Seasons Greetings

I LOVE sending holiday cards! I always write mine during the Macy's parade Thanksgiving morning.  For eight (maybe more?) years I wrote my mom's cards.  This year I'm extra excited because Shutterfly is offering 50 free holiday cards for bloggers!!!


I've used Shutterfly for a few years. It's like Christmas morning when the package lands on my doorstep.  Their products are of great quality, and the few issues I've had have been handled quickly.  


Using their tools I've created many cool projects.  Not only have I created Christmas cards but last year I documented our summer trips in a leather cover book.  Photo calendars are also a great, personal holiday gift.  I did one a few years ago for my college roommates, and this year I'm creating a few as extra special gifts for some family.  After the New Year my plan is get our house decorated, I haven't selected much yet- but one thing I know I want is to transform this picture into a large canvas for my dinning room. 

Flying Fishbone- Aruba 2009

I haven't yet selected this year's card- there are too many choices!

My top three (so far):

Washington DC Holiday Card 

Swirling Ornaments 

Joy and Magic 

And how cute would this one be for a young family?!

Top Ten Moments 

Want to get your cards?  Go check it out- 

Bloggers get 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly… sign up: http://bit.ly/sfly2010 

Tastes of Home

When my parents came to visit not only did they bring Cody, they also made an extra special delivery.

They brought my favorite (and the best of all time pizza)- George's. 

Yes, I know it's funny they had to drive 8 hours with a pizza for me.  But you have to understand, George's is special- pizza, grinders, pasta, salads, it is all tasty.  When my sister, friends and I return home George's is a requirement (a few Christmases ago I logged 3 George's meals).   It's not a fancy place, and they don't deliver but it's part of growing up in our little part of New England. 

Try as I might (and I've made a huge effort) I just can't find a good pizza (local- no chains, not thin crust, 5 minute drive max) in my part of the DC area.  In fact when John is looking to cheer me up or asking what I want for dinner, he now prefaces his question with "besides George's". 

I savored each bit!  Thanks Mom and Dad!

Anyone else have a hometown fave they crave?

Let's Go Uconn!

Tonight the Uconn women did something that has never done before in women's basketball- back to back undefeated seasons (and only once on the men's side).   Not that they don't have (lots of) experience with winning championships or being undefeated. 
Looking back at those who started it all:

photo

photo

Oh, yes I still have (and wear) t-shirts from that first (awesome) undefeated season. That's in addition to the copies of the newspaper articles, and signed sports illustrated covers. 

Uconn women's basketball and legalized gay marriage the only two reasons I'm proud to be a nutmegger (that's what a person from CT is called). 

Bloom

       

We still have plenty of snow in DC, but it is starting to feel like spring in my house.  I snatched a Smith and Hawkin Amaryllis kit for $2.00 at a Target after-Christmas sale.  The kit included a bulb, dehydrated dirt, and a cream planter.  I figured even if it didn't grow I was getting a simple, pretty, mid-size pot for a good deal.  I just realized the pot isn't shown in these photos, oops.

But...it grew- tall.  It was fun to watch, it seemed like all of a sudden it shot up out of nowhere.  Over the weekend the 4 (!) flowers bloomed.  They are so pretty, I love having them in the house.  I can almost trick myself into believing spring is around the corner. 

Last night some of the leaves fell over from their own weight.  They are still attached but are drooping over the edge of the pot.  Is there something I can do help them?

Anyone know if this flower will bloom again?

Snow Day!

Today was snow day!  It's true, teacher's love snow days as much as kids.  

Oh, and puppies love them too.

Fall Comfort

Last night I was on my own for dinner, and I was a little frustrated about some school things. So I wanted a simple (no cookn' or cleanen') and comforting dinner. I came up with this fall inspired, simple comfort meal.

French bread, Brie cheese, apples and roast turkey. It hit the spot! (Chester enjoyed sharing it with me too)

This evening we are experiencing our 1st "real cold" (barely below freezing) night. So of course, we lit our inaugural fire of the winter season. I am loving laying next to the warm crackling fire wrapped up in a blanket on the couch, cuddling with John and watching TV/blogging.

What fall comforts are you enjoying?

So Long Summer

Well, summer is officially over. But luckily, I have it all documented in my free Shutterfly Photo Book. Take a look!

Click here to view this photo book larger

In the past week there have been three big signals that the season is changing.

First,I went back to work. I know I’m very lucky to have 2 months off in the summer (although I, like most decent teachers, take part in professional development over the summer- without compensation of course), but the transition back is always rough. Not only is there a great deal of stress and long hours (12 hr+ four days this week), but I have to see this each morning as a I pull out of the driveway.

Secondly, we have enjoyed great fall weather this week. It has been in the 70’s-80’s all week and 60’s at night. I love having the AC off, and being able to hear the crickets at night.

