MERRY HO HO

Happy Holidays from the Flaherty Contingent. So much fun this Christmas...all the kids were so so good and we had a really lovely day at mom's. Even managed to get some good group shots (I was channeling Dad but everyone was patient with me).

So after we had a lovely Christmas we promptly became the house of sick here at the DiPalma's. Anni quarantined us immediately so we decided to make intricate gingerbreads. What do you do when you are too sick to eat?

Sue paired with one little and I paired with the other...and of course, being who we are we want to know who will win this year's medal for favorite house. A few votes are already in...cast yours now...princess castle or Santa's Toy Workshop? Cast your vote today and when all the votes are in we will reveal the winner and the creative teams behind these masterpieces!

Santa's Workshop...yes that is a see through window....

...and a practice landing strip for the reindeer....

...and a fire in the fireplace to keep the elves warm. Did I mention we had lots of time on our hands?

Contestent Number Two is the Pretty in Pink DiPalma Princess Castle....

...complete with princess and a horse drawn carriage...

Haven't you ever wanted your own pink castle...you know deep down you have!

Cousin's Christmas thanks

Ellen posted on: Closethedistance

kiwi news

Sherman got a job offer up in Auckland. Looks like the kids are leaving Wellington in the coming weeks. They plan to tour the South Island over the holidays, and then find a place to live before he starts his job the beginning of the year.

The company is going to sponsor them for residency. It will open up lots of opportunities for them, and get them on the national health ins. system too.

Cookies from home

Kate and Sherman got a very special delivery the other day: homemade cookies from Becca and Katie DiPalma!!!!

The delicious cookies arrived just before they were leaving for a weekend camping trip. They set some aside and took them the rest on their trip. When they got home, they ate the rest. Thank you, thank you, thank you to Dee, Becca and Katie for the goodies and their thoughtfulness.

A shout out to everyone from kiwi-land. Kate & Sherm love and miss you all.

a message from the birthday basset

Pix of dylan

Link to photos of Dylan

Happy Halloween

She Who Sits With Pages, Superman, Princess Jasmine, Transformer and Glenda the Good Witch braved the spooky cold night to collect quite the candy stash!

DJ Roman Senator

This week was Spirit Week at Wilmington H. S.
On Thursday, DJ went as a Roman Senator... we definetly made a homemade costume!

Waiting for Dylan

It was a PERFECT Day for Dylan's Shower
Great weather, food and company!
Uncle Matt would be unbelievably happy to see his wishing well at work for the next generation. Is it on it's fourth generation now?
Steve and Angie... we can't wait to meet the newest addition of our family!

Dylan's Baby Shower!

Flaherty Family

Thank you , thank you....
What an amazing family.
LOVE
Don, Judy, and DJ

Family Weekend!

CANNOT WAIT!!!
In the words of Dee: WWOOOO HOOOOOOOOOO!

Family

Woke up this morning totally exhausted, yet with a feeling of immense happiness.

My thought: "Wow, What a family."

Love you all more than I can say.

Judy

Rebecca's 6th Birthday aka ducks gone wild

Celia giving her duck a kiss.
The Merms always know exactly what Bec wants!

BeccaBoo posing with her peeps.

Making a wish.

Mark BEFORE he got covered in yellow frosting.

Sunday in Maine

Hi
We spent a terrific afternoon in the water! Rebecca is swimming like a fish in the DEEP END! Katie discovered the joy of 'flight off the dock', and Ellen enjoyed making a big splash! Katie even took a turn at diving...Uncle Matt is smiling down tonight!

Sunday in Maine

Can you feel the love?

As I sort though THOUSANDS of vacation pics, I found this one that just says it all. We were on the way to our hotel in Venice (in a gorgeous water taxi) completely relaxed, overwhelmed with the beauty of the city and feeling like the most fortunate people on the planet.

The trip was so amazing that I am actually loving the hours of editing and rearranging all of the photos so I can share them with all of you.

Katie's 7th birthday

This proud momma just has to brag a bit...

Katie made this cake. She sketched out her ideas (with me eliminating a 3rd tier.) She measured all the ingredients, cracked all the 8 eggs, did all of the mixing, I stacked the cakes and covered them in blue. Then Katie lead Becca and me in rolling and cutting out the fondant. She picked the flowers and bookworm show her favorite things, and compromised on the 3rd tier (animals and sea life) by adding a swan to the cover of the book. She even created a cake topper (purple ballerina) that she can save. When it was done she said "We need to take a picture and send it to Duff (Ace of Cakes) and say 'Check out what I can do!'"

It was delicious!

Look out Duff - Katie has an email coming your way.

big news

Just got this pix message. Looks like our little girl is gettin' hitched!

