Christmas Time 2015

We have had a busy Christmas Season at 281 Payson Rd. in 2015. Here are an array of photos to tell the story (in no particular order). 

 Mommy's work- the Shire End of Year Celebration- the campus was flooded with Arora Borialus lights.

Flashback to the 70's with A. Ru and making Christmas tree decorations. Mommy made this when she was a kid. 

 Mommy had her annual ladies Christmas get together, this year there were 12 of us :-)

 Shane and Jackson are green belts in Karate and this year got another stripe on their belt. Here they are breaking boards.

 Shane's first time didn't go so well- and he "Hurt" his hand but don't worry second time he broke the boards.

 Jackson preparing and following through. One more stripe and they will both be junior brown belts!

 Please mommy- can i have some candy- Above is Jackson preparing the ginger bread house making materials and asking for candy at 9am!

 Jackson left, Shane right. getting ready to make ginger bread houses and trains with Trish.

 Star Wars- The Force Awakens...... we saw the epic movie at Belmont Cinemas- Shane, Jackson & Daddy. Below. Mommy, Shane behind Jackson and Daddy. Overall a huge thumbs up but Daddy thought it was just like the first movie- Mommy loved it!

 Shane has been writing poetry- we started a poetry notebook, Mommy helped with the spelling but Shane thought up all of the words. Below is one of the two poems he wrote this December:
The Goblins come out at Night
They give your brains to the Night

Another Poem:
The Day of Christmas Baby Jesus was Born
We sat on the couch and sang songs
Christmas

 Shane working on the solar system puzzle he got for his birthday.

 Flashback to Mommy and Daddy's wedding in 2001. This is Mommy and her Best Friend Mrs. Courtney Koonce.

 Christmas 2015 morning. We had a tree trimming party with Nana and Grandpa Bill but the next day the tree fell over. We cut down our own tree this year and it was TALL. We had to cut about 5 feet off in order to get it into the house! The boys had a wild Christmas celebration with lots of Star Wars themed stuff. The Mellinium Falcon and Sand Blaster over crafts were the big hits.

 A dark picture of Shane above opening presents. We woke up starting around 3am but Mommy was able to hold them off from going down stairs until around 5am! Shane has been getting up in the middle of every night and looking out the window waiting for snow, we did not have a white Christmas this year- in fact it was 62 degrees here in Belmont. But every morning he wakes up and checks for snow. We did get some snow this week  (School vacation week) and I heard a little YES coming from the window around 4am!

 Shane checking out the stockings!

 Smiley Jackson.

 Here are some very dark photos of Daddy and the Boys. You can see how big the tree is!

 Christmas Day- Grandpa came over in the morning for Doughnuts and Coffee. Shane and Grandpa

 Daddy Jackson and Shane, Checking out the new Spy Gear the boys got from Santa Claus.

 Daddy and Jackson Christmas Morning.

 Shane showing off his Yoda Star Wars t-shirt that his cousins in California Sent him. River Ru was born on Sept. 10 2015 and Reid is loving being a big brother!
Below- Magic tricks at the island!

 We took in the Zoo Lights after Christmas this year. The weather was COLD but the boys enjoyed the Merry Go Round none the less. We met Nana at the 99 for dinner and then went to zoo lights.
Jackson wanted to go on the kiddie rides even in the cold- he looks very happy doesn't he?

This week is Winter Break/ School vacation week. Mommy is home from work and we are enjoying out week together! Shane and Jackson have been going to "Sports Camp" for a few days and playing lots of games and burning off energy! The temperature is supposed to be below freezing on New Years Eve so we are passing on First Night with Michelle and Larry and the Kids but we'll have a party here at Payson Rd. I think tomorrow we will take the bus to Harvard Square and visit the Natural History Museum to spice things up a bit!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year boys! Mommy loves you!

Jackson's fall

At Swimming lessons last week Jackson was walking too fast/Running and fell and smashed his face. He is fine but he knocked out a front tooth. Now both S& J are toothless. They look pretty funny with no front teeth :-)
All is good.l We decorated our Christmas tree with a Tree Trimming party with Grandpa and Nana and the next day the tree came crashing down. I should mention that we have a HUGE Tree. The boys cut the tree down with Daddy (Literally) and then when we got home Daddy had to saw off about 4 or 5 feet b/c we couldn't get it in the house. No one was hurt- we smashed a lot of ornaments and Jackson was really shaken but everyone is fine and that is all that is important.

Life is good in the Bryant household!

Misc. November Photos

 Uncle Adam & Uncle Dave were home from London over the Thanksgiving Holiday. They came over to our house for a Sunday Dinner. Jackson with Uncle Adam.

 Uncle Dave, Shane and Daddy.

 Shane showing off his new nerf gun that he received for his birthday.

The blue race track is alive and well. Uncle Jay gave this to the boys a few years back and as you can see they take over the family room with it. Above is the Dinosaur village/ Jurrasick World- the Dinosaurs are watching over the race cars. Complete with a drive in move theater that is housed in the Bat Cave at the end of the ramp!

Symphony 2015: Peter and the Wolf

We went on our annual trip to Symphony Hall to hear the youth orchestra play Peter & The Wolf. We were early so we went to the Musical Instrument Zoo and then took lots of pictures. Jackson was our official photographer. 

 Nana and Shane waiting for the concert to begin.

 Shane and Mommy

 Jackson and Mommy

 Shane, Mommy & Jackson peaking out from behind.

 Waiting for the concert to start, we had great seats! Right over the stage.

 Jackson fell asleep for a few minutes during the concert.

 Mommy bought each one of you an Irish Flute. You didn't stop playing it until a few days after the concert. Shane above, Jackson Below.

We had lunch at Panera Bread on Mass Ave and while we were walking back to the car, Jackson asked me why there were so many people on the street asking for money? I thought it was very perceptive and then he just kept playing his whistle. On the way home we talked more about it, don't know how much sank in but I thought it was a good question.

Thanksgiving weekend 2015 at The Mount Washington Hotel, NH

We had another great weekend at the Mt. Washington Hotel in New Hampshire this year.
No snow at the hotel, but Brettonwoods Ski resort had man made snow and there was some snow to look at on top of the Mountain.

This year we had adjoining rooms with Nana and the boys LOVED it!
We did almost everything the hotel had to offer: Lots of swimming, Carriage Ride with Ralph the horse, Ski Lessons, Rock Climbing, Arcades and more!

 Mommy scored a seat by the fireplace one night while Daddy took the boys to the arcade.

 Here is Shane Playing Guitar Hero at the arcade.

 Smiley boys playing games in the hotel lobby:-) Jackson Left, Shane Right (Shane has no front teeth)

 Mommy & Daddy Selfie 2015

 Jackson & Daddy before dinner.

 Shane drawing a sky line. He was very proud of himself- look at that smile!

 Jackson Getting his portrait completed on Thanksgiving day.

 The boys squabbled over who would hold the room key the entire weekend. Above, Jackson holding the key, while Shane got his portrait done (below).

 Waiting for the carriage ride- Jackson.

 Nana & Mommy

 Daddy and Shane. While we waited we played Spy behind some trees. Jackson noticed that it was warmer under the tree.

 The hotel at Dusk

 Shane, Mommy & Jackson on the carriage ride.

 BLOCKS/ JENGA in the hotel lobby. They were very proud of their structure.

What trip to the Mount Washington Would be complete without Roasting Marshmellows! During this fireside chat, we learned about the ghosts in the hotel, Especially room 314.