Happy Birthday Aunt Nicole

Happy Birthday Aunt Nicole! Looks like you had an early gift yesterday with that Bills win (I'm sounding like my brother now). But seriously, what an awesome game to attend. Hope you have a fantastic day. I love this picture below. Colin looks like he's ready to soar. Jack says, "happy birthday anticole."

Happy Birthday Grandpa Jim

Gearing up for Black Friday...

Have to find the best scratch backer. Didn't see that listed on the Walmart map.

Happy Thanksgiving.

We have alot to be thankful for. I thought this would make you smile for your holiday. We started drafting a letter to Santa. I know we're just as bad as the stores gearing up for Christmas before the other immediate holiday. But this sort of stuff is what I'm so grateful for. Happy thanksgiving.

As dictated by Jack :

Dear Santa,

Can you give me a leaf blower, a balloon, thomas books, a computer, more playdough, a hupa loop, a soccer ball with white and black and a golf ball?

Please bring Lily cookies and a washing machine and paper towels and a game.

Bring mommy some crabby patties and mochas from Starbucks.

Please bring daddy a scratch backer.

Thanks Santa,
Jack

They look so happy...

Try as we might, it's nearly impossible to get a posed picture of both kids. Together. Looking at the camera. Looking pleasant and not shooting blank stares. Last week I thought I would get a jump start on the holiday pictures. I dressed them up and thought I could snap a few pictures in the morning while they were both still bright eyed and bushy tailed. Needless to say this photo will not be gracing your holiday cards this year.

In other news...Lily had her one year appointment today. She is in the 90th percentile for both height and weight. 30.5 inches tall, 24.75 lbs. She's going to be tall. I said, "maybe she'll be a model, haha." Then Dave said, "No I want her to use her brain. They're going to look at her one day and say...'Look at that physicist, she could be a model.'" Hah. Anyway, it was a rough appointment for her. Three shots and a catheter insertion. Thank goodness David was there. She's a trooper though. Glad that's over.

Two Peas in a Pod

Storytime

Lessons in Fine Motor Skills

Those didactic grandparents...

Toni and Jack having fun with playdough

Grandpa Dave introduces mobil devices to Lily and she too practices her fine motor skills. :)

It's Friday!!! Yippee!!

Future Ice Knight?

As I've mentioned before, Matt's gift to Jack for his birthday was skating lessons. So this past Saturday, Jack went for his first time to the hockey rink. It was great to have Toni and Dave here for the occassion. I think Dave has laced up some skates in his time. :) Anyway, it was fun to watch the little ones on the ice for the first time. I don't know if it's clicked with Jack yet. The good news is that he said he wanted to go back next week. By the way, the picture quality is pretty poor on these shots but at least you get the idea!

Walking into Nichols, which incidentally is a gorgeous school. What other highschool has its own hockey rinks (yes plural)?

Wonder how many hours have been spent lacing up skates?

Making his way to the ice

Oops had to tighten again

My favorite picture of the day. The instructors deposited the kids along the boards and they were all clutching them for dear life.

First of MANY spills

Not really sure what to make of this

Does anyone remember that scene from bambi?

Gliding

Name: Jack Archer
Hometown: Tonawanda, NY
Height: 3ft (or thereabouts)
Weight: 37 lbs (or thereabouts)

Happy Veterans Day

To all the veterans we know especially Kevin, The Other Dave (my father-in-law), Grandpa Ted, Abe (Toni's father), Uncle Tim (my dad's brother), Uncle Bill (my dad's father), Bob May, and anyone I may have missed...


THANK YOU for your service and sacrifice. We honor you today.
God bless the USA!

Celebrate We Will

We had a nice birthday celebration for Lily on Saturday. She was showered with gifts! It was great having Toni and Dave here too. They were able to witness Lily really walking. Yippee...we have a walker.

Birthday Girl

Grandpa Dave and Joe Cool

Lily's cake and new Minnie Mouse bag. Toni found the bag and it was perfect.

Lily and Minnie

Mmm, cake.

Grandma Toni and the One Year Old!

Thank Heaven for Little Girls...

It's very hard for me to believe our baby girl is turning one tomorrow. In many ways it seems like just yesterday I was sitting in a hospital closet room holding our new daughter. She was perfect and immediately fit into our family.

Just realized that from day one she has been hugging her dad!

So happy!

Lily said, "Where's my brudder?"

(Inside joke--Jack says this every day when I pick him up from school)

This week one of our best friends delivered a beautiful girl and another found out they will be having a girl in the spring. I wish for them what we have been given from our daughter...joy, love and awe. Happy Birthday Lil. You are pure sweetness and I hope you always remain that way.

I never particularly thought much of this song until I heard it again recently. I guess it has new meaning now...

For Kevin...

My mom found this package of mustaches at Pottery Barn Kids (don't worry not toxic or very sticky for that matter). We did a photo shoot for you Kev.

Look it's Mini-Me

I think Nicole has the same reaction to both Colin and Kevin

Jack wasn't digging the stache thankfully

Brian, My Mom, Bridget (and yes, my mom is a mustachioed penguin)

Magnum P.I., er, I mean, David

Few More Halloween Shots...

Welcome Vivian Paige May

Our friends Erin and Bob (and Nate) welcomed a healthy baby girl two days ago. I've seen a couple pictures and she's just perfect. And, I love that name--sounds very old hollywood (right up my alley). Lil and Viv will be almost a year apart! Wishing them congrats and sleep when they can get it. Looking forward to getting the gang all together.

Halloween Brunch

Love how Colin is holding his mom's hand

Aunt Nicole, I highly recommend pancakes

In discussion with Aunt B

Sweet Little Lion

Lily and Grandpa Jim

Before the Bills played this weekend

Dad and his little girl

Colin loved this book Bridget gave him

Dr. Jack was pretty happy about the dvd too.

Grandpa Jim and Colin

Bridge and Brian

Hi Kev!! We miss you!