Fall in North Georgia

Hillcrest Orchard-- October 29, 3006

We had a really nice weekend, including a suprise visit from Myra and Allan who were stuck in Atlanta trying to get a flight to South America. We spent Saturday hanging out with them and walking around the Va-Hi area before they flew out that night. Sunday we hit the road and traveled North to Ellijay, GA to do some "leaf peeping" and a visit to a rip-off known as Hillcrest Orchards. The kids loved it but it was pretty darn tacky. Highlights included a petting zoo (for an extra fee, of course) and a tractor ride through the orchard. It's past the season to pick your own, but you can buy stuff in the store. We left with some cider and donuts and the girls slept the entire way home.

On the way up we enjoyed some fabulous, though extremely right-wing barbeque at Poole's in Ellijay. The place was plastered from floor to ceiling with photos of the owner with every major Republican in Georgia, and some from D.C. The shrine to Pat Buchanan was our favorite part.

Sonic Youth

Ok, at least my kids haven't done this

Click above to read

New initiative @ work

Totally off topic:

I've likely mentioned this to some of you but wanted to share news of a new practice area at my office that we're actually pretty proud of:

http://www.holmesreport.com/holmestemp/story.cfm?edit_id=6325&typeid=1

You'll see a few of the community initiatives we've started-- however it doesn't mention additional efforts that will take place, including a project I'm working with a colleague on to create an educational program for E. Rivers Elementary. We based our project on an idea I had read about as well as a really interesting article aboue how using CFL lightbulbs in the home can help fight global warming by reducing our carbon emissions from electric power plants. We'll be giving our prestnation to the staff in a couple of weeks about this initiative and hopefully donating as many as 300 bulbs to the students to take home and share the info with their parents.

Keep Your Eyes on the Prize

The topic of "getting married" keeps coming up lately from both L&S. If I had to guess, this is stemming from watching the wedding scene from the Sound of Music one too many times, combined with wanting to look at our wedding photos which are all over the house.

As I mentioned before Leah plans on getting married in her Fairy Princess outfit.

She took it a step further last night and asked me "who walk with me to the island?" I said, "you mean walk you down the aisle?" She said "Yeah, yeah, that." I said, 'Well, Mommy and Daddy will walk you down the aisle." This seemed to make her really happy. Then she started grilling me on WHO she was going to marry. "Who going to be the daddy?" she repeatedly asked. I tried to explain that even I didn't know who that would be, but some day she'd find out who is the "person" she wants to marry. See, I'm also stuck trying not to reinforce gender stereotypes, so who am I to assume it's a man? Or if she'll marry at all?

Then Sydney piped in, "When I be a mommy?" I swear, this kid floors me.

I said "When you're grown up, and married." Again, I know she has the right to be a single, unwed mother, but why encourage it?

Sydney nodded and agreement and said "Right, that's the prize."

"What?" I asked in amazement

"That's the prize when I get married!"

Thing is, it's true! I told her then that I must be very lucky to have gotten them as a prize.

Sydney said "Yes, you very lucky-- you got TWO girls!"

Random Thoughts

I realize that this blog does a pretty good job of regurgitating all the things we DO with the girls but fails to mention or even begin to capture the funny things that come out of the mouths of L&S.

The problem is, I recognize the moment of cuteness when they mis-name something, or ask an adorably innocent question. But by the time the day is over and the kids are in bed, I can't seem to drag up the memory.

Before I forget I should mention a few that have happened recently:
-Leah plans to get married in her fairy princess outfit, including tiara and wand.

-In direct reaction to that, Sydney plans to be a boy, so she can wear a kippa on her head

-They call Star Trek "Car Trek" and think it's about cars

-I am asked about Darth Vader/Luke Skywalker about 15 times a day since the parade

-Leah was very upset in the Lion King when Rafiki puts that orange junk on Simba's head in the opening sequence, it totally freaks her out. Again, in direct reaction, Sydney has decided she loves it.

-Right now it's all about "letters" so we have to spell EVERYONE's name. If it begins with an L or an S they are simply thrilled.

Halloween Already?

Halloween Parade- 2006

New album posted above.....

The Halloween celebrations seem to start earlier and earlier. Each year the Kotler-Weiss clan host a get together in conjunction with the Little Five Points Halloween Festival. It was on the 21st this year which makes no sense to me but was a great chance to do a trial run on the costumes-- we went with the "home made" variety this year with a few store-bought accessories. Leah told me today that she plans on getting married in her fairy outfit. I'l be sure to remind her of that in a decade or two. Sydney followed that one up by remind me that she plans to be a boy when she grows up. Nod and smile, that's all I can do!

This parade, by the way, is definately rated PG-13, at a minimum. Before you go calling DFACS, you should know that there were plenty of kids and they throw candy and all that good stuff. Ironically, the thing that scared Sydney the most was not the freak shows marching down Euclid Avenue, but rather our dear friend, six-year old Noah Trugman dressed as Darth Vader. Sydney was absolutely hysterical when we arrived at the party and was begging to go home lnog before the parade began. After a 30 minute melt-down she simply said "I'm ok now. I was freaked out but now I'm ok." Noah apologized profusely, sweet thing. Then it was one sugar loaded afternoon of fun! I'll upload a few viedos of Sydney rocking out to some of the floats that went past. And they bothed loved the marching bands. Even thre freakiest people were ok by them as long as they put candy in their bags.

