A Baby in Salem

Spring update

2015-07-09T21:17:00.000-04:00

Some very out of order spring photos:

Take your daughter to work day at Lincoln Lab--Avonlea Jane was very clear that she needed to wear business casual for her office day

Facepainting on the Common after the Walk for HAWC

Enjoying his new bike

Will's art on display at the school gallery night--His flower is the green one with the red center above his head.

Urbanscapes (His is the one above his head.)

(His is the one behind his head.)

Monet's Waterlillies (His is the one above him.)

Enjoying their Easter baskets

We stayed home from our church service and egg hunt because Avonlea Jane was sick.

At Amelia's puppy party for her 2nd birthday

yard sale find

Another tooth down

A chilly soccer practice

The lower grades at A's school watching Karim Nagi perform and talk about Middle Eastern music

Helping David plant a tree downtown

At the MassPoetry Carnival on the Common

Pointing to his name in Chinese

Our spread for a St. Patrick's Day fellowship

At the PEM, participating in their architectural engineering project. He had to choose two design challenges: sustainability (as seen by his reflective solar paneling on the roof) and space flexibility (as seen by the lack of internal walls). He also had to make it to scale, though for better heating efficiency, he lowered his ceilings slightly. He designed and built a Hot and Warn Ice Cream Parlor in the Arctic (thus the lack of cold ice cream, because who wants to eat cold things in the tundra?). For a touch of whimsy, you get from the second to first floor by fire pole. He also got the chance to explain/defend his choices to a pair of real architects.

At the Museum of Science electricity demo

More Take Your Daughter to Work Day

Museum and Junior Ranger Days (April)

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Enjoying playground science at the Museum of Science

Avonlea Jane's height in nanometers

William's height in nanometers

Exploring different objects under a microscope

Avonlea Jane's artwork (the one with the red background) was selected to be on display at the Peabody Essex Museum.

Coloring her own tote bag at the PEM

Coloring a tote with Brandy

At the U.S.S. Constitution Museum

At the Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown

Listening to a presentation about the battle on Breed's Hill

Getting sworn in as Charlestown Junior Rangers

Coloring at the John Adams National Historic Site visitors' center while wearing the kepis they were given when they asked a ranger if they had any Civil War sesquicentennial trading cards

On the trolley heading to the John Adams birthplace

Birthplace of John Quincy Adams

(Note for those not from Massachusetts: Quincy is pronounced not like Quincy Jones but Qwin-zee.)

Birthplace of John Adams

At Peacefield, the Adams farm

The Adams' family library

Getting sworn in as Junior Rangers

March days

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On a scavenger hunt at the PEM

Looking for clues

Dressing up for a Velcro exhibit at the PEM

Celebrating Genevieve's 4th birthday

A peek at #3

Singing the UU principles song with her Sunday school class during Youth Sunday

She purposefully stood in front of the mic and adjusted it to her own height.

Gathering the collection

The Sunday school classes singing the closing hymn, "This Little Light of Mine"

On the ice

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Excited to go ice skating with her Girl Scout troop

Her first time on the ice

Having a short lesson before their free skate

Watching his sister from the bleachers

Playing a horse game while wearing one of Grandpa's old sweaters, made by his great-great-grandmother

Hand-in-hand with two other Daisies

Trying a loop with Donna

Iditarod and Chinese New Year

2015-04-10T13:09:00.002-04:00

Dressed up for the annual Downton Abbey fellowship at church

William had an Iditarod day at school, where I got to come in and help the kids with an Iditarod story, craft, and game. Here he is painted like a snow dog.

Making a mushing team.

Listening to another parent talk about working in Antarctica with sled dogs

Lining up for their mushing drill

A pack of cute puppies

Chinese New Year at the PEM

Crafting at our Iditarod party

Working on totem poles and northern lights paintings

Making snow dough

The snow and ice made it impossible to do an I-kid-arod outside, but we still did snow dog lessons indoors.

Getting ready to watch Li Liu, a Chinese acrobat at her school to celebrate the Chinese New Year

(A is standing to wave at the back.)

Will and I went to a mushing demo.

Latest snowfalls

2015-02-17T17:14:00.002-05:00

We got the cars cleared out right after the snowfall before last (which means, there's even more snow behind the cars now).