DJ in Costa Rica

Costa Rica was very fun. We went all over the country and saw lots of wild life and new people. I saw one of the most active volcanos in the world, Arenal, played soccer with the indeginous Bri Bri, stayed two nights with Costa Rican families in villages in the mountains, did some hiking,ziplined through the rainforest canopy and went whitewater rafting.
There so many different and interesting type of animals including 5 feet long Leatherback turtles, who were majestic and NOT SCARY AT ALL..
The temperature was so hot the themometer we brought broke. Also it was common to find random animals in our shower including crabs and a frog we named ducha (as seen in picture).
Here are some pictures.

Costa Rica

Marathon

Dave before Sunday's BAA 5K.
Rebecca high-fiving runners while holding up a sign for Mike.

Mike saw the sign and stopped for hugs!

Mike runs Boston

Mike runs Boston on closethedistance

Lady's Day

Lady's day....The Little Mermaid at the Wheelock Family Theater followed by feasting with the dolls at the American Girl Cafe. Good times.

Hi,

DJ was off to Costa Rica yesterday on an Ecoteach excursion!
He returns on April 23rd.
He is traveling with 2 other boys (both good friends), 9 girls and two chaperones.

Here is a pix of DJ and his bestfriend of 17 years, Geo, as they were ready to depart for the airport!
Does he look excited?

Anni's Purple Party!

Celebrating Anni's birthday in style...and yes, we suprised her with the purple clothes, she didn't come dressed that way. The purple feast!

Celia embraced the theme!

The Royal couple.

The Birthday Girl!

Family Events in March

Hi Everyone,

March has been a good month!
DJ turned 17 on the 5th, and Susan make it home to celebrate!

While home on break, Susan and I got to spend time with Ifurs, what a puppy! World's easiest Puppy.

Don's Dad is doing better, and we had a family dinner the other night at Asst Living to celebrate. Don's Mom came over from across the street to join us.

Friday night was DJ's Junior Prom. He went with a good friend, Katrina. It was very cool that two of the girls who were with them for the evening, DJ had grown up with in the neighborhood.

Oh, and Don is building us bookcases in the familyroom! TALL bookcases - Susan is looking foward to the ladder that she can ride on like Belle in Beauty and the Beast.
Love you all!
Judy and Co.

March 2010

IFURS rehab

Richard and I dropped by with bagels and the NY Times for Judy and Susan (weekend shift @ IFURS rehab facility). If I ever need hip surgery - sign me up for post-op care at the DiPalma's place. Nice digs! That crate is the size of a Back Bay condo.

I'm posting this picture so Kate gets her much-need IFURS fix.

Love to all...Ellen

Ani's podcast

Hi - Got this note from Amanda. Thought you'd enjoy it:

"Hey. Ani did the afternoon announcements with her little boyfriend Hayden and they put the podcast up on the website."

Check it out.
Podcast

Celia's Birthday and an Invitation to Go Ice Skating

Celia right after blowing out the candles on her birthday cake (so expertly decorated by her amazing Mommy).
Katie, and the rest of the DiPalma family, invite you to join us on the backyard rink.
We have enough hot chocolate and mini-marshmellows to warm you all up! We have lights for night skating too. So grap your skates and head to Natick before the snow thaws. We would love to see you. And keep your fingers crossed for cold temperatures.

Happy 2010

Happy New Year post at ClosetheDistance.

The Livermores visit Casa De Dee

We had a unforgettable week in San Francisco
compliments of the management of Casa De Dee and the hospitality of the Kate and Sherm.

Don and I had 2 days in San Francisco on our honeymoon and had a great time touring with Suze and DJ.

We did everything on our list:
Muir Woods; Golden Gate Park; Academy of Science; Cable Car Ride; Ghiradelli Square; Lombard Street; Alcatraz.

Some of the highlights included:
Getting lost in Golden Gate Park...no....really, really lost!

Riding the Cable Car (worth the longggg wait)

Alcatraz - the tour was great. I could not get Dad out of my mind... he loved his visit there - and we all know he loved his Alcatraz cap!

Muir Woods - so "beautiful". (The kids got tired of my saying how "beautiful" everything was!)

Spending time with Kate and Sherm! We got together for a few meals, a movie, and they found a terrific restaurant for us to spend New Years Eve!

Academy of Science - terrific despite the long wait and capacity crowds. The aquarium portion was particularly great.

Hanging at Casa De Dee! - luxury accomodations, yet surrounded by family photographs - perfect!

Thank you Dee, Kate and Sherm!

The Livermores in San Francisco

Snowyard

Just a quick clip of this year's snowyard.

Holiday Joy!

Becca is loving the pink! Katie made this delicious pumpkin pie for our Thanksgiving feast.

Kate sent the kids a cookbook she worked on. Dee made these pink-a-liscious cupcakes with Katie & Becca. They were amazing! Becca is waiting soo patiently for me to take the picture.

Jasmine and Ifurs snuggling on the couch.

Christmas morning - the girls soaring down the stairs.

Rebecca loving her American Girls Doll

Katie opening her flute - her favorite gift!

Christmas was full of JOY! I couldn't feel more fortunate.