The Scrapper Passes His Driving Permit Test

Jess wanted a photo.  Sam was helping.

The fam is officially a 4 person driving household.

Madd Max Celebrates An Engagement

Adam and Brian!  Hizzah!

Madd Max Has A Taisie Tuesday

 

Every Tuesday, dinner is at Taisie's.

Madd Max Goes To A Birthday Dinner

At Pasta Bar, where all the dishes were this impressive.

The birthday man with his birthday dessert.

The Scrapper Takes His Permit Test

Let's call this take 1.

Slappy Goes Sledding

But first, some snow angels.

 

Clara, taking the easy route to the sledding hill. 

 

Tandem cousin sledding.

 

A little help from Ant Uncle.

How one does when one is not sledding anymore.

A final lunch from Hot Bagels Abroad to really finalize the Jersey before the return to the West Coast.

Slappy Celebrates Sonia

The teenager, opening her presents.

She requested shaped pancakes.  Here is Ant Uncle working on a bunny.

Another sleepy teen.

The joy of the fire - a coveted spot.

Clara's unicorn.

 

Maddie's poop.

And this fabulous birthday girl.

Slappy Hits Up Hoboken

Gaming with Françoise and Valentina.

And of course, Jersey pizza with the whole fam, except Mateo who is now off at college.

Jess and Maddie rushed out when they saw that the winter storm was actually beginning to stick.  Maddie found it magical, "Just like you see in the movies."  Jess found it slightly panic inducing, thinking of the drive home.

Once in Leonia and the car parked, Jess got Madd some insta photos.

That came down quick!

Slappy Meets White Manna

But first she was spoiled with a Mimi breakfast.

This is one of the Kender siblings favorite places in the world.

 

Dozee will even sometimes get an order of 16 burgers, take them home, freeze them and ship them out to Jess.

Usually there are long lines on the weekend, so the Kender sibs would throw sticks in the Hackensack River behind the burger joint.  Maddie participated in this right of passage.

Madd Max Sees Steven

And all of his girls.

 

So nice to be together in person instead of just on Slack.

Slappy Heads To The Theatre

Fancy mocktail.

And dinner with Leon.

Before seeing the incredible Chicago.

Slappy Tours Downtown Manhattan

 The Ghostbusters fire station.

Ant Uncle's Oculus.

He also worked on this, the Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church.

Manhattan pizza is the best.

Maddie really wanted to see the Wall Street bull.

Apparently, to get this photo, which her and Jess had to wait on line for.

Slappy Heads East

Sunrise on the red eye.

Followed by breakfast with Dr. Auntie Kerry.

While Maddie had all the Lucky Charms for lunch.

This girl loves NJ/NY public transportation.

Then it was time for a teen birthday surprise.  Sonia was out with her fam for her 13th birthday celebration.  Madd and Jess surprised her as she left a shop.   

Birthday ice cream.

Madd Max Celebrates The Last Of The 40s

A Sweet Lady Jane cake, something Jess remembers the Production Designer of the original Spiderman getting for his birthday.

Steve made a fantastic dinner before heading out on his next show. 

Where friends got to be nervous about the fires together while leaning on each other and eating said dinner.

Marissa made Jess and Steve this gorgeous and full of dark humor birthday cake.

Post song.

The night wrapped up with the kids semi-delayed holiday present opening.