This used to be our backyard.

This used to be Katie and Courtney's backyard.

Finding room for all the snow and seven cars in our driveway isn't easy.

We've run out of room on this side of the drive, unless snow gets dumped in the neighbor's yard.

What happened to our front door?

David was nice enough to carve out spots for our front lights.

The tree is almost gone.

Compost and trash days take work.

Our backyard

These windows are now covered, as are those in the kitchen.

Sunday's snowfall.

It's a trick just to get outside to shovel.

Looking out the back door on Sunday.

Yay. More snow.

The consequence of street plowing.

We're proud that the pole outside of our house is the tallest. Driveways that are easy to escape are for wimps.

On Monday, David carved a staircase for the kids to mount the snow in the back yard.

Sledding in the yard

Hilton Head

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It's January and we're in the pool.

Walking at an Audubon refuge

At another nature preserve, walking over old rice paddies

Standing inside an ancient Native American shell ring

At a HH petting zoo

We went back to Savannah with David, primarily to eat at Mrs. Wilkes House. Here we're outside of the Mercer House.

Playing at Forsyth Park

Having a romantic date at the Paris Market

Looking for birds at the Savannah Wildlife Refuge

Playing at a HH indoor playspace

Kite flying

Escaping the snow

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Right before the first big snow, the kids and I fled Massachusetts and drove down to Hilton Head to spend some time with Granny and Granpy. So, while David was shoveling snow, the kids were shoveling sand.

Looking at turtles at a HH musuem

What lives in a log

Following the map on a trolley tour of Savannah

Visiting the Juliette "Daisy" Gordon Low birthplace in Savannah, where Avonlea Jane got a special pin to wear on her Daisy uniform

A daisy posing with "Daisy"

In the garden of the house

We took our Junior Rangers to Fort Pulaski on Tybee Island

Trapped in jail

Working on their Junior Ranger booklets

William is sad because the fort was attacked.

There were herons all over on our trip.

Being sworn in

Looking for captive gators at The Crab Shack

At a playground on HH

Sitting on the porch of the lighthouse

The January ocean temperature feels like early summer at home.

Walking around Charleston

At the old market

Playing at a plank store

The kids became Junior Rangers at Fort Moutrie on Sullivan's Island.

They did all their ranger work with Granny and Granpy while I went to pick up Daddy from the airport. He had been convinced to escape the snow with us.

Enjoying crayfish at Hyman's Seafood in Charleston

January

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We took the kids to a dog sled training demo in Ipswich.

William and Daddy as featured in the Ipswich newspaper following the event.

Working together on a volcano

Avonlea Jane at her friend Emma's birthday party

A long-lost photo that just surfaced of Mommy and friends at the Peabody Essex Museum Bollywood dance.

Brandy and John came up for a weekend.

On our way to go sledding

A cozy potluck dinner with church friends right before the first really big storm hit Salem

David is thrilled about the first big snowfall.

The kids' snowman got a lot of company.

The snow is almost as tall as Karen.

This is one night worth of snow.

Christmas

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Growing with Santa

Decorating the tree

One of the rewards of being "all potty all the time" was that William could go play at the kids' lounge at IKEA.

Avonlea Jane took an acting class at her school and this was from her final showcase. Only a small portion was filled due to a low battery, and the second half was emailed from another parent.

Lining up for his Henny Penny song fest

You'll have to forgive the camerawoman for some lack of steadiness; she's six.

Getting close to Christmas and running out of space around the tree.

Mary and Joseph during the church pageant dress rehearsal

Avonlea Jane said getting cast as Mary was the happiest moment of her life.

Unfortunately, YouTube's upload limit of fifteen minutes cut off the last minute of "Joy to the World."

Listening to The Night Before Christmas at the First Church Christmas party.

A very special guest arrived with gifts for all the kids.

Christmas morning

New pajamas

A new painting made by Will

The kids got an even bigger surprise Christmas morning, but it took a while for them to understand it.

This was David's reaction when he found out the big news in November.

Will's birthday pancakes

Happy 4th birthday, William.

Playing with his new Keva blocks

Moving into December

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We had a great Thanksgiving at the house filled with friends from all areas of our lives.

