Thanks for so much

There is so much to be thankful for in our home! Here, Liam, Casey, and Gavin show how they love to dance on the table. Their cousin Sophie looks on.


Liam shows the delicate art of balancing a green bean in one's mouth.
Family Portrait time! From left to right: Grandma Fran and Grandpa David (Brian's parents), cousin Alahna and Uncle Keith (Brian's brother), Aunt Stephanie and cousin Sophie, Brian, Chrissy with our dog Belly, and Liam, Casey, and Gavin sitting beneath.

Little Dippers

As Thanksgiving approaches, Gavin, Liam, and Casey are gradually expanding their palates to prepare for the Big Meal. Here, they build up their culinary experience by practicing with such exotic offerings as bread dipped in olive oil, cheese, and salt and pepper.


Casey lets Grandma Fran feel the back of his head.
Uncle Paco tries to scare his nieces Sophie and Alahna, but they are not falling for it.

Downward Dogs

These days it seems that Chrissy and Paco rarely have time to practice yoga. Yet, somehow Gavin, Liam, and Casey picked up some simple moves that Mama and Daddy taught them. Here everyone is practicing downward dog. Liam and Gavin like to challenge themselves by getting a leg up. Whew!
Gavin in downward dog.
Look at me! Look at me! Leg in the air likes it good to be...
Did I mention that Gavin really loves to practice downward dog?
Here Liam shows his yogic abilities.
Casey practices downward dog with the assistance of Bunny, who is smooshed underneath him.

Halloween, Part 2

Liam loves being a lion. He happily sat in the wagon to go trick or treating. Casey kept occupied with his water bottle.
Gavin the gorilla makes a monkey face.
After the trick or treating, there was a parade in the town center so that every kid could show off his/her cool costume. Here they enjoy checking out everyone who is checking them out.
Right before bedtime, Casey, Gavin, and Liam had their own animal parade in their bedroom. Here, Liam happily poses with Paco.
Casey, meanwhile, loves to be coy.
Time to pose with Mama. (Yes, I went as a Red Sox fan, AGAIN. That seems to be the default costume.)
This was the first year that Belly did not freak out at Halloween. Is it the Paco love? Looks like it from this picture.

Halloween, Part 1

Today Casey, Gavin, Liam and Mama walked to a neighbor's house for a Halloween party.

Gavin the gorilla and Liam the Lion strut their stuff.

Casey makes his best turtle face.

Animal Parade!
Casey Tomas the turtle holds on tight to his pumpkin muffin.
Gavin stays true to his monkey nature by dancing on the table.
Liam one ups his brother by dancing on the table and eating cookies at the same time.

Liam has a roaring time eating like a lion.

More cousin fun

Fun times in the backyard! Cousins Sophie and Alahna enjoy the swings while Gavin mows the pebbles.
Gavin, Sophie, and Casey enjoy the sandbox.
Sophie gets a hand on it.
Who wants to go down the slide when you can just watch as Liam does?
Sophie makes her way down the slide.
Casey ponders the slide as Aunt Stephanie helps him up.
Cousin Alahna gets ready to slide down.
Gavin braces himself to squeeze down the slide.
The love seat for five: from left, Casey, Liam, Alahna, Sophie, Gavin
Family portrait: from left, Chrissy, Alahna, Stephanie, Sophie, Liam, Keith, Casey, Brian, Gavin

Cousin Love

This weekend our family took a road trip to visit Brian's brother Keith, wife Stephanie, and the boys' cousins Alahna and Sophie. On Saturday, we all enjoyed a trip to an indoor bouncing gym. Above: future dodgeball champion Liam
Smiling high atop the slide: from left Gavin, Aunt Stephanie, Alahna, Brian, Casey
Cousin Sophie and Uncle Keith sport their happy smiles.
Cousins Sophie and Alahna sqeeze into an opening in the bounce castle.
Time to smile!
from left to right: Alahna, Uncle Keith, Sophie, Casey, and Brian pause for a moment at the top of the slide.
Gavin loves to twirl hula hoops with his Mama.
Casey and Chrissy take a break from bouncing.
Aunt Stephanie and Gavin have a ball.