Sarinnagh. Harper was also here but left before I could get her photo.

Lydia.

Allison.

Maya had a mock slumber party with her friends this evening. She planned the event (American Girl theme) and designed her own invitations earlier this week. The girls were all giggles for most of the evening pausing for a few photos at the end.

Nico took this picture of his friends gathered around the piano.

This evening, Nicolai hosted a star-gazing party for members of his class. Our field offers excellent viewing conditions and the weather was perfect. Nicolai prepared hot chocolate and all kinds of post viewing treats. The party was a great success and his classmates and science teacher were very appreciative. Nico seemed a little taller after all was done.

Nicolai constructed this diorama for a class project about a book he had read.

We played Rummikub while the casserole baked. Kyle started the OWL program at First Parish this evening and could not join us for what turned out to be a delicious meal. The OWL course, which I attended as a teenager at the Unitarian church in Schenectady, is a comprehensive program covering all aspects of human sexuality.

Today is Maya’s family night. She chose to prepare a macaroni and cheese casserole from the Emeril Lagasse children’s cookbook she received from her grandfather for Christmas. Nico is shown spooning on the final layer, but Maya did the bulk of the work including preparation of a special spice mixture called Baby Bam.

Mattison Field is just down the road and from this scene you would not know it was the middle of winter here.

Maya started another session of swimming lessons today. I would not say this is something she looks forward to, but want to make sure she is an able swimmer.

Today was an all day strategy team meeting followed by dinner, including spouses, at the Evenfall in Bradford, MA. Regrettably, Jeanine could not join me, as she was attending her first meeting with a group of three girls she will be mentoring from our church. On the drive home, I was delayed by an horrific crash which reduced traffic to a single lane. As I drove by, I took this photograph in next to no light. Obviously it did come out very well, but somehow it reminded me of the scene so I am posting it as a reminder to drive safely.

Jeanine surveys progress on the new construction. The shed is framed in and the rubber roof is on. The joists for the screened porch are just beginning to take shape.

This evening I dined at the Kansas City Steakhouse in the South Hall of Fanueil Hall with the senior sales staff, our new GM and his family. The food was out of this world.