We took the kids on the 'Christmas train' in Walkersville, which was alot of fun. Santa didn't show up till the very end, Jack raced down the aisle in amazement and jumped on his lap! It was fun, if a bit slow, train ride.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Christmas Train
We took the kids on the 'Christmas train' in Walkersville, which was alot of fun. Santa didn't show up till the very end, Jack raced down the aisle in amazement and jumped on his lap! It was fun, if a bit slow, train ride.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Halloween 2008
Halloween 2008
We took the kids down to the historic district of Frederick again this year, the homes across from Baker Park. It is the best, the neighborhood is beautiful and people go all out for Halloween...decorated porches and houses all along the streets. The weather was perfect and we got more candy then anyone can eat (except maybe for Jack)!
We took the kids down to the historic district of Frederick again this year, the homes across from Baker Park. It is the best, the neighborhood is beautiful and people go all out for Halloween...decorated porches and houses all along the streets. The weather was perfect and we got more candy then anyone can eat (except maybe for Jack)!
Monday, October 27, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Le Tour
6 hours in 'the saddle', these guys are amazing. Can you imagine riding a bike for 6hrs at over 30 mph? The avg tour de france rider generates 400 watts of energy, most avg people do 140. It is the hardest endurance race in the world, easily. And the mountain stages haven't even started yet.
I love europe.
Part of the beauty of watching the tour is the scenary, the helicopter shots of the riders cruising thru the old european towns, so picturesqe. No mcdonald signs, no strip malls - just rolling country side and medieval towns in france, england and even spain.
Too bad doping has ruined the popularity of this sport, that coupled with Lance no long er riding anymore. Still, i'm hooked on watching this, it doesn't matter. I love the sport, the pain these guys go thru, the way they have to weave thru the throngs of crazy european fans on the mountain stage (pic) and the pure athleticism. Viva le tour.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Houston....we have playhouse.
Yes, the most planned, discussed and built playhouse in the history of mankind has arrived! Thanks to inlaws for building, buying and transporting it...and, also me for shoveling 4 tons of gravel for the foundation (yes, that's Tons with a T)...i'm still taking advil.
Obviously, Bella is happy
- she is planning on painting the inside purple and pink..yikes, i'm sure she'll paint it many times (hopefully). Jack likes to run through the back, circle around, and go through the front...alot.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Kitchen Pictures!
Hi All!
We'll, over a year of planning, thinking, budgeting and stressing looks like it's finally over (then again, it never really ends) the first floor renovation is over! Despite the stress of having workmen in your house starting at 7 in the morning and huddling in the basement for 4 months - we are happy with how it turned out.
I've posted
some before and after pictures! The first two pictures are the 'before'
And now the after!
First picture is the kitchen taken from the family room. We went with a brazillian cherry hardwood floor..with a dark chestnut finish. We put in two islands, both have a black pearl granite top. The cabinets are natural maple, with brushed nickle pulls. We put in a steam oven (gaggenau) and we love it, fresh veggies in 5 mins (and shrimp too). Also, two dishwashers (bosh)..i never would have thought we needed two, but now i don't have we lived with one.
Second picture is the family room from the kitchen, look ma no walls! The hardwood extends throughout the 1st floor. Note the plasma tv on the wall to the left of the fire place (hopefully it won't fall) I needed Ellis for this project!
The third picture (middle) is the family room (new picture window) from the old living room.
Fourth picture was the old living room (the room with the piano) to the right of the entryway when you walked into the house. No more! We actually wanted to use this room, so we opened up the wall into the family room, and put in a sliding glass door to the porch. It was gene's idea for the minimalistic 2 leather chairs and a rug..kind of my 'reading room/sun room/get away from the kids' room.
Fifth picture shows the opening from the family room into the 4th picture
That's it - we still are waiting on our new sectional couch - we want EVERYONE to come by and see us soon, i'll post more often now - and alot more w kids pics!
Gene, Ginny, Isabella, Jack
We'll, over a year of planning, thinking, budgeting and stressing looks like it's finally over (then again, it never really ends) the first floor renovation is over! Despite the stress of having workmen in your house starting at 7 in the morning and huddling in the basement for 4 months - we are happy with how it turned out.
