The four of us – Emma, Molly, Jack and me – ushered in New Year’s Day 2015 with a visit to Portsmouth. We walked around, checked out the ice sculptures, new outdoor skating rink at Strawbery Banke and had a delicious lunch on Market Square at Popover’s. It was c-c-c-c-old out there but we braved it together and had a lot of fun. On the way home we stopped by the Horne Street playground… brutally cold, but you had a blast.
Happy New Year!!
Christmas 2015 at Grammy & Papa’s was lots of fun, but different, from earlier years:
Reason # 1- we weren’t at Waterloo Circle! This was the first time since you’ve been born that “Christmas Two” (Christmas One being at your house in the morning) was at a different house. No more running around our ‘mini mansion,’ no more fires in the big fireplace, no more super loud voices (from all of us, but me especially) due to the super high ceilings creating a “cavern effect.”
Reason # 2 – the Beaupre’s had recently moved into their new house in Scarborough, Maine and weren’t able to join us. Although we all got together at their new house the next day, this was the first time we weren’t all together (at some point) on Christmas day. Instead of 13 of us, there were eight. Everyone had a great time but it felt kind of different! It was quieter because you didn’t enjoy your normal shenanigans together.
Reason # 3 – we got together at the beach house, where we’ve never been together after Labor Day! Instead of wide-eyed views of the Piscataqua River we were treated to wide-eyed views of the Atlantic Ocean. Still awesome! Another difference? Less room for everyone to roam around! Nevertheless it was cool to be in unusual surroundings for the big holiday.
Reason # 4 – there wasn’t any snow outside! Although we had some snow on Thanksgiving, there was green (or actually sort of brown) grass. It looked beachy but ot Christmasy!
Reason # 5 – we had a tiny Christmas tree compared to all the others you’ve seen at our big house the past 12 years. We also didn’t have our usual decorations! Since June most everything we own has been in storage, so this year’s ornaments were Target specials, ALL gold and silver, and all plastic! I’m calling this our “cheesy Christmas.” Ha!!
Molly here you are with the new American Doll that was waiting for you at 299 Ocean Avenue:
We gave Ben a pair of red headphones so he can enjoy Minecraft and games and music with surround-sound.
Like last year, we saved the best Three Musketeers adventure for last: a trip to Gillette Stadium to see our favorite team, the New England Patriots!
It was a day fun, adventure and surprises.
Surprise # 1: the weather. The game was on Sunday, November 23 – late into the season – and we were ready for crazy weather. Rain, ice, snow, wind… you name it, anything could happen. But we were incredibly lucky, getting a sunny day that started cool but soon warmed up into the high 50′s!
Adventure # 1 – unlike last year when we ate lunch at Five Guys inside Patriot Place, this time I wanted you to experience a classic game day activity: tailgating. None of you had ever done this before, so we rolled out the red carpet (figuratively speaking, not literally). We went to our favorite dirt parking lot, set up the table and soon your Dad and Uncle were firing up the stoves and grills. We had a gourmet feast that included breakfast (bacon, hash browns, eggs, english muffins) and – a little later – the second wave came out featuring luncheon delights like burgers and chips. Yummy! You guys had a blast. Emma climbed on the roof of the van, we threw the football around, and the guy next to us kept announcing things over his loudspeaker!
Surprise # 2: an unexpected goose bump moment. While we were tailgating and later, walking to Gillette, we couldn’t help but notice a couple “fly-overs” around Gillette – with two supersonic airplanes zipping (and I mean zipping) by high above. We started speculating: would we have a flyover before the game?
When we got to the stadium we learned this was “Honor Our Veterans” day at Gillette… and at that moment we put it all together. The security lines were endlessly long getting in… by the time we made it through there was under 10 minutes to game time. So I said “We have to run or we’ll miss the flyover!” So we all bolted as fast as we could up the long stairs and across the huge concourse. As we walked down the stairs leading to our seats, it was game time, 1PM. We looked at the big screen and could see the two jets coming in fast… two seconds later they were flying low above Gillette, literally going over 500 miles an hour. I screamed, “Look up kids!” and there they were. I’ve seen a lot of cool things in my lifetime, but a fly-over is one of the most exciting of all because of the power, speed and sound.
Adventure # 2: always expect the unexpected at a Patriot’s game. Last year, one of the guys in front of us pulled down his pants to show off his Red Sox (??) boxer shorts. What?!?! This year, the guy to the right side of our row – close to Ben and Camden – was a wild and fan who insisted on going crazy and giving out a high five after just every positive Patriots play (ppp… that’s called “alliteration” grandkids). Another Patriot’s first down? High-fives and screaming. A great defensive play? High-fives and screaming. A touchdown? Extra high-fives and screaming. I later heard that a fan behind Ben had a very interesting vocabulary, swearing thorughout the game. I asked Ben, “did you hear any words you hadn’t heard before?” and Ben said “No, but I’ve never heard so many said so many times.”