We had fourteen for dinner and quite the spread.

There was also plenty of game playing afterward.

As soon as we cleared our Thanksgiving decorations, Advent started and we were ready to greet Santa Claus as he arrived on the roof of the Hawthorne.

Violet, Avonlea Jane, Justin, Emily, and William

Excited to get some hot chocolate and then get home to put out her shoes for St. Nicholas day.

When we got home, the kids put out their shoes and letters for St. Nicholas. Upon waking, they found their shoes full of goodies and and breakfast of croziers and sheep.

On Sunday, we celebrated St. Nicholas by hosting a Christmas Around the World fellowship at church. This was our second year hosting this fellowship, and both times it has been a smash hit. While it means our kitchen is in overdrive (and then a disaster) for a week, we love to share one of our favorite days.

December 6 was St. Nicholas Day, a very important day of celebration for our family and many others around the world.

The legend of Nicholas, the 4^th-century Turkish bishop, has given birth to numerous international versions of Father Christmas and an even greater number of ways to celebrate this season. In hosting this Sunday’s fellowship, we wanted to bring some of those holiday traditions to you.

We hope you enjoy, and should you celebrate this season with Sinterklaas, Svatý Mikkuláš, Samichlaus, Santa Claus, Joulupukki, Ded Moroz, Pere Noel, Weihnachtsmann, Viejo Pascuero, Julenissen, or St. Nicholas, we hope your holidays are full of the glad tidings and spirit of generosity that made him worthy of such a legacy.

Happy St. Nicholas Day!

Radishes—Mexico

Radishes made their way to Mexico in the 16^th century. The local market vendors used carved radishes to invite people inside their stores. From this tradition was born Noche de rábanos, “Night of the Radishes,” a Mexican festival lasting from December 23 to Christmas celebrating all things radish.

Feliz Navidad!

Herring—Ukraine, Germany, Poland

While abstaining from meat during the season of Advent, herring became a popular dish in many European countries. It was believed that eating herring on Christmas Eve or at the stroke of midnight on New Year's would bring good luck in the coming year.

Speculaas—Netherlands

Speculaas is a type of spiced shortcrust biscuit, traditionally baked for consumption on or just before the feast of St. Nicholas, or Sinterklaas, in the Netherlands. The name for the cookies is thought to have derived from the Latin speculum, which means mirror, and refers to the fact that the images are cut as a mirrored bas-relief into a wooden stamp which is then used to decorate the Speculaas.

Prettige Kerstfeest!

Stollen—Germany, Austria

Stollen is a traditional German cake, usually eaten during the Christmas season, when it is called Weihnachtsstollen or Christstollen. The Stollen was designed to symbolize the Infant Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes. Not only could it be eaten for Christmas but also on December 6, when it is Nikolaustag, or Saint Nicholas Day.

Frohe Weihnachten!

Lychee—South Pacific

Throughout the South Pacific, lychee season begins in October. By the time Christmas arrives in December, the streets are littered with empty lychee nuts. The fruit features prominently on many Christmas tables and in cocktails and desserts.

Christmas pickle—Germany/U.S.

Popular stories say the Christmas pickle is an old German tradition. A decoration in the shape of a pickle is hidden on a Christmas tree, with the finder receiving either a reward or good fortune for the following year. Despite its German reputation, it has been suggested that the origin of the Christmas pickle may have been developed for marketing purposes in the 1890s to coincide with the importation of glass Christmas tree decorations from Germany to the United States.

Frohe Weihnachten!

Bûche de Noël is my favorite thing to make for the fellowship.

Bûche de Noël—France

The yule log, or bûche de Noël, is a tradition dating back centuries with the celebration of the Winter Solstice Dating and the coming of longer days. To welcome the New Year and relieve the air of last year’s events, families would burn logs that were garnished in holly, pinecones, or ivy. They would then keep the ashes from this log, as they were said to be good luck. The name bûche de Noël was transferred to the dessert only after the actual log custom had fallen out of use, presumably during the first half of the 20th century.

Joyeux Noël!

