Skating with Ann & Lee

Nothing says Christmas vacation like public skating. This year we got to go with Aunt Ann and Uncle Lee at the Daly rink in Brighton. Fun time, even if Ann can't skate backwards ;)
The boys had fun showing off their mad hockey skills.

Merry Christmas Everyone

Blueberry pancakes from the North Pole? A Lego city with a movie theater, car wash and city bus? Wow! The boys woke with the sun (which is much later than I had expected honestly). And the fun begins. Presents piled to the ceiling at Granma's. Cake for Dada. Happy times everyone. Merry Christmas to one and all.

Tree Decorating

Marty has more height this year, is much more sturdy on a step ladder, and has a 5 year old sense of aesthetics -- and I must say, he did outstanding work decorating our Christmas tree this year.

Tom picked the tree out just as it started to rain, and it's a beaut -- tall and wide and pungent. Wagon Wheel in Lexington has come through for us again.

Holiday concert

Marty's big Holiday Concert was today at Stanley School. His class sang a "Hello" song and then Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer with a surprise at the end for Principal Le Fort. Marty got a big kick out of that. He looked so handsome in his Christmas tie and grey sweater. He made the reindeer antlers all by himself. He also learned to sing Feliz Navidad, which his class did not perform. There's still a chance to sing it at Uncle Steve's party!

Here Comes Santa Claus

Marty and Tom got to see Santa Claus on Friday night at City Hall. The big man arrived at the city tree lighting and carol sing. He came in on a fire truck, a ladder truck no less. The boys were impressed. Tom asked for "two pancakes and a Lego car". Marty asked for Lego town stuff. He asked Santa what his favorite cookies are, and we'll be making him some chocolate chip this year. Good call, Santa.

Thomas in Preschool

Today was Tom's big day -- he started preschool at Drumlin Farm this morning. He was so excited! He knew just what to do. He greeted Ms. Paula and went to play on the grass. When it was time, he went inside, found his cubby, put his backpack right inside, took off his coat and went to do some more playing. And what's more, after 3 hours, he still loved it.

Both my boys are in school. It's a little crazy.

First Day of Kindergarten

Marty woke up at 5:30 am to tell me that he was "too excited to sleep!" Today is his first day of kindergarten. Do you like the shirt? He picked it out all by himself. And the lunchbox, too. The blue bag is a small present for his new teacher, Mrs. Levenson. We met her yesterday at the school's last summer playdate. It was a perfect morning for walking to school. Sunny and 60 degrees. We made great time and Marty was the first in line when the teachers came out. He knew right where to line up. His friend Gordon Pratt lined up right behind him, so he wasn't alone. Marty is psyched to know people in his class already and promised me this morning he would tell me all about his first day when he gets home this afternoon.

That's soon. I better go wake up Thomas ;)

In a related story, Tom is also very excited to go to school. So we snuck out to Drumlin Farm for a quick tractor ride. Tom starts on Tuesday. Check back for those pictures, too.

Downtown Portland, OR

Downtown Portland today on the 44 bus. We played at Finnegan's toy store and in the Salmon Street fountain. We crossed the Steel Bridge in a rented surrey pedal-car. Pizza Schmizza. "Peace, love and ice cream"

And the boys got to meet Allie. Woof woof.

Oh yeah, and Marty loves these buildings.

Hit that Oregon Trail this July

It feels like a long time coming when you buy your airline tickets on Christmas break, but here it is July and our epic journey has begun.

Up early for a cab ride to Logan, playing around at KidPort terminal C and plenty of time to catch our flight. Up, up and away -- Boston to Denver then Denver on to Portland PDX.

Thunderstorms over Missouri are blamed for the bumpy ride, but there's plenty of sunshine up here above the clouds.

The boys got pretty excited to finally get their much anticipated plane ride(s), and they made good travellers with their backpacks all loaded with books and crayons and things to pass the time.



Portland at last! We're really excited to see Auntie Ann!

Thomas turns 3

Thomas is 3 at last! Annoyed by having to wait until after Marty's birthday, we celebrated Tom's 3rd b-day with a lovely party and a big tugboat cake. Pictured is the post-party actual- day mini-tug ;)

The stats: Tom is 39.75" and 36 lbs. He's riding his new green Trek 16" bike which Marty passed down to him for his birthday. And he's got a snazzy helmet with blue flames! His favorite color is blue. And he's a "big boy".

Happy birthday big guy ")

PMC Kids Ride 2009

Another rainy Father's Day morning in Needham for the PMC kids ride. Marty on his red Gary Fisher for his third PMC ride and personal best, 10 laps, 8 miles. Thomas was riding for the very first time, on his styling green Trek Jet. He did one whole lap and some more in the tot loop, for about 1 mile total. Well done boys!

