Cutting down our christmas tree...

...makes me happy. VERY happy!!

There is nothing like cutting down your own tree and having your house smell of fresh pine. We used to have an artificial tree, but a few years ago we started cutting down our tree the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It gets a little tricky with kids...especially in Colorado when you have to wander the National Forest a while to find your PERFECT tree, but we've found a great place here that works great for our family.

Jones Family Farm.

I have vivid memories of cutting down our tree in the mountains of Colorado growing up, and I remember one particular year Dad leading us into the forest with snow thigh deep and I believe our little Jeep got stuck more than once. Very Griswold-esque. Ever had one of those experiences??!!!

The nice thing about Jones is that you don't have to wander very far to find a tree, since it is a tree farm, and for a pregnant lady with two young kids?? Heaven!

Mom and Emma flew in yesterday from Phoenix for their NYC Gran/Grandaughter week, so we had two more helping hands. I'm sorry, but Christmas in Phoenix just doesn't sound appealing! Luckily my sister and her family will be in Colorado for Christmas.

The property had candy canes scattered all around, and Tyson just had to have his picture at every one. "Nother picture, Gran?" Just look at this cousin love Emma is giving him!


I just love Mom's face in this one. Pure delight. Tyson was a big boy this year and helped Daddy cut it down. Meanwhile, Ava stood back with me and took pictures with her camera. Like Mother like daughter!






The farm binds your tree for you, then we all enjoyed lunch in the van while Wade mounted our White Pine beauty to the roof.



Then off to the barn for some play time...








...and a letter to Santa. Ava's letter said, "Santa, Barbie please. Ava."


Yummy homemade oatmeal chocolate chip cookies at the Christmas canteen...


...and checking out the fresh garland and cones for sale.





We got the tree home no problem, and we picked out such a PERFECT tree that it needed NO trimming!! It was the perfect height, and I LOVE white pine. The needles are so soft it's like touching velvet! Mom and the kids made construction paper chains while we listened to Christmas music and decorated the whole house.

I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!

Boston

Two days was perfect. A quick weekend getaway that we ALL loved.

We decided to drive up on Saturday morning, rather than getting in late Friday night. It was a quick 3 hour drive, and we were in our hotel parking lot by 9:30am. Fantastic!

The first thing on our list was the Boston Duck Boat Tour, and the kids had been talking about it for days. Once we told them we were going on a boat ride, but the boat had wheels and drove on the road, they were hooked. "Duck boat, duck boat!" That's all I heard around the house for two days. And, "Mommy, how does a boat have wheels on it??"

It was a bit pricey, but it was worth it, and it got me off my feet for an hour and a half. Our fearless tour guide, Mario, was great, and he even let the kids drive the Duck in the water. Tyson was the first to raise his hand and volunteer, and he steered us through the Charles River like a real pro.

The most interesting fact I learned on the tour? Did you know that most of downtown Boston is actually built on top of landfill??? From Charles Street (which used to be the edge of the Charles River) down towards Newbury Street. It's all on landfill!!! He was quick to point out how flat that part of town is. Crazy. I think part of lower Manhattan is that way too.


After a fabulous lunch, we wandered down Newbury Street and enjoyed looking in all the shops and restaurants, and the kids even stopped to play instruments with a local street performer.

Tyson got very distracted at an art gallery checking out the "baseball pictures".


Then on to the Boston Public Garden, the country's oldest public garden and world's smallest suspension bridge. And yes, it was all built on top of landfill.


Ava could not wait to get to the duck statues from Make Way for Ducklings, and she along with all the other children in Boston are keeping the backs of Mrs. Mallard and Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack all nice and shiny.


After a quick Starbucks break, we wandered through one of my favorite neighborhoods (because it is nothing but eye candy), Beacon Hill. I love window boxes, and Beacon Hill didn't disappoint. Everyone had the most tasteful and beautifully filled window boxes. GORGEOUS!!!!


Cobblestone driveways, brick sidewalks and gas street lights. What more could you want in a neighborhood. No wonder you have to win the lottery to live in that neighborhood.


After a great night at our hotel, which included a free upgrade to a suite...HEAVEN, we started our morning over in Cambridge eating breakfast at Sound Bites. My friend Julie had taken my friend Angela and I there years ago, and the memory of their fresh fruit and amazing cooked breakfasts still lingered. So I talked Wade into going. He kept asking me all weekend..."Why do our days revolve around where we are eating?" And this is why. Check out this amazing spread of food.


