First Run

On New Year's Day we ran in the first run of the year. Mark and Wayne ran in the kids' 1 mi (parents welcome), Fisher unofficially ran too. I wish I had a picture of Fisher for you, after all the kids and parents took off, following a fire truck, Fisher ran (waddled?) after them in his fleece, Flash Gordon cape, winter had and crown. People cheered for him as we ran. He lasted about 20 ft before walked a ways and headed back to wait at the finish line (he could have gone farther in less inclement conditions). Afterwards he kept asking to "run on the street" again. Mark was awesome during the run, only fell once and picked himself right up and kept on going. After the kids race we got the boys bundled up in the chariot, Wayne put on the crown I wore a princess had and we all ran the 5k. We all ran together until just after Beth & Carrie's house, then Wayne and the boys pulled ahead, finishing 3 min ahead of me. Costumes were encouraged the best were: a carton of milk running with 2 chocolate chip cookies, a papa penguin and his son, and our cousin Courtney and her running buddies as the folks from the Wizard of Oz (see below!) Courtney was the good witch Glenda. They were amazing! I think Courtney and her friends get credit for encouraging costumes for the race (several years ago they were the only ones dressed up, two martinis and a bottle of champagne I believe.) We had a great time, the course was tough with unplowed streets, but it was snowing and beautiful and felt good to be setting the stage for the new year- I am definitely sore today. Happy New Year Everyone!!!!

First Night

New Year's Eve here is an incredible family event, though it drives me crazy that the call it "First Night" (all of the events end by midnight, so really it should be "Last Night"....but no one asked me....) From noon to midnight there are performances of every kind throughout the city. We had to be pretty limited in our selection given how young these guys are, but we saw our favorite Circus Schmircus, played at the YMCA (Fisher had a fit when he was asked to get out of the bouncy castle, Mark refused to go into the bouncy castle at all because "then they will just ask me to get out") and we joined Hazel, Beth and Carrie for the drums and dragons parade on Church St. It was unbelievable, so full of art, spirit and good cheer. The kids loved it and even got to pet some of the dragons as they went by! We invite all of you to Burlington to celebrate the end of 2008 with us!!!!

The First Night Cement Truck

This is the truck that Mark saw our first winter in Burlington, he was so excited by it until we got close and it beeped a loud long beep. Nearly every morning for the next year (2006) if we asked him how he slept he replied "...had bad dream, loud beep." This year it was parked quietly near Church St glowing beautifully and both boys loved it.

Snow Day

New Year's Eve brought new snow. Wayne had to work in the morning, so the boys and I got dressed and headed out to play, shovel and ski to Viva. December 2007 was the second snowiest on record here (last year at this time it was a balmy 40 degrees) and we were ready for it. The boys are at a great age to be outside and we have already spent more time out and about this year than we have in previous years combined. We bought and borrowed skis for both of them and they are having a blast. We talk a lot about Aunt Erica and what a great skier she is, Pappaccino and how much he skied when he was a boy and Uncle Jae's attraction to dangerous stunts (Mark is following in your footsteps Jae...he thinks nothing of climbing up onto a snow covered picnic bench in his skis and jumping off before I even turn around).