Splash - February 2020

The Splash photo for February 2020 was taken on our back deck - very easy and accessible.  On this particular day, it was chilly and rainy and the little three at home were just dressed for hanging out and watching the Superbowl (Chiefs over the Niners, 31-20).  The big ladies were all dressed up and on their way to the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC to see "Next to Normal" off Broadway.  Rachel loved it, the theater geek, and Samantha thought the whole thing was fascinating and amazing, but, she's not converted to show tunes just yet.  On their way to cross the bridge off of the Shore, they stopped to see us and get a picture.  They also stopped on the way home after to tell us about it and get the Superbowl score. 

And, Miss Ezamay Louise.  Now three months old - full of bright personality and she has found her hands.  So beware, she now pulls hair and grabs glasses.  Soo Dang Cute!

The big ladies - ready for the theatre - Next to Normal. 

Not bad seats, huh?

JMichael is Twelve - 1 2

JMichael turned twelve.  He's in the sixth grade and recently tried out for a traveling soccer team.  He's majorly invested in Rocket League, Madden 2020 and Fortnite.

All JMichael asked for was supper with everyone out at Ruby Tuesdays and a trip to the Trampoline Park, so we obliged.  

This is John Thomas, or JT.  He and Rachel have been dating a few months now.  He is working at Furniture Land in Seaford, DE.  He asked to meet us and he seems to be a nice guy.  They share a love of music and Portal.

Ezamay had never been to Ruby Tuesday's. She was great.  What a good baby girl.

Later, we had KoolAid pie - JMichael's favorite - Orange.

Splash - January 2020

This first splash of 2020 was taken at the Chinese restaurant where we ate out for Christmas Day, 2019.  We ate Chinese, sushi and dessert.  The place was actually kinda crowded and everything was fine, until we walked out. James went to pay the check, the ladies filed out with various bags and jackets, and Mom and I brought up the rear, making sure we had everything we came with.

A man followed us out.  He was alone and not very scary, but, he stayed close to us and it was just uncomfortable.  As we paused outside on the sidewalk to rearrange and set up for a picture, he was still too close.  Charlotte handed Ezamay to Mom, and as Mom is holding her and Charlotte is putting down bags, the guy lights up a cigarette.  Charlotte politely but directly said, Sir, please don't smoke around my baby.  They guy didn't move; Mom walked toward the fence with Ezamay.

We took a few shots using the fence as our background and the guy followed us.  Too close, but, not right in the mix, you know?  It was weird.  Charlotte has never had a problem with confrontation.  She asked the man again, please don't smoke so near the baby.  To his credit, the man took her 'hint' and he walked off back toward the restaurant.  He stayed on the sidewalk as we packed up and departed.  It was kinda creepy.

And Ezamay, shown here with her Aunt Joey, is growing like a weed and is everyone's favorite little bit.

JMichael by a neck

Well, this has finally happened.  JMichael is taller than Josephine, who is taller than I am.  JMichael will be twelve in about a month, so this is about right - all his sisters had passed me in height by the time they turned twelve.  In a recent doctor's visit, JMichael learned that he is projected to grow still more and should be about six feet tall by the age of 16.  I gotta stop feeding him.

Splash - December 2019

The December 2019 Splash was taken at the Smithsonian.  I have to admit that one of my favorite places to spend a day is the Smithsonian Institution.  I have visited countless times - from elementary school field trips for specific exhibits to casually wandering the halls with my family as a teenager to discovering it all again through the eyes of my own children.

Now that our BallTeam is older, they have all decided that the Smithsonian is also a great way to spend a day.  This year for Thanksgiving, we had some scheduling issues.  So, my solution was to spend Thanksgiving Day as a family at the Smithsonian.  We did Thanksgiving proper - kinda - on Friday this year.  We are so blessed and have so much to be grateful for.

We are grateful for public facilities that promote curiosity and education.  This elephant (his name is Henry) is the iconic photo op at the Museum of Natural History.  We had a great Thanksgiving with Henry.

Volkswagon Jetta

Rachel bought a car!  A brand new, 2019 Volkswagon Jetta.  She has named this little beauty Lucy, which is short for Lucifer - because she feels like she's signed away her soul to finance it.

It has tons of safety features, so her insurance has gone down, and no more worries about fixing that fender and light that got hit by the deer.  This one is fully operational.  She's safe, she can afford it, and she is stable. Go for you, Rachel.

Charlotte is Seventeen

Charlotte turned seventeen on December 27.  She may be the last seventeen year old without pierced ears.  The rule at our house is - you can get your ears pierced at twelve, but, you have to have more As than Bs on your report card.  All her sisters managed to do just that - Samantha was fifteen, but, she got there.  Charlotte, who is strong in English and History, did not like school.  Then we add sweet little bit into the mix and well, Charlotte never did have more As than Bs on her report card.  But at seventeen, when I asked her what she wanted for her birthday - I was expecting an answer something like the iPhone X or a used car - she simply said, Mom, can I get my ears pierced?  I know I don't meet the rule, but, I'm a mom now.  So, off we went to the Mall.

We also went to IKEA.  Josephine wanted a desk from IKEA for Christmas, so we headed to the western shore for IKEA and a Mall.  While at IKEA, we picked up some cool lamps for the big ladies and cinnamon rolls to take home.  Plus cheesecake in the cafeteria for Charlotte's birthday.

Loose in the big city....

And Charlotte's birthday present, pierced ears.

At seventeen, Charlotte is not your average teenager.  She's a Mom, and Ezamay comes first.  She's got a job watching another little baby, who is just one month older than Ezamay.  She sings beautifully; she "keeps house" in her part of the house - everything in order, her daughter's laundry done and sorted and she is all over keeping her stimulated and developing.  She's a good mom.  At seventeen now, she can take her GED and move on with education, on her terms.

She's fierce; she's sweet; she's seventeen.