I've posted
some before and after pictures! The first two pictures are the 'before'
And now the after!
First picture is the kitchen taken from the family room. We went with a brazillian cherry hardwood floor..with a dark chestnut finish. We put in two islands, both have a black pearl granite top. The cabinets are natural maple, with brushed nickle pulls. We put in a steam oven (gaggenau) and we love it, fresh veggies in 5 mins (and shrimp too). Also, two dishwashers (bosh)..i never would have thought we needed two, but now i don't have we lived with one.
Second picture is the family room from the kitchen, look ma no walls! The hardwood extends throughout the 1st floor. Note the plasma tv on the wall to the left of the fire place (hopefully it won't fall) I needed Ellis for this project!
The third picture (middle) is the family room (new picture window) from the old living room.
Fourth picture was the old living room (the room with the piano) to the right of the entryway when you walked into the house. No more! We actually wanted to use this room, so we opened up the wall into the family room, and put in a sliding glass door to the porch. It was gene's idea for the minimalistic 2 leather chairs and a rug..kind of my 'reading room/sun room/get away from the kids' room.
Fifth picture shows the opening from the family room into the 4th picture
That's it - we still are waiting on our new sectional couch - we want EVERYONE to come by and see us soon, i'll post more often now - and alot more w kids pics!
Gene, Ginny, Isabella, Jack
Monday, June 4, 2007
We're baaaaaack!
Hi all -
Sorry for the huge lapse in time since last blog entry, we promise to update more often!
Alot has happened since january, in no particular order:
Sorry for the huge lapse in time since last blog entry, we promise to update more often!
Alot has happened since january, in no particular order:
- Jack is walking, and kind of talking (ball, dada, car, bella, mama, duck) - he is growing incredibly fast. He smiles all the time, except when it's time to go to sleep OR when he rides in the car (he likes to save his scream-fests for that). He looks like bella (everyone says so, but we don't see it). I think he looks a little like Van Morrison.
- Bella is growing too fast, she is like a teenager now - sleeps till 9:00, plays video games (addicted to leapster) and every time you ask her to do something she says 'in a minute'. Next you know she'll be texting people and having her own blog, she'll be 4 in july! her big recital is coming up next sunday, all the grandparents are coming to it. She is going to do a dance routine to 'if your happy and you know it'. Ginny and i are excited, but worried bella will 'freeze' as she has threatened to 'lay on the stage' more then once....we'll see.
- Ginny's kitchen project has officially begun...sort of.. we picked a contractor and met with the architect, but don't begin construction until november. However, she continues to buy kitchen magazines at an alarming rate, just to get more 'ideas'. She also has had more time to ride lately, the old nags...i mean horses...biddle is 8 already.
- rumball - is quickly becomine 'granny-ball' she looks older by the minute, and snores! but, she's still a great trail dog, when ginny takes her out with the horses ..she's as spry as a puppy.
Thursday, January 4, 2007
What I'll remember about 2006..
- Jack Marcus Slyman made his grand entrance May 4, 2006. Heir to the throne, the slyman line is continued!
- Ginny/Gene slept pretty well until May 4, 2006, and got to eat out without being tense.
- Bella grew smarter, funnier, and cutier. She is a puzzle expert now, and a princess movie junkie. In addition to a ballet school apprentice and a pre-school attendee.
- Gene gets heavily into Stan Getz, ironically he also gets less into Miles davis/John Coltrane
- Ginny's continual planning and dreaming of a new kitchen (we're getting our new kitchen soon, right honey?)
- Rumball running around the back yard barking at nothing
- Pickles angrily meowing at us to let him out or feed him, or pet him.
- Another dissapointing year for the skins, and for my fantasy football team
- Our planning and resarching for the SUV we still haven't purchased
- lots of giggles and screaming from the kids when we play with them in the family room almost every night
- Realizing taking two small kids to the beach and staying in a hotel wasn't for us.
- Great family pictures taken right before christmas
- Ginny's tireless work on her dad's family tree gift
- The trip to the pumpkin patch, bella jumping in the pumpkin-moon bounce and smiling the whole time
- Multiple trips to the nursery for mulch in the spring (just one more trip aught to do it!)