Friday night was tot shabbot again-- I took the girls along with theKotler/Weiss crew and then we all met Scott for dinner at Penang. They really enjoy singing the songs and seeing the other children and this time they also got to light the shabbas candles (with adult supervision). Somehow Nathan managed to sustain another head injury while there. He also had a rock fall on his head on Rosh Hashanah. They're going to think someone is fishing for a lawsuit!! He was ok, thankfully, but it looked scary since it was a head wound.

The weekend fun continued-- we saw Lindsay & Derik today, along with Alan & Min ---it had been over a year since we saw them-- just shortly after Lindsay's wedding!

They invited us over for bruch and it was fantastic just to hang out and catch up. This was our first time seeing their home (adorable!) and I'm sure the girls seemed so much bigger than last time we all got together. The highlight for the kids, I belive was "playing rock band" with Lindsay.

Funny video below.

Scott has to go to Philadelphia for work for a few days. It's rare that he travels but it will be a nice change of pace for him. Tonight we were invited to Ginny & Ellis' to meet their friends and do some pumpkin carving. There were five girls ages 2-5 and it was hysterial. Alison, Ella, Chloe, Leah & Sydney all running around like crazy. They did manage to stop to inhale a piece of pizza and then it ws back to mayhem. As a result the grown ups did like 95% of the work carving. As you can see the results were impressive-- ours are the 2 tiny ones on the end. My mom had bought the girls' those pumpkins a week or so ago. I figured it couldn't hurt to turn them in to a jack-o'lantern. If you can't tell the 2nd from the right is a ghost. It was hard to do a pattern like that on such a small pumpkin.

It's getting really late. If I'm going to play single parent the next few days I better get some sleep.

Meanwhile my Mom and Jennifer are getting ready to hit the road for Houston-- won't see them til nearly mid November! Best of luck at the shows!

By the way it is 10:30 at night, Scott is in Philly for work, and I just heard little footsteps running around-- it was Leah trying to get a book. nice. Sydney had already gotten a few for herself and was laying backwards in bed reading Dr. Seuss.

Trip to Maryland Photos Online

Trip to Washington, D.C. October 5-10

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Hi All

Look to the right and under my favorite links you'll see a new tool-- simply put in your email address and you'll receive an email with a link any time we update the site. It will make it easier than me reminding everyone to come check it out and one less thing for you to think about too.

Since I usually post 3+ times per week, that's about how often you'll get an email from "Bloglet" which is the company running the service.

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Trip Recap

Hey All!

It's been four days since we got back in to town and this is my first chance to hop back on to blogger. We had a great, but hectic, trip. It was great to see everyone, and for those we would have like to have hung out with but were unable-- I apologize!! Even with 4 days it's barely enough time to work in the family stuff. Scott and I were also sick the entire time which added an additional, um, element to traveling. Lots of Robotussin and tissues.

As usual the girls were champion car travelers. In this day and age I think it's rare to have kids who can make it nearly 12 hours on a trip with only about 45 minutes of DVD time. They alternate between chatting, napping, snacking and playing with toys. But when the whining hits full throttle we don't hesitate to whip out the portable DVD player, or the "little TV" as they call it.

This was also the first trip that I think both Leah & Sydney were VERY aware of the schlepping that was going on. More than once Leah proclaimed "I don't want to get on the highway!!" Also a lot of "shy" attacks when we would arrive somehwere-- the warm-up period for them was at least 20 minutes, if not more depending on how cranky they were.

Photos are forthcoming-- I need to grab them off Scott's laptop and upload-- will do another Picasa web album.

Trip Highlights:

• Sydney decided that she CAN use the potty. Not everytime, but a LOT. She actually was dry all day yesterday (used the potty 3 times) and this mainly started when we arrived at Diane's house Thursday night
• Trip to Port Discovery in Baltimore on Friday with DeeDee (Diane) It was pouring rain and bitter cold but the museum was wonderful and the kids got a kick out of the very in-depth and hands-on Clifford The Big Red Dog exhibit.
• Getting to catch up with the Mostows (Steve, Pam, Sam) and explore their neighborhood. and the great festival that was going on. The girls loved hanging with Sam!
• Visit to great grandparents Belle & Ben-- the girls liked sitting on their big chairs and calling them Princess Thrones.
• Getting together with the entire Shankman clan at Phyllis' house. Almost all the great grandchildren were there (Ryan was at beach) and the girls had a blast playing with everyone and we got to spend time with everyone including GiGi, Poppy Nate and Joel.
• The girls first Metro ride down to the Mall and trip to the Air & Space Museum. Sydney did NOT like the astronaut models in the museum and demanded OUT. But they got to do the carousel on the Mall and topped it off with popsicle and then finally dinner in Bethesda. It was great to have a full day with Poppy Joel!
• A gorgeous day at the National Zoo and we were met by both Todd and his daughter Alison, along with Amy Dunn and her little guys. A highlight for Scott was lunch with everyone at the site of his underage drinking antics, The Zoo Bar on Connecticut Ave.
• Dinner at the Far East with Myra, Alan, Isaac and Diane-- the girls specifically request this place because they have these voracious fish that you can feed. Great way to end our trip

Next thing you know it was Tuesday morning and time to hit the road again!

September Photos online-- All of em!

September 2006

Sep 29, 2006 - 82 Photos

God Love Google for making this so durn easy. And shame on Kodak for not coming up with it first! Click the image above and you'll be taken to a URL with all of our photos from September.

We're off to DC tomorrow morning!