Merry Christmas 2012

Being the father of five children, people always ask me the same question in the month of December.  "So, what's your house like on Christmas?"  My loving response is always the same, "Have you seen the television show How the Grinch Stole Christmas... It's alot like Whoville."  All the noise, noise, noise, noise. . .  But I wouldn't have it any other way.

After all this, it's time to wake up the baby. . .

Winter Ballet ? ? ?

Just when you thought you had the routine down... things change.  This was the case for my six year old daughter this year with ballet.  Her ballet instructor decided to "include" the little kids in the winter show for the first time this year.  The show took place at a local artisan shop.  It was a small intimate setting that made for a nice show.  Although the pictures had to be taken from the seats, I think you'll appreciate how my little china doll enjoyed herself.  Her group danced to a piece from the Nutcracker pretending to be from China bringing gifts of tea. . .

Giving Thanks. . .

Today is Black Friday... the most notorious shopping day of the Western Culture.  In a day in which we are so quick to acquire worldly goods, let us take some time to continue to give thanks what we have already been given...

The image below was taken this morning outside my home.  I stepped outside for a brief moment to find the sun rising over the woodland.  The fog was beginning to burn off and it made a most spectacular scene.  After thanking God for the beautiful image he shared with me and "burning" it into my memories, I decided to step inside and grab my camera.  Taking the shot below inside to post process it, I decided to lower the brightness of the sun in the woods only to reveal a picture of a dove.  The dove is the sign of the Holy Spirit... the love that God has for each of us is hidden in our lives everyday... you only have to look.

Look Who's Hootin' Now. . .

In an age of social media, texting, facebook, email updates, and the like, it's nice to know that it's still enjoyable to head out to the store for some good old fashioned lecture and demonstrations.  Today my wife informed me that we would be taking the kids to a local store called The Hoot.  They were hosting and owl demonstration sponsored by Horizon Wings.  Horizon Wings is a non-profit Wildlife Rehabilitation Center specializing in Birds of Prey.  Today's demonstration featured the Barred Owl, the Barn Owl, the Eastern Screech Owl, and the Great Horned Owl.  My girls were glued to the presentation and asked tons of questions to the presenters.  I felt as if I had been brought back in time watching the live question and answer session before my eyes.  In today's age of computer based learning, it was nice to head back to the "stone age" and have a sit down session with actual owls instead of videos of owls.  This type of learning puts a fabric back into our children's lives and brains and should be utilized by all parents.  Be sure to make some time this busy holiday season and take your kids to local presentations and/ or museums.  Take the time to watch them interact with living specimens and ask questions to actual human presenters.  Bring them back to the basics of human to human contact and I know for a fact, they will have the best time ever.  It's that connection to our world that our children are lacking today.  That connection is essential if our children are going to make this world a better place to live. . .

Eastern Screech: Jasper

Barred: Emrys

Barn Owl: Silo

Great Horn: Oscar

Trick or Treatin' . . .

Taking five kiddo's out for a trick or treat-a-thon is how my wife and I like to spend our Halloween. A sobering experience at best, we enjoyed watching our little ones frolic around the neighborhood streets this year even after hurricane Sandy left so much of the town without power.  The blessing of tonight's outing is that my ever so generous in laws stopped by with dinner and offered to watch Marcello the 15 month old so that he wouldn't have to freeze his stinger right of his bee costume!  Thanks for the reinforcements mom and dad... I hope you enjoy the pics.

a princess...

a bat...

a fairy princess...

a cat....

Happy Birthday Grandma Sullivan!

Today we celebrated Grandma Sullivan's Birthday!  We are so very blessed to have you in our lives and thank God for all of our Grandma's and Grandpa's every day!

Hayday 2012

Today we had the privilege of visiting the Hurst Farm in rustic Andover, Ct.  We boarded the tractor with friends and farmer Tom took us on a tour of the beautiful farm.  The warm autumn sun bathed the New England colors of fall creating the perfect day.  The kids had an absolute blast feeding cattle, jumping in giant hay piles, and picking corn and pumpkins. . .