Thinking about New Year's resolutions

Might as well start early, right? And I figure if I post this in a blog, someone will hold me to it. I'm trying to make the reasonable, hence more attainable. So far I have:

1. Try at least one new Pinterest recipe/craft per week
2. Finish at least one unfinished knitting project per month (this will help when I'm left with nothing but large or complicated projects to finish)
3. I need to add someone do-able as far as exercise goes. I'm open to ideas!

National Adoption Awareness Month!

Yep, November is on us again. This year I want to share a link to a great blog series that takes place each November. It's a collection of essays by those touched by adoption: birthparents, adoptees, adoptive parents, you name it. Some are sad, some are angry, some are uplifting, just like life, and adoption, can be. Enjoy!

http://www.chicagonow.com/portrait-of-an-adoption/2013-30-adoption-portraits/

Cape vacation!

Nana and Tapa came to visit from California. Almost as soon as they touched down, they were off to Cape Cod. S and I joined them for the weekend.

Friday was blustery and rainy, and I didn't think any of it could be salvaged. We headed out to the Cape anyway and hoped for the best. By dinnertime it looked like this:

 

 

The Marshside Inn was perfect for our needs. Excellent view, as you can see. 4 blocks from the house my parents were in. And they had dolls. Maybe a dozen, each with their own hairbrush and a toy seat that clipped on to the table. Any child who wanted to play with one got it for the duration of their meal. And if dolls aren't your thing, there was a chest full of toys. Genius, I tell you.

 

Saturday didn't look much better in terms of weather, but we decided to drive to Provincetown anyway. As we drove into the town center, the clouds parted.

 

 

 

 

S, being a secret Californian, wanted to "dip my toes in the ocean". In November. Fine, they're your toes, kid.

 

 

I could look at that picture all day.

 

She posed a few more times, with Nana and Tapa, and at the Provincetown Monument

 

 







 

 

When we got home, we got all dressed up for my early birthday dinner. Someone sure does rock a panda dress

 

 

 

Dinner was great, even though S didn't much like all the fancy grown up food. She was ordering the server around like he was her own personal chef.

 

Sunday dawned cold and cloudy, but we didn't let that deter us. We found a nice little place for lunch, and S decided she wanted to be the photographer. Pretty good for a 3 year old, no?

 

 





 A good time was had by all, and we enjoyed our visit with Nana and Tapa

Cute things my kid is saying

I was belting out I Will Survive to the car radio on the way to school this week. As it ended, S demanded we find another girl singing a song. After a few minutes I found one. She sighed and said, "Ah, that's better."

S wanted to play with a rather large rock at school the other day, and threw a fit when I told her that wasn't an appropriate toy (I had yard duty that day). The next day she announced her teacher threw her rock over the fence (I'll bet she did!). Today she spirited home 3 small rocks--"I put them in my pocket so Miss V wouldn't throw them over the fence." Smart kid!

We were driving home, and she saw a boot hanging from an overhead wire. "Who does that belong to, Mommy? They need it back, because they'll have one bare foot! They might walk on rocks and get a boo boo!" When I added that they also might get a cold foot, she said, "Well, if they have a sock on it will be better."

And we can't leave without her rock star impression. Turn the volume way DOWN

'Tis the Season

That's right, it's fall

And we've been taking advantage of it.

J took S to the pumpkin patch while I got my hair done.

Love those colors

 

They had quite the haul

That evening we had a pumpkin carving/painting party

J the artist at work

His capable apprentice

The cat pumpkin she painted for Hobbes

J shows off his scary pumpkin

I just kept painting different sides of my pumpkin. Here's my version of Hobbes

And a starry witch's hat

Check out those hands!

 

Our jack o lanterns. S designed the one on the right all by herself

 

Every year around Halloween, the werewolf goes into our shower. It's a tradition ever since I lived in Maryland, and he always turns up just in time to get into position

 

 

 

Once we had the house and pumpkins sorted, we decided to drive to NH to see the fall leaves. It was a perfect day

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy fall!

Thowback Thursday!

Inspired by a message board I frequent.

In October 2010 we finalized S's adoption

In October 2011, we had just moved into our house in Massachusetts

 

In October 2012 I donated my hair, and S's curls came into full bloom

 

This October (so far), S has gone on an outing with her new schoolmates

More fall pictures to come, I promise

 

Grania visits!

