snow storm

Expecting 14-20 inches by the time it all stops today...

cookies

The chef eats the first cookie.

The chief taster makes an appearance!

school christmas program #2

Cameron's class is the oldest in preschool so they did the full nativity.  Turns out that Mr. Cameroni Macaroni was the only one with a speaking part! He introduced the play to the audience and then went back to the choir where he was singing with his friends.  They all did a great job!

school christmas program

Jamie's class sang "does the baby need a blanket?" and it was just so sweet. 

I've uploaded the video to my facebook page if you'd like to see it. Meanwhile here are some sweet photos of Jamie and friends.

snow!

let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Andrew and James show Jamie how to use the snowball shooter...

Cameron and Natalie mess around and build a snowman...

our house on its snow hill...

Cameron using the snowball maker...
and now a nice warm fire and boys exhausted in bed.

tennis on a warm november day

We had such a great weekend with Jackie and Farid.  Cameron and Jamie took them outside to play tennis this morning.  They were also showing them their bikes and scooters (hence the bike helmets!)  Jackie and Farid are very popular visitors with Cameron and Jamie and we hope they'll be back soon - thanks for coming to visit!

jackie and farid come to visit

Jackie and Farid came down from Hoboken to visit. We've had fun with them this weekend including a visit to Meadowlark, lunch at Clydes and Jamie's first turn on the ice in Reston. Jamie loved ice skating and after a few minutes did not want a hand to hold and was happy on his own. Grant had Cameron and Jamie pulling him along!

The boys take Grant for a spin around the ice at Reston town center ice rink.

Cameron and Jackie in Meadowlark...stopping for a break

Cameron and Jamie get a little help with our walk from Grant and Farid.

back garden tree

There are two maples in our back garden and one normally looks better than the other in the fall. This year it is the turn of the tree near the playset.  It has beautiful fall colours this year and I had to take a photo. I remember the years I was in Hong Kong and I missed the autumn and the leaves changing colour and the change in temperature. This tree is a beauty!

bike boys - look no wheels!

Yesterday was a lovely fall day. It was 70 degrees and sunny. In the morning I took the boys to the National Zoo. It was a busy day because everyone was out enjoying the sunshine.  Just as we arrived they were feeding the Giant Sloth Bears so we went to listen to the zookeepers talk about what they eat. At the end of the talk they asked for volunteers to feed the bear called Callie.  Cameron volunteered and later so did Jamie.  They both got to feed the bear though a tube, like a giant straw. They were both really pleased.

The afternoon was full of excitement. Grant took their training wheels off and both boys were cycling with no training wheels. Jamie got the hang of it so quickly and he was off. They both fell off a couple of times but no injuries so they were right back on their bikes and off again.  Their friend Dariya also came out on her bike and learnt to cycle with no training wheels either - a big day for our street!

Here is Cameron concentrating...

And Jamie the speed demon....

Cameron's party

Cameron had his 5th birthday party today at Sport Bounce. He had a great time with all his friends and is absolutely wiped out this evening. Both boys feel asleep in the car on the way home. 

This is Cameron and  his friend Devon enjoying birthday cake...

Here are all the kids before the party started....

This is Cameron blowing out the candles....