Private Nook

We high tailed out early Friday afternoon for the shore last weekend with the Grandparents in their new motor home. It was fun but a touch chilly and beautifully foggy. We enjoyed a camp ground decorated by mini-golf and a giant jumping bubble! Hagan was over the moon with all of it and is still sleeping off the excitement. The Grandparents left us Sunday headed to western Mass to enjoy uncle Kris and aunt Tiff.

We are now saying goodbye to Shiny Dancer, the landcruiser as she threw her second engine and I simply cannot afford ANOTHER! So, we are back to one car. Gratefully, the one car is new, efficient and will cost us FAR less than that poor, sexy landcruiser….

Now for pix:

i always find summer to be the most busy time of year and indeed it is only spring and I find myself bustling about. We went for an evening of neighborhood music where Hagan was the natural hit of the party then we prepped the house for a grandparent visit. We celebrated SXs bday with cake and neighbors. We are headed to the shore today for more grandparent fun coupled with Mother’s Day celebration. Busy, busy!

Lindsey visited last weekend and we all went up to visit Kris and Tiff in western MA. for fun times on a trampoline! Sean and Lindso went into NY together while Hagan experienced his first daycare (and LOVED IT!). Then we went to see Lindso play music in western Mass followed by trampoline fun…had some technical issues with computers this week and thus the late post…that coupled with a SUPER BUSY conference at work… I am finally relaxing and baking with the in-laws prepping sweets and goodies for Birthday fun.

Well, we had a lovely philly trip this weekend. We did some thrifting, playing at Smith playground (85F! Weather!!) and finally dinner and sleepover with my craft girls. We followed with a gardening gone wild Sunday first at Nicole’s house and then at Christa and Tims compound where there were one zillion old and young playing, gardening and eating. I will be going to sleep early all week to catch up. Not a lot of pix, but a lot of fun.

I honestly don’t know what happened to last weekend. I’m pretty sure we did stuff because the dishes were clean and the laundry was done and Hagan seemed happily pooped but I can’t remember the details. I’ve been busy at work and planning two big weekends. This coming weekend, we are catching up with Philly friends and the following weekend will be up in western Mass. Hanging with friends and family. So, onto being busy for a bit! Here we go!!

We had a lovely Easter weekend. There was a local community egg hunt for kiddies followed by fire truck exploration and free hot dogs. The following day after we played Easter bunny, we went on on a hike where Hagan fell into the swamp. He was fine. I was less so. Nearby our hiking spot we discovered a raptor rescue place that was like a free/donation based zoo of amazing raptor birds. Ravens, eagles, owls, falcons. It was unreal. I hope to return again soon.

We had a big full week of crazy work schedule, Datty playing Mr. Mom and a visit to Philly for a day at the Franklin institute to play in capillary tubes, giant hearts and look at animals inside out. This week work is a touch more easy going and the spring temps are adding up together to make a delightful mood. Yesterday I came home from work and ran around the forest/yard with Hagan while the Datty cooked up some delicious dinner. Obviously we are excited for the warmth and sun.

Leaving the boys to themselves, I flew out to Boston for a work conference. It was my first time away from Hagan and we both did really well… Tho, I was really grateful to get back to him! The conference was really fun and rewarding. I felt like I knew everyone and got to talk some great science which made me appreciate how far I’ve come. After finishing up, I flew straight down to Indianapolis to meet up with my boys and cuddle up with the Brauneller family to say goodbye to the spiciest matriarch I’ve ever known. It was lovely weather and we enjoyed the St Pattys parade and green canal. We came home to another round of winter wonderland glory… While my sun kissed nose started pealing from Indy sun.

We had a fun week with Hayley baking banana bread during the snow storm. Hagan didn’t care much for the snow until later in the weekend during our visit to the Poconos. I snuck out early Friday morning to peak at the 14 acres of astonishing beauty. I encountered an owl, a vulture, a thousand birds (cardinals and chickadees) and I’m fairly certain a coyote. On Friday eve I hurried home to pick up babe and stuff so we could arrive in time to watch the latest treehouse episode with the crew who are currently staying in the PA mountains working on a lovely treehouse near a stream. While the workers slaved, hagan and I hot tubbed and played in thick snow (hagan skated on the surface while I struggled through hip-deep). Sunday afternoon we headed home with Datty in arms.

Last weekend we went to a sugar maple festival which was beautiful and tasty. Since then, the universe has decided to blow a whole winters worth of snow at us. I can tell Spring is coming with the arrival of slightly warmer temps, birds and tree buds. But, honestly, we have not seen grass in far too long. SX just took off for a job in PA mountains.. Talk about snow! And we will rendezvous with him this weekend. After which, I will jettison to Boston for a conference and then meet up with everyone in Indy to attend a memorial service for the matriarch of the SX Brauneller family. AND THEN! SX will go to Idaho for ANOTHER jobby. Crazy times ahead.