Train wreck's ripple effect

I'm sure by now you've heard about the NY train derailment that happened last Sunday morning, it's been all over the national news. That is the very same train line that goes by Beacon, the same train that Liam has commuted on a million times, that Graham and I have taken into NYC for trips to the museums and Central Park. One of the victims who was killed was a man from Cold Spring NY, one town away from Beacon. I did not know the man but several friends here in Beacon did. I just found out today that we know his 17 year old son Finn. He know him as "Coach Finn", he helped out with kids sports programs at the Philipstown Rec Center where Graham first played soccer, baseball and basketball when he was 3. A wonderful kid. My heart goes out to Coach Finn who just lost his dad and to his family. I am especially sad that during this horrific period the family is constantly having cameras shoved in their faces not being given the peace to grieve. I feel a little guilty knowing as much as I do about their personal lives now because of this accident. Liam and I are both both very sad about this. It's hard to believe this happened so close to home for us but goes to show how tight our little Hudson River communities are.

Thanksgiving and onward!

After all the little boys left and the cleanup was done, we were ready to host Thanksgiving with our friends who live up the street. Liam got a monster bird-a whopping 24 pounder!-which he smoked on the Big Green Egg. Our friends brought about half the dishes and we had a very nice Thanksgiving evening with them. Check out the pictures:

Getting the holiday table ready

Liam carving The Beast

Liam and Harrison getting in touch with their inner and outer wolves

Graham and Alden playing a game. 

Thanksgiving is over and now its full on Christmas, people. Are you ready? I am slightly ahead of schedule since I bought many presents already through a fundraiser at Graham’s school. I’m participating at a pop-up shop here in Beacon that features all locally made goods so I will be looking there first to fill the rest of my needs. I am selling a few of the tables I’ve been making. Click the above link and scroll down the page to see some examples of my work.

One of my biggest challenges of winter is keeping a very active boy busy indoors during the long winter months. The novelty of all the Legos  he got for his birthday has worn off a bit, I’m sad to say. Our house is full up with Legos, we don’t need any more so if you were contemplating getting Graham some Legos for Christmas please don’t! He really likes board games, especially ones that are challenging. He has a game called SMART by Brainquest that is like a kid version of Trivial Pursuit that he is crazy about. He also LOVES math and is doing very well in science so anything that is an activity involving math and science that he can play at home, like this for example, is something he would love. Of course, baseball is still #1 with him. We just shelled out for a membership to a place called Extra Innings, where he can go during the winter for indoor batting practice.

     

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving will be having a wonderful holiday season!