September Catch Up

Hello, hello, little blog!  I'm so sorry for neglecting you.  Our last month has been so jam-packed, its hard to know where to start.  How about at the beginning?  

We took a trip to visit Andy and Alicia.  It was a wonderful trip.   So wonder full, in fact, it was more like three trips in one.  The first part was our drive to New Jersey, to Andy and Alicia's house.  On our twelve hour drive I learned where the Poconos are, that Pennsylvania is beautiful in August and Ohio has the BEST rest stops.

Then we got to spend three with Andy and Alicia.  It had been a year since we have seen them and was special to get to be with them before their wedding next year.  The kids loved the time with them!

We spent two days in New York City!  We spent a lovely afternoon in Central Park and didn't even see half of it!  We toured Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, and spent some time at the 9/11 memorial.  Then we heading home, just in time for Audrey to start her first day of preschool!

More of the catch up to come....

Migration

We spent the last week in California, visiting my parents.  It was a great trip and, having left our crazy weather for the West Coast's crazy weather, somewhat surreal.  It was foggy but warm (!!!!) the day we went to Natural Bridges State Beach.  It is a winter home to Monarch butterflies and although most headed north two weeks ago, we were still able to see an amazing amount.  (I took it as a sign that this winter will not last forever, if delicate butterflies are heading north. Warm weather will come.)

Far away they looked like dry leaves, but then when the sun would come out they would warm up and flap their wings.

Down at the beach....

In the tide pools....

From the air.... (a great blue heron, did you see in in the second tide pool picture too?)

Would you mind terribly if I shared more pictures of our trip later this week?  I promise to try to keep them to a minimum.  Man, it was good to get away!

Tiding Of Comfort And Joy

This was the first year we've been in our own home for Christmas.  It was an incredibly peaceful and joyful time made even more special because we were joined by Craig's mom (who moved to our town last week!) and his brother and family.  

The last week has been filled with cookie baking with grandma, ZooLights and hippos, Santa Train with neighbors, Skyping with grandparents and uncles, Christmas eve at Grandpa's, Elves visiting with pajamas, candlelight service.  A long, slow and joyful Christmas day.  Best of all, new memories with cousins. 

 

Mile By Mile - Life In The Bike Lane

Last Sunday we went for a family bike ride.  One of the major street in our town was closed to vehicles and open to bikes!  It was a beautiful day and fun to see so many families riding bikes.

 We're still riding our bikes as much as ever, even if I haven't written about it lately.  It has become routine and normal for me and the kids.  Audrey knows how to buckle herself in and can put on her helmet.  No sure about her look up there, but did you notice the goggles? Oh, yeah!

We still love our Burley trailer and hope to keep riding through most of the fall.  I'm not sure what we'll do next spring though, as the trailer is getting pretty heavy to pull and the kids are running out of room.  Maybe one of these?  (I just showed them to Craig.  He said "No way," {for very practical reasons, where would keep one, how would we afford one?} but still it's fun to dream!)

I have a few more biking posts I'm working on. I hope to have them up soon!

More From The West Coast

While we were in California, we went to my cousin's wedding in Napa. 

Audrey and Colton with Grandma and Grandpa

With my parents, my brothers and their girlfriends

On my parents' front porch.

Good bye San Francisco Bay. Back to Chicago.