).

The One With The School Store

Tis the season to be busy.

Tonight, we went to the school store...the annual holiday shopping bazaar the school puts on.

It was quite a treat...and a trip!  Fun times.

Kiff and I spent about 40 minutes perusing the items...with Kiff making sure to carefully select treasures he wanted to buy.

Then it was off to cub scouts.

The One With The Christmas Carol

This week, we had the opportunity to do something we have never done. We went to the Salem Christmas Carol on a trolley.

Simply put, it was an incredible experience. Essentially, it is the interactive tale of Scrooge where the audience participates in the journey by trolley. You make stops, take part in scenes, and see the story of the Christmas Carol unfold right before you.

The idea is incredible and it truly was a remarkable experience....and one everyone should take part in. The acting was great - Scrooge was impeccable and he even updated the story when he could in spots to connect to the audience. The interaction allowed us to be part of the story, which was great. Bri and Kiff even had a chance to be two of the Crachit children.

The only downfall is it was raining, so it was hard to see outside the trolley. And, I think the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come Scene might have been done in an actual graveyard otherwise.

But, all and all, this is a perfect Christmas experience...and a new annual tradition for our family!

Thanks so much for the great experience.

 

The One With Black Friday

Today is November 25, 2016.

It is Black Friday!

Normally I am not a participant. However, I told Emmie I would go out on an errand for her early in the morning.

I could not believe it. I got up at 4:00 AM and went to a local store looking for a laptop.

The mission itself was a failure....but I actually understood the allure of going out early in the morning.

That is, until I went back to bed.

Nothing like a good Black Friday to get you motivated.

The One With The Happy Thanksgiving

Today is November 24.

It is Thanksgiving

There is so much to be thankful for.

The big guy upstairs
Family
Friends
Good memories
Fun times
Great jobs
Learning
Super hobbies
Favorite sports teams


Here is wishing everyone a happy, safe, and blessed Thanksgiving!!!

 

The One With The Supermoon

This past Sunday November 13 and Monday November 14 (the night of the full moon), we were able to take part in something that has not happened for the past 70 years. We were able to enjoy a full moon when the moon was at its closest point (or perigee) to the Earth.

This resulted in an amazing Supermoon that we enjoyed by going out back both nights. It was truly inspiring and amazing....reminding me of "Owl Moon." Wow.

Here is a picture we took of it to capture the event for the first time since 1946.

So beautiful!

The One With Superbowl Satuday

Today, we were able to enjoy a unique event in our family. Kiff has his first ever flag football Super Bowl game.

It was a blast.

His team was the Cowboys and they has a 4-2 record and finished in second place. The faced the Skins - a tough team - and got down quickly, but came roaring back fast.

In the end, they came in as runners-up...but it was an awesome game.

The One With Another Busy Week

it was quite a busy week:

Halloween on Monday
Family Fun day Tuesday
Dance and Football Wednesday
Happy Birthday Thursday
Dance Friday
Savers Saturday.

Wow.

No wonder I am tired.

The One With So Many Firsts and Lasts

Wow, what a wacky week it has been. It was a week of firsts and lasts.

First, with the lasts:

• Tuesday October 26 was the last day that the old Eaton's - as a Walgreens - was open. Bri, Kiff, and I made a special trip that day to visit one last time.

• Friday October 28 was also the last day that they gave tickets on the Mass Pike and took change at the toll booths. It is all going to be Easy Pass, now. We went through one last time to Natick and back on Friday and have tickets from the final day as a reminder.

Now onto firsts.

• Today (Saturday October 29) was the first day that Kiff scored a touchdown in flag football. He almost had two. He had a nice run.

• Today was also the first day all of us helped out at the Monster Mash. It was a blast.

The One Where Tom Brady Came Back

Today was the day.

After four fraudulent weeks where one of the most unwarranted penalties of all time, Tom Brady played his first game.

At last, the whole Deflategate nonsense is over.

It was great to see him back. And, not only was he back.

He was BACK...with a vengeance....just like old times.  With 404 yards passing. And one great first down run (and gesture).

Great to have you back, Tom. You never should have been out to begin with.

The One With Cub Scouts

It finally arrived this week...Kiff's first day of Cub Scouts. After a couple of years of planning and working with the schedule, we were finally able to pull it off.

