Feeding frenzy

She has really started to prefer to feed herself. Depending on the meal we are eating, I will still feed her baby food from a jar because it's easier and she'll still eat it. So I gave her a jar and she went at it. I only give her the jar of the more solid stuff. The runny fruit and veggie stuff goes in a bowl but she likes it that way, too. She's really growing up and so darn cute... even with food all over her face. Can you see the ring of food around her nose? That's where she put the jar up to her face to try to drink it.

A newer tradition

This is the second time we have gone bowling while we were in Massachusetts visiting. It may be one of those things we'll end up doing each time we go just to see how our scores change over the years. Anyway, we had a good time. Memere invited a family that she knows - mom, dad, and two boys. The other mom didn't bowl but she was willing to watch Domonique, which was very helpful. Not really the most flattering way to get your picture taken, but oh well.

Kevin

Me

Memere

Emily

Ben

Marissa

Kemiah

Xiomara

Gloria and Domonique

Watching others bowl.

The kids all had the bumpers. It was still slow going for the little ones because they just didn't have the power so the ball took a really long time to get to the end of the lane. Kevin eventually had them throw/roll it even when the bar was down because it would be up by the time the ball got there. We tried to move them along because it was slow, but they still had fun!

Family Tradition

When we visit Kevin's family, we always go out to dinner. And we always go to Olive Garden! It's my favorite and since we never really go out, that's the place I always want to go. Fortunately, for me, everyone agrees so we have a great meal together! (We don't have to cook or do the dishes - bonus!)





I can't remember what everyone had, but I'm sure you're interested in what my family ate. Three of the kids had macaroni and cheese. Two of them had chicken fingers. I had the cheese ravioli with alfredo sauce. Kevin had a sea food dish, with shrimp, muscles, clams, veggies and pasta. Domonique loved the bread sticks and ate a little bit of the mac and cheese, and some spaghetti. The girls all enjoyed chocolate milk, while Ben had a raspberry lemonade. I always order dessert - black tie mousse cake! Delicious!

Trip to Edaville

Memere and Pepere took us all to Edaville. It has got everything - lights and decorations for Christmas, train ride, food, playground, and lots of carnival rides for the kids. It was the first time for the kids to ride so many rides. I took them on a ferris wheel when we lived in Alaska, but this time they rode all sorts of rides: spinning, bumping, flying, etc. I am so grateful to Memere, Pepere, and Uncle Chris who went on the rides with the kids. I was busy taking pictures and Kevin was manning the video camera, so the extra hands (and bodies) were wonderful! We all enjoyed the train ride around the park - lots of lights to see at night. It was a really nice night, especially since we didn't have snow, the wind wasn't blowing too bad, and the rain only spit on us rather than dumping.

This was the first ride we came to. The kids were so excited. It spins them around and they get to fly up and down. It was fun to see the kid's smiles (the entire time we were here!).



Fortunately, the park had a stroller we could borrow (ours didn't get packed). This is how Domonique spent most of her evening.

Ben and Marissa rode most of the rides together because they were just tall enough to ride without an adult. Chris rode many of the rides with Emily. Memere took Xiomara and Kemiah on most of the rides. They all rode this one - the whole ride spins around but each drum can be spun by the riders. Everyone got off very dizzy.

Xiomara and Kemiah saying hello after their ride on the ferris wheel.

Marissa leaned forward to say hi for the picture but Ben didn't want to move. I know exactly how he feels!

Emily was all smiles at the end of the ride.

Cute couple! We are all waiting on the train and ready to get going to see the lights!

Kemiah with Pepere, going around in circles and going up and down, too. There were lots of this type of ride. The kids couldn't get enough!

Uncle Chris with Kemiah and Emily, on another ride that went in circles and their "car" would do it's own circles.

Memere taking Kemiah and Xiomara on a ride while the older three went on the bumper cars. This ride went roung in circles and their spaceship was supposed to go up and down but it didn't work.

Kevin went on the bummer car ride - once with Ben and once with Emily. They all had a great time!

Turned out Xiomara could ride the bumper cars so Uncle Chris took her, while the others rode again!

This was a simple ride, going around while going over hills (at least that's what it looked like). Each kid had their own seat, and Memere went along!

We found the playground and a giant steam engine.

5 sweet kids on the bulldozer.

There was a big building that we went into at the end of our visit. It had different displays and, more importantly, bathrooms! We let Domonique out to roam around (although she had been walking about and carried by Pepere). I thought she looked really cute at this fence.

Believe me when I tell you that I have a ton more pictures. Each person on the ride got their picture taken but I decided you only needed one of each ride. We really had a great time!

Winter Time at the Zoo

We didn't have snow but it was cold, so the kids had on gloves and hats and coats while we walked around the New Bedford Zoo. One of Kevin's mom's cousins got all the kids in free with her pass and we actually saw lots of animals. We figured it must have been dinner time. We were actually greeted by the river otters, which was really neat. Our cousin also treated the kids to a ride on the carousel - a first for all of them and they enjoyed it (except for Domonique who was ready to get off). Just thought I'd share another fun thing that we did on our vacation.

They are looking at a bear, who happens to be headed to the back door for food.

Love the shadow of the river otter. The girls are looking at another one in the water.

Why, hello!


One of two elephants. They were just standing there, swinging their trunks.

We got a stroller for Domonique, but she wanted to walk some. It was so cute.

The horses head is almost as big as Xiomara, but she was willing to pet it. They all were but if you know how afraid Xiomara is of animals you'll know this is quite a change for her.

I liked seeing all the paired ducks on the pond.

The girls were howling at the coyote

Inside turtles trying to stay warm under the heat lamp.

Ben flying on a bald eagle.

Xiomara and her silver horse.

Marissa and her giant humming bird.

Emily on a prancing horse, tucked behind Marissa. (I tried to have them all on outside animals so I could get better pictures of them.)

Domonique on her mighty tiger.

Kemiah on her trumpeting elephant.

All the kids after the send off from the cranes (not pictured).

I didn't include a picture of some of the inside things we saw (snakes and fish), or the farm animals (cows, pigs, chickens), or the bobcat, lynx, eagle, raven, deer, turkeys, or a few other things that we saw but you get the idea... It was a fun trip! Thanks Cousin Terry!