Jeanine hosted a cookie-baking party today. Neighbor Gabriella is pictured here with daughter Julia and Maya looking on. I was in charge of quality control and was very thorough in my testing.

The day started with a little snow removal. We got about a foot of snow with some drifts almost double that. I called Nicolai on my cell phone and requested he take this photo. I actually enjoy snow throwing and realized that if not for my request there would likely never be a photo documenting this part of my home life.

Although I brought my camera with me, I did not have time for even a single photo in the 4 days on the road (14-hour work days, back to back). I returned on the red-eye this morning just beating a major snowstorm that hit Boston. Nicolai took this photo of a snow-covered tree illuminated by the setting sun (the colors are exactly what we saw.)

Tonight we trimmed the Christmas tree for Jeanine’s family night. Kyle played basketball earlier in the day and scored 4 points. I predict he will be in double digits per game by the end of the season. This evening Kyle also played a soccer game and scored 4 goals (4 was his lucky number for the day). I leave on a week long work trip tomorrow. I head first to Rochelle Park, NJ, then to Montreal, then Edmonton, CA and finally to Mountain View, CA. I will bring my camera with me, but may not be able to post any entries until I return.

Kyle joined us for part of the craft fair and then suited up for a Bat Mitzvah. Earlier this morning he had a basketball game. In the first half he played one of his best games ever. Unfortunately, the lack of a proper breakfast, I think, made for one of his less impressive efforts during the second half.

Today was the First Parish Craft Festival. I assisted with train assembly. Jeanine was co-chair of this annual event which is attended by 150 children.

Santa’s elves do not hold a candle to my little helper.

Nicolai and his school chum Patrick working together on their science project. They are creating a working model of the human digestive system. It is great fun to watch these boys working together. They brainstorm and collaborate using skills that many of the adults I work with fail to grasp.

This evening Jeanine took the kids downtown for the annual Concord Christmas tree lighting. I had to work late, but stopped on my commute home to capture the scene.

The new job is consuming every waking second. Another photo from my archives inspired by an article from my father-in-law which presented some great aerial photography. Photo taken on approach to Washington-Dulles airport.

Today I was promoted to VP of Engineering. I am now responsible for 500+ engineers (some of whom are pictured here) spread over Tewksbury MA, Montreal CAN, Rochelle Park NJ, Madison WI, Edmonton CAN, Indianapolis IN, Boulder CO, Mountain View CA, Munich GER, and Gainsville FL. Needless to say I am going to be a busy camper for the next several weeks (today was a 14 hour day in the office) but I will try to keep up the daily routine. No chance to get the camera out today so this is an archived photo from last summer.

Cousin Rachel licking the syrup off the umbrella that came with her order of Jeanine’s special chocolate chip pancakes.

Cousin Johnny played with Kyle’s indoor soccer team this evening. Both boys scored and both made assists to each other. Nicolai joined the game with just minutes to go and it was fantastic seeing all three cousins playing together on the same squad and bringing home the win.

Angela demonstrating the finer points of scrabble strategy during a game with Kyle, Nico, and Johnny.