It was fun. He knows several of the kids in the den, which is great. He got introduce to the Scout Law and Oath (they definitely have not changed since my time), and had the chance to do some games.

Overall, it was a lot of fun...and brought back many memories.

The One With Open House Week

Ah, it is open house this week. The time when we get to know how our kiddoes are doing...and I get to showcase what we do this year.

We learned a lot from Kiff's one this week. Sounds like he will have a great year.

As for me...open house is today.

The One With The Flag Football Game

Flag Football Week Two was today. And, Kiff had fun. He was a little nervous after last week because the action was fast and he was trying to figure things out. But, boy, he was getting the swing of it. He played well on defense and was able to run several fakes.

Overall, he said "he had a lot more fun this week."

He is looking forward to week three.

The One With Dancing Week

Wow...dancing week started this week.

And it was busy. There were four nights this week that either Kiff or Bri has a dance class.

Of course, they enjoy it and have fun with their teachers. But, wow!

What a schedule. Making Kiff's more fun is he has football right after dance. Zoinks.

The One With the Long Week

Zoinks

What a long week.

The kids started back to school and they loved it. That is great news. Best part is, they have great teachers.

School for me was great...I have good classes.

Ready to hibernate now.

Glad football season is starting tomorrow. GO PATS!

The One With the First Day of School

This was the week that I always wait for.

The infamous "First Day of School."

It went great, but I am exhausted.

So happy it is labor day.

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad.

The One With Kid's Day

This week, we celebrated Kid's Day. It is a day when Emmie and I take the kids and do something with them one on one. It was a great time.

Emmie took Bri to bowl. Then, they went for tea and lunch at the Wenham Tea House. After that, they did shopping and did a mini spa at home. They watched Anne of Green Gables at home. And they wrapped it up with supper.

Kiff and I also went bowling. Then, we ate lunch at Olive Garden. Yum. We went to an arcade and followed up with some ice cream. After that, we went to scootering in the park, visited the old cars, and then saw the small planes in Beverly. 

All and all a great day...and a fun way to wrap up summer.

The One With Blueberry Picking

It was hot. It was a little humid. It was sunny. It was August. It seemed like the perfect blueberry picking day.

We were wrong.

We went to our favorite blueberry picking place only to learn that the lack of rain this summer had made for only a fair crop. We were warned that the pickings might be slim - and that the mosquitoes were biting - but we decided to go for it.

Big mistake. It did not work out so well. The blueberries indeed were sparse. And the mosquitoes were monstrous. Even the wipes we used to keep them at bay failed.

We picked one carton and then tried to pick blackberries. That lasted for - oh - ten seconds. Then, we bailed and got some of their traditional apple cider donuts.

It was not one of the better blueberry picking experiences...but it was memorable.

The One With The New Ghostbusters

I have long been a fan of the Ghostbusters movies. Ever since they rocked the world with proton packs back in 1984, I have been hooked. Having a nephew that fell in love with all things Ghostbusters helped enhance that love.

So when we went to see the new Ghostbusters yesterday, I was cautiously optimistic. I had heard many people say it was a solid movie. Still, it is always hard to reboot a hit like that.

But, I was thoroughly surprised. It was better than expected and some elements were better than the original. The acting was solid, the story was believable, I loved the cameos by all the former stars (they were placed so well in the movie), and the technology they used for different ghost busting weapons jumped it up a notch.

Thoroughly enjoyed that.

The One With the Olympics

The 2016 Olympics Have Started

Go Team USA

Love watching it with the kids

The One With the Birthdays Weekend

Have you ever had one of those weekends where you have a ton of birthday parties.

That was us last weekend. We had three birthday parties to go to. One was a family party which we usually have this time of year. The others were parties for the kids's friends.

Phew! Fun....but very busy.

By the time Sunday night came around I - and not the kids - slept very well.

The One With The Old Cars

Yesterday was a busy day...

We did a lot of things.

1. Went to the classroom to move items
2. Had a quick lunch on the road
3. Went into the pool
4. Visited the old cars at the weekly car show.
5. Went to eat some tacos
6. Introduced the kids to the $25,000 Pyramid game show.


Fun times!!!

The One With the Busy Week and the Hundred Anniversary of the Fried Clam

Today - July 3, 2016 - is the 100th birthday of the fried clam that was reportedly made in Essex, MA. Happy birthday friend clam.