- Cutting down our christmas tree at the tree farm (we got a beauty)
That's all i can think of for now
- Ginny/Gene slept pretty well until May 4, 2006, and got to eat out without being tense.
- Bella grew smarter, funnier, and cutier. She is a puzzle expert now, and a princess movie junkie. In addition to a ballet school apprentice and a pre-school attendee.
- Gene gets heavily into Stan Getz, ironically he also gets less into Miles davis/John Coltrane
- Ginny's continual planning and dreaming of a new kitchen (we're getting our new kitchen soon, right honey?)
- Rumball running around the back yard barking at nothing
- Pickles angrily meowing at us to let him out or feed him, or pet him.
- Another dissapointing year for the skins, and for my fantasy football team
- Our planning and resarching for the SUV we still haven't purchased
- lots of giggles and screaming from the kids when we play with them in the family room almost every night
- Realizing taking two small kids to the beach and staying in a hotel wasn't for us.
- Great family pictures taken right before christmas
- Ginny's tireless work on her dad's family tree gift
- The trip to the pumpkin patch, bella jumping in the pumpkin-moon bounce and smiling the whole time
- Multiple trips to the nursery for mulch in the spring (just one more trip aught to do it!)
- Cutting down our christmas tree at the tree farm (we got a beauty)
That's all i can think of for now
Monday, December 25, 2006
Christmas
Merry Christmas to everybody!
We had christmas at our house this year, which was the first time really ever. Usually we travel to PA to Ginny's parents, but we really wanted to have them down to our house this year because of the kids. The festivities kicked off christmas eve, Ginny made an awesome dinner - beef tendorloin, great appetizers, pecan pie - the works. She was a little nervous about cooking such a gourmet meal, but her friend (kerry) hooked her up with a great 'sure fire' reciepe and it turned out great. Most of the day we watched football, which was stressful as the skins lost AND my fantasy team is getting killed - finally i just turned off the TV and cranked up the jazz and xmas music.
Bella & Jack opened some presents xmas eve from granny/pap pap - and the chaos was on. we all crammed into our living room w the tree, including rumball who is the designated gift opener (yes, our dog can open wrapping paper/gifts). Lets just say it was a very 'princess' xmas for bella - i think we personally increased the stock of disney this year. the best present was probably the magic kingdom castle and figures, she was absorbed with it all night. Jack was pretty cranky, but snapped out of it after his 'dinner nap' and generally watched us all bewildered at the chaos before him (yes kid, this is christmas). My father in-law got me, what else, tools! A great cordless drill ( i really needed) Ginny and I exchanged small gifts, since we plan on getting, in no particular order, a tivo and a spinning bike, oh..and a new kitchen at some point.
xmas day was more of the same, we set-up a tray with half eaten food from Santa - and got bella up around 9:00am. We're not exactly sure if she is buying the santa thing - but it's fun for us, so we'll continue the brainwashing..uh...I mean..Santa story. Santa continued the princess theme, and soon every room was filled with kids toys. We had a great brunch, leftovers from the night before, and Ginny/I were about to collapse from exhaustion by 1:00.
As I write this, bella is crashed on the couch - ginny is feeding the horses, Jack is sleeping too - and I'm burning jazz cd's (i gave all my stan getz to my father in-law, since he really liked what i was playing)
My sisters/parents are all getting together in Fla., Universal Studios. That should be a blast. We head down to Disney in February - the princess mania will continue.
hope you all had a great christmas!
We had christmas at our house this year, which was the first time really ever. Usually we travel to PA to Ginny's parents, but we really wanted to have them down to our house this year because of the kids. The festivities kicked off christmas eve, Ginny made an awesome dinner - beef tendorloin, great appetizers, pecan pie - the works. She was a little nervous about cooking such a gourmet meal, but her friend (kerry) hooked her up with a great 'sure fire' reciepe and it turned out great. Most of the day we watched football, which was stressful as the skins lost AND my fantasy team is getting killed - finally i just turned off the TV and cranked up the jazz and xmas music.
