More tree trimming pics

Super Sunday

Call me crazy, but this was my idea of a perfect Sunday:

• Sleep until 730
• Eat egg white fritatta with gorgonzola and guacamole
• Drink Raspberry Snapple
• Drive through the ghetto to drop off Aunt Kathy at Newark train station
• Drink Starbucks peppermint hot chocolate while kids eat Dunkin' Donuts munchkins in a cup
• Shop at Eden Gourmet
• Decorate the Christmas tree
• Watch the Giants beat the Jaguars and Federer beat Nadal [first full 1pm football telecast this year, while Carey took the kids to Josephine's third birthday (one of Lincoln's classmates)]
• Play with kids while Carey bakes sweet potato/pumpkin muffins
• Give Greta a bath
• Listen while Greta reads "Katy Duck" aloud to me before bedtime
• Watch "Meet the Press"on DVR and rediscover my crush on Peggy Noonan
• Watch Colts vs. Chargers shortly

Artsy shot above suggested by Carey while trimming the tree.

Ten more Turkey Day photos

We're still recovering -- gastro-intestinally and emotionally -- but I wanted to share a few more photos from our Thanksgiving celebration before they get lost in the digital dustbin. All hail my wife, who managed to cook, entertain and clean without ever losing her mega-watt smile.

Lincoln and Charlotte loved the grape skewers.

Damond brought his own headgear.

Modeling the Carrot & Cashew Nut Loaf, a surprising culinary hit even with the non-vegans.

Once Lincoln showed Jack the jumping couch, it was game on.

Linc got plenty of style points.

When they got tired, Linc offered a head massage.

Emma Hayden, the only kid who demanded a turkey leg.

The big kids' table, centerpiece by Greta.

Post-dinner, burning some calories. Don't you wish the cameraman had moved to about 9 o'clock for the head-on shot?!?

Charlotte and Lincoln sport the latest in equine wear. Charlotte was so enamored with the pink unicorn that she wore it home.

Black Friday

Thankfully, I worked today while the kids, Carey and Aunt Kathy braved the local mall. Carey reports lots of milling, not much shopping. So much for the GDP. The kids did have their first sit-down with Santa. Greta asked for a Rapunzel Barbie Doll and a Sleeping Beauty Baby Doll and Lincoln requested a Spider-Man flash light.  Here's a couple fancy iPhone photos AK took.

Gluttony

Appetizers:

• Prosciutto-wrapped Romano-Pecan Dates
• Grape Skewers with Cheesecake Dip

Main course:

• Chardonnay Spiced Cranberry Sauce
• Traditional Cranberry Sauce
• Date Apple & Celery Salad
• Baby Mixed Greens with Pear, Pecan & Feta
• Roasted Carrots with Leek & Thyme
• Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes
• Corn Casserole
• Roasted Brussel Sprouts
• Macaroni & Cheese
• Candied Yams
• Sage Stuffing
• Spiral Ham
• Carrot and Cashew Nut Roast
• Brined Turkey
• Rosemary Sourdough Bread
• Cranberry Semolina Bread

For dessert:

• Maple Bourbon Pecan Pie
• Apple Crumble Pie
• Pumpkin Bread Pudding

What our kids are thankful for...

Continuing our annual tradition here. Greta Corleen Merrill, what are you thankful for this morning of Nov. 25, 2010? (Our 5-year-old's response is reproduced here verbatim.)

1. Mommy
2. Daddy
3. Lincoln
4. Jinxy
5. Flowers
6. I don't know quite about Sasha
7. Duncan
8. Emma
9. Emma Bailey
10. My house
11. God and Jesus
12. That's all

Lincoln David Merrill, how about you, what are you thankful for this morning of Nov. 25, 2010? (Lincoln was not allowed to hear Greta's answer before providing his own.)

1. Charlotte
2. Jinxy

Both kids then collaborated to offer a list of what Jinx Mathews Merrill, our 12-year-old Maine Coon, has to be thankful for.

1. Cat treats
2. Sasha
3. Having the basement to himself sometimes
4. Having Lincoln not run after him

Here is the dining room table before the guests arrive in 16 minutes.

Early Turkey

I had the day off today to help Greta's class celebrate Thanksgiving. Lincoln joined me at 11 a.m. in her classroom for turkey, corn bread, apple sauce and pumpkin pie. One of the parents read a couple holiday books and the kids made paper turkey crowns. A good time was had by all.

Tonight, the house smells like carrot nut loaf (Carey's concession to her visiting vegetarian aunt) and homemade cranberry sauce. Tomorrow our South Orange friends the Haydens and the Baileys join us for a mid-afternoon repast.  We're forgoing the Macy's parade this year because we've all had horrible coughs for most of the month and because my pal Aaron, who does a lot of consulting for Macy's, couldn't come up with bleacher seats. Next year!

Batman

Lincoln dug to the bottom of the dress-up chest today and pulled out the black cape and face mask given to him by Emma Hayden. He was looking for something to match his underwear, I think. He then struck a variety of Dark Knight poses for me, including some death-defying leaps off the couch.

Divide & conquer

We spent the first five years of parenthood basically doing everything possible together on the weekends. I suppose we didn't want to miss any moments. Any time one of us did take the kids for a couple hours we always spent 10 minutes when we were reunited catching the other up on what they missed. A funny joke, a sweet gesture, a hug between siblings.

