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Little gang of cousins

Cousins at Xmas

Gavin loves his new shirt

On the tire swing at a park in Pacifica

Ten Question Interview

FINN
1. Favorite color:  green
2. Favorite toy:  Sheepie (who was actually given to Lucia by Kevin Richardson)
3. Favorite food:  spinach
4. Favorite tv show:  Turbo Dogs
5. Favorite outfit:  the Yoda shirt that Aunt Kate gave me
6. Favorite book:  Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer
7. Best friend:  Tyler and Breck
8. Favorite holiday:  Christmas
9.  Whats in your bed at night:  Sheepie, water bottle, Xmas Guy (a reindeer), Ooh-ooh Monk Monk (a tiny stuffed monkey), and a candy ring
10.  What do you want to be when you grow up?  big boy teacher


LUCIA

1. Favorite color:  red (usually she says pink or purple)

2. Favorite toy:  Ariel the mermaid (she doesn't actually own one; but she does play extensively with BunBun, Bunny2 and Bunny3)

3. Favorite food:  goldfish

4. Favorite tv show:  Strawberry Shortcake (tho recently she has been obsessed with My Little Pony)

5. Favorite outfit:  my new red xmas dress (but really any dress)

6. Favorite book:  why do you cry

7. Best friend:  Aerin

8. Favorite holiday:  Halloween

9.  Whats in your bed at night:  kitty cats  (actually, usually its just her sleepsack and an occasional stuffed animal)

10.  What do you want to be when you grow up?  someone who shares clothing with mommy

GAVIN

1. Favorite color:  green (this is new)
2. Favorite toy:  kissy bear, a stuffed bear given to him in Chicago by his babysitter Iwona that he just rediscovered

3. Favorite food:  macaroni and cheese

4. Favorite tv show:  Hot Wheels Battle Force 5

5. Favorite outfit:  my Star Wars shirt

6. Favorite book:  Bakugan chapter book (mommy hates to read it!)

7. Best friend:  Alex (for the third year in a row)

8. Favorite holiday:  Christmas

9.  Whats in your bed at night:  kissy bear and all my pets

10.  What do you want to be when you grow up?  its a secret

Sheepie the (Aspiring) Comedian

Every morning, Finn and Sheepie crawl into our bed and wake us up with a comedy routine.  For example,

Q:  What happens when two sheep see each other
A:  [They say] "baaa, baaa"

Sheepie, who we're told attends a special sheep school while Finn is at St. Lukes, has also started to be blamed for hitting Lucia and Gavin.

Santa (again)

This time, the kids have been dressed up by Thomas.

Here is how Gavin's chat with Santa went
S: What would you like for Xmas, little boy?
G: Its a secret. [smug smile.] Why dont' you guess.

Santa!

Pajama party at St. Lukes pre-school.  

Lucia takes a turn at karaoke and sings Twinkle Twinkle Little Star with the entertainer.  Well, actually, she may have lip synched it.

More decorating

The kids spend hours arranging and rearranging the (unbreakable, and hence not terribly attractive) Xmas ornaments.  That's alot of entertainment for $35!!

Hamming it up

Decorating the tree

Finn at Karate

Watch out, Gavin!!!

Finn is a natural and really into karate.  Gavin is SO jealous that he's not taking lessons too.

Thanksgiving

Nonnie and the Whitmans drive up for Thanksgiving.  Everyone fought to spend time with cousin Rachael.

Our 7lb smoked turkey was deemed too small so at the last minute we also cooked a small ham (which Gavin looooved; the kids weren't big fans of the turkey itself).  The big hit was the butternut squash risotto, courtesy of Trader Joes!

Finns angry face

Train ride to NYC

Lucia's daddy

Sassy Lu

Soccer trophies

Halloween

Ariel the Mermaid greets her adoring fans (along with her friend Sabrina)

Lucia's classmates

Stormtrooper Gavin at his elementary school parade

By evening, he has changed sides and is now a Jedi knight, along with his friends Darth Vader (Eric) and Anakin (Peter)

The Jedi knights discover Anakin and Darth Vader battling in the family room

Happy and hyper trick-or-treaters

P.S. It snowed two days before Halloween--just two inches but that was enough to knock out the power for a bit

Favorite Threats

Lucia:  "you're not coming to my birthday party"

Finn:  "you're not going to be my twin anymore"

First day of pre-school

At the park

A few vacation pics of Finn

Playing in the woods

Gavin & Finn were collecting acorns as toll, in order to advance past the dock.

While Lucia dozes on a "bed" made of moss

Thomas gave the kids "R2D2 jet ski" rides -- they loved it!!

 

Here is Thomas enjoying the Maine woods.  (Yes, that is his blackberry in his hands!!)

Schoodic point

Lucia is SO excited

...to go anywhere without her brothers. Even if it's just the grocery store!

No, its not a pancaked-shaped version of Finn...

Aunt Kate sent the kids Star Wars pancake molds and a Darth Vader spatula!  Here is Finn with his Yoda sourdough pancake.

Publish Post

Relaxing Vanderbilt-style

We took the kids to Sleepy Hollow for part of the weekend and the spent the night in a former Vanderbilt mansion.  

The highlight of the trip is that Gavin can now swim, albeit not very far.  And the twins got to golf with Daddy!

Firemen

Finn & Gavin bravely battle the blaze at the Children's Museum

Finn is a little nervous about sliding down the pole

Gavin with his best buddy from Chicago, Nathan

Finn refused to leave the area or remove his fireman outfit

Lucia developed a slight crush on Nathan...

Row, row, row your boat.... 

Building and launching rockets was a highlight of the visit to the childrens museum