Lastly, we celebrated Buffett Day over the weekend. As always, it was a fun day- how could it not be?! Even my mom flew 500 miles to join the party (oh and work in my classroom). And a good party it was!

The first day with kids is tomorrow- holding my breath and crossing my fingers.

Chicagoland

We had a terrific time in Chicago! It was a perfect mix of chilling and hanging out with my sister and my niece puppy Darbi, and activity (lots of walking) to explore new things. I took about 200 photos. So, in hopes of keeping the 2 followers and handful of some what faithful reader that I have, rather than posting detailed information about our adventures and an overwhelming number of photos, I’m going to show photo highlights with brief captions. You’re welcome. :)

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore- Mt. Baldy

It was lovely, and we had great weather!

Darbi enjoying the beach.

We attended the Cubs vs. Cardinals game, Cubbies won.

John loved Wrigley!

Sarah and I after the game.

We took a historical and architectural boat tour. Again, we enjoyed lovely weather and had a great time! It was really fun, and interesting.

The Chicago Skyline as seen from the lake

The ferris wheel at Navy Pier.

The super cool “Cloud Gate” sculpture, otherwise known as the Bean of Chicago, in Millennium Park.

Standing in front of Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park. I was kind of bummed that we missed the evening light show. Still it was really nice sitting next to the fountain, with boats docked in the lake on the other side.

The Field Museum

John, with Sue, one of the 2 most complete T-Rex skeletons in existence.

They had a special exhibit about pirates, based on the recovered pirate ship, Whydah. It was a really cool exhibit; they did a nice job weaving the sailors stories and included great artifacts.

Addendum and Travel News

John so enjoyed driving the boat on during our little sailing adventure, he has now decided he wants to own a boat. I'd just like to get the house thing settled.

In other news, we are taking off for the Windy City in the morning! Be back in a week! :)

photo

4th of July

To celebrate July 4^th, we took an extended long weekend to the Roanoke area of southwestern Virginia to visit John's family. While there we spent a day on the warm waters of Smith Mountain Lake. We rented a little motorboat; it was Chester's first boating experience. He loved it! After all it is a combination of his two favorite activities- swimming and riding in the car with windows down and sunroof open! Even with sunburn, it was a wonderful day!

Flowery Friday

I walked into my office Friday morning and saw this sitting on my desk~

It was left for me by a thoughtful teacher friend! What a nice bright, springy touch to a rainy Friday!

Sorry for the photo quality- camera phone 

A Sunny Weekend

Finally!!! We had a lovely, sunny, warm weekend (well, really 1 day) in DC.  And we took full advantage of it! Due to all our spring activity I had to use the camera phone- sorry for the quality. 

Chester spent a ton of time roaming his domain (a.k.a the backyard) and playing with the neighbor dogs.  Then cooled off with his Chill Bone. 

John and I went for a bike ride along the Potomac.  We rode from the marina on the GW Parkway to Gravely Point.  Where we stopped to relax on the grass next to the water for a (long) while.  And with the fabulous weather, we weren't the only people there.  We watched a cute puppy, Mason, chase his ball with a distant view of some monumental buildings.  Planes soared in right above us to land at the airport.  It was equally cool and freaky.  I found a four-leaf clover, which of course I'm pressing in preparation for a yet-to-be-thought -of craft.  We had a very relaxing afternoon, followed by a fire-pit night including peep s'mores. 

Today we hit up the outlets and Costco, we found a few good buys-I can only find an online picture of one.

photo

A seersucker suit for John to wear (as separates) for some upcoming tropical weddings.

This morning we woke up to a rainy, gray, cool day- perfect yucky Monday weather huh?

Yummy, Strawberry Flavored Goodness

While it is still cooler than average here, with a fair amount of rain there have been a few sunny, nice days that tell me spring is on the way.  Well that and the great berries in the grocery store.  That lead to strawberry scones….

Long Overdue

***I know the format of this post is crappy, but I'm sick of fighting with blogger.

Since I've been a bad blogger (as some people have nicely pointed out), this pictures of Sarah and Darbi's visit are way late.  Thankfully, this isn't a library so there is no fine.  Here is their visit in photos, with a few necessary captions.

First off, there was lots of puppy cuteness- they also enjoyed a trip to the puppy park, and the requisite bath afterwards.

I found a fun, floppy beach hat on our shopping trip. (sorry camera phone)

Tootsie had a great time  with the scanning gun while grocery shopping.  She was very funny.

We had the inaugural lighting of the firepit- with s’mores of course!

Sarah played the Wii.  Perhaps with a bit too much enthusiasm, since John got smacked with the tennis racket.  

We attended a firefighter dinner, then had a way better time afterwards at the bar.  I also learned how to drive stick shift that night (the two events are connected....think about it).

Finally, being the crafty girls we are, we turned Crate and Barrel napkins/dishtowel (with a bit of aid from scrap fabric, ribbon and handles) into reversible purses.