Fast forward to today. Pancakes and strawberries for breakfast, Greta watching "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" with me, Lincoln watching "Diego's Underwater Adventure" with Mom. At 10:30 it's all in the car for a ride to Sunburst Gymnastics in Union, N.J. Greta and I go inside for Gerek's 6th birthday party while Lincoln and Mom go shopping for our Thanksgiving feast. Turns out our often gawky, always-tripping daughter has some natural grace. She thoroughly enjoyed running, tumbling and bouncing on the trampoline with friends from her kindergarten class. She was particularly proud of the fact that she was one of just six girls invited.

That's Gerek at the front of the trampoline train.

She was supposed to place two hands on the mat, kick her legs in the air, and vault to the other side. Did the circuit a dozen times and tried a different approach each time. Never stuck the dismount.

Very fond of somersaulting.

After the party, we unloaded groceries and had lunch at home. At 3:30 it was back in the car for a trip to New York Sports Club in Livingston, N.J., and Aadi's 3rd birthday party. Lincoln and Mom went inside while Greta and I traveled on to Costco.

The birthday boy under the canopy.

Lincoln lifts up the parachute.

He's got Daddy's hops.

On the roller tray thingy.

Rockin' into the weekend

Carey had a half-day for ACE Employee Appreciation Day, so she was with the kids by 3pm or so this afternoon. By the time I strolled in the door at 6, they were all fired up. After dinner they treated us to a concert in the playroom with Lincoln on drums and Greta on harmonica.

Welcome home!

8 p.m. this evening, I open the front door and this is what I see. I don't say anything for awhile, then casually ask, "What are you wearing?" Carey doesn't wait for Lincoln to answer and volunteers, "They don't fit Greta." Lincoln then chimes in: "And they're silky!"

Soccer, a second opinion

I take back what I wrote a month ago. This was Lincoln on Saturday. In his defense, his super-duper girlfriend crush Charlotte was watching him, so he might have been a little off his game.

Awwww...

Saturday morning before breakfast, "Super Why" on the tube.

Emma Bailey turns 6

Another 60+ degree day here, perfect for celebrating Emma Bailey's sixth birthday.

The kids loved this guy ... Babaloo, aka Robert, who performs at the local library. He told silly stories and played mediocre music, but he was very loud and energetic.

Damond & Jack.

Birthday brother Jack strums a little guitar.

Trader Joe's cake.... hard to beat.

Sasha and Greta, sitting on a stump.

My favorite shot of the day, Duncan McVety in repose.

Indian summer

No idea where that expression comes from and pretty sure it applies only to warm weather in September, but it was 66 here today. Didn't pick up the camera nearly enough, but like the shot of Lincoln above waiting for something to happen on the playground at Greta's school. We played while Mommy installed 17 new coat hooks in the back room of Greta's classroom so the kindergartners can hang up their backpacks and coats. (It was a 2nd grade classroom until this year, so the old hooks are about 8" too high. Don't ask why Carey spent $30 at Home Depot to do the deed instead of a few pennies from our $12,000 annual tax bill.)

After morning handiwork Lincoln and I met the Haydens at a different playground (the one near the pool) while Mommy and Greta took advantage of a free introductory ballet lesson at a local studio trying to drum up business. Greta was deemed a natural and for $500 through June she could become the female Baryshnikov. She could also stretch in our driveway and hula hoop occasionally.

We're all still a little under the weather with coughs that just won't quit. Greta's the worst today, I'm a bit better and Lincoln fakes it for sympathy. Carey was lucky to be out of town for the 48 hours during the height of the contagion, I think.

Tomorrow it's Emma Bailey's 6th birthday.

Daddy daycare

Carey's on a brief business trip to San Francisco (left this morning, returns on the red eye Friday morning), so I'm Mr. Mom for 48 hours. The kids were angels tonight, enjoying an episode of "Little Bear" while I made dinner (orange chicken, cheese slices, mandarin oranges, jello) and then reading the latest issue of "High Five" magazine with me while we ate. Lincoln got a bath (he skipped last night) while Greta enjoyed "Hands, Feet and Face" -- Mom's catchy phrase for cleaning up without bathing. Each got a book (Lincoln some horrible "Star Wars" Episode 3 rehash and Greta "Katy Duck") then I chose "Curious George Goes to the Movies." Each then got a song and it was lights out at 815. Now I'm horribly bored watching "Survivor" with one eye and blogging with the other. I always have mixed emotions when I'm with the kids alone. I feel a real sense of pride in being their father tinged with an anxiety that their mother isn't here should something happen.

And that's enough insight into my 38-year-old parental psyche for this evening. I probably won't pick up a camera again until the weekend when the weather is forecast to be nice and the family will be reunited.

Faces

The kids posing Sunday night...

Grandparental visit

Mom and Dad drove down Friday and met us after work. Saturday Dad and I built shelves in the garage and cleared out enough floor space so we can park the car in there this winter. Sunday Sara came over with the kids and the cousins largely played together without supervision. I've been under the weather for the last 72 hours so pardon the paucity of posts. I always figure when 2 of my 6 readers are physically with me it's forgivable if I don't post daily. Anyway, here are four recent pix and one above of the Merrill family, all growed up. 

Big boy haircut.

Lego Star Wars! Lincoln LOVED it. (Rob's belated birthday gift to Max.)

Five-year-old funnies.

Max masters the jump ball thingy. Took him about 15 seconds to figure it out.