Japan

Hi! We made it to Japan! Did I mention we were going? I forget. I meant to make a few schedule posts for while we are gone but I got too busy packing/working/etc. I will try to update a little since we have wifi at the hotel. 

surprise visit

Some weeks I'm on top of blogging and last week week I could not get my act together. I scheduled a bunch of my posts from the week before because Elinor and I went on a secret trip to visit my family. It worked out that my whole family was going to be in Ohio at the same time. I couldn't miss out! So Elinor and I drove to Ohio. 

She was a trooper. We travel a lot but it is always with Dave so I can jump in the back seat and help her. We ended up having to stop every hour or so because "my bum hurts!!!" but besides that she was awesome. We got in town a day early and stayed with my friend. Elinor had a blast with her kids. We always talked about being neighbors and our kids being BFFs. I wish we could!

It's so sad that my nieces are close in age to Elinor but we all live so far away. She had so much fun playing with all of them. Last time we were in town, she wasn't full on playing with kids. My family just needs to move closer to us!

My sister rented an airbnb house for the weekend. It was beautiful and in a great location. We stayed 2 nights with her and my parents there. On Sunday Dave flew in to meet us for the drive home. Elinor and I picked him up and went back to my friends house for dinner. She made us an insane meal and treats for our ride home (thanks Allison!). Check back in on Friday for the details of the dinner. 

We are talking about doing this again maybe in Nashville. I haven't been there in years. Airbnb has some amazing houses all over so it won't be hard to find a big house to rent for all of us. 

traveling with a two year old

or not...

We haven't been able to travel together as much lately. Dave has gone on a few little trips here and there for work or shows, but with Elinor now costing money to fly and taking dance/gymnastics classes, it isn't as easy. We do have a couple of trips planned for this year though and I'm excited!  It just isn't going to be as easy with a little lady that knows what she wants and will let you know if she isn't happy, "I don't like it!" "I don't want it!" "PUT ME DOWN!!" *throws herself down*. and forget a long car ride. Oh 2 year olds. At least we got to go to some pretty cool places the last 2 years (Japan, California a few times, Tennessee twice, Chicago, Cincinnati way too many times, and of course the million times we made the Boston/Philadelphia drive before we moved).

Even though it's just me and Elinor during the day, on the days that Dave has been away it has been special. We work on a special project for him when he gets home, we watch a movie and eat popcorn, we paint nails, basically we have a girly slumber party. It isn't so bad staying home after all.


Do you have any trips planned for this year? I'm getting to get somewhere I've always wanted to go this year! and maybe a special birthday trip to Disney for a big girls birthday.



Don't forget to enter to win a crochet LOVE banner. It would be perfect for your Valentine's Day!

home

We had so much fun last week. I was able to see my whole family, thanks to a surprise visit from my parents. The night before we left I started feeling a little sick. That morning I was so sick. I ached and could barely talk because my throat hurt so bad. I laid in the back with Elinor on the drive home. It would have been nice but she yelled "mama! get up! wake up, mama!" the whole time.

Dave had things to do yesterday so he took Elinor with him and to visit Mum. They also went to a show and to the grocery store for sick supplies for me. I slept until 2! 2pm! I can not remember the last time I got to sleep in that long. I am still exhausted but feeling a lot better. 

at a rest stop on our way home

I hope I feel 100% this week so we can start decorating our house. I just have to figure out the right spot for everything. We may have to move some records around to fit a tree in our living room. We had so much room in the loft last year. I'm glad we took advantage of all the room and got a huge tree. We may have to settle for a table top tree this year like we had in Salem.

I have so many pictures to go through from our trip. Expect a ton from our night at Great Wolf Lodge and Thanksgiving. And you guys, Elinor is going to be 2 in a week and I still haven't planned a party. Poor baby with a birthday between holidays.

traveling

I meant to schedule posts for while we were out of town but with a snowstorm that came into Boston on Saturday, we switched our flight for a day early to miss it. We woke up at 9am and by 11am decided to make the switch. We packed and cleaned the house before having to be at the airport by 3pm. We made it but ended up not being able to get some things done and also forgot some things we needed for our trip. Totally worth it since our flight was cancelled the next morning.
We flew to Chicago to spend time with my sister for a day then drove to Ohio to spend some time with my parents and brothers. We are in Ohio now and leave tomorrow for Chicago for a couple more days with my sister. It sounds pretty crazy but it was actually cheaper to do it this way and we get to see everyone. Like always I wish we had more time to see more friends. It is always such a hard balance of family and friend time when we visit. This will probably be the last time we come to my parents home before they move to Tennessee. I'm excited to spend time at their new home but I will miss 4 out of 6 members of my family living near each other.

It was starting to snow on our way into the airport.

Meet Elinor Weekend

Last weekend we headed to Ohio to visit some of my family and friends. My parents were the only ones that have met Elinor yet so I couldn't wait for everyone to see her. Friday we got in and hung out at my parents all day. Saturday we planned a get together with anyone that was able to come over. So many amazing family, friends and even internet friends came! Are you ready for tons of pictures??

 my niece Quinn and brother Sean

 brother Terrance, nephew Conor, brother Sean and my Dad

niece Katherine. Oldest and youngest cousin

 brothers, nephew, nieces and me

 Quinn telling me something very important

 wearing Sean's SWAT vest

 Elinor, Quinn and Matilda. The 3 youngest cousins

niece Matilda

 fruit bowl

 amazing vegan smore's cupcakes that Ashleigh made

 Ashleigh and Elinor

 My brothers Terrance and Sean. Missing our sister Courtney!

 cousins in the pool

 Dave making bubbles for the babies

 bestest friend Allison that I haven't seen in years!

 Katherine put Elinor to sleep

 Allison, Jayna, Ashleigh and me (Jayna, bring your babies next time!)

 Ashleigh loves her

 My Mom who by the way went out of her way to get and make so many (too many) vegan meals and treats for us! We had to eat all day Monday to try and finish all the food she made us. Thank you Mom! It was all so good!

 Jessica and Ben's kids. They are all so sweet and adorable!

Elinor is almost as big and Blackburn!

 yay Grandma!

 Jon holding Elinor and Myra

Paighton (Allison's baby) and Elinor

and some iphone pictures

 My Mom, Dave and Elinor

 The dog wanted nothing to do with her

 Grandma kisses

My Mom had a treat in her hand. That's the only reason the dog was so close

 playing piano with Terrance

 feeding the dog

 sleeping on Grandpa

Allison, Paighton and Elinor

Thank you for everyone for coming! I feel so bad I didn't get pictures of Annie and her family. But we ended up hanging out with them Sunday too!