Cheese and vegetable Christmas trees, plus shortbread

The Christmas Tree

The use of evergreen trees, wreaths, and garlands to symbolize eternal life was a custom of the ancient Egyptians, Chinese, and Hebrews. Tree worship was common among pagan Europeans and survived their conversion to Christianity in the Scandinavian customs of decorating the house and barn with evergreens at the New Year to scare away the devil and of setting up a tree for the birds during Christmastime. Our modern Christmas tree usage is most similar to the Yule-tree decorating, dating back to 15^th-century Germany.

Ghryba—Egypt

These flaky almond cookies are an Egyptian celebration staple. Fifteen percent of Egyptians are Christian and enjoy these cookies at Easter and Christmas, which is celebrated on January 7. For the 43 days before this celebration, only a vegan diet—the Holy Nativity Fast—is eaten.

عيد ميلاد مجيد

Mandarins, candy canes, and fruit cake (for which we forgot to make a little sign explaining the holiday history of the dish)

Candy canes

According to a popular account, candy canes originated in 1672, in Cologne, Germany. The choirmaster at Cologne Cathedral, wishing to remedy the noise caused by children in his church during the Living Crèche tradition of Christmas Eve, asked a local candy maker for some sweet sticks for them. In order to justify the practice of giving candy to children during worship services, he asked the candy maker to add a crook to the top of each stick, which would help children remember the shepherds who paid visit to infant Jesus.

Mandarins—Japan

For Christmas, many Japanese families will keep a bowl of Mandarins or clementines on the table. These orange varieties are also known as the “Thanksgiving Oranges” or “Christmas oranges,” as their peak season is winter.

The popularity of Christmas citrus was a spreading trend. In Europe, oranges for Christmas come from the story of St. Nicholas. Folklore has it that in 4th-century Turkey, Bishop Nicholas dropped three bags of gold coins down the chimney of a poor family with three daughters to give them each a needed dowry. The bags of gold landed in stockings the girls had hung to dry by their fireplace. The heat from the fire, the myth continues, melted the gold coins into gold balls, which today is symbolized with oranges.

In the United States, Oranges from California and Florida had become commonplace winter fruits throughout the United States by the 1880s. At the time, the newly completed transcontinental railroad made it possible to ship these long-lasting fruits great distances, supplying people in far-flung regions with delicious, nutritious food in the dead of winter.

メリークリスマス

Pirozhki—Russia

There are many varieties of pirozhki from those similar to a stuffed bun to those more like a dumpling. They can be filled with meat, fish, cheese, potatoes, or even sweets. Pirozhki are commonly served at a Russian Christmas dinner, generally celebrated on January 7. This is when Ded Moroz (Father Frost) brings presents to children along with his granddaughter, Snegurochka. When they appear, the star and other lights on the Christmas tree light up.

Счастливого рождества!

Turrón—Spain

This almond nougat dish was derived from the cuisine of Iberian Muslims during the Christian reconquest of Spain. Versions of this dish have been made since the 4th century, BC. The most famous turrón has been made since the 15th century in in the city of Jijona/Xixona (formerly Sexona), north of Alicante. Many varieties still exist. Turrón can be hard, soft, light, dark, smooth, or full of almonds.

Feliz Navidad!

Akoho sy voania with rice—Madagascar

Akoho sy voania, a chicken and coconut milk stew, is a Malagasy specialty served over rice at Christmas time while awaiting the visit of Dadabe Noely. Though Christmas is warm in Madagascar, decorations will include holly, robins, and snow, even though none of them exist in the country. Poinsettias are also the country’s national emblem and grow as large outdoor shrubs.

Mirary Krismasy!

Spiced hot chocolate (with whipped cream or marshmallows)—Peru

In Peru, spiced hot chocolate is a Christmas tradition, even though the holiday falls in the summer. The first hot chocolate was made by the Mayas about 2,000 years ago, though now the drink is sweeter from the addition of sugar. In December, churches around the country take donations to make massive quantities of it, as well as panetón or panettone, a traditional Italian holiday bread. Both are served to the less fortunate at a chocolotada in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

Feliz Navidad!

