November 17, 2024

Soccer and Friends

 I went to a Justin Timberlake concert with Kate Thursday night.  We went out to eat at an amazing Japanese restaurant first and I can't wait to go back.  I haven't kept up with JT's music, but the concert was great!
            
JT
    
      
     
      
      
     
          
We went to a party for Harper's soccer team Friday night at the coach's house.  It has been a great season and I have loved getting to know all the parents and kids on this team.
    
     
     
Harper won the "Come Back Kid" award.
    
      
      
       
Harper's team played their last game Saturday morning.  It was their first loss of the season (missing a few kids), but they were still the season champions as they had the most wins overall!  Alex took Ethan to his game which was at the same time as Harper's.
      
          
After the games, Harper's team had another celebratory get-together at a brewery.  Alex and the kids went, but I had to stay and make a few dishes for Friendsgiving.  We had a Friendsgiving at Kate's house and it was great!
      
Kate makes beautiful tablescapes! 
      
   
    
    
     
    
     
Happy Friendsgiving! 
       
       
On Sunday, Harper and Nanna baked all day in preparation for Harper's tea party next weekend.  Ethan and I walked seven miles delivering information for neighborhood luminaries, which I am organizing this year.  Alex hosted a Learn-to-Curl for the trainers at his gym.

November 12, 2024

Birthdays at the Shore

We celebrated Grandma and Gigi's birthdays this past weekend in New Jersey.  Alex, the kids and I flew up to Philadelphia Thursday night after school.  We explored Philly on Friday and were able to show the kids a few of our old favorite spots.  We stayed at Aunt Pat's beach house over the weekend and enjoyed beautiful water views and luxurious accommodations.  It was a great weekend!
       
We loved the view from our hotel in Philly.
 
               
       
       
We walked over six miles on Friday!
    
    
      
Of course we had to show the kids the Liberty Bell.
    
    
    
     
     
        
Benjamin Franklin's grave 
    
It was my first visit to the US Mint too!
    
   
    
    
       
We enjoyed watching the process of manufacturing coins.
    
We went to see the Betsy Ross house.
   
   
    
   
    
    
    
   
Elfreth's Alley 
   
     
    
   
    
We rode the subway back to Reading Terminal Market.
   
Just as I remembered it!
    
Our favorite cheese place!
    
    
     
Ben met us at the market for lunch.  It was so nice to see him!
     
    
      
   
We took the kids to the Franklin Institute. 
    
       
      
The kids touched a meteorite!  
    
This museum was amazing!
      
   
    
    
    
     
     
    
   
      
   
   
   
    
We went by Drexel Medical School.  It seems like just yesterday we were there!
    
We went to our favorite cheesesteak place for dinner.
      
We made it to Pat's house after picking up Lisa at the airport.  Pat had gotten gifts for the kids!
   
    
    
There was a cute playroom for the kids to play.
     
The house was gorgeous!
    
     
Alex and my room had two walls of windows facing the water.
     
     
Chris and Paul came for Grandma's birthday breakfast.
       
    
      
We thoroughly enjoyed the hot tub.
     
    
    
    
    
     
     
    
We started and finished a 1000 piece Christmas puzzle.
    
          
         
       
     
    
Happy birthday Grandma!
    
   
   
    
       
Happy birthday Gigi!
       
     
    
     
We took the kids down to the water.  It was chilly!
    
    
    
    
    
    
   
   
     
    
    
    
    
    
Harper and Gigi played with Legos. 
     
Our complete puzzle!