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.
After partying down with the Datty, we all caught the winter yuck and spent most of the week in a foggy haze of mucus. We are all better and snappy for the weekend! This weeks pictures include a trip out to liberty science museum, hagan’s first movie (Spongebob!), funning around the house, snow and more snow, Chinese New Year celebration at work, and the completion of my artsy home project: a purse for Camille. I made the whole thing up from pattern to product and I’m beyond excited with the outcome. It has flaws but it also feels decadent, regardless. I learned so much and am excited for the next imagining.
The Fam is back together again for a couple weeks until the next treehouse in PA. Just in time to spend Valentines together enjoying chocolate, snow and sun. We got a membership to the Liberty Science Museum and although I haven’t gone yet, it’s clear that Hagan loves it. Other than that, we are playing house and enjoying time together.
We finished up a fun week with Hayley and started the weekend with a long sleepin (so rare, has that ever happened before!?) We slept in until 8:30! After that luxurious snooze, we got up and cleaned house for the Philly girls that came to play for a day. We hung out in the back yard and they slid Hagan all over the place in our wee sled. We investigated the pond (frozen solid) and found some flicker feathers. It was such a big day that after a hot bath, Hagan just passed right out for an early night. I was able to get started on my crafting..pictures to come.
The next day we went to meet up with some work peeps for phillipino food in Jersey City. We had a great time while Hagan flirted with the ladies….and ended up crawling all over the floor under his table fort.
We are looking forward to the Datty this Friday…until then, Hayley is playing with Hagan while the momma is working…and sheets of ice cover everything in sight.
We are surviving the ice and snow. I have finally invested in a ton of salt to ensure safe travels down the driveway. It is a truly impressive amount of ice. Other things on the property include a beautiful red fox and my growing suspicion that our great horned owl actually lives in the bamboo forest next to the garage. I am fairly certain that he swooped me in a warning as I went in late at night to take out the recycling and salt the drive. Not much else to tell other than Hagan prefers the inside to outside (as do we all, I think- anything below 20C is just downright unbearable no matter what you’re wearing). He has been playing with playdoh, magnetic set, soft-bowling toys and measuring set with pantry items such as dry rice/beans/maccaroni. We are all excited to get outside again…whenever that is, who knows.