Panettone—Italy

Panettone is a treat from Milan usually prepared and enjoyed for Christmas and New Year’s. It is a Christmas dinner staple and in some places replaces the Roscón de Reyes/Bolo Rei (King cake) on La Festa dell'Epifania, or Epiphany. In addition to celebrating La Festa di San Nicola, and Natale (Christmas), Epiphany is a large occasion in Italy. It is the day when La Befana, the kindly old witch, appears to bring the children toys. According to legend, the Three Wise Men stopped at her hut to ask directions on their way to Bethlehem and to invite her to join them. She refused, and later a shepherd asked her to join him in paying respect to the Christ Child. Again she refused, and when night fell she saw a great light in the skies. La Befana thought perhaps she should have gone with the Three Wise Men, so she gathered some toys that had belonged to her own child, who had died, and ran to find the kings and the shepherd. But La Befana could not find them or the stable. Now, each year she looks for the Christ Child. Since she cannot find him, she leaves gifts for the children of Italy and pieces of coal for the bad ones.

Buon Natale!

Buñuelos —Columbia

Buñuelos are of Hispanic origin and different versions are popular all over Latin America. The Columbian varieties are savory cheese fritters made of farmers cheese or queso fresco. It is a traditional Christmas dish, served along with natillas—a custard dish—and manjar blanco—a dish similar to dulce de leche.

Feliz Navidad!

Pavlova—Australia

In Australia and the rest of the Southern Hemisphere, December falls in the heat of summer. Thus, Christmas celebrations feature more foods that can be eaten cold or at room temperature. A favorite dessert for the season is Pavlova, a meringue-based dish named after Russian ballet dancer Anna Pavlova. The dessert is believed to have been created in her honor either during or after one of her tours to Australia and New Zealand in the 1920s.

Wassail—England

Wæs hæl literally means “Be you healthy.” It refers both to the salute “Waes Hail” and to the drink of wassail, a hot mulled cider traditionally drunk as an integral part of wassailing, an ancient southern English drinking ritual intended to ensure a good cider apple harvest the following year. A popular date for wassailing was on Twelfth Night, and it is now immortalized in holiday songs “Gloucestershire Wassail” and “Here We Come A-wassailing.”

Happy Christmas!

Gløgg and Pepparkakor –Sweden

Gløgg is the spicy warm drink of Swedish Advent. Traditionally, it is served with raisins and almonds in the cup. The practice of spicing the wine began to conceal wine that had turned. The name gløgg originates with the old method of making the drink: one “glowed” it. You would pour wine and spirits over a sugarloaf on a mesh over the spices in your cooking pot. When the sugar was saturated, you struck a flame, were upon the spirit caught fire and the sugar melted.

Gløgg is almost always served in combination with pepparkakor. These Swedish ginger snaps are used both as an edible treat on St. Lucia Day, December 13, and for holiday window decorations. To celebrate bringing light into the darkest days of winter, custom involves the eldest daughter arising early and wearing her Lucy garb of white robe, red sash, and a wire crown covered with whortleberry-twigs with nine lighted candles. She awakens the family, serving them coffee and St. Lucia buns, thus ushering in the Christmas season.

God Jule!

Hamborgarhryggur —Iceland

A hamborgarhryggur is a smoked rack of pork. While the dish finds its roots in Danish cuisine, it has long been adopted as an Icelandic Christmas tradition.

In Iceland, not only does Jólasveinn, the Yule Man, come, but so do the Jólasveinar, or Yuletide Lads. From December 12 until Yule Eve, a different lad will arrive. When they come, they eat a lot and play tricks around the house before leaving presents in the shoes children have placed on the windowsill. They start to go home on Yule, with the last one leaving on Þrettándinn, or Epiphany.

Gleðileg jól'!

At a neighborhood sing-along and cookie reception

Celebrating Hanukkah with our friends Sara and Kelly

Birthdays

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Avonlea Jane and our friend Jack share a birthday. This year, he had a Harry Potter party and our family came in costume. Avonlea Jane went as Fluffy, Hagrid's three-headed dog.

Fluffy and Harry

Luna Lovegood

Dobby

Hagrid

Dobby, Mrs. Weasley, Ron, and Hermoine

Happy birthday, Jack!

Everyone in costume

At Jack's party, William's stuffed dog Ruffy got into a fight with a real dog and lost. He suffered fatal internal injuries and didn't make it. After discussing different funeral arrangements, William decided on a viking burial at sea. Above, he's saying his goodbyes.

