Halloween 2017

 Lucy was a jellyfish. Her costume was especially amazing outside in the dark

 Anna Kate was a cheerleader from High School Musical - a longtime family favorite - but this year, she and her co-captain for soccer would use quotes from it to motivate the team

 At the last minute (literally) Will decided to eek out one more year as Darth Vadar. Poe awaits him for next year. 

 Samantha was a bumble bee (matching her Bitty Baby)

Samantha's 10th Birthday Party

For Samantha's 10th Birthday Party, we invited some friends for pumpkin carving & lunch. It was so much fun, and, honestly, quite a bit easier than I expected. Dave was out of town for Tim & Anna's wedding, so it felt like a risk to carve pumpkins without him. But I would do it again! Here are some pictures

 There was plenty of time for games, playing outside, dancing, and eating!

Heather & Decker visit - spring 2017

Lucky for us, the campus spring breaks here often line up with the UTEP spring break, which means that though Dave is often gone, Heather & Decker & sometimes Hillery are here visiting. This year, Heather & Decker were delayed by a blizzard which dropped about 3 feet of snow on us. But once they arrived we had a ton of fun! 

Thank God for friends who plow the driveway when there is no hope the snowblower can do it!

 Heather took the girls to their first concert - Toby Mac - at the Times Union Center. Decker took me & Will to dinner.

This is the girls' middle school. Heather & Decker were here for the spring Open School Day, which is a day when you can go to school with your child. I sat this one out and they both returned to middle school for a day! So much fun. This day is one of my favorites every semester! 

 

 Lucky for Deceker, it was a basketball unit in gym!

 Lucy had her NYSSMA duet

 And we geared up to enjoy the snow - a snowy walk through the woods to the golf course

 And snowman making when we returned. 

First-time Fall Camping

The kids had a long weekend for Columbus Day, so we decided to try out Fall Camping.
We went to the Taconic State Park, and we enjoyed a beautiful hike to these falls, which included hiking across the NY - Massachusetts border!

 Since we usually camp in the summer, we don't "need" a fire for warmth or light very much. But we did this time! We cozied right up to the fire to enjoy its heat and to make s'mores (and to dry wet shoes).

 And played a little before we headed home.

Winter-ish

Lucy "ate" her way through Sam's one Sunday, when Daddy was out of town! Look at all those sample cups!!!

 Every now and then, Will still chooses a nap in the living room chair, and I'm so glad!

 We didn't see much snow this winter, but we had some really, really cold days. Will gets out of school 15 minutes earlier than his sisters this year, and really cold weather requires really great gear. Since Daddy was enjoying warm weather in Denver, we had to make sure he saw our condition!

Lucy continues to play the violin. She performed with her orchestra at the First Friday in December, and she prepared a solo for a March NYSSMA contest. 

 Big Dog is still bigger than Will!

 For Black History Month, the second grade hosted a living museum. Samantha was Rosa Parks; she had to research Rosa Parks and prepare a five sentence narrative to speak to those who visited her. She was amazing!

Happy New Year!

This year we discovered the countdown to midnight on Netflix! Brilliant! 

Thanksgiving surprise

On Tuesday, November 23, after a very long weekend at Camp-of-the-Woods with an increasingly very sick little girl, Samantha and I visited our pediatrician. We stayed for 2 hours, receiving oxygen and nebulized medicine for pneumonia. 

 Even after 2 hours, she could not maintain a safe oxygen saturation level, so we took an ambulance ride to Albany Med. A couple hours in the ER - receiving oxygen, nebulized medicine, and fluids through an IV for dehydration - and a chest x-ray confirmed what our doctor had heard: a sever case of pneumonia.

 About 11:30pm, we moved in to our room on the peds floor, where Samantha enjoyed a popsicle (anything to get fluid in her!) and TV (and a very late bedtime) while we got settled.

 Because of her pneumonia, we were isolated (no roommates!) and she had to stay in her room (not that she wanted to leave). I could bring her activities from the play room to occupy her.

 Her sisters and her brother were so concerned about her, and Daddy brought cards when he visited Wednesday morning.

 This was about how we spent most days - a variety of activities on the lap desk, snuggly kitties, oxygen.

 On Thanksgiving Day, Samantha was allowed to walk around the halls (with a  mask on)! We were not allowed in any public areas, but it was fantastic to get out of our room!

Thanksgiving was also the first day Samantha really ate something other than popsicles and juice and jello. There was Thanksgiving dinner provided at the Ronald McDonald Family Room. 

 We found Starbucks treats at the Ronald McDonald  Room!

 And the kids were finally able to visit on Thanksgiving! It was absolutely the best Thanksgiving. Previously, we had been told that between her contagious, serious pneumonia and the imminent flu restrictions, no one under 12 could visit. Everyone was so happy to be together!

 And Samantha was very tired after visitors, walking and eating!

 Samantha's teacher knew we were in the hospital and dropped off a present for her! So incredibly thoughtful!

 Gramma Maggy arrived Tuesday just hours before I took Samantha to the doctor. Our visit wasn't what we expected, but, wow! we were thankful for the timing of her visit. I don't know what we would have done without her. Her presence freed Dave up to visit easily. She cooked, occupied kids, and spent time with me in the hospital. She was amazing. Samantha came home Friday night, about dinner time, and dinner was in the oven. Unfortunately, Gramma Maggy left on Saturday afternoon - right after a trip to McDonald's together.