Also, on a different note, this past week was a busy week.


Monday - Great Wolf
Tuesday - Great Wolf
Wednesday - Great Wolf
Thursday - Oldies Night
Saturday - Scoopahbowl and Fireworks show

Wow! How do you spell exhausted.

The One Where We Went to Great Wolf

We just got back from Great Wolf Lodge in Massachusetts and I will admit that it was a fantastic experience.

Wow! I cannot recommend it enough. It is a great family park and resort and perfect for a two-night stay.

The first night we got there a little bit late but had the opportunity to test out Magiquest, a creative Magical role playing game. Bri and Kiff had the chance to be magi in the making in an interactive and fun game.  We also played ping pong...and realized we had very little team skill.

The second day started us off with a cool buffet....affordable with good food. It then brought us the opportunity to visit the Water Park. We visited the wave pool as well as the river ride pool, which were both a blast! Kiff and I also went on one of the water slide rides. It was quite fast, but fun. After the time in the pool, we had a quick lunch and went to the arcade. It was a blast and Bri came in 1st place twice on a motorcycle game. Alas, Kiff used the motorcycle game to crash into stuff. The kids and I also did bowling. I got my first strike ever bowling! Overall I cam in 1st place, Bri was in 2nd place, Kiff was in 3rd place, and Emmie was in 4th place.

The final day brought a last visit to the water park. Loved it. Then, we did the ropes course, which was fun. It took us a little time to get used to it - and Bri a little time to gain her confidence - but it was a blast. All four of us took to it...and had fun.

What a great trip. We definitely enjoyed Great Wolf Lodge and cannot wait to go back. 

The One With The Last Day of School

At last it arrived

This past Wednesday, June 22

The last day of school.

The first moving on ceremony of the 50th class at our school.

I got to give the speech.

It was a day of fun, memories, and good vibes.

And in the end.

Summer is here!!!

Happy summer!!!

The One With a Happy Father's Day

Today is Father's Day

To All The Father's Out There

Happy Father's Day!

I Love You Dad!!!

The One Where Kiff Pitches

Last night, we had a first in our family....

June 17, 2016 was Kiff's pitching debut in a baseball game. Now, it didn't start off in that direction, because we were looking for pitchers. Kiff had volunteered to be catcher, but we realized a lot of people had already pitched and we needed someone new.

Enter, Kiff.

Luckily, he was batting second, so we could get him to warm up pretty quickly once he rounded the bases. That worked out well.

Once we got started, he did well. His first few pitches were WAY OUT there...but after he settled down, kids made contact on all his pitches...which is what we want.

In the end, he did great!

The One With the Dance Competition

Today was the first time I got to experience a dance competition up close.

It was quite an event.

It was one of Bri's competitions in New Hampshire and it was fun.

They performed two dances and did a great job. The one a silver award for their jazz routine and a high silver for their tap routine. All and all, it was fun....with a lot of down time.

The One With The Busy Day

Today was a BUSY day

Take a look at this schedule

7:30 cooking breakfast for the kids
8:15 picking up items at Dunkins for fundraiser
8:30 working at school fundraiser
9:00 drop off Kiff to work Snack stand
9:10 drop off items for fundraiser
9:30 drop off Bri
9:45 return to fundraiser
10:00 pick up Kiff at Snack stand and help out for short time
10:30 return to fundraiser and help pack
12:20 head to playground
1:00 pick up Bri
1:30 restaurant
3:00 to 7:00 yard work

The One With the Captain America Civil war

Yesterday, I was able to get through Friday Memorial Day Traffic to meet the family at Captain America Civil War. It was definitely worth it.

As I was driving home, I got a message that said try to make it if I could. After a few of those messages, I decided to check it out....even though I was stuck in Route 1 traffic and was unsure if I'd make it.

I'm glad I did. It was quite a movie! Wow. Lots of action and a new Spiderman....when he is in high school. Awesome.

Trying to find the family in the movie theater wasn't too hard, either. I guess it was a good time to see it....The 3:45 movie was fairly clear.

