Photos of the Day

Bean has been a little tough lately. She's definitely a very independent three year old who likes to test her boundaries in every way possible. She can be tiring and even maddening at times. And then there are times like this. When her sweet baby face and love of life's simple pleasures takes my breath away.

Photos of the Day

We had a great Easter weekend with family, full of laughs and too much candy. There were lots of great pictures from the weekend, but these are my all-time favorite Instagram pics of Bean and her two cousins reading. They all took turns "reading" the book out loud to each other before bedtime. It was a sweet, peaceful memory from the weekend. 

Photos of the Day - Buzz and Spidey

I love that my little girlie girl likes to be a princess but also likes to dress up like Buzz Lightyear and hang out with Spider Man.

Photo of the Day

To Infinity and Beyond!

Photos of the Day - Winter Beach Day

A few photos from a winter beach day that Bean and I had the other day. This year is so starkly different than last year, I'm in total shock that we can be out walking on the beach with no hats or gloves. I'll take it!!

PS. These pictures were taken with my new favorite iPhone photo app called Magic Hour, with the Toy Cam lens.  

No leash zone, applicable for dogs and toddlers

 Bean found herself a walking stick, for combing the beach for shells and other fun stuff to put in my pockets.

 My favorite part of Crane's beach, the beautiful boardwalks that cross the dunes to get you from the parking lot to the beach. They always take my breath away.

Photo of the Day - Sunset

A gorgeous sunset over Manhattan today, on a very warm January day.

Lock It In

Yesterday was one of those days where everything worked. Bean woke up on the later side so we got to sleep in a little. We were all in good moods and ready to go explore. My husband and I both got in a good workout, and then we took off in the car to downtown Boston. We went right to our old neighborhood, where we lived before Bean was born. They've built a brand new park across the street from our old condo, where there was once an old grungy park. Bean said it was her "favorite park ever." I guess we shouldn't have moved! We played in that park for an hour, and then took the path into one of our favorite areas, Davis Square. Burritos at Anna's Taqueria for for lunch, and then walking again to find the next park. After another hour of laughing together in a different playground, we packed up and drove over to Harvard Square. We wanted to show Bean her future school, no pressure or anything. Walked through the Square, and then topped the day off with chocolate cake and coffee from Finale. Yummmmm. It was one of those days that was so great, I want to lock in that feeling forever to save for a rainy day. All those playground laughs together, the fun of spending an entire day exploring as a family. You never know what life will bring day to day. It's a coin toss really. So we'll lock that one in, and remember it when the coin doesn't fall our way. 

The park across from our old condo. The city has totally redone it, and now it's one of the nicest playgrounds in the city. I'm happy for the people who live on that street!!

 Albion Park

 At Harvard Square, with Bean in front of her future dorm....

 Rubbing John Harvard's shoe for good luck

We thought maybe the smart would rub off on her by just being in the middle of the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Not yet. Harvard will have to wait a few years, there's naps to take right now. 

Happy Snowy Winter Weekend

We've had a really light winter so far this year. Last night we got just enough to play outside, with more on its way tonight. Winter is finally officially here. Have a happy snowy, cold, windy winter weekend.

Snowy swing set, great for climbing and a really fast slide down the icy slide.

 I may get annoyed with snow sometimes, but it certainly doesn't bother Bean. 

She loves it.

We made the world's tiniest snowman.

 Made animal tracks around the house.

 And filled up trucks full of snow to bring it out of the lawn.

Photo of the Day - The Couch Fort

I love to watch Bean and her daddy playing. They're so cute together, and always laughing. Bean went through a very clingy stage with me for a long time, where she didn't really want much to do with her daddy. It makes me so happy now to see them together, and to hear their laughter. Today they built a big fort on the couch and played games and made up stories together in it. A perfect family Sunday morning.

Photo of the Day: The Elf

Do you have an Elf on the Shelf who lives in your house this time of year? We do. His name is Phinneous Phin. Bean loves finding him. She's a little scared of him, so we had to say that he doesn't hide in anyone's bedroom at night to avoid nightmares of him landing on her head while she's sleeping. This morning we caught Phinneous attempting to take my bottle of wine to give to Santa.

