Teresa and the kids decided decided to go sledding when invited by my sister Kathy. Kathy was already taking her grandkids. These are Rachael and Slane’s cousins; Lena, Lola and Ben, who you see here a lot.

They were sledding at Schiller Park and the temperature wasn’t as frigid as it’s been the past few days. It got up to 36 today and the past few days it’s been in the teens and low 20’s.

They were able to use the new sleds they received as Christmas gifts from their Great Aunt Sherri.

According to Teresa everyone was tired, but had fun.

Christmas 2010

Early Christmas cars.

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Christmas Cookies

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Christmas

Christmas is in full swing at our house.

We have our tree and Teresa and the kids decorated it. I think Slane gets the idea of not touching it.

We think we are going to break tradition this year and have the tree remain upright for the entire season. We have my mother’s old tree stand which is welded steel and cranks the stump into a 90 degree angle.

On Wednesday Rachael’s school took the kids to see Santa at Tuttle Mall. They were supposed to go on Monday, but the weather was too bad. Rachael was given this nice hat and asked for a live dragon and a live puppy. She has a better chance of getting the live dragon.

The last NYC slideshow

More New York City

This is a panorama picture shot of Times Square.

More New York City

Another picture of Teresa and Rachael having fun before the show. No, you are not seeing things, Rachael is wearing her cowboy boots with that dress. Teresa tells me she has good shoes for Rach for the show, but I bet they never make it on her, Rachael loves those boots.

Here are the ladies in New York! They are having a good time before the matinee of The Lion King! Cousin Tommy is showing them a great time and I’m sure they are turning heads.

Slane and I busied ourselves by going to a special Train Sorytime. All the stories and songs centered on trains, because of the huge train display up for Christmas in the library lobby.

Normally at the end of storytime they give all the children stickers, today was different. They gave all the children cut out train cars for them to write down their wish for the city of Columbus during the holidays. A great idea, but the scores of children there were instantly disappointed.

The Big Apple

Today Teresa and Rachael left for New York, yep NYCNY, to see The Lion King. They are staying with our nephew Tom at his condo and tomorrow they do the town.

Rachael loved riding on the plane and none of the TSA agents suspected her of bringing contraband.

Slane and I are doing guy stuff this weekend. This year that involved Play-Do creations and Holiday Storytime tomorrow, but next year we are going to hit every motorcycle rally in Ohio.

St. Nicholas visited the children at St. Marys this morning.

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Christmas breakfast with a book at St. Marys

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Christmas Cookies

Making Christmas cookies with the kids for St. Marys and the German Village tree lighting. We made no bakes without nuts and cereal flake bars. Ok, it was a lay up, but it’s not in me to get too ambitious. Tomorrow Rachael needs to be at school before 7:40 to sing, Thursday is Teresa’s open house at her studio and Friday is Rachael’s Christmas concert, German Village Tree Lighting and our 16^th anniversary.

Christmas train display at the main library.

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Kids doing Shrinkey Dinks. Blast from the past!

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Hope you guys had a great Thanksgivin

Hope you guys had a great Thanksgiving! Wishes from Uncle Tim who brought the kid's turkey project to NYC.

Great crowd for Thanksgiving. Much to be thankful for!

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Proud ending for 2 noble ducks.

2 good ducks with 2 good ducks.

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Saturday afternoon at Starbucks.

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Nutcracker

Tis the season! Storytime at the library this week had BalletMet’s actual nutcracker! He must have been 9 feet tall. The kids all sang a song and then they brought out the BalletMet rep to introduce the nutcracker. Most of the kids loved it, Slane and his friend, Hanna, absolutely freaked out!

Slane wouldn’t let go of Aunt Nancy and didn’t even want to look at the guy. After a few moments he calmed down and they were able to read the story of The Nutcracker, but Slane never even turned around.

My friend, Dave Keenan, brought his daughter, Bea, and she wasn’t fazed by it at all. She even ran up and nabbed the small nutcracker the rep had brought with her. Dave and Miss Ann did a great job of chasing her down.

Thanks Aunt Nancy for joining us!

Crafts

Crafts

Craft Turkey

Rachael Pre K Picture

This is Rachael's first school picture.

Slane with new trains.

Slane loves his new Thomas engines. They are motorized so they move around the track on their own and can go down hills without falling off the track.

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Great Saturday.

I drove to the bagel store to get a bucket for us and it was such a beautiful morning I didn’t want to keep the kids inside. I decided to walk to Storytime instead of take the car. It’s so close, taking the car is a real waste. Rachael didn’t want to go so Teresa bundled Slane up and I tossed his Mickey Mouse blanket over him just to make sure.

Slane and I hit Storytime at the Main Library and he did great. He knew all the actions for Wheels On The Buss and If You’re Happy And You Know It. He danced with the other kids when he was supposed to and went back to sit with me when he was done. One of the activities was to “paint” different parts of your body when the activity leader called them out and he knew them all.

Rachael was going to her cousin’s baby shower with Teresa and her Aunt Nancy so she got to wear new clothes.

After I fed Slane I put him up for nap and bottled 2 cases of beer.

We are at Adubon. Clsd until 10.

We r at adubon. Clsd until 10. We r outside walking around

Slane in the dragon outfit.

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