Glad I saw the movie. Great way to start the Memorial Day weekend

The One With th Dance Recital Weekend

Last weekend was...
   the Weekend of the Dance Recital

Wow, we had two of them.  The first day, Bri had a dance recital. because she is on team, she had three dances. Zoinks. She did great. However, it was also baseball picture weekend, so Kiff and I had to attend that first. By the time we got to her recital, it was intermission...but we were able to see her jazz dance.

The following day, was Kiff's premier recital.

He was nervous, but that went well. In a unique twist, because he was one of the few boys there, I had the chance to hang with him back stage.

That was fun. And, I have the opportunity to see him on stage from behind stage. He looked great in his black pants, white shirt, and tie.

What a weekend.

Dad would have loved it.

I know I did.

The One Where Bri Starts Opening Day

Last night, Bri's first softball game arrived. And, it was a blast.

Sure, there was a little bit of rust on people's bats and arms. But overall, they did great.

Of course, Bri got the surprise of her life...she was asked to pitch the first game in the first inning. Zoinks! But, she enjoyed it and actually pitched quite well. Wow.

Her hitting proved to be okay, too. After a slow start, she got a solid hit in the second inning.

Now, onto game two.

The One With The Busy Day

Wow...
Yesterday was busy.
Very busy.
Bri had a dance competition in NH that last several hours
They earned two silvers for their dances.

Meanwhile, here, Kiff had a baseball parade
Followed by 20 minutes for lunch
And a baseball game
Which went well
We then at at Chucks for a early supper, late lunch

Followed by a car ride late a night.

Wow! What a busy time of year.

The One With Opening Day

Ahhh, at last it has arrived. The beginning of yet another sports year. And with it comes opening day, complete with parade and all sorts of fun. It is only 8:47 in the morning....but in a little more than 90 minutes, the season officially begins.

Here is to another good year.

Go Wildcats

Go Knights.

The One With the Father Daughter Dance

This past Thursday, the annual Father - Daughter Dance was held at the Yacht Club. It was a fabulous time.

We actually spent the earlier part of the day finding a dress. Bri settled on a salmon-colored dress with gold flowers...which she really liked. 

When we got there, we were able to first get a drink of punch for the punch fountain. Bri enjoyed this last year and visited several times this year.

Then, we got something to eat. There were lots of items to choose from. We had some crackers and cheese for snack then visited the dance floor. After that, we had some egg rolls, pizza, chicken nuggets, and meatballs....quite a smorgasbord. We ate outside and enjoyed the warm weather and setting sun along the waterfront. 

We returned to the dance floor, and danced. There were several fathers on the dance floor as well, which is always great to see.

After, we went back outside to walk along the grass and took a picture at the bandstand.

We came back in and found what Bri was really waiting for - the chocolate fountain. She dipped strawberries, marshmallows, and rice krispie treats in the fountain for a perfect dessert. Then, they played "Hit The Road Jack" and it was time to go.

Another wonderful, father, daughter dance...and another one that I will never forget.

The One With the One Year Anniversary

Last Friday was a somber day.

A day to remember.

A day to reflect.

It was one year since the passing of my father - a great man - one I will remember forever.

It was a day of sadness, of joy, of rememberance.

A day to reflect on many memories.

A day to laugh, to think, to look.

A day that I remembered my Dad.

An inspiration who I could always turn to.

I miss you Dad.

I will always love you.

Thanks for being my Dad!

The One With The Paul Revere Capture Ceremony

Yesterday, we went as a family to the Paul Revere capture ceremony in Lincoln. Because Bri has been studying the Revolutionary War, we thought it would be a great experience. And, because cousin Jim is partially in charge of the ceremony, we thought it would be fun to check it out.

It was a lot of fun. It began with some fife and drum music. Then, there were greetings by the National Park Service and the Captain of the Lincoln Minuteman. After that, the story is told around the frame of the poem "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere," focusing on the fact and fiction of the poem.

It was a fun, one hour ceremony. We had a great time. And, we found out that it might be one of Jim's last ceremonies...which made it even more special.

The One Where the Celtics Win

Two nights ago, Emmie and I fell asleep downstairs.

We were in luck. We woke up a little bit after midnight. Just in time to see the NBA game of the year.

We saw the Boston Celtics playing in Oakland against the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors had not lost at home this season and are an incredible team. They were riding a 54 game home winning streak.

