snowy saturday

watching one of ivy's favorites - babe :)

father/daughter outing

where do you go when you want to get out of the house, it's too cold to be outside, and your dad is kind of a nerd? why, the Harvard Museum of Natural History, of course! ha. it's basically diagonal from our building, so like a 3 minute walk. that's about as far as they could go in the freezing snow! kevin said she liked it pretty well, but got a little scared of the huge dinosaur skeletons. when she came home, i asked her what she saw and she said "big monsters!"   (kevin!!)  he's excited to take her back and check out more things.  i wouldn't mind going sometime to see the glass flower exhibition. it was created by a father and son in germany - they started in 1887 and it took them 50 years! kinda cool, no? 

am i in scotland?

we came back to freezing weather and snow covered grounds.
we also came home to a table full of gifts from the UK.
a family of five from london stayed in our apartment during the holidays while we were away (organized through our church) and left us tons of goodies including some books for ivy, fortnum & mason teas and walker's shortbread.
i had a flashback while strolling ivy in the snow and sipping my english tea :)
it took me straight back to st. andrews.

it's been a tiny culture shock coming from texas, but it's actually really beautiful and nice out.
just don't let me forget my gloves!!!
fuchsia leather ones to be exact :)  thanks mom.

hope y'all are having a wonderful january!

back to cambridge, or world's longest post

cab ride home

blueberry scones

we got back to cambridge monday after a long visit home for the holidays!

 i was feeling a little anxious about being 

on my own again 

after having so much help/care/everything at home, 

but i was also ready to get back in my own place and start fresh. 

new year.

new semester.

everyone a little older and wiser.

even before our plane landed, i had a good feeling about getting back.

 it's an emotional test of strength every time we pack all our stuff back up 

and i have to separate my kids from family for another few months. 

(dramatic much?) 

but i am getting so much better at it, i'm almost even good. 

(not sure if that's a good or bad thing). 

but i think i'm growing and learning 

and stretching and trusting. 

last semester may possibly have been, 

sorda

 kinda 

maybe in a way

a whiff for me. 

i really want to be someone who can handle life gracefully come what may, 

but i actually did a pretty poor job. 

(st. andrews =A, cambridge = ehh, C-). 

i gave a decent effort,

 but couldn't completely let go of woe-is-me: 

i don't have a car!/a friend!/mom/ac/washer dryer.....

where is a non-ghetto target and a family friendly restaurant 

and where in the sam hill is a normal grocery store?? 

 i was tired. 

i was stressed.

i was tired of being stressed. 

the break was a good long time for me to soak up all the help,

 go to cabo,

 rest, and get my act together. 

and it took every second. 

but i'm back!

 i feel good. 

i made some NY resolutions, 

planned out a routine for the kids, 

and let my helper go. 

 (i'm not totally helpless, 

there's another wonderful girl who babysits when we need it 

and that's a blessing.) 
but i feel like i'm becoming myself again
after a somewhat stressful transition. 

anyway, this post is not really finding a point so let's wrap it up. 

i do want to say though that our first day back was a huge answered prayer. 

so many friends (ok like 3 but that's a lot for me) 

called/texted/dropped by just to say welcome back. 

one even brought over scones. 

they probably don't know it, but it meant so much to me. 

here's to another year!

28.
come what may. 

hope y'all don't think i'm crazy.

love to all.

chaiss 

ps. i don't understand the new blogger format (clearly). agh. sorry! 

baking with gramma

christmas with the mcconnells

a sleeping car...

equals a happy mama!!

(note: kevin is not sleeping, i just didn't want him to feel left out :)

it was only an hour and a half drive (that's nothin for us).... but still!

gotta count yo blessings.

we drove back today from visiting the mcconnells in beaumont.

we were there celebrating christmas

before they leave for charleston for a few weeks.

i didn't take ANY pictures so i snapped a few in the car.

hardly makes up for our time there. but we had a wonderful visit.

nancy had her new little house all decorated with stockings for ivy and eli,

lots of gifts under the tree,

christmas tree sheets on ivy's bed,

snowmen, wisemen,

christmas towels, etc.

such a fun time of year.

it was fun watching ivy open her presents this year

since she understands what's going on and gets really excited.

she got a new play kitchen (that she loooooves - the girl can multi task)

a tutu and ballet leotard from craig to encourage her amazing dance skills,

new books, bubbles, a stuffed puppy.

eli got new clothes that will solve our everything's-too-tight problem.

the boy is huge.

but i have to say i think i won in gifts this time.

i got some really thoughtful, nice things.

including the miette pastry book with a set of little 6 inch cake pans...

perfect for baking with ives!

craig was crazy as usual......

atleast he:

A) made fun of my husband for being out of shape

B) got us a date night to a concert in boston

C) didn't terrify ivy with his spontaneous yelling

D) didn't cause our son to throw up multiple times.

E) effectively communicated 15% of the time.

so we're making progress.

juuuust kidding. he's awesome and he knows it.

thank you mcconnells for being so wonderful to me.

and ivy.

and eli.

and of course kevin :)

we love you!

happy december!

my very favorite time of year!

1: ivy's little tree. she plugs it in when she wakes up in the morning. haha (i know that's dangerous).

2: our festive door :)

3: eli in the tub last night

4: cc's tiny pumpkin muffins & ivy's breakfast the past week (i know that's not healthy)

5: cambridge christmas tree lighting

6: fresh apple turnovers!

7: hot chocolate

8: pumpkin soup with cinnamon croutons

9: ivy's house shoes from gramma

HOME for CHRISTMAS countdown!! 7 days....

snow joke!

oh the weather outside is frightful!

the snow is piling up and the airports are closing down. our flight today was cancelled... pray we make it out tomorrow!!

the view from our back window this morning:

view from our front door/ howard place

it is actually really beautiful... just in a as-long-as-we-make-it-home sorda way.

happy december!

my very favorite month has come around once again.

welcome back, december. so glad you're here!!!

season's greetings from our tiny winter wonderland to yours!