Home Sweet Home

We had the funnest Christmas gathering for the Little Mr.'s preschool buddies.  We met at one family's apartment for soup and salad and then traveled downstairs to another family's apartment for gingerbread house decorating.  I was up to my ears in royal icing the night before making the houses (from scratch--yikes, what was I thinking?!!), but it was totally worth it when I saw the look on my little guy's face.  Thank goodness for great online instructions!

As a sidenote, this photo reminded me of the last time my children and I made gingerbread houses together.  A friend invited my kids and I to attend a gingerbread house decorating party sponsored by a local bakery at a homeless shelter for women and children .  My friend explained the goal of the event was for the visiting families to provide a bit of holiday cheer to the families in the shelter.  

After traveling over an hour after school to the shelter, my kids were understandably tired, hungry and cranky.  Things only got worse when we finally found our way into the community room only to wait 45 minutes for the houses and candy to arrive.   While waiting for the houses, I proceeded to work on the "goal" of the event and chat with the other women and kids waiting for the party to begin.  

Finally the houses arrived and we began decorating.  A few minutes into the decorating, twin #1 decided she had met her limit and started throwing a fit and indicated she needed to use the bathroom.  I quickly asked one of the moms at the table (who lived in the shelter), "Where's the bathroom?"  She gave me the strangest look and said, "You don't know where the bathroom is?"  To which I answered, "No."  And she replied, "Oh, I thought you lived here!  It's down the hall on your left."  We finally made it to the bathroom and back and I realized I better get my little crew out of there before we caused any more scenes.  

One of the shelter employees offered to help me find my way out of the maze of corridors in the building and I eagerly accepted her offer.  After a few minutes of walking through the halls with my gingerbread house in one hand, little guy on my back in his baby carrier, twins hanging onto my other hand and bedraggled big sister following behind, we turned another corner and almost ran into a resident who cheerfully quipped to the employee, "Oh, is she new here?"  To which the employee embarrassedly replied, "No, she's just visiting for the gingerbread party."  I was mortified that I was twice mistaken for a resident in a homeless shelter and guilt-ridden that I thought myself so far above that situation that I was mortified to be identified as a resident!  Needless to say, we never received another invitation to spread holiday cheer at the shelter and I learned that sometimes it's best to stick close to home when spreading holiday cheer!

Happy Thanksgiving

[Note:  oops, forgot to post this earlier! ]

Oh, boy.  I felt like the WORST mother EVER yesterday.  The Pilgrim Play was at 2 p.m.  and all was set to go.  I wasn't feeling well and thought, "I'll set the timer and take a quick nap before we go."  Bad idea.  I must have been really tired because I woke from my nap with a start, and would you believe it was exactly 2:00 on the dot?!!  I rushed to the school (got there at 2:15!) only to find out it was all over.  What an awful feeling.  Luckily the girls' teacher invited me to come in today for their performance to the kindergarteners.  Whew!  I was seriously awake last night feeling really, really guilty for having missed it.  Their teacher wrote the script--she's so great. Don't I just have the cutest pilgrim girls ever? 

p.s. Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.  We're off to Vermont.

Donkey vs. Elephant

Did you know that Tuesday was also election day at the Little Mr.'s "Boys School" (a group of five moms (and boys) that take turns teaching preschool)?  Kristen C. is the teacher for the next few weeks and had the boys mark their ballots and insert them into the ballot box.  Each candidate had either a donkey or an elephant next to his name.  Apparently the donkey was the favorite and won the election.  The Little Mr. told me "I choosed the donkey!  I voted for Rock O. Bama!"  Funny thing is one of the little guys chose the donkey, much to the chagrin (and may I add embarrassment!) of his father who worked on Mitt Romney's campaign!  

The Bench of all Benches

So, I was walking in the South End (as you can see in the reflection) and came upon this amazing bench in an office window.  I just love how the white paint highlights the curves of the bench and how the white and grey contrast each other.  I am not an animal print kind of gal, but those pillows really call to me.  Maybe it's the pairing of modern and traditional that make this such a striking combo. Luckily I had my camera with me!

Trunk-or-Treat

Here we have a very cheerful princess, a Unicorn and the little Knight in Shining Armor. Our ward's trunk-or-treat was absolutely the best. Soup and bread dinner provided by the ward, a photo booth, a few games and trunk-or-treating. Best part--all the festivities were done by 7:30 p.m., just in time for bed. Perfect. And if you think that I don't "stitch" anymore--here's proof that I do! Prince Charming was sewn by me--oh, how I love making costumes!

Head-Over-Heels

Have I ever mentioned how much I love Boston?  It's not just that I "like" Boston-- it's that I am absolutely, unabashedly head-over-heels in love with Boston.  We've lived here over eight years and it really was love at first sight.  Though I do admit that sometimes in February and March my love wanes.  Luckily, the blossoms of April bring me back full force into my love affair with this city.  Every time we drive into the South End for dance classes at the Boston Ballet, I tell my girls, "Do you know how lucky you are?  You live in the coolest city ever!"  They really don't believe me, but I just have to keep reminding them that my childhood in Kansas was great fun, but nothing nearly as awesome as their experiences and opportunities in Boston.  I mean, really, where else do you get to see Antebellum doorways like this while just walking down the street?  Maybe all the newness of the West developed my appreciation for the old.  Who knows.  All I know is that if I could give Boston a kiss on the cheek with the vibrant orange, red, yellow and brown leaves in the background, I totally would.

294 Steps and Beyond!

Our wonderful friends and their three boys visited from Pennsylvania for a whole week.  While the girls were in school, the Little Mr. and I tagged along on some Boston adventures.  This is a shot of the boys AFTER climbing up and down the 294 steps of the Bunker Hill Monument!  Can you see how much excess energy these little guys have?!!!!  I must say that the boys fared better than the moms going up and down all those stairs!