Then, it happened. The Celtics, who have played the Warriors close for the past two years, played a typical tough defensive game. They are a team on the rise who play a fast tempo, small basketball. On this night, the played even tougher than usual...and they did the unthinkable (at least it was when the game started).

They beat the Warriors 109-106....amazing! And luckily, we woke up to see it.

The One With The Happy Easter

Today is Easter.

What a great day.

Thank you Jesus.

Happy Easter

The One With the Wild Saturday

Saturday was a wild day.

About as wild as I have ever encountered. What a  whirlwind.

It started with the realization that Molly, our lovely and awesome cat, would probably not last the day. We had to check in with the vets to see if there was anything we could do, then we tried our best to ensure her final day was as wonderful as it could be. We hope it was for her. We will miss you Molly.

Along with that, I had two plays to help with behind the scenes, which took me out of the house around 11:30. Emmie was helping with a school auction, so she had to deliver food early (I cleaned out the car) before returning later.

Before our first show started at 1:00, I found out the Kiff got sick all over Emmie and he was down for the count the rest of the day...she figured it was only a matter of time that she would get sick, too (she was right).

She had to zip over to the auction while I worked the play. In between shows, I called, only to find out from Bri that Molly had indeed passed (Bri found her) and that Kiff was still sick. In the interim, it turned out he lost a tooth.

As this was happening, I had to take care of a bird that careened into my mother's house - where I checked in between shows. I also learned that I had become a Great Uncle for the second time. Zoinks.

I returned for another show then zipped home. I popped in to get dressed for the auction (it was an 80s theme) and make sure Molly was taken care off. 


Then, I hopped off to the auction, which was a blast (very 80s) and we stayed to help clean up. After, we popped in for a short coalition before wrapping up the day at 1:00.

Wow...all in all quite a day.

The One With St. Patrick's Day

Ahhh,

another St. Patrick's Day was upon us.

Always a lot of fun. And so many things from a sister and brother - in - law anniversary to a great nephew's birthday.

Now, on the actual day, we had play practice at school. However, we did manage to do the corn beef and cabbage days earlier to remember the day.

Here is wishing everyone a top o' the morning and days with the wind at their backs.

The One With the Late Snow

We had one of those days with late snow the other day.

I always like those days.

It is a reminder that March comes in like a lion...though it did make for a wild Friday ride home.

Yet, later this week it should be nearly 70°F.

The One With The Science Fair

This past week, Bri and Kiff had their science fairs at school. What an amazing experience. It is the first time that either of them participated in a science fair and it definitely harkened back to an earlier time in my own life when I loved science fairs. I can still remember those fifth through eighth grade science fairs that dominated my life.


Bri decided to answer the question "How do lungs work?" She and Emmie made a poster complete with a diagram, as well as tips on lung health and words to know. She make a take home book, a coloring sheet, and even had a model lung made out of a plastic water jug that showed how the lungs worked.

Kiff's science fair was "How do stars form?" Although he had to be coaxed a little bit more to do it, he had fun. He and I put together a display that showed how stars form, the different size stars, and the life cycle of a star. It included a chart will real pictures and his pictures. Along with this we made styrofoam models of a blue giant, medium start, and red dwarf.


Overall, Bri said it was "fun, cool, neat, love projects"

Kiff said, "Liked it."

I am sure they cannot wait until next year.

The One With the BC Hockey Game

 

On Friday, we had the chance to see the Boston College Women's Season finale at BC.  What a great game.


The women played against the Providence Friars. They had a fairly tight game when we arrived in between the first and second period, holding a 2-1 score. However, we saw them score four goals in the second period and another in the third.  Wow!


Bri and Kiff really enjoyed the game and asked a ton of questions. Bri did feel bad for the Friars because of the final score, but they thoroughly enjoyed the event.


The only disappointment - BC now charges for parking in the garage.


Really! Really, like you need that extra money.


But we capped the night off with a trip to the Outback. A great way to end a long week.

The One Where We Skate At Endicott College

Yesterday, we did something we had not done. We skated at the Raymond Borque Arena at Endicott College.

What a great experience. First, it has been years since Emmie and I were on skates, so that alone made it a wild time. On top of that, Bri and Kiff have really come a long way as skaters. It was great to see them on ice.

The arena itself is a beautiful place. It is wonderful inside and there is a room with a pair of old Borque skates...how cool. The rink is awesome and the ice is simply fabulous. It was an honor to be on it.