He was okay with this decision until he saw the reality of Ruffy floating on the waves. (A replacement Ruffy soon arrived in the mail.)

Getting ready for the Henny Penny Thanksgiving feast

The centerpieces the kids made

Presenting his date, Mrs. Taggart with flowers

With friends Mrs. Taggart, Miss Brenda, and Mr. Frank

Working in the kitchen to get the Thanksgiving feast on the tables

Will at Henny Penny

Going on a HP field trip

Avonlea Jane had a pirate day at school to celebrate the kids seeing part of the Worcester Opera's Pirates of Penzance.

November days

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We had a surprise Sunday snow shower. We had to snag hats from the church lost and found to wear for our walk home.

With birthday money, Avonlea Jane decided to buy herself something nice.

Granny and Granpy paid us a visit, so we all went to the Boston Children's Museum.

We met dancers from The Nutcracker.

Will was the only boy in a mini-ballet class.

Stopping by a restaurant window to watch chef's work and hearing Will narrating what they were doing

At their friend Jackie's puppy birthday party

Playing Musical Puppy Beds

Decorating dog bone cookies

Avonlea Jane went with her Girl Scout troop to a World Girls' Day event at Boston University.

The girls worked with Kappa Delta to make recycled outfits for a fashion show.

Ready for the show

Someone got a little shy.

After their fashion show and before having lunch with the Kappa Deltas, the girls handed out decorated balloons to strangers to make them smile.

The kids each wound up with private swim lessons this fall, and here they are doing some class work.

Happy birthday, Avonlea Jane!

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Avonlea Jane's geology birthday party rocked.

Below is the (belated) video we made for Will's party.

Halloween

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Henny Penny's Halloween parade in the Ropes Garden

A chilly dragon

On Halloween day, he decided to go as Navy Seal Uncle Dillon again.

Also with a last-minute decision, Avonlea Jane came out of no where with the request to go as Sacajawea.

Watching the Bates Halloween parade

All of the younger siblings were allowed to jump in if they wanted. It was so cute to see all the pairs of siblings holding hands.

Getting ready to head to the nursing home the kids visit in Beverly for their Halloween party.

Singing Halloween songs with their friends

The Balloon Man arrived

He asked for a blue horse.

Ready to head home to Trick-or-Treat

Costume parties

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On our way to our friend Laura's house

Laura, our hostess

Avonlea Jane and Donna, winners of the mummy race

Olaf and Elsa

A doughnut race

At the church Halloween Sunday, she wanted to go as a nebula.

A nebula (Our kid is awesome.)

Soccer after church

A visit with Uncle Dillon

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On a plane . . . again.

I went to Oak Harbor for a little under a week to celebrate Dillon's 23rd birthday.

Excited to see his sister when he got off of work

Unfortunately, he was scheduled to work on his actual birthday.

I snagged his car and drove to La Conner for the day, a tiny town full of art and museums. When our parents arrived a few days later, I took them back.

The town's quilting museum, which I did not visit. Instead, I went to the Museum of Northwest Art and the Skagit County Museum.

A public butterfly garden

Even the houses were artsy.

On the way home, I stopped by the Swinomish Reservation to take in some more Pacific Northwestern art, my favorite.

While Dillon prepped for a flight, I went to seal watch and wait to see his P-3 take off.

The next day, I met the parents at the ferry landing.

Watching ships from Ebey's Landing

We unfortunately didn't get any pictures of the whole family together.

Such a gentleman once Jess's crutches started to bother her.

October fun

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Enjoying the St. Anne's Bazaar, an event famous in Salem

Tinkerbell, Robin Hood, and Uncle Dillon at Andrew and Louise's Halloween party

Getting more confident with the ball

I don't have many pictures of A on the field, because I was too busy coaching to take them.

Before their practice officially started, they let Will go in goal.

Playing after school

Will's pumpkin at church

Mommy's pumpkin at church

Artwork Avonlea Jane did on her first day at school

Visiting her classroom on a parents' night

"Team Boom Hearts"

After a month of soccer, Avonlea Jane actually got competitive and a little aggressive on the field.

Halloween kick-off

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Getting ready to line up for the Haunted Happenings Parade, held on the first Thursday of October.