Surprise #3: the Detroit Lions. The Pat’s opponent came into the game on a five game winning streak and one of the best records in the NFL. So we were expecting a tough game with lots of scoring. That wasn’t the case: Brady and his team played great offensively and defensively. The final score was even closer than it seemed watching the game… the Pats could have easily put two more touchdowns on the board had a couple more plays gone their way.
Adventure # 3: making our way to the bathroom at half time! It’s wall-to-wall, elbow-to-elbow at a Patriots game, so your Dad, Uncle and I carefully stayed together as we ventured out into the concourse. The lines were long, but we got the job done! After, I brought you to one of the stores and told you to pick out anything you wanted. Emma and I had spotted a silly “retro” Patriots hat on the widescreen during the game – a fan was wearing it. Emma looked at hundreds of items and said “I want that!” Ben and Camden joined in and said “we want one of those too!” I bought those and got each of you a Pats wall banner.
Surprise #3: every fan got a special surprise coming into Gillette, a banner. You loved unrolling it and holding it up during the game. You guys tried hard to get on camera, hoping they’d see you and put you up on the big screen. I told you about the time that happened to me and your Dads. The game was a day or so before Halloween, so we all wore masks and were noticed because our seats were very close to the field.
Adventure #4: seeing Tom Brady is an adventure for every one of us. By the time he retires, Tom Brady will go down in history as the greatest QB. He’s there already in most of the “best of all time” categories. What an amazing competitor – he never gives up, never stops learning and tirelessly works out, driving himself to be the best he can be every day of his life. We can all learn a lesson or two (or a 100) from Tom Brady. You have seen history: someday you will tell your own kids ” You know what? When I was your age I saw Tom Brady, the greatest QB of all time.”
Surprise # 4: by the time we walked the half hour back to the car, we were all beat. It had been a long day, the sun had set and it was once again feeling like late November should feel. The parking lot was jammed and everyone was trying to exit at the same time. We could have been there for an hour, but our microphone/loudspeaker friend from earlier tail gating jumped in front of the cars and allowed us to back out. I told you guys “The reason he did that was because we got along with him and his friends. We talked to them, fooled around, gave them some of our fool and they remembered that. When you treat people nice, you get nice back.”
End of the day – the traffic moved slow all the way back – it took us an hour just to re-connect with I-95, the main highway north. Soon, the back seat of the van was quiet and every one of you was fast asleep. Ben was snoring! In Lexington, Emma had to go the bathroom so we pulled over. As we left the parking lot, a loud chant arose from the Three Musketeers: “We want Fuddruckers, we want Fuddruckers!” You wouldn’t let up! You had remembered our visit there after last year’s Pats game. Soon we were feasting on burgers, fries and shakes… yummy day treat #2.
I hope I can get tickets again next year so we add new surprises and adventures to our memory banks. I wonder how long it will take before Ainsley and Molly, Jack and Madigan want to join us? I bet it won’t be long. Some day we’ll go down there – all 13 of us – and your Mom’s and Grammy will join us too. Somehow they always stay behind to be with the little ones.
What a fantastic day – get it? “fan”tastic?
GOAL!! This is my favorite photo of you from Fall soccer. Why? Because you look AWESOME! Look at how hard you're trying! Look at that form! You're kicking with your left foot, but you're a righty - very hard to do! What determination, just look at your face Emma. And talk about "eye on the ball" - wow. You will keep getting better and better and I predict you will be an impressive athlete in the years ahead as your confidence and skills grow even more. Proud of you Emma!
hooray, you won the Principal's award in your class for the month of September. Woodman Park School is lucky to have such a bright, friendly young student! I'm very proud of you!
Grammy and I love the birthday card you guys made us! It’s creative, colorful, captivating and….
BIG!! here’s a photo showing the size in relation to my left foot:
here’s the inside:
and the back cover:
this is the best birthday card we’ve EVER been given. that’s saying a lot because I just turned 61 years old and Grammy 59!
thanks for inviting Grammy and me to your special birthday party tonight at Applebee's! We all had a blast. This is your last year in single digits, so make it a special one. Soon enough you will join the world of double digit human beings, like your brother did two years ago. When I asked you what you'd like for your birthday you said "really, you can buy me whatever you want, as long as it's not pink or sparkly." Ha! That says a lot about you Emma - you are definitely not a "girly girl!" You're a cool kid Emma, full of life and fun to be around. Happy 9th birthday, I love you lots!
Out of the blue, on your own, a decision was made.
It was time to raise money to fight cancer.
The idea came to you when your Mom and Dad held a yard sale in preparation for your move from Emerald Drive (where you lived for six months after Arch Street).
You raised $86! I was so proud of you I posted the following photo on my Facebook page. Over 40 people responded with positive comments.
I’ve blogged about this before, Emma, you have a big heart for a not-so-little-anymore kid. You will change the world and make it a better place.
Always follow your heart.
