Evan freestyle 1/29/2014

Proud Mom post!

Last night was one of those proud mom moments - Evan's swim coach came up to me after practice and said that even though Evan is only 8, he is ready to swim with the Senior Gator Club at the Y! She said that he is out-swimming the Juniors and it isn't providing the competition for him that he needs. The SGC is ages 11-17. She told me that he is a natural distance swimmer and really needs to join a swim team, but they don't have one currently at the Y - so now Jeff and I just need to convince Evan to try a swim team - no easy task but hopefully he will come around to the idea. We're hoping his cousins in FL can have a convincing talk with him when we see them in a couple of weeks! I took a video of him swimming freestyle last night which I will try to post here; if I can't it will have to be in a separate post. He isn't swimming as fast as he can, but I definitely see improvement in his form since the last video I posted. Thought his far-away family would like to see! :)

Welcome 2014!

First and foremost, Happy New Year to all of our good friends and family. We hope 2014 brings good health, special times and fond memories to everyone. :)
We ended 2013 with some wonderful family celebrations, beginning with a visit from Grandma & Pepere and ending with a very special Christmas with our family here from England! The kids have been on a non-stop whirlwind of fun, with family visiting since early December. We are adjusting to things being back to "normal" here in the New Year....Evan was planning to head back to school this morning, but we have been blessed with another day at home relaxing in our pj's as the kids have no school because of the big storm we are getting. Here are a few (actually more than a few!)pictures from December and our memorable family festivities.

Evans 1st race

Here is a video I took of Evan's first swim race this week. He started Gator Club which is 2 nights a week for 12 weeks - its all competitive lap swimming, racing, relays etc... Jeff and I were tired just watching him. It is going to be great exercise and practice for him! He did well in his first race (this is just practice, not swim team). We just need to have him work on touching the wall, and not stopping mid-race to get out of the way of another swimmer! He is in lane 2.

Annual Pelletier Tree Cutting Day!

One of my most favorite days of the entire year - cutting and decorating the Christmas Tree!! Here we are at Dear Run Farm in Princeton again - the kids really got into it this year. Evan took charge and actually cut the tree - and he and Sophia both dragged it up from the field together. Love this tradition!!!!

My handsome little man

I had to post a picture of my handsome little man - he looked so sharp today in his new soccer uniform! He was asked to play on a team for the winter - indoors, obviously. Today was their first game - it was VERY different from what Evan is used to as far as soccer games. They played a full indoor field with referees and goalies and the kids rotated playing forward and defensive positions. Their team did excellent! They won 6-1 and Evan had a great goal - a huge boot about mid-way from half field right into the goal! His coach told us afterwards that Evan has a foot like a cannon! He was so proud and of course so were we. It is a good group of little players and we are so happy that Ev has been given this opportunity. His coach is a former WRHS soccer star, class of '92, one year behind me. He and his brother were big soccer players while we were in high school. I am so glad Evan will have this chance to learn the game from him. It's going to be a fun season! Evan had a blast playing today!

GNO!

Sophia, Nana and I enjoyed a GNO (Girl's Night Out) last Friday night at the Hanover Theatre. Nana treated us to a Disney Live show - featuring Sofia the First, Jake and the Neverland Pirates and a special guest appearance by Doc McStuffins. It was fantastic! Sophia loved it! My pictures of the stage inside the theater came out too dark but I got a few good ones at the house before we left and in our seats. Of course Sophia had to bring her dolly (her new best friend that she does not leave home without) and her Sofia the First doll too. I think they both enjoyed it :) Thanks Nana for inviting us! Sophia seemed all grown up in her fancy dress going off to the theatre!! It was fun! :)

End of October Fun!

Here are a few pictures from some recent October events - Evan's literacy parade at school; Evan's last soccer game; carving pumpkins and last but not least, Halloween. Sophia dressed as a black cat this year - she had a little Halloween party and show at school last Wednesday night so I have posted some pictures of that. For Halloween, Evan was the Grim Reaper and I dressed as Johnny Gomes (or really any other bearded Red Sox player!) in honor of becoming 2013 World Series Champions!!! GO SOX!!!! Jeff dressed as an iPhone this year but I failed to get a picture of him :( It was fun surprising Evan again at the bus stop in costume and the kids had a blast that evening at our neighbor's Halloween Party and trick-or-treating!