Even if you don't have an Elf, you have to read this blog post about over achieving Elf on the Shelf mommies. I was laughing out loud at this post. Although admittedly it inspired us to have our Elf do more funny things. I don't think I'll ever have the time or desire to make it look like he baked cookies or had a marshmallow fight like those over-achievers. But it is more fun to find him in precarious, naughty, or dangerous places around the house. Happy Holidays!!

Photo of the Day: Frog Pond Skating

I took a walk at lunch today through Boston Commons, with no coat, and I walked by the Frog Pond Ice Skating Rink. Today they skaters were half skating, half swimming, with huge puddles of water in the middle of the rink from this unseasonably warm weather. Oh well, the rink is still beautiful to see, and I'll take the warmer weather! 

Thankful

Thankful for Her and Him

Photo of the Day - Bubble Wrap

Forget all the expensive toys there are out there today, my kid played with bubble wrap for about 45 minutes and loved it!! Seriously, she was all over it and was really happy to sit there and pop the bubbles one at a time with her hands, or jump up and down to pop them all at once. It was great, I think I'll be stocking up on this for winter. Toddlers can be so tough sometimes, but when it comes down to it, they're really easy to entertain. As a disclaimer, I was there with her, no need to worry that I was leaving her alone with plastic wrap!!

Photo of the Day - Self Esteem

I took this photo of Bean dancing and posing in front of the mirror at H&M the other day. It cracks me up when she does this. So far it appears that she has very few issues with self esteem, because dancing in front of mirrors is one of her favorite things to do!

Photos of the Day - Fall Field Trip

Yesterday felt more like a spring day. After a couple weeks of cold and snow, it was finally warm enough to go outside again and the air had that spring thaw feel to it even though it's only November. We took advantage of this spring-like weather for a "field trip" around our yard to explore all things fall: leaves, pine cones, pine needles, pumpkins that have been half eaten by squirrels, all the sticks covering the lawn from the recent storms... There are lots of things to explore in our own yard right now. This is one of the things I love about being a mom. As a busy adult I never would have taken the time to explore all these great things nature has to offer. Sometimes I get annoyed by the slowness of my toddler, but there are days like this when I really appreciate it.

The few leaves left on the trees

Baby pine cones and big pine cones

Counting baby pine cones and big pine cones

Raking leaves

Jumping in leaf piles

Pure Pumpkin Joy

We painted pumpkins the other day, this is what we got-two somewhat lumpy, messy, spotted and rainbow striped pumpkins.

 And this is how excited Bean was with the result! Her big smile makes me so happy I can't even stand it.

I'm Hollywood

Kids do the funniest things. Tonight Bean put on these sunglasses of mine and the tiara and said "I'm Hollywood" with an attitude. Yes honey, you are so Hollywood!

Manhattan from Above

I've been traveling for work a little more lately, which is why I haven't posted as much lately. This week was Dallas, last week was NYC. I took a few pics last week when we were flying into the city, and I didn't care that my boss was laughing at me!! It was a perfect day and the view of the city from the air always takes my breath away. It's such an impressive city.

 And of course I always love seeing my favorite Brooklyn Bridge from the air.

 

Have you ever seen the NYC World's Fair grounds in Astoria? You can see them when you fly into Laguardia. I think the grounds are hauntingly interesting, from an era of dreamers. I wish they'd have a world's fair again. Some day I'd like to sneak into the grounds and walk around.

 This was the view from our conference room, straight down Park Ave. It was hard to concentrate while looking out this window. The picture from my phone can't capture how awesome the view is.

 And then flying back into Boston that night, for the most beautiful sunset ever over the city.

Photo of the Day - Mug Shot

A mug shot from this morning. Bean looks guilty but she's not. She was so good today. Such a sweet big girl. I just love her little mug.

Photo of the Day - Salem Harbor

A view of Salem Harbor from the train on a foggy day.