Kids Night Out

About once a month, our wonderful communities kids program hosts a Kids Night Out where the parents can drop off their kids and go out for a nice dinner while the kids get to have their own night out.  This particular weekend they hosted a Kids Night Out at the same time the parents got to go to the opening ceremony of our new clubhouse.  The Kids had 20 others and some good food to enjoy, while the parents had approximately 700 of our neighbors enjoying our brand new clubhouse.  The community spared no expense with full bars located all over the clubhouse and food stations set up all over as well.  The food was incredible and the drinks were great as well.  It truly was a fun evening getting dressed up and enjoying all our friends and neighbors  And the new clubhouse is truly extraordinary.  Just another reason for you all to come visit us.

Lily in front of the tree at the old clubhouse

The Toothless Wonders Take Zoolights at the National Zoo

Another added holiday bonus of living around DC is taking your kids to zoolights at the National Zoo (for free mind you).  We were joined this year by the wonderful Bober's (Mike, Elizabeth and girls Simone and Dahlia).  We had a fantastic, yet very chilly evening.  Both Lily (age 7) and Simone (age 6) have a few teeth missing in these pictures so I thought the title of this post was fitting.

U.S. Botanical Gardens

The U.S. Botanical Gardens (right next to the U.S. Capitol) is usually a less visited spot on the National Mall, but it truly is a treasure to visit more than once even.  The orchid room is super spectacular.  And during the holidays, they do a great train display in addition to a gingerbread house display of house replicas of all the major buildings in DC.  It gives us a reason to pop in every holiday season and this season was as impressive as always.

Thanksgiving Part 3 - Delaware

The remainder of Thanksgiving week was spent enjoying some family time in Delaware.  There were games that made us giggle so much our insides hurt.  There was turkey trots on Thanksgiving morning.  There was some beach time, shopping time... and again some amazing home cooked food.  All in all it truly was a Thanksgiving success.

Lily, Cole, Chris, Mike, Ahren, Jake, Freya, and Macy

(notice the ladies were at the head of the table - Lily did the seat assignments)

Lily doing the Pringles challenge

 BFF's (Ahren & Kim) on the beach

 Lily at Rehoboth Beach

 There were some masks too. 

No clue why Lily has on a fancy dress, cowboy boots, a mask and a lasso.

 Lily, Freya, Macy & Ahren

 Freya, Ahren, Kim & Lily

 The Carpenter Clan:  Macy, Freya, Jake, Cole, Mike & Ahren (and Simon the dog)

 A girl and her dog

 Macy and Lily enjoying some pizza on the boardwalk

Thanksgiving Part 2 - NYC

We dropped the Carpenters off in NYC on Monday, let Lily get to school on Monday and part of Tuesday, then made our way back up to NYC on Tuesday to arrive in time for dinner in the big apple.  We started by arriving at the Essex House, which is a really nice Marriott overlooking Central Park.  We were welcomed into two very large adjoining rooms.  Very nice, especially for NYC standards.  Then we headed to the bar where cocktails were a mere $25/each.  I opted for a glass of water.  We were joined by two more Carpenters (Jake & Freya) who are living in Weehawken, NJ.  For dinner we all hit a crazy Asian/Dim Sum restaurant in Tribeca and had a great time.

The following day we made a run for Magnolia Bakery for breakfast, packed up and then headed out for a day on the town.  We hit Times Square, Fifth Avenue (a quick stop into American Girl store for Lily) and then Rockefeller Center.  We lunched on some tasty food at Bouchon and then headed to Radio City Music Hall to watch the Rockette's Christmas Spectacular.  It truly was an amazing time.

 Lily, Macy, Ahren & Freya

  Macy & Lily getting tourist gear

 The M&M store (all 3 floors) were a hit

Kim & Lily in front of the Avenue of Americas

 Radio City Music Hall

Inside Radio City for the Rockette's Christmas Spectacular

 

The window displays at Saks on Fifth Avenue definitely rival the Macy's ones

 Plus Saks has genuine Rockettes

 Rockefeller Plaza

Ferry ride back to Weekhawken, NJ

Thanksgiving Part 1 - DC

Our Thanksgiving week was so full with activities that I have to break it up into three parts.  Part 1 - DC.  Part 2 - NYC and Part 3 - DE.  The week started on Saturday with the Carpenters flying into Reagan National from Oregon.  It just 1.5 days we made it around to DC having some great food and seeing some great sites.

Pictures below of Lily, Macy & Cole

Lily Visits Santa

What could make our visit to Florida complete more than a visit to Santa (joke).  We actually were at the mall just before flying back and they had a great Santa visiting area, so why not.

A sneak away November trip to Florida

Lily's school this year had an entire week off at the beginning of November.  Stacking up some in service days, holidays and election day.  So naturally we decided to head out for the week and went to Florida.  We were joined by Kim's grandparents (Norma & Cliff) as well as Kim's mom (Donna).  Then once we got to Florida Uncle Chad (Dixon's) and Aunt Stef joined us for a couple days.  The weather was perfect (low 80s and sunny the entire time).  We got to enjoy some amazing food (fresh squeezed O.J., first time having stone crab, Tommy Bahama restaurant and a Brazilian steakhouse).  We were complete tourists (Everglades airport tours, alligator watching, beach going, trips to Sanibel & Captiva Islands, a day on a pontoon boat complete with dolphin spotting and of course lots of time playing games and swimming on our lanai. 

Remember in my last post when I said that I feel like the luckiest girl alive, well... it just keeps getting better.

Chris and Lily on Naples Pier

 Grandpa Cliff & Lily at Tommy Bahama Restaurant

 Acting scared on the Everglades Airport Tour (there was an alligator just by Donna's foot)

 See the alligator just behind Lily and her crazy hair

 Sno cones on Bonita Beach

 Relaxing on Bonita Beach (Chris, Norma, Cliff & Donna)

 Chris, Kim, Lily, Grandpa Cliff & Donna on Naples Pier

 Lily and Uncle Chad jumping into the pool together

 While Lily has this great grin on her face,

Uncle Chad doesn't look as excited to give up his captains chairs.

 The Captain prevails

 Chris and Lily

 Pelicans

 Dolphins, dolphins and more dolphins

 Donna and Lily at the Naples Botanical Gardens