Bella & Jack opened some presents xmas eve from granny/pap pap - and the chaos was on. we all crammed into our living room w the tree, including rumball who is the designated gift opener (yes, our dog can open wrapping paper/gifts). Lets just say it was a very 'princess' xmas for bella - i think we personally increased the stock of disney this year. the best present was probably the magic kingdom castle and figures, she was absorbed with it all night. Jack was pretty cranky, but snapped out of it after his 'dinner nap' and generally watched us all bewildered at the chaos before him (yes kid, this is christmas). My father in-law got me, what else, tools! A great cordless drill ( i really needed) Ginny and I exchanged small gifts, since we plan on getting, in no particular order, a tivo and a spinning bike, oh..and a new kitchen at some point.
xmas day was more of the same, we set-up a tray with half eaten food from Santa - and got bella up around 9:00am. We're not exactly sure if she is buying the santa thing - but it's fun for us, so we'll continue the brainwashing..uh...I mean..Santa story. Santa continued the princess theme, and soon every room was filled with kids toys. We had a great brunch, leftovers from the night before, and Ginny/I were about to collapse from exhaustion by 1:00.
As I write this, bella is crashed on the couch - ginny is feeding the horses, Jack is sleeping too - and I'm burning jazz cd's (i gave all my stan getz to my father in-law, since he really liked what i was playing)
My sisters/parents are all getting together in Fla., Universal Studios. That should be a blast. We head down to Disney in February - the princess mania will continue.
hope you all had a great christmas!
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Typical Day
Many of our friends/family wonder how Ginny & I can manage 2 jobs, 2 kids, 1 dog, 1 cat and 2 horses. The answer is, we can't - WE NEED HELP. that's why god invented starbucks i guess.
Here is a glimpse into our daily sleep deprived routine:
5:45 am
- Jack starts waking up, he doesn't seem to care if it's a weekday/weekend - within minutes he's happily making loud sounds, within a few more minutes he's crying. Gene gets up at 6:00 to go to work, but NOT ON WEEKENDS - jack doesn't seem to know this..
6:30 am
- Gene has to leave the house for work, so it's time to see if jack will go back to sleep in his room or swing..
6:45 am
- he usuallly doesn't go back to sleep, which means it's time for Ginny to get up! (hint: ginny not a morning early riser)
6:45 - 8:45
- Poor Ginny has to: feed two horses, nurse jack, get bella up and ready for eithe pre-school or ballet, . chug some chai tea, hope the nanny is on time - and make it out the door.., whew.
9:00 am
- Guess who is finally sleepy, after eveyone has left - that's right - Jack-o.
5:30 pm - 9:00 pm
-Gene returns home from work, a 1hr commute. After consuming way too much coffee, and trying to pretend to be alert and active at work. Time to play with the kids though! Jack is all smiles and bella is usually either dancing in a princess outfit, or happily signing a song, or watching a DVD (ie: no time to acknowldege that i'm home)
- Ginny gets home - and we fight over ... i mean 'discuss' who has to feed the horses. Sometimes we just lay on the bed and pary for a house staff to help us out. Oh yeah, somebody has to make dinner
- it's time for jack to get fed (he grunts alot when you start feeding him, very funny). Bella is very picky now about what she eats, unless it's cheese or chips. Ginny and I stare blankley at each other, trying to get a 2nd wind.
7:00 PM
- just as we are getting our 2nd wind, and playing with the kids on the carpet - Jack starts sucking his thumb and looking like i used to the morning after a college party - very tired. Off to bed for Jack Attack.
9:00 PM
- Bella basically never gets tired, but we do - so we go through the bed time routine (including Gene telling her a nightly bedtime story about a fictious willie the monkee'(another story). Soon she is off to bed (note: i didn't say off to sleep).
9:15 PM
- Just as we are starting to chill out in front of the TV for the night, Bella is heard thumping around upstairs - one of us drags our exhausted bodies upstairs to 'talk' to her.
9:30 PM
- (see 9:15PM) repeat
at some point - ginny watches sex in the city and/or greys anatomy. Gene is online checking/obsessing about his fantasy football team, or downloading music.
