Boston, MA

Do you think it is a bad sign when the pilot of your plane announces you are going to have to circle for 15 minutes because the runway at Logan Airport is being plowed in preparation for your landing?  I guess it worked out okay since I am still alive to write this post!  The kids had no school on Friday because of the giant snow storm, so I got a little extra time with them upon my arrival.  Evie's 'sleep under' birthday party was Friday night and I was assigned the task of manning the manicure / pedicure salon for her girlfriends.  For those of you who aren't familiar with this concept, a 'sleep under' is just like a 'sleep over', but the parents pick up their pajama-clad daughters right before bedtime! It's pure genius if you ask me.  Evie turned 5 this year (which I honestly can't believe) and I was so excited to begin the annual tradition I have with my other nieces and nephews.  When each niece and/or nephew turns 5, I take them on a birthday date.  We go to lunch and whatever store they want, to get whatever gift they want.  Until they turn 5 I pick out their birthday gifts - from 5 until 18 they pick their own gifts!  It's one of my favorite traditions because I get a whole day with them on my own!  Such fun...

Girls in matching jammies at the 'sleep under' party

Rainbow toes, post-pedicure!

Birthday cake #1

Evie and I went to Learning Express in Newton Center to shop for her gifts and after much debate, she selected a stuffed seal and a spin art machine!  We also picked out 2 small things for Parker so he wouldn't be excluded from the fun!  After an hour of shopping we headed to Panera Bread for lunch.  I offered her several other restaurant options, but she stuck to her guns and demanded we go to her favorite place, Panera Bread.  :)  After a nice lunch we hit Sweet Tarts for a frozen yogurt treat to cap off the date!  We had to rush home because Evie was being picked up to carpool to another birthday party in Jamaica Plain that afternoon.  The fun never stops when you are 5!

While Parker and Evie went to the afternoon birthday party, Paul and I hit his athletic club for a few hours.  I swam my 80 lengths of the pool and Paul lifted weights.  We had to do the return portion of the carpool from Jamaica Plain, so we hit the road to pick up Parker, Evie, Rosie and Katie.  We arrived a bit early to the yoga studio where the party was being held and went upstairs to check things out.  There had to be 30 kids at this party.  It was mayhem...  some kids were watching cartoons on the wall via an overhead projector, others were hitting a pinata, while others were running around like lunatics.  It was quite a scene to behold.  We gathered up goodie bags for the kids, put on shoes and winter coats and headed back to Newton.

Paul and Nichole had an 80s themed charity auction on Saturday night so the kids and I had pizza, played some games, watched a show and read some books.  It was great!

Paul and Nichole dolled up in 80s gear for charity auction!

On Sunday my parents arrived from NJ and Connor drove over from his dorm at Northeastern.  We had some lunch and then drove out to Marlborough to play indoor mini-golf and have Japanese Hibachi for dinner.  We aren't the most talented group of mini-golfers, but I managed to come in 1st place with a score of 49 on 18 holes!  Not too bad...

8 players, 8 balls on the green. (0 balls in the hole?!?)

The whole gang at the Hibachi table after dinner!

The kids were back to school on Monday, but it was Evie's actual birthday, so I got to be the guest reader in her class.  HIGHLIGHT OF MY MONTH!  She picked a Berenstain Bears book called "The Trouble with Grown Ups" and she introduced me to her class and sat beside me in the front of the room while I read the book.  It was quite an honor and I actually teared up when I had to leave after reading the book.  I am so lucky to have such amazing little humans in my life!  My parents and I went into the city for the afternoon, taking in the Bunker Hill Memorial, a museum and lunch.  We headed back to Newton so I could swim before the kids came home from school.  The West Suburban YMCA was packed and I only did 40 lengths of the pool because I don't find it enjoyable to swim when there are 4 people per lane. Oh well, I got my heart rate up over 140 for 20+ minutes, so it still counts as a workout!

Evie had lots of gifts to open when Paul got home from work and Nichole was making a delicious broiled cod with tomato salsa for dinner, so we played some music, had some appetizers & wine and enjoyed the excitement of all the gifts before singing and digging into some birthday cake.  My mom is a great baker and she made Evie a 3-layer cake with pink icing for her birthday.  YUMMY!

Birthday cake #2

My visit went by way too fast and I was sad to only have 1 more morning snuggle up with Parker and Evie before flying back to Atlanta.  (Each morning when I visit, Parker and Evie come into my bedroom and crawl under the covers with me to snuggle up before starting the day.)  Parker came up at 6:45 on Tuesday morning so we could have a little extra snuggle time before he had to get ready for school.  I hope he never outgrows his desire to snuggle up with me!  :(  Nichole and I did the school drop offs, Evie first and Parker second.  I managed to hold back the tears, but I was definitely sad to be heading to the airport.  Luckily, I'll see them all again for Parker's birthday and Evie's dance recital...

Several posts ago I mentioned the fabulous nutritionist I am working with.  She agreed to let me put a link to her website in the blog, so here it it!  She offers a wide array of services and I highly recommend her if you are in the market for the type of services she provides.  I can't believe we are coming to the end of our 3 month program in a few weeks.  I've learned so much and feel completely confident in my ability to live a healthy lifestyle that includes balance in mind, body and spirit.  Thanks, Carey!

I will be in Atlanta for 10 days before heading off to Las Vegas.  I have lots of activities planned, so look for a post about my time at home before I fly out again.