Max and Esme

In just under the wire for 2016, Esme and I are in NYC for her annual birthday outing to Broadway. Lunch at la Bonne Soupe followed by matinee performance of Cats.

St. Vincent's Freshman Dance, a charity event where the girls invite the boys.

From my lovely family. Max rode his bike to town and selected  the flowers himself.  Esme got a ride from Grandpa to shop in secret. What amazing kids.

She's actually around 11 weeks old, but just starting her second week with us. She's been very sweet, but puppies are indeed a lot of work.

Max is spending two weeks kayaking and hiking around the lower Hudson Valley and loving every day of it.

Somehow we managed to take the most difficult path up, but the view was worth it. We hiked 6 peaks in 3 days plus 12 miles of carriage paths through Acadia National Park. Even the cloudy day was magnificent.

Max and his friends after being inducted into the National Junior Honor Society. A great group of smart kids!

Esme and her friend Jocelyn tested water quality from 6 public drinking fountains in Rye. While they found that Rye has hard water, it all tested safe to drink.

with the sound of music. The Milton School 5th grade presented The Sound of Music this month, with full class participation. Esme was Louisa VonTrapp and she lit up the stage with her smile and her voice.  The kids put a lot of work into the play and their effort showed. Here's Esme's official head shot along with an action shot of our little star... "I flit, I float, I fleetly flee, I fly...Good bye"  

Rock climbing wall at Bass Pro Shop in Maryland. $3 for 3 tries. Max scaled the shorter wall but only made it half way up the highest one.  Esme got about 3/4 the way up the shorter wall.

Our Saturday outing included a trip to a giant Bass Pro Shop in search of gear for the spring fishing season. Max got an early start, practicing by netting his sister.

A festive look courtesy of Grandma Sissy.