Pictures from Nov., Dec. and Jan.

These pictures were taken with my iPhone and Windows phone so they are a little out of order.

Sidney and I are trying to cheer up a disgruntled Walter River.

Sidney and Cleo were GramLin's little helpers at an evening run to Michael's for ribbon and other items.

Cleo and Makayla in Jacksonville.

Cleo reading the Twelve Days of Christmas to Sidney's class during their holiday party in December.

Enjoying their iPads.

GramLin's focused little helper.

Kaelin and Sidney playing police officer and fireman.

Sidney playing dress up when we are back at home after Christmas in FL.

On January 13, 2014, we took Cleo to a cardiologist appointment. Her cardiologist, Dr. Slesnick, said that her heart sounded and looked great (he saw images via an echocardiogram).  He said that now she only has to see him once a year. Roger and I are relieved and so happy. Cleo has always seen a cardiologist at least 2 times a year.  She still has another defect that requires monitoring but there's a very good chance that the defect will not require surgery. She has a mitral valve defect. It's a slow changing defect and if it gets worse, the symptoms will be noticeable.  And, any symptoms will be detectable long before it requires repairing.  I have decided not to fret because I no longer have any energy to fret. I will worry if her doctor tells us there is something to worry about.

At the end of her appointment, the nurse gave Cleo a coin to put into a gum ball machine filled with toys. There was a cluster of gum ball canisters to choose from.  No gum was in any of them. She chose the one filled with little fake mustaches.  Kids!

As part of my project that I worked on in KY last week, I had to don a Tyvek suit so that my clothes would not be covered in mold and dust. I had to wear a mask too so that I wouldn't breathe in too much of it. I had to take a look at documents stored in a mold-infested basement.

Last week at church, Sidney drew a rocket ship. I thought it was super impressive.  I know, I am biased.

I still cannot believe how much snow we got today. I am guessing it's 3.5 inches.  The kids cannot wait to make snow angels tomorrow.

iPad Air and Christmas Day in Jacksonville, FL

We let the kids open their gifts in Atlanta the day before we headed down to FL to spend Christmas with Kaelin, Linda and Robin.

We splurged this year and got the kids an iPad Air.  We did not get them a ton of other gifts. To say that they love their iPads is an understatement. It's the first thing they ask for when they wake up on the weekend.  Sidney asks us for permission to add tons of free game apps.  Cleo is better about playing educational games. I had Sidney playing lots of educational games when he was home sick yesterday.

Roger was sick too yesterday so I had to stay home from work. Cleo and I were fine, thankfully. Cleo went to school.  Roger is doing better today;  he was in bed all day yesterday. Sidney was okay yesterday but I wanted to make sure he didn't throw up anymore. He and Roger had some sort of stomach virus or food poisoning.

Cleo and Sidney got a lot of great gifts in Jacksonville.

We are headed to Jacksonville, FL this coming weekend.  Roger's mom's good friend's (Carolyn) step-daughter's (Cynthia) husband (Joe) died last week. He had leukemia. The funeral is in Gainesville, FL on Feb. 1, which is 1 1/4 hours away from Jacksonville, FL.  Sidney and Cleo will stay with Linda (Roger's god-mother) and Makayla (Linda's grand-daughter).  Cleo adores Makayla.

When we return, we need to get in full birthday party gear!  Sidney's party is on Feb. 8 at our subdivision club house.  It's going to be a chemistry themed party. We have LabCoat Kids coming to conduct experiments. Roger got little lab eye protectors.  He tried to get lab coats too but the company never delivered the coats. It was apparently a shady operation out of some shop in Brooklyn.  We need to get decorations from Party City.  We already ordered the cake from Publix, they're replicating the invitation.

I was in Lawrenceburg, KY for three days last week for work. It had snowed there before I arrived and it was still blanketed in snow.  I went with a work colleague. I am implementing a document retention program there.  One of my company's subsidiaries has a facility there. I will likely have to go again but hopefully in the Spring when there's less of a chance of snow.

Have a great week.

Christmas Decorations!

In early December, we decorated our tree. Cleo and Sidney enjoyed helping.

Here is our gorgeous Daisy scout!  Once a month, Cleo has a Girl Scout meeting at school.

Here is Cleo prepared for pajama day at school and proudly displaying her Benjamin Franklin project.  She and Roger worked very hard on it.  It came out great!  I am so proud of her.

Roger surprised us one day when we came home. He had put up lights around the front of our house and on some of the bushes. We got more lights and decorations when we were in FL (at the 50% off sales at Target & WalMart) so we can decorate even more of the house next year!

Friday After Thanksgiving

The Friday after Thanksgiving, Ahnya hosted a gathering.  Vivian, Rhudi and Shelly came.  My dad went to Melinda's in Rye.  Roger, Cleo, Sidney and I will go to Rye next year. The dinner at Ahnya's is too much work.

It was a great opportunity to see more of Walter River!

Sidney offering his new G Train to Walter River.

Thanksgiving Dinner at Westway Diner

Early on in our trip, we had dinner with my mom at a diner on Amsterdam and W. 72nd Street.

We ate at the Westway Diner on Thanksgiving.

Cleo helping Ahnya find vegan options on the menu.

Sidney's meal came with soup, salad, and an entree.  Here he is enjoying his soup.

Grandmas are for hugging!

We had a very nice dinner.  I know diners aren't fancy but I love that they have something for everyone.  Westway Diner is a particularly good diner and the service is always exceptional.