Grossman family west

Our boys must be prescient because months ago they told us that they wanted to have a football party. So, on the heels of ANOTHER NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS SUPERBOWL VICTORY, Avi and Ezra hosted a touch football party. We were excited but unfortunately, Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, and Dont’a Hightower all changed their initial invitation Acceptances to Declines. Something about No Days Off…

Nevertheless, we hosted two intense games, each of which had a few not-well-enforced rules and very little defense. Everyone had a blast and there were no season-ending injuries. True to form, Holly’s party execution sprinkled the theme throughout, with “pin the football in the uprights”, “super bowl ring” candies, autographed footballs, and yellow “penalty flag” napkins.

Of course, their ACTUAL birthdays were also the stuff young dreams are made of: donuts for breakfast, balloons, a surprise on their elementary school sign, and dinner of their choosing (pistachios and pizza, of course!). Who knew that getting old would be so much fun?!?

Pictures and videos are now in the Photo Gallery!

Gronk spike!

Well, not quite college (though surely that day will be here before we know it!), but our little Doogie Howser (aka Ezra) headed off to his first day of Kindergarten, joining his big brother Avi (who was beginning second grade) at Lafayette Elementary School (go Leopards!)

Everyone’s having a blast in their new classroom, though home is feeling a little empty—but we’ll get used to it. We’ve captured the moment(s) in a new album now in the Photo Gallery.

Bring on the books!

Ezra spent this past week in drama camp, which culminated in his first major production at the end of the week: Peter Pan. We may be a little biased but we believe that Ezra stole the show in his role as one of the Lost Boys. For YOUR benefit, we dabbled on what might be the wrong side of the law and surreptitiously recorded one pivotal two minute scene in which you can see Ezra carrying the show. The video has been posted to the photo gallery.

Ezra also played a “shadow” in one scene… His range is impressive for such a young actor.

Hi ma!

Ayla turned two and pleaded—nay, begged!—to have a gymnastics-themed birthday party, and mom obliged… at least that’s the story that Holly (former gymnast) told me. Nevertheless, mom and Ayla both seemed to have a blast, along with a set of Ayla’s closest pals and their parents. Somersaults, bubbles, jumping, parachutes, and dancing with a slightly creepy stuffed clown—it was everything you could possibly want for your second birthday.

Pictures of the festivities are now posted in the Photo Gallery for your enjoyment!

Unclear who is having more fun

Pro scouts are already knocking down our door after Ezra’s 3-for-3 performance on Saturday at his first-ever organized baseball game. The coaches pitched and Ezra, who was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim during the off-season, smacked the ball thrice, despite being the youngest player on his five- and six-year old Lafayette baseball team (Ezra just turned five last month). His development has surely been facilitated by great guidance from his older brother, Avi (who plays for the White Sox this year). Avi, having played two hours earlier on Saturday, made it to Ezra’s game to help where he could, both intellectually (with advice like “use the Spiderman bat”) and physically (literally giving Ezra a push as he rounded third base).

Ezra had a great time, usually put his mitt on the correct hand when taking the field, and has retained his habit from last (soccer) season of posing for the camera, even in the middle of a game, so this photographer is going to have to be a little more sneaky this season. Fifteen pictures from the game are now posted to the photo gallery.

A little push from a pal helps Ezra beat the throw home.

We had a very special treat for Christmas week this winter—we joined Mimi, Zayda, and all of our aunts, uncles, and cousins (16 of us, in total) in Cancun, Mexico! We had a blast playing in the pools, eating all-we-could, and have a lot of quality family time. We even got to swim with the dolphins with Mimi and Zayda! We posted a bunch of pictures and a short video to the Photo Gallery.

Fun in the Sun!

Having your own family website is a bit self-indulgent, so why not really pile it on?

We present our 2015 Family Photoshoot, now in the photo gallery.

Lookin’ good!

Halloween 2015 fell on a Saturday (next time: 2020) and you have to make THAT count, so GFW traveled back to our old haunt: 22nd St in the big city! We had a great time with our old friends and neighbors trick-or-treating, eating too much pizza and candy and homemade Halloween treats, and watching a movie in the garage. A couple of weeks before that, we traveled with the same group to the Pumpkin Patch for hay rides, live (kids) music, face painting, pony rides, haystack play space and, of course, the old-time train ride. We hope that everyone had as much fun as we did, now captured in the Photo Gallery.

Best holiday ever, of course!

In the middle of September, Alya decided that crawling just wasn’t doing it for her… and we’ve been trying to catch up since! Check out her progress in a new video just published to the Photo Gallery!

Just try to keep up with me, Mom!