Beantown, Baby!

Last weekend, we took a road trip to Beantown, a/k/a Boston to visit Uncle Mike, Uncle Jeff, Macy & Rocco. As soon as I told Arabella that we were going, all she could talk about was going to see everyone. She would wake up in the morning and say "Go to Uncle Mike's house, Mom?" or when she got up from her nap "Go see Macy, Go see Rocco, Please Mom". It was too adorable...but by about 2 1/2 days in, it was hard to see the disappointment on her face and to try and explain that she had to wait 3 more days, was hard. So I was thrilled when we left a day early due to the rain and snow that was on its way to Boston. And Arabella couldn't have been happier! As usual, she was a trooper on the ride down, despite the 1 hour we sat in traffic to just get off the island of Montreal and then weather slowed us down towards the end - it has started to rain and then snow. But we made it and she was so excited when she got to see Uncle Mike, Uncle Jeff and the dogs!

One of the reasons that we went to Boston was so I could pick up my new camera, so please bear with me as I learn all of the new features. It is a SLR which means it is much more advanced than my last point and shoot so some of my pics might not be coming out that great at first...but hold tight, I promise they will get better. So most, if not all, of the pics on the blog going forward will be from the new camera.

Arabella was spoiled by Grammie who sent a box from Florida for Easter and Grampy also sent her a box from Connecticut. She is one lucky girl!




Our first day in Boston, was raining, snowy and raw...your typical New England Spring weather. Arabella played with Macy and Rocco. We also did some errands while Jay and Uncle Jeff worked but that night we took a drive to the Lobster Pound for some fresh seafood. It was so yummy!






On Saturday, we decided to enjoy the nice weather and take a drive into Boston. We headed to the New England Aquarium - it was super busy, but we enjoyed it. Arabella liked the penguins and had a fun time picking out lobsters, turtles, fish, seahorse and other sea creatures that she knew the names of out in the tanks. One of the great things about this aquarium is the giant cylindrical tank in the center that you walk around. It is so amazing to see the creatures at the bottom and then as you go walk higher up you can see how the life in the tank changes. And once you get to the top, it is so neat to look down into the water. We were lucky to see divers in the tank feeding some of the fish, we saw sharks and giant turtles being fed as well. I just love watching all of the life in the tank - it is so calming and beautiful to watch.









After the aquarium, we walked around Boston and headed to Quincy Market to get some lunch. It was so nice and we all enjoyed the different options to pick from, we each got exactly what we wanted. When lunch was done, we watched a few street performers before heading back to the house.





On Sunday, we took advantage of another sunny day and headed to Castle Island Park. Macy and Rocco even joined us. We watched planes land at Logan airport, a barge come in, took a walk and played on the playground. Arabella had fun at the beach too and we had to almost drag her away from it! It was a great way to get some fresh air and enjoy the early spring weather. We even noticed that the redbud trees were getting ready to start to bloom.










Arabella even had some fun in the kitchen with Uncle Mike. They made a very yummy chocolate cake and had a great time decorating it!





We had a great time and didn't want to leave! Arabella had so much fun with her Uncles that she asked on the ride home for us to turn the car around and go back! I guess that just means that we will have to make a trip back to Boston sooner rather than later. Thanks Uncle Mike and Uncle Jeff - we love you and miss you already!

Welcome Back Spring

Today the weather is beautiful! But I am stuck inside catching up on some school work. I do however have my office window open so I can get some fresh air and hear the birds chirping. It is such a welcome change! Before we left Boston last week, my brother gave me a few magazines to read in the car that my grandmother had sent to him. It is called Birds & Blooms, much different than the fashion, parenting, health and dare I say, gossip magazines that I read. It was nice to read something different and it gave me some great ideas for things to do in the yard and to plant with Arabella when the weather warms up more. One thing that stuck me was a poem that was written by Barbara Stanley of Blairsville, Georgia and was published on the back cover of the February/March 2011 issue. It is a beautiful poem and so inspirational for this time of year. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Awakening

Crocus ladies awake to sing,

"Get up, get up, it's time for spring."

The daffodils have just begun to feel the early warmth of sun.

The robin arrives to hunt the worm,

Scratching around on yonder berm,

While redbirds fly and look for twigs,

A nest to build in the tree of figs.

"Awake, awake," the early blooms sing to all the sleeping signs of spring.

"Get out of bed now and grow anew; let colors burst and leaves renew."

Getting Some Fresh Air

Today was perfect early Spring weather so Arabella and I decided to take full advantage and take a walk after lunch. She had fun riding in her wagon with Teddy.

At one point, she asked me to stop so she could check out all of the sticks that were in a front yard. She was so adorable - she would pick one up and say "Nope, too long", "This one's too short" and so on. She never did find the one she was looking for and hopped back in her wagon!



When we got home, we decided to explore the yard a little bit since most of the snow has melted...YIPPEE! I just wish the sun would get to the snow in the back yard and then I would be really happy!






Mommy had so much fun with you this afternoon Arabella, I can't wait to do it again!

Inexpensive Art Work

When I re-did Arabella's playroom, I was looking for something fun and inexpensive to put on the blank wall. And I found the perfect "art" one day while at a craft store. They had large sheets of wrapping paper that you were able to buy by the sheet. I picked out 3 that matched as far as colors and themes and then picked up frames at Ikea that matched the furniture in the playroom. I then cut the paper to size, popped it into the frame and Viola - wall art! And since it came out so well, I actually did something similar for my office which I am in the process of re-doing. The theme is black, white and pink with a little bit of Paris thrown in and I was lucky enough to find the same paper with a map of Paris and then a full size Eiffel Town on it.

So I picked up more frames at Ikea and this is how it came out...I LOVE IT!

Thursday's Thoughts

Hearing: Sounds of spring...birds chirping and water from the melting snow rushing into the drains. Tasting: Jalapeno hummus and veggie chips...my mouth is on fire, but I love it! Seeing: Grass, even if it is yellow and wet, now that the snow is melting and one lonely crocus coming up in our yard. Smelling: Spring and the fresh air. Feeling: Happy for a few reasons - Arabella and I took a great walk in the warm sunshine, I talked with my Jersey Girl - Christa for the first time since she moved back, and because we had a fun filled weekend last week with Uncle Mike, Uncle Jeff, Macy and Rocco!