Five Brown Kids

The ten Ricks and Browns Met our six favorite Cleverlys on the corner of 49th and 7th and gave the city a run for its money! Subways with 16?  No problem.  Ferry boat to Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty with ten kids.  No sweat! Just wanted to say how much I loved Ellis Island.  The kids and I have read a bit about this place and I could feel when the ferry pulled up to the dock how those immigrants must have felt - relief, excitement and terror all rolled into one.   Dinner for 16 at Reds in Seaport.  Kids watched out the open second floor window as carolers sang and the big tree was lit. Four kids and no fear of the city.  They make us all braver. Macy's Christmas windows. Incredible!   By the time we made it to Juniors for cheesecake we all felt like this.   Splendid day!  I love the city more every time I go.  And I really, really love hanging out with my friends. Last Year.

We dream about the Ricks' cooking all year long.  That stuffing that has everything Tryone hates and yet he loves.  Those rolls that Taye can't get enough of.  The pretzel jello that I get just once a year.

We left Wednesday evening and arrived in Pennsylvania at 3 am.  Next morning we were up and ready for football at 10.  Just building up some appetites!

My parents came to visit for 18 days! And we would have loved it if they had stayed 18 more. They were such a huge help to keep our household running during a period when things get more hectic than usual. We also had a big list of house projects since my dad hadn't been here in three years ( they went on a mission to Ecuador) so we were busy. By the end of the two weeks I could barely remember what we'd done at the start but here's a short list: Jaxon soccer practise and last game of season/party Taye weekend swim practice at univeristy pool downtown Fosters and friends visiting for some late night brownies and grownup talk Workouts at the Y Fixing the toilet Fixing the shower! Fixing holes in wall and nail pops, fresh paint Refinishing the phone desk and computer desk and some kitchen cupboards New flower box to replace the rotting one Adding glass fronts to two kitchen cupboards Celebrating Scotia's birthday with a big party Shopping, cooking, cleaning A zil...

Jaxon: Peanut butter and strawberry jam on one slice of bread, folded; sliced apples or oranges; ice water; go-gurt or cheese stick; treat. No leftovers! Taye: Meat and cheese sandwich on two slices of bread with lettuce and spicy mustard; sliced apples or oranges; ice-water; go-gurt or cheese stick; crackers; treat; anything else he can get his hands on. Also likes to take leftovers in a stainless thermos. Scotia:  Rice in a stainless thermos or meat and cheese sandwich on one slice of bread with mustard but no lettuce; go-gurt; apple or orange slices. No peanut butter allowed at her school.

Every fall all the kids in our school (2-5th) try out for the few spots to represent our school at First in Fitness in the spring.  For second grade boys at our school Jaxon got first in speed rope, first in shuttle run, first in the mile run, first in 100 yard dash, first in pull-ups and first in long jump.  That's every event!  That's our Jaxon ! Taye got first in 100 yard dash for fifth grade boys at our school, second place in long jump, fifth place in pull ups and sixth place in shuttle run. See you at the big district event in the spring!