That's about it, a typical weekday, however i left out the constant leting the pets in/out of the door - and rumballs hogging the couch - somehow we wouldn't want it any other way (ok, maybe we keep the idea of a house staff for cooking/cleaning)
Here is a glimpse into our daily sleep deprived routine:
5:45 am
- Jack starts waking up, he doesn't seem to care if it's a weekday/weekend - within minutes he's happily making loud sounds, within a few more minutes he's crying. Gene gets up at 6:00 to go to work, but NOT ON WEEKENDS - jack doesn't seem to know this..
6:30 am
- Gene has to leave the house for work, so it's time to see if jack will go back to sleep in his room or swing..
6:45 am
- he usuallly doesn't go back to sleep, which means it's time for Ginny to get up! (hint: ginny not a morning early riser)
6:45 - 8:45
- Poor Ginny has to: feed two horses, nurse jack, get bella up and ready for eithe pre-school or ballet, . chug some chai tea, hope the nanny is on time - and make it out the door.., whew.
9:00 am
- Guess who is finally sleepy, after eveyone has left - that's right - Jack-o.
5:30 pm - 9:00 pm
-Gene returns home from work, a 1hr commute. After consuming way too much coffee, and trying to pretend to be alert and active at work. Time to play with the kids though! Jack is all smiles and bella is usually either dancing in a princess outfit, or happily signing a song, or watching a DVD (ie: no time to acknowldege that i'm home)
- Ginny gets home - and we fight over ... i mean 'discuss' who has to feed the horses. Sometimes we just lay on the bed and pary for a house staff to help us out. Oh yeah, somebody has to make dinner
- it's time for jack to get fed (he grunts alot when you start feeding him, very funny). Bella is very picky now about what she eats, unless it's cheese or chips. Ginny and I stare blankley at each other, trying to get a 2nd wind.
7:00 PM
- just as we are getting our 2nd wind, and playing with the kids on the carpet - Jack starts sucking his thumb and looking like i used to the morning after a college party - very tired. Off to bed for Jack Attack.
9:00 PM
- Bella basically never gets tired, but we do - so we go through the bed time routine (including Gene telling her a nightly bedtime story about a fictious willie the monkee'(another story). Soon she is off to bed (note: i didn't say off to sleep).
9:15 PM
- Just as we are starting to chill out in front of the TV for the night, Bella is heard thumping around upstairs - one of us drags our exhausted bodies upstairs to 'talk' to her.
9:30 PM
- (see 9:15PM) repeat
at some point - ginny watches sex in the city and/or greys anatomy. Gene is online checking/obsessing about his fantasy football team, or downloading music.
That's about it, a typical weekday, however i left out the constant leting the pets in/out of the door - and rumballs hogging the couch - somehow we wouldn't want it any other way (ok, maybe we keep the idea of a house staff for cooking/cleaning)
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Wow - we have a blog!
Hi All,
How exciting we have a blog! I will be posting pictures/and random entries about our family (the slymans of urbana maryland) - also maybe some of my favorite jazz and sports 'ramblings'.
The Slyman Family
Gene - Daddy, and slave to all those listed here
Ginny - Mommy, and best vet in the world
Bella - Princess (3 years old) and the cutest little girl in the world
Jack - AKA 'jack attack' (7 mos old) and cuttest little boy in the world
Rumball - our first child (dog about 9) the cutest dog in the world
Pickles - the offical outcast of the family (cat about 7) he has his own blog
Honey - The best horse in the world
Bit-of-Honey - AKA 'biddle' honeys kid, and now her bigger kid
That about does it for the family tree! I'll update with pictures of all of the above soon!
Gene
How exciting we have a blog! I will be posting pictures/and random entries about our family (the slymans of urbana maryland) - also maybe some of my favorite jazz and sports 'ramblings'.
The Slyman Family
Gene - Daddy, and slave to all those listed here
Ginny - Mommy, and best vet in the world
Bella - Princess (3 years old) and the cutest little girl in the world
Jack - AKA 'jack attack' (7 mos old) and cuttest little boy in the world
Rumball - our first child (dog about 9) the cutest dog in the world
Pickles - the offical outcast of the family (cat about 7) he has his own blog
Honey - The best horse in the world
Bit-of-Honey - AKA 'biddle' honeys kid, and now her bigger kid
That about does it for the family tree! I'll update with pictures of all of the above soon!
Gene
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