Happy New Year

Gone are the days of champagne toasts at midnight. This year we rang in 2016 around 7pm with noisemakers and these two party animals. And if that doesn't sound like fun, the Linker crew plus a visiting Grandma were all fighting virus number two of the 2014-2015 winter season. Nothing quite says Happy New Year like gastrointestinal distress.

The end of the year was a festive, albeit snotty, flurry of activity. We had a fun Thanksgiving trip to California where we enjoyed family time and then it was back to Rhode Island to get ready for the holidays. Here are a few cute pictures.

California bound

Owen helping Grandma with her luggage

Mitch and Bubbie

Merry Christmas!

I don't know about you but my pants are tight and I'm about ready to get moving on those resolutions. Wishing everyone a healthy, happy and "skinny" 2016!

Two Thoughts

My initial reaction when I saw this was - adorable! I then had two thoughts. First, Owen is my son. Obviously. Second, food is a peculiar choice for a kid who turns up his nose at childhood staples of pasta, pizza and grilled cheese. Last night he requested "black (chocolate) munchkins" for dinner. Okay, technically donut holes are food...I guess.

A Walk in the Woods

Losing My Marbles

This is Owen proudly showing off his full jar of marbles. Parenting can be a pretty tough gig. Especially when your kid is going through a lengthy - I won't do anything you ask me to do - phase. 

After the appearance of significantly more grays (on my head and Steve's beard) and much trial and error, we finally found something that seems to motivate "he who will not go potty." Owen gets marbles for good behavior - listening, sharing, not having tantrums, staying in bed, etc. Once the jar is full, he gets a reward. 

Owen's marble jar recently reached max capacity after being especially kind to Mitchell, and this weekend we're going to see the new Peanuts movie. I just hope he likes Charlie Brown and the gang as much as I did when I was a peanut. Get it?  

And what did Owen do that was so kind, you ask? At this point, I honestly can't remember but I do know that he made sure to get extra candy for his baby brother while we were trick-or-treating. Little Mitchell was content in his stroller while Owen, the nice ghost, roamed the neighborhood scavenging for goodies. It was seriously the best night of his entire life.

The Boo Brothers - Halloween 2015

The Great Hope

Here is Mitchell painting, with his left hand no less. Daddy is very happy. No pressure, Mitch.

Getting Ready for BOO!

I asked Owen what he wanted to be for Halloween and he said, "a nice ghost." Then I asked him what Mitchell wanted to be and he said, "a nice ghost." Cute and easy - Done! Last night, thanks to Pinterest, we executed plans for our modern day Casper(s).

You'll notice the precision in both measurement and tailoring...

As well as the top notch makeup application.

Hmm, that's a bit spooky for a nice ghost. Good thing we have a bit of time to perfect the final look before we say Boo. Or shall I say Booyah...bring it Mets!

The Master and His Subject