the last few months

This guy turned one and had no interest in his cupcake. He did however happily sample all of the gift wrap.  Oh Baby Grey.

I spent time with the always amazing Renee, gingerbread extraordinaire.  She's a genius, that carved her own templates for the brownstone details.

There was also Charlotte's 4th birthday (in October!).

And a photoshoot with Lucia and her iPad loving baby sister Senia.

Sewing has been happening too.  After the matching Christmas pajamas and Amelia's outfits, I did a 180 and made myself a shirt (Tova number 4,736).  I used Nani Iro double gauze Melody Sketch in Faded Navy and I love it so, so much.  Almost to much because now I want to buy a whole lot more.  I have more projects planned for myself and a few ideas for Amelia's May birthday.

And things that didn't make it to instagram but have been sitting on my phone....

An after Thanksgiving visit from my parents.  We arrived at the Brooklyn Flea early and were sent away.  So a quick detour to show them Barclays. (However Amy and Jamie are the only ones to have yet gone inside.  They spent a whirlwind 24 hours with us.  And the Nets.)

Followed by this amazing show at the Brooklyn Museum.

Our stocky tree, which I loved dearly.

And some Christmas morning madness with Rire and scrub clad Amelia.

Last but not least, the winter wonderland that is my parents driveway.  

2012

I made them matching pajamas. Luckily, they humor me. If I had more time I would have made some for everyone. But time, as they say, was not on my side.

Amelia, when not covering her brand new guitar with stickers, insisted on taking some Christmas morning photos. She has an eye no?

I made her scrubs, among other things which I never managed to photograph. It was a whirlwind holiday, not many photos taken. But there was tons of family, lots of food and snow. Also early bed times and sleeping late. Oh vacation...

And Vlad. Waiting, watching.  Barking. He means well.

I told her to freeze and she threw her arms up like a criminal.

Happy New Year!

up hill in the snow, both ways

Without shoes.

In my day we had to wait for a classmate's Chuckie Cheese birthday party to have this much fun.  Now you can set everything up in your own backyard!  Kids these days don't know how good they have it.

(Had this been just a bit bigger I totally would have shooed the kids out and had a turn myself!)

 

 

labor day weekend - sunday

Again with the pajamas and coffee outside.  And basketball.

(Rocketship pajamas purchased ages ago, they finally fit her!)

Carrot cake muffins, they're absolutely a breakfast food.

The middle of the day involved a 4 mile run (my first in a month, ouch) and a 4 mile bike ride.  There are no pictures.  So let's just skip ahead to dinner.  And the delicious rose.

Post nap fog.

And the Boilermaker, it's tradition.

labor day weekend - saturday

We both had Friday off, which made for one of the best drives we've had in ages.  We stopped in New Hartford so I could spend to my hearts desire at Joann Fabrics and he could shop for a new bike at Schuss and Dick Sonnes.  I scored at Joann's.  It takes time to paw through the bolts and bolts (and bolts...) of themed fabric, but patience pays off.  Decent stuff for $3/yard.  Now I must sew.

Saturday morning.  Coffee in pajamas, outside.  Because we can.

These two need to slow it down.  The growing up is out of hand.

He's as sweet and polite as can be.  She is fond of the word NO and her "brudder".

And then there was fishing.

Once properly caffeinated, we set off for Mt. Hope Reservoir.  This kid is mad about fishing and has no shortage of people to take him, but it was high time his aunt and uncle stepped up.  Eli even taught us a thing or two, showing R how to cast.

It's really quite pretty.

Saturday night (after R bought his bike and we killed some time at the never ever changing Sangertown Mall) we headed to my parents.  Where I channeled my inner Katniss and perfected my archery skills.  I'm not half bad, if only my parents had forced me to practice as a child...  I could have been an Olympian!

On the way back to Amy's we stopped at Walmart to sell small bits of our souls to the devil in exchange for things like deodorant and laundry soap at prices that do not make us weep.  I always feel guilty shopping there, but is Duane Reade really any better?

2016 olympics

Surely they are future Olympians.  You can't argue with this kind of form.

The incredible height at take off.

The landing, clearly a perfect 10.

Waiting anxiously for their scores from the judges...

Celebrating the gold!

Yes.  Yes, we have been enjoying the Olympics.  The real events have started.  Track and field!  Sorry swimming and gymnastics.  I like you, but I do not love you.  So we no longer sleep.  We just watch hours upon hours of recorded footage.  If only we cold mute NBC's ridiculous commentary...

running zen

Much like when I forget my Garmin, if a run is not recorded or discussed, did it even happen?  A good friend of mine is out of town, which leaves me with no one to rehash my runs with.  Mentioning it here will have to do.

Sunday's run is notable not for my speed (I was slow) or the distance (7 miles - which is currently qualifying as a long run) but because I achieved the elusive zen state were it feels effortless.  This hasn't happened since the Brooklyn Half.  My runs have all been perfectly fine.  I've gone out, run the miles and it's all been very satisfying.  But the good run, when miles are melting away and you look around with awe because you don't even remember getting to that point - that is what Sunday's run was like.

I ran the outer perimeter of Prospect, along the sidewalk.  For all of the hundreds and hundreds of miles I've logged in that park, I have no idea why this didn't occur to my earlier.  It was downright peaceful.  No crowds or distractions.  Just enough people passing by to keep things interesting without anyone actually being in the way.  I need to remind myself to keep trying new routes, it can make a world of difference.

(The humidity finally easing up may also have played a small roll in this...)

cocktail hour

Feeding her limes for the entertainment value.

That never gets old.  Mojitos for the rest of us.

the weekend

I thought I would zip through the photos from our weekend in CNY.  But someone, I'm not naming names, may have pushed a button or two on my camera. Which reset the white balance to "awful" and will require a bit more time in post than I had originally planned. Lesson learned, don't trust a two year old with a tiger.  Even if you think you're being extra cautious by turning your camera off and watching her like a hawk.  Without fail, she'll use her charms to distract you.