flags

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Monday, May 28, 2012

happy summer!



 i'm soo glad we get to have a long break here at the beach before our big move. 
let summer begin! 

Friday, May 25, 2012

happy graduation!

HGSE Diploma Ceremony - Radcliffe Garden 
congratulations kevin andrew mcconnell!
Ed.M.
harvard graduate school of education
may 24, 2012

i am so proud of you! 


tonight is our last night in cambridge. 
i got slightly sentimental late last night packing,
but i'm pretty much over it
and ready to move on.


things i will miss:
-our sweet friends & community group
-ivy's classes around the neighborhood
-fall in new england
-broadway marketplace
-daily strolls thru harvard yard
-yoga across the street
-our cute apartment
-i'm really struggling here...
kevin just said "the best thing about living in massachusetts is that, when filling out online forms, you don't have to scroll all the way down to TX for Texas."
so there you have it.  


it has been another little adventure
i'm grateful to have experienced.


california, here we come! 

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

9 month check-up (last week)

stats:
weight - 20.4 pounds
height - 28.5 inches
healthy, happy and crawling everywhere!!!

this was our last doctor's visit here in cambridge which i'm not terribly sad about. no one compares to dr. fitch in san antonio- that's all i'll say about that! 

{he took a little tumble off the couch the morning of his appointment, explaining the bright red nose and bump on his forehead. i felt like a horrible mother, 
and i think kevin was embarrassed of my lack of parenting skills in front of the doctor.  darn it!}

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

california







this morning at the ferry building in san francisco 


          kevin is finished with classes (woohoo!)
and has two free weeks until his actual graduation.
we left the kids in texas and came to san francisco for a few days.
it is beautiful and we're having so much fun. 
actually, we are here to find a house!
kevin accepted a job offer in palo alto a few days ago, 
so we are here to find a place to move to in just a few weeks.
crazzzyy!
i am sad to still be far from my nieces and family, 
but so proud and happy for this opportunity for kevin 
and excited to live in such a beautiful place with my little family. 

we arrived yesterday and found our house within a few hours of landing. 
i can't believe it. 
it was the first & only house we looked at -
just something i stumbled upon online,
and we both LOVED it. 
it is old, small and so charming.
it has a wonderful backyard (ahhh!) and no stairs!!
we walked through, got so excited and DONE.
i can't wait to start decorating and get settled in.

since that is miraculously done, we have the rest of the week to chill.
we spent all day around san francisco, eating and walking and soaking it in.
it's nice to have some free days to get a few more things done:
--find the market
--visit kevin's office
--visit a preschool for ivy
--get kevin a bike
--maybe a piano for me?!

i can honestly say i did not anticipate moving to california
but i feel so blessed and so happy. 
God is good. 

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

aquarium

traveling in style
red line-green line-blue line,  there!
she did not want to get off
imax!


over the weekend we took the kids into boston for a visit to the new england aquarium.
ivy loves animals- i mean, i think all kids do - and loves to take the train so she was really excited. 
around town, we usually walk and sometimes take a cab...
 so the train is an adventure (for the record, i will not miss the T).  
she also associates trains with donuts because there's a dunkin donuts at our stop
and we usually treat her to a munchkin for the longest journey ever stroll home. 

annnyway... the aquarium was fun, kinda crowded, and her favorite was the seals. 
i also took her to her very first little movie at the aquarium IMAX and i was so excited!
it was under the sea 3D -- 45 min. 
(we lasted 20.)
she was sooo excited at first, in a quietly amazed way.
her movie seat kept folding up on her - haha, so she wanted to sit in my lap. 
we got some popcorn, put our glasses on and the movie started.
at first, she was loving it, trying to touch the things that look like they are right in front of you.
it was so cute.
but then fish started snapping and things started getting jumpy and her little body would flinch.
i was flinching too and i wished it would just stop but it didn't.
i gave her her favorite granola bar hoping that would ease her.
a few minutes later, i asked if she wanted to stay or go.
"go" she whispered back.
i got our things, took her hand to carry her out and felt her hand clinched around her uneaten granola bar, it just falling to pieces. poor thing!! 
i am being kind of dramatic.
it really wasn't that bad, and she was totally fine afterwards,
telling her friends she saw "a huge movie".
then we rode the carousel and all was good again.

this is so long.
whatevs.

the end. 

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Friday, May 4, 2012

music class

Longy School of Music

ivy's last day of music class was this morning. 
it was a charming little place, and i know she loved going. 
if given the choice between art or music class, it was music.
sadly, we'll miss her end of year performance since it's 10:00 on sunday morning. 
(of course it is). 
but she learned some silly songs, how to play drums, 
and can even sing an octave of solfege. ha.
although we didn't make any friends 
(language difference + reserved nannies isn't the easiest way)
 she enjoyed being in a classroom and likes to come home 
and pretend she's the teacher. 

anyway, it was a little blessing around our corner 
and i'm thankful we stumbled upon it.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

sugar cookies


YUM. 
it is me and kevin's turn to host bible study tonight 
and the host provides dinner & dessert.
so ivy helped me make these after her nap, naturally.

i just picked this because i thought ivy would have fun making them
but they are actually the best cookies i've ever eaten. 
and i'm not even a huge sugar cookie fan.
we ate them warm from the oven and goodness, they were perfect.
(am i just really hungry??)
we were sitting at her little table, and ivy said
"mama, we need something to drink. maybe milk."
(haha)
so i got us some and she said 
"cheers"
and i said 
"cheers"
and it was heaven.

recipe from Baker's Illustrated
2 cups flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
2 sticks unsalted butter, softened 
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
1 large egg
1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
assorted sprinkles

Preheat to 375.
Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper or spray them with nonstick cooking spray. 
Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl; set aside.

Cream the butter and both sugars until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add the egg and vanilla; beat at medium speed until combined, about 30 seconds. Add the dry ingredients and beat at low speed until just combined, scraping down the bowl as needed.

 Chill the dough for 30 minutes or so.
Roll into medium sized balls and roll around in sugar or sprinkles if you want (and you do want).
Place on baking sheet and bake for about 15 minutes, or until barely golden brown.
Eat warm or let cool. 
enjoy! 

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

pear + granola muffins


  • mom sent us pears.
    so sweet!
    we made muffins
    for miss annie
    and ivy's friends
    and ourselves.
    these are kinda on the healthy side
    (kevin passed)
    but i liked them.
    Recipe from Martha Stewart

    For Muffins

    • 1 cup all-purpose flour
    • 3/4 cup whole-wheat flour (i used pastry flour)
    • 2 teaspoons baking powder
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt
    • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • 2 large eggs
    • 3/4 cup packed light-brown sugar
    • 1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt
    • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
    • 2 pears, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch dice
    • 3/4 cup plain granola
  • For Granola Crisp Topping

    • 1/2 cup granola
    • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
    • 1/4 cup packed light-brown sugar
    • 1/4 teaspoon salt
    • 3 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a 12-cup standard muffin tin with paper liners; set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together flours, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
  2. In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, brown sugar, yogurt, and butter. Make a well in the center of flour mixture. Add egg mixture to well, and mix in flour mixture until just combined. Gently fold in the granola and pears.
  3. Make Granola Crisp Topping: In a bowl, toss together 1/2 cup granola, 1/4 cup each all-purpose flour and packed light-brown sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cut 3 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter into pieces; add to granola mixture, and rub in with fingertips until clumps form.
  4. Divide batter evenly among lined cups, filling each 3/4 full. Sprinkle with granola topping. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Cool 5 minutes before removing from tin. Serve warm or at room temperature.

thanks mom!
enjoy!