Martin turns 5

Another year has passed by so quickly. The stats: 47.25" and 49 lbs. I just keep shaking my head, he's just so grown up. Now entering a Lego fascination. He loves his new bike, with kickstand and red bell. He's even got a skateboard and Tony Hawk helmet. And baby, I love you through and through.

Bike to work week

How psyched was Marty to have a bike commuting Dad on bike to work week? They hitched up the Alley Cat to Dad's bike, donned his helmet and backpack, and off they rode down Rt 117 to Marty's preschool. That's a big adventure from the kid who says he doesn't ever want to own a car he'd much rather go by bike.

Chugga chugga choo choo

The family hit the rails -- all aboard Amtrak on the Saturday morning Downeaster from Woburn to Portland, Maine. Two hours on the train just flew by, clickety clack clickety clack here comes the train down the railroad track.

Portland was a lot of fun, too. Bill's pizza. The Children's Musuem (where they got to be firefighters, fishermen, and launch a space shuttle for Nasa!). A "swanky" hotel with Starbucks coffee in the lobby, the waterfront and a bakery with fresh warm scones. And dinner with a bird named "Seagully".

Rockin the Aquarium

The boys recently enjoyed a trip into Boston to visit the NE Aquarium with "Auntie" Paula. Trains and penguins and a visitor from Scotland - add pizza and gelato and you've got one EPIC day! It was even a purple train...perfect.

Oh yeah, and Thomas is now taller than a stingray. But he prefers "Thomas shark".

We love you Auntie! We'll take you to the Aquarium anytime!

Look Ma, No Training Wheels!

Today Martin rode his bike without training wheels. He had reached this milestone last year, but he wasn't ready for it. This time, after having spent many afternoons tearing up the driveway on his super scooter, he was really and truly ready. He glided and then glided some more, then got going with his feet up on the pedals, then needed more room to just keep going. Dada brought him to Funway Park, and he had all the room he needed. He rode and rode some more. He even went "off road" with the freedom to ride as far as he could go across the dirt. Going to bed he said he never wants to ride with training wheels again. Way to go Marty! Allez kiddo!

Pysanky

Martin was excited to participate in egg decorating this year. He had a grand idea for a design, a red white and blue egg that he entitled "The Obama Egg". Last year he dabbled, but this year he designed. Not deterred by getting hot wax splashed on his fingers, he drew in white, then in blue and finally red.

Not to be left out, Thomas created the Wall*E egg (not pictured). Eve figured prominently in the design.

It was great to have so many relatives over for the festivities.

Sugaring begins at home

Drumlin farm hosted its annual Sap to Syrup Breakfast yesterday and the whole family was hooked. We bought a bucket and a tap and with a lot of questions for a little know how, we came home and tapped our first tree. The bucket was filled less than 24 hours later and the evaporating began. Reduced to syrup at last, pancakes for dinner and the first tasting. The vote is in--we can make some pretty tasty syrup. It was a lot of fun.

There's Marty sampling the sap coming out of our tree on Villa Street. Look at that, the bucket was almost filled to the rim.

Movie Update 2009

Marty and Thomas have been enjoying excellent trips to the movies. So far in 2009 they have gone twice.

In January we saw WALL*E at the Arlington Capitol. This was really Tom's first movie going experience that he remembers. He loved Wall*e's little bug friend.

In February we were back at the Arlington cinema for BOLT. They liked Bolt even better than WALL*E. Must have been the action sequences, as Marty pointed out Wall*E had no cars in it.
"Clean up crew!"

Happy Obama Day

Thomas and Marty were very excited to celebrate the inauguration of President Obama.

Welcome to SMONTBLOG

Hello and welcome to smontblog.


Let's get this blog started then. Here's Marty on his new snowboard. Yes, he is 4 and a half. I have a hard time believing that myself. And that's a 7 year old teaching him what to do. Go Marty go! A lot of this blog is going to be about Marty, aka Martin. He's a bike guy like his Dad, and a car and train guy. He goes to preschool on a farm and he doesn't eat pigs, but Dave still likes him. And he'll eat Chinese food as long as it's at Mary Chung's. "Tea Time!"




Tom has one thing to add to that, and that's "WIPEOUT!" He's two and a half, and snow is hilarious. A lot of things are when he's not so busy being emotional. He's also Thomas and TomTom, but he's kind of outgrown that now and it's mostly a Mama thing. A lot of this blog will be about him, too. He loves his sea turtle and also the Abominable Snow Monster. And I like the way he says "hip-hop-a-potamus".

"I write this not to say something

but bcos I have something important to say"