More videos

Note to readers, I will be updating this post as I upload a few more videos...

Musical Girls

Here's a video from a while back -- but priceless.

Happy New Year

Last night we all went to Auntie Cynara's house for NYE. There were 10 adults and 12 kids and it was really quite enjoyable. At one point, all the little girls were gathered around the kitchen table painting (fairly independently) while the boys found more physical means of entertainment. The kids pretty much took care of themselves, allowing the grown-ups the rare chance to socialize (and drink).

Happy new year to anyone reading...

Bowling

Yesterday, we took the kids to Fairways candle-pin bowling in Natick. Eli was amazing. I showed him how to stand right on the line, spread his legs and roll the ball from between his legs, concentrating on the guide arrows just ahead. Whenever he concetrated (really checked his set-up of being in the middle, toes on the line, etc.) he was consistently getting the ball to roll (fairly slowly, but steadily) down the middle. He even got a bit of spin on it (much more than his mommy) so that he'd be getting 8s and 9s.

I was extremely proud of him.

Sledding

On 15Dec2007, the 5 of us went sledding as a family for the first time. Like going to the beach, sledding is one of those micro-activities that is a glimpse into the developing personality of each of the kids.

Eli: Bold, but cautious. He would not go down from the top of the hill, but he had a blast going from a safe height.

Vivi: After much coaxing, she tried it once, got snow in her face, and spent the rest of the time sitting the snow next to alternating adults.

Mina: Reckless abandon -- she went down, landed on her face and climbed right back up to go again. She also wandered off to make tracks in the untouched snow on the 'flats'.

Another quotable

Eli: Daddy, are you a boy?

Jeff: Yes, Eli.

Eli: Then you're my best friend! I love you very much.

Eli Quotable

Jeff: Eli, what did you do today?
Eli: I went on the Purple Train!
Jeff: Did you do anything else?
Eli: I went on the Red Train, too!
Jeff: Did you do anything else?
Eli (thoughtfully): I went on the Orange Train and the Blue Train!!
Jeff: Eli, did you see anything else?
Eli: I saw a purple fish.

(Eli had gone to the aquarium with Gaby and his sisters, but nothing beats the getting there!)