Grania came to see our family this weekend. Our plan was to attend a Scottish festival in New Hampshire, but weather and work schedules led to Plan B.

On Saturday we decided to go to Cape Cod. It was my first time there, and S's too. We drove all the way to the Atlantic Ocean (and checked out some places for Nana and Tapa to visit next month)




Daddy carried S to the water's edge. She was saying, "I spy with my little eye something blue."

 

Daddy held the camera while S and I tiptoed into the water.

 

 

Then we headed over to Nauset Lighthouse. S was very disappointed that the door was locked.

 

She slept like a log the whole way home. Sea air will do that to you.

 

Sunday started off rainy, so we thought a visit to the Higgins Armory was in store. We had been there before without Grania, but it was her first time. She and S made shields

 

 

While J and I played chess. He won. Of course

S also enjoyed the horse

 Not bad for a Plan B, huh?

Zoo time!

I promised myself that S and I would explore more of Boston this summer. Instead we seem to have gone everywhere BUT Boston!

Today it was the Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence. Yep, we crossed state lines to visit the zoo. But it was worth it.

 

We probably should have mapped out a plan, but we totally winged it. First stop was the African area, which included crowned cranes. S thought they were the bomb.

 

After seeing zebras, giraffes, and elephants (including an elephant shower), we headed off to the tropics. We saw all of these flamingos taking a nap.

 

We got to see some other cool birds, including this very friendly penguin.

 

The Marco Polo section had some of the neatest animal collection, including this red panda! I'm amazed we got a picture, since this little guy/gal was on the move.

 

There was also a large play area, including lots, and lots, of water. S was soaked by the time she was done!

 

Speaking of water, I guess I should be happy S loves to wash her hands. She took advantage of the porta-sinks after visiting a mini farm within the zoo.

 

We're not sure where we're heading next, but we hope it's going to be as fun as today was!

 

Back from vacation

As has been our tradition the last couple of years, J goes to Pennsic (woot! They made Wikipedia!) and we head to CA to see my family. A good time was had by all. And these pictures are in no particular order.

Fishies at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. A nice employee came by and asked S to help him find all the fish on his checklist. She was happy to oblige.

 

We had a good day for the beach. S didn't care that the water was cold. She was just happy to build sand castles with her cousins.

 

I visited the San Carlos Cathedral for the first time. Isn't it pretty? Mom and I went for a cool Bach Festival concert. S played with Tapa

This is the inside, complete with harpsichord (not usually included)

 

Dad was rewarded with beer ;)

 

We saw a lot of cool things on Nana and Tapa's porch. This day it was a family of deer across the street

 

S was fascinated by the sand eels at the aquarium

 

Our walk to the aquarium included the Ergo. 3 years old and still loving her pocket

 

The girls went out for drinks our last night there. My sister in law finally got to experience the Monterey Plaza Hotel. I think she enjoyed it

 

Sensing a theme with the drinks? Mom with her Tropical Itch at Hula's.

 

No kayaking for us this year, but the sight of them on the beach sure was pretty

 

Mom and I, gussied up for the Bach Festival. We clean up nice

 

S went to the MY Museum and loved the boat. It didn't hurt that it was at the bottom of the slide (her favorite)

 

See? She loved the cold California water

 

A curious otter checking us out at the aquarium

 

S checking out the fish display, and showing off her summer outfit, thanks to Nana and her aunt

 

Pancakes were a requirement almost every morning. Until she rediscovered oatmeal

 

How can you get a bad picture with scenery like this???

 

Right?

 

S was nice enough to pose at the wharf. We bribed her with taffy ;)

 

You know, taffy

 

 

She loved the wave tunnel at the aquarium

 

 

She wasn't so sure about the touch tank at first. But she warmed up to it

 

She loved posing in the wave tunnel, though she was always on the lookout for a new wave

 

She even got Tapa in on the act

 

We had a lovely evening at the wharf. We got a bonus when we got home. The Feast of Lanterns was ending that night, and they set off fireworks less than a half mile from my parents' place. We sat on the deck and watched the (amazing) show.

 

Two days later we watched whales breaching off the coast as we stood on the same deck. We also witnessed 2 weddings and a quincinera

 

It was a good vacation