To top it off, we were able to make our own cups of hot chocolate. It was the perfect ending to a great day.

Overall, it was a fabulous time...and we cannot wait to go again!

Thanks, Endicott, for a wonderful experience.

The One With Ice Cream For Breakfast

Yesterday it arrived again. Our favorite, fateful Saturday after Groundhog Day.

The fabled, the extraordinary, the invented by a dairy farming family holiday - Ice Cream For Breakfast Day.

We are lucky because Cherry Hill Creamery celebrates this holiday every year...and so, we get to enjoy it.

Yesterday, we all took part and had some memorable ice cream

Kiff played it safe with the chocolate (he only had a little).
Bri tried out the cinnamon bun vanilla (she loved it).
Emmie tried out the coffee with donut  (she liked it but said it could use more donut).
I decided to finally be daring and had the maple with pieces of bacon. It was awesome....though it felt more like bacon bits because of the dairy in it.

It was an awesome day.

Happy Ice Cream For Breakfast Day to You!

The One With the Snow Day

At last,

It has finally arrived

February 5 2016

The first snow day from school.  All of us had the day off....it was a sort of unpredicted snowstorm and although we only have about two and a half inches right now, at 12:30, it is nice to have one of these a year.

The snow is a little wet

And not fun to shovel.

But still there is something special about these days.

Happy Snow Day to All

The One With the Roller Palace Fundraiser

This past Friday, Emmie and I took Bri and Kiff to the Roller Palace for a school fundraiser. It was the first time we did it and it turned out to be a great event.

It was excellent to see how far Bri and Kiff had come with their skating since last being here. Taking ice skating lessons certainly helped....but they got increasingly better as the night went on.

It was great to see them interact with their fellow classmates...and great to check in with parents, too.

However, it was slightly bittersweet because, after 37 years, the Roller Palace is actually closing this June. It had been a staple up here for years, much like Roller Kingdom in my neck of the woods growing up, and many of the parents at the school remember going here as kids. Wow! 


It will be missed....but, if this is indeed the final swan song for an indoor roller arena and fundraiser here, it could not pick a better way to go out

The One Where the Patriots Go to the AFC Championship

Yesterday, it became evident that we, as a family, have finally hit that stage where it is fun to watch a football game together because we watched the AFC playoff game between the Patriots and Kansas City chiefs.


Sure, Bri and Kiff may not have been totally focused on the game, but with all the snacks we were serving, who could blame them.


We had a ton of fun watching the game. The Patriots played well with all of their injured players making a return. It was like the Patriots of earlier in the season as they raced out to an impressive lead and the defense was able to contain the chiefs...until they made a late score with 1:18 in the game to make it tight.

Still, the Patriots were able to win 27-20 and advance to their fifth AFC championship in a row (and 11th in the 22 years that Robert Kraft has owned the team...and 10th since Tom Brady has played. Wow). The only other team to go to 5 straight conference championships were the Raiders from 1973 to 1977.  Impressive.

Go Pats!

The One Where We Put The Christmas Items Away

Alas it has hit

That dreaded weekend.

The one where we put our Christmas trees away.

Always dark and depressing at first....but a hint of things to come.

Until next year, we bid you adieu Christmas tree, Christmas decorations, Christmas plates.


You will be here again before we know it.

The One With the Newport Mansions

Yesterday, Emmie, Bri, Kiff and I went to the Newport Mansions. Kiff has been interested in mansions as of late, so we decided to visit.

Before we arrived, we had to take brief detour in West Bridgewater - home of my dad. Bri was feeling a little blah and Kiff had to use the bathroom, so we got off at the main road which I remember from days gone by. What a nice, albeit brief, stroll down memory lane.

We arrived at the Breakers around 2:00 PM or so. I was amazing. I had not been there in a while. Although not much has changed, they did do an audio tour now, which everyone can enjoy. They had a kid and adult one. I did the adult one, but everyone else enjoyed the kids.

We strolled through the mansion, which took about 90 minutes, and the kids thoroughly enjoyed the place. Wow! To believe people lived there.

When we were done, we reveled in the beauty of the outside then made our way home down Ocean Drive with is scenic and beautiful vistas.

All and all a great way to usher in the second day of 2015.