We quickly walked off our breakfast around Harvard Square and the Harvard campus while the kids took a serious power nap, and then we ended our afternoon at Burdick Chocolates, a little chocolate store and cafe that our neighbor across the street used to manage. She told me explicitly what to order: Hot chocolate, skim milk, and milk chocolate, not dark. It did NOT disappoint. Although it was a bit hot for Tyson.



A stop at IKEA on the way home for $1 (yes, it was on sale) for meatballs, potatoes and lingonberries ended our weekend perfectly!!!

P.S. My good friend Angela (who I lived in Paris with), is coming to visit tomorrow for a girl's weekend. Today is her 40th birthday, and her husband is sending her to NYC for a few days. Keep tuned in for our adventures the next few days! She just got a cast off her foot, and with me starting to waddle, we should be quite the pair around town.

Our weekend away...

Look where we went this weekend! Boston is only 3 hours away. GREAT weekend getaway.


More of Boston later!

Brooklyn Bridge & DUMBO

After the Brooklyn Flea, we drove to DUMBO (Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass) to hop on the Brooklyn Bridge boardwalk. Did you know when it was first built, NY residents were hesitant to go across it for fear of safety, so in 1884, a herd of 21 elephants were taken across to demonstrate its strength?






This was on the Manhattan side looking down towards the South Street Seaport. One of my favorite things about New York City, or any large city for that matter, are all the "hidden" places that you never see from the street. Rooftop decks especially. How fun to have your own quiet oasis in such a loud and busy city!


Then back to DUMBO and an amazing playground right on the East River. It was such a great day, but probably a bit too much walking for my pregnant self. No wonder I spent all of Sunday afternoon with my feet up!

Brooklyn Flea Market

We have a list.

OK, I have a list. But I call it ours because that's what married people do, right?

Since we've lived here, the list has grown, but we keep marking things off. Who doesn't like marking things off a list??!!!

So Saturday we marked two things off this list: The Brooklyn Flea, and the Brooklyn Bridge.

What could make me happier than seeing my loves walking hand in hand to a flea market??!!






Like father like son....checking out the bikes!


One reason I love this flea market is all the AMAZING food that is available. We bought an amazing wood fired white pizza for $9. The food vendor brought in a portable wood fire stove and the dough and ingredients were all made fresh on site. Amazing pizza.


And these were my finds for the day! Vintage tupperware snack tubs? Yes please. Three white frames for my collection for $15? Score! And an adorable jar...


Brooklyn Bridge to come...

The Elephant Trunk Flea Market: Take Two

You may or not remember when I attempted to take (or drag) my family to the Elephant Trunk Flea Market, New England's "largest" flea market. Well, if not, you can read about my disastrous attempt here.

I knew I could never convince Wade to try again with me, despite employing all the feminine wiles I could muster. So I took the kids by myself since he was out of town.

We started our day eating at McKinney & Doyle, in the small town of Pawling, NY. Some friends had told us it was a MUST DO for brunch on the weekends, with the most amazing blueberry pancakes. Since it was close to flea market, we went! And it was worth it. The kids enjoyed the blueberry and chocolate chip pancakes, and I had the most amazing omelet with fresh baked bread. Ahhhhh, I'm hungry just thinking about it. Wanna make me happy? Just cook me a really big hot breakfast with all the fixings. Especially when I'm pregnant...I'll consider naming my kid after you!!





Then it was off to flea market in New Milford, CT. And yes, it was open this time. Note to self: only open on Sundays. It does cost $2 per adult to get in (kids free), but to wander in an open field with 200-300 vendors? Totally worth it.

I have to warn you that there is a mixed bag of vendors. Some good, some not so good. There were a few vendors selling bulk socks out of cardboard boxes, so not everyone was selling stuff that I was drawn too, but I still had a good time. AND the sun was shining and the trees were gorgeous.



Of course we left with a few treasures. It's hard not to walk away from a flea market without a Little Golden Book. Ava picked this one out, as I only let them have 1. $3.00 per book! So much for the $0.25 cent cover price. :)


I also found some great enamelware to go with my collection at home. These two small boxes with lids are perfect on my desk for holding (and concealing) all sorts of knick knack desk stuff.

The larger enamelware is going outside to hold the kid's sidewalk chalk. I kind of ran over our last enamelware bin holding the chalk. Oops. SOMEBODY left it out in the middle of the driveway. I won't name names, but the thing was DESTROYED. I think I was in a hurry that day.



Happy flea-ing!