31 December 2016

2016...Be gone!

2016, it's come and it's passed
Packed full with adventure and went by too fast.

Madeleine turned one, a rascal she's becoming
Together, you're adorable, sweet, and so very loving.

There were baby goat cuddles, beach walks, and The Jungle Book movies
Hikes, playgrounds, parties, and turning 6 was groovy!

A cute kindergarten concert, 1st teeth lost and tball too
An end to the school year, you're now in 1st grade, could that be true?

School finished and our road trip began
First stop NJ to visit Auntie Tanya and her two-kitty clan.

NYC for a day was hot and sunny
The Disney Store and M&M Land had us spending too much money!

Ferry rides, Shake Shack, and flopping in Central Park
I bet the gigantic white Oculus would look amazing in the dark.

Turtleback Zoo was a super fun day
Then onto MD to see more family, we were soon on our way.

Savage River, s'mores delights, and Swallow Falls
Quality time with family made it the most fun of all.

Stovers Cove, Deering Oaks, and fireworks in Bath
Carnivals, library trips, and bike rides along the river path.

Franklin the cat passed away and made us weep
We loved him and miss him and hope he's resting in peace.

In North Conway we saw Diana's Baths, Glen Ellis Falls and Storyland fun
Range Pond, Peacock Beach, Coffin Pond where some good swimming was done!

You spent a week doing soccer camp with some good-natured Brits
You explored a submarine, went on a boat ride and spend time in Ogunquit.

A Saturday in Camden and some backyard camping outside
Soon 1st grade was upon us, oh what a great ride!

Soccer Saturdays came with many high flying goals
Fall saw pumpkin patches, apple picking, and a few festivals.

As a Cub Scout Tiger you're learning such important life skills
Like teamwork and good deeds and other boy scout drills.

We went to Wolfe's Neck Farm on a field trip with your class
Learning about pumpkins, chickens, and lambs wool was a blast.

Six teeth were lost this year after many wiggles
Visits from the tooth fairy always left you with giggles.

We had swimming lessons, saw full moons and did a beautiful beach walk
Took the Sparkle Express train to the North Pole and saw Santa, what luck!

Tree lightings, Santa sightings, list-making galore
A letter from the North Pole, a call from Mrs. Claus, could there be any more?

Parties and friends and family really are the best
2016 was quite the year of putting emotions to the test...

The year started out with The Force Awakens, record-breaking
the election season began, and we still thought DJT was faking.

Zika became a household name to all
#blacklivesmatter still divides us and DJT wants to build a wall.

The Broncos won the Superbowl, Peyton Manning got his ring
X-Files returned to primetime and 'Spotlight' earned the Oscar bling.

Bombings in Brussels, Aleppo, and turmoil shock the world
Shootings, earthquakes, plane crashes and the election madness continued to unfurl.

Brexit was voted, Bob Dylan won for Lit
A 108 year old drought was lifted when the Cubs got a perfect hit!

November brought darkness when there should have been light
The future is uncertain, scary, and dim, but I'm trying with all my might,

To enjoy and behold the magic and beauty of the season
through yours and Madeleine's eyes gives me the very best reason.

2016 was an incredible year for shining stars to go dark
David Bowie, Alan Rickman, Gwen Ifill and Prince made an indelible mark.

Glen Frey, Joe Cocker, Gene Wilder and Garry Marshall to name a few more
Sharon Jones, Leonard Cohen, Harper Lee, Patty Duke, your talents did soar.

The sports world lost greats Pat Summit, Bud Collins, and Gordy Howe
Arnold Palmer, Muhammed Ali, we can only say 'wow'.

Alan Thicke from Growing Pains (gee, it gets hard to rhyme),
Kenny Baker the original R2D2, Pat Harrington as Schneider from One Day at a Time.

We lost giants in Janet Reno, Nancy Reagan, and astronaut John Glenn
Antonin Scalia, Elie Wiesel, Fidel Castro were interesting men.

Goodbye, Mrs. Brady, the Bunch is now much smaller
Farewell Michu Meszaros, a.k.a. 'Alf', who probably wished he was taller.

So long, farewell, auf wiedersen goodbye to Charmaine Carr
She was the Sound of Music's Liesl, a one-hit wonder star.

Joseph Mascolo, played Days of Our Lives villian Stefano DiMera, a real evil jerk
We lost Miss Cleo of famed fortune telling on the Psychic Network.

Maurice White of Earth, Wind, and Fire brought us music so upbeat
Morley Safer, Doris Roberts, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Umberto Eco, talents of no small feat.

George Kennedy, Phife Dawg, Merle Haggard did too pass
Gloria Naylor, Bill Paul, David Gest all brought flair and sass.

Fyvush Finkel, your name was hard to say
Toots Thielemans gave us tunes in great harmonious array.

Shimon Peres, Boutros Boutros Ghali too
Ron Glass of Barney Miller, Ricky Harris both left so soon.

Richard Adams penned classic kids lit "Watership Down"
Alan Young from Mr. Ed, we never saw you with a frown.

George Michael, my 80s heartthrob of great dance music and catchy songs
Faith, Last Christmas, Careless Whisper, the list goes on and on and on...

Debbie Reynolds died of a broken heart after Singing in the Rain
Her daughter, Princess Leia, well, Carrie Fisher, now rules a galaxy far far away.

This year has been so hard and made our hearts heavy and sad
We hope 2017 isn't quite as cruel in making us feel so bad.

We wish good things for all, a new year, with love and light
Farewell 2016, see ya, and Goodnight. 


29 December 2016

Christmas: That's a wrap.

The wrapping is done, the opening has happened.  Now there's just traces of ribbons, bags, paper, and tags littering floors, and bursting from trashcans.  We're on vacation this week and so far we've spent the day after Christmas in our pj's, playing, relaxing, and trying to get over colds that we've all come down with.  

Every year, Christmas gets a little more magical.  Garrett, you're at the age where the wonder and thrill of it all is heightened simply by the little things.  And with the wonders of technology and the genius of many, we're able to pull that off for you in many ways. Madeleine, at 21 months, while with no awareness of Santa yet, seemed to understand the concept of opening and enjoying presents, which made it fun to watch.

Getting the perfect sibling picture in front of the tree proved a little challenging...we got there eventually.











Christmas morning...up at 5:45...you were that is...Mads woke up at 6:30...by then coffee was made and we were ready.







































Then on to grandmother's house we go...reunited with your cousins, your aunt and uncle, and what fun it was!

































And so another Christmas, come and gone...one of the best ones yet...filled with laughter, love, family, and joy.  In a few short days, 2016 will come to a close and 2017 will bring so many unknowns.  This holiday season, I chose to immerse myself in the delights and wonders of the season because I see it through yours and Madeleine's young innocence...to see your joy at the simplest things gives me hope in an otherwise dark and tumultuous time.  We've spent the days of our holiday vacation simply 'being'.  Days in pajamas...playing, baking, lounging, watching movies, and just being together.  That's what the holiday season is really all about.  When the chaos calms and the wrappings are put away and the toys are silenced, it's about us. Being and together.