While looking for her Daisy troop in the line up, we ran into Karen and a tree.

And Carolyn

Avonlea Jane was super excited about handing out candy.

With Sophie, who was dressed as a Brownie

Avonlea Jane, Sophie, Jackie, and Will

We were behind the Game of Thrones float.

A lot of her troop decided to walk with their schools.

The next night, on Mayor's Night Out, we visited the Witch Dungeon Museum.

Then we went to the Salem Wax Museum at Avonlea Jane's request.

They all have rather pleasant faces for a hanging.

Then it was time to Trick-or-Treat at the the downtown businesses.

Days of soccer and museums

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Jack and Will: the two stars of "The Kicking Monkeys"

Will with his coach

Our two cute kids

At Avonlea Jane's school, I'm on the PTO board as a cultural enrichment coordinator, responsible for booking acts/performers for school assemblies. Too see a showcase of available artists, I took William to the South Shore for a day to use him as a test audience.

Listening to Alistair Moock, a folk artist

Karim Nagi was an awesome musician who teaches the kids about Arab culture, language, dress, music, and dance. Everyone from Will to the adults were engaged. He's now booked to come to Avonlea Jane's school.

Li Liu was another performer we booked for the school, a very talented Chinese acrobat.

September is the month of Salem Days at the Boston Museum of Science, so we get to visit for free.

Looking at samples to get ideas for the geology party she requested for her next birthday party

Having his gait analyzed

Taking a snooze at the Omnimax

The Kicking Monkeys in action

William is obviously a beast in the net.

Look at that hustle toward the goal.

Such killer instincts.

Way to hurry, Avonlea Jane. (We joke a lot about neither of our kids being soccer prodigies, but as her coach, I'd rather her go slowly and have control over the ball.)

When not busy on the field, we made another trip to the museum, just Mommy and Will.

Collecting pollen

Will's first day of pre-school

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This wasn't Will's first ever day of pre-school, but it was his first day of this school year and first having Mrs. Pini as a teacher.

After walking Avonlea Jane to school and then heading a mile in the other direction for Will's school, we had some extra time before class started. We went to Dunkin' Donuts for a couple munchkins and a hot chocolate to celebrate. Then, of course, my history obsessed kid had to stop at the stocks outside of the Witch Dungeon Museum.

Ready to go in

Day in Gloucester

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The children thought they'd try out the Tammy Faye Bakker look.

We popped our kids (with washed faces) in their finery and took them to tour Hammond Castle in Gloucester for the day.

Not your normal North Shore house

This is the piece of charm our home is missing--a human skull.

The inventor of the remote control was an eccentric guy to have built all this.

We brought our own sword. Who knows where dragons may lurk.

Afterward, we pulled off their costumes and headed up the road to Stage Fort Park for a picnic.

Then, we made our way to the Gloucester Maritime Center.

Exploring horseshoe crabs

A's first day of kindergarten

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Before her first day, we went to the school for an openhouse to tour her classroom.

It's the future.

Walking home from her openhouse

Saying goodbye to William

Beating the heat

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On the hottest day of the summer, I asked the kids what they wanted to do. They both enthusiastically answered, "Go to the Rebecca Nurse Homestead." I agreed, if we went to the splash pool afterward. These kids had been on a real Salem history kick, though, and were determined to the the homestead of one of the most famous victims of the Salem Witch Trials.

I've lost count of the number of pictures we have of our kids standing in front of old kitchen fireplaces.

"That is a chamber pot."

Seeing a building built for the filming of "Three Sovereigns for Sarah."

Tricorns and shorts: nice look

The witch trial memorial at Salem Village

Finally, cooling off at the splash pool!

Another way to beat the heat was heading to Nahant beach to see our friends.

There was a current/undertow advisory, so all the kids had to wear lifevests.

Saying goodbye

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We took Marlene to the Salem Witch Museum. As she had read The Crucible, she understood a lot of the history ahead of time. It had been her English reading for the year before in school, so it was a nice coincidence that she was visiting Salem.

With Roger Conant, founder of Salem

The kids were really sad on the morning when we had to say goodbye to Marlene.

The fastest cure for sadness: sprinkler fun

What do Salem kids do for fun? Play Giles Cory. "More weight."