Back in Boston!

We just finished up the best vacation that I could imagine. After being away from home for 9 months we were able to spend some time in Water Valley with our families. Jennifer's mom and dad came up to spend some time with us as well. This trip was really all about family-did I mention that two grandmother's were just a little bit excited about spending some time with Kenzie?!

The list of fun things we did is too long but I will try to give some highlights and pictures that can give you a feel for the week.

We were fortunate to be able to come down on my mom's spring break so she got some extra time with Kenzie. There's no better way to catch up than taking a nap!

My mom frequents a local grocery store that carries a great variety of fresh, organic produce and goods. They also have a great lunch so the grandmas, great-grandmas, me, Jennifer, and Kenzie got together for lunch. 

 I have some wonderful ladies in my life....

 Babe (left) and Gran (right) finally got to spend some time with Kenzie. They have 9 months of catching up to do!

 After some time in a big city, the simplicity of a small town is so refreshing and reminds me of my childhood. This ticket on a post-it-note is just one example. 

 As you know, I have been on a genealogy quest  and I've made a lot of progress recently. Researching my ancestors has taught me a lot about the past but visiting the rural, isolated cemeteries where they are buried was a powerful experience. There are also clues to be found there so I feel like a bit of an amateur detective.

The headstone of my great, great, great grandmother Sallie Henderson. I never knew her name until finding her here.

 The great grandmas came along too and were able to tell us stories about many of the folks I was researching.

 After a long day, Honey and Nana had to double team Kenzie to get her cleaned up for bed.

 We also just happened to be in town for Honey's 50th Birthday! We went to her favorite sushi place and had a blast. And yes we made her wear that hat in the restaurant.

The whole gang........is that Gran hiding out in the back behind Kenzie?

 One of my biggest complaints about living in Boston is the lack of sunlight. It is just too cold to get out in the sun at all as evidenced by my pasty white legs. It was 80 degrees and sunny for most of the week. I was out in the sun on every opportunity and even a little work couldn't keep me away.

 Kenzie enjoyed the experience of nature as well. Looking between two dogwood branches.....

 and celebrating St. Patrick's Day with a freshly picked clover crown. Look at that green grass! Kenzie loved it!

 A few pictures of Honey and Pop's...

Very therapeutic after many months of concrete and gray skies...

 Even the moss is putting on new growth....

After a trip like this I always leave feeling that I should have taken more pictures. I guess you have to walk the line between obsessing about capturing every moment and enjoying every moment. I certainly know that we made many great memories and I can't wait to be back close to home soon.

If you know me well, then you likely know that I do not like to fly. It is an irrational fear that I have not always had. When I was a kid, I really enjoyed flying. For some reason I have become really anxious about the whole experience. I know that flying is extremely safe- I think that maybe it is just the lack of control. Well our flight today back to Boston went incredibly smoothly. Every time I got nervous or anxious I would look at Kenzie and see this

 She is born to fly I think-not one cry or bit of fussiness throughout the entire flight. Between Kenzie and the glass of merlot I had with breakfast on the plane, I made it through the flight just fine.

I don't expect we will be doing much more than recovering this week. I hope that everyone has a great week-

Ashley

Another move and some good friends come to visit....

I am just a little delinquent with this blog post I know. It has been a pretty crazy couple of weeks to say the least. Last week our apartment manager contacted me to let me know that our old apartment was available. He wanted to give us the opportunity to move back in if we wanted to. I have to say that my first thought was "heck no....we are settled well into our new, albeit small place." Once we started talking though we realized that the three of us were really quite claustrophobic in our 500 square foot digs. So yes, we moved again. The eighth time. This move was much smoother. Essentially a moving crew did all of the work while we just directed everything. We are now settled in and VERY excited about all the extra room. We got rid of a lot of things after the flood so the apartment seems even bigger now. I have some really great pictures to share-

Jen and Kenzie on our last day in the micro apartment

 Roman really didn't feel like moving again. He was really hard to find hiding out under Kenzie's crib.

Kenzie and Roman have become quite the good friends now that Kenzie has learned that he isn't just another stuffed toy!

 Back in the old place at last! Kenzie got a neat new seat that lets her sit up and watch Jen in the kitchen.

It also serves as a great way for Kenzie to test out Newton's theory of gravity. Judging by the floor we have concluded that Newton was correct.

" I see you back there Mom!"

 We are still very much teething.

 We have been so excited for a long time that our good friends Brad and Angie and their sweet children, Emily, 3, and Hunter, 6 months are coming to visit. They finally made it this week. Angie's blog is linked to ours and you should definitely go check it out if you haven't.

Brad didn't pack a scarf but after walking around outside for awhile he was more than happy to borrow one. Looks like a Harvard alumnus doesn't he?

 We had a great time walking around the city and they'll be here for 3 more days! Angie will have tons of great pictures to add once she gets home I'm sure. Jen snapped a picture of this awesome Cigar parlor sign. Notice the puff of "smoke". If I smoked, I think it would be my kind of place.

 The big moment came when Hunter met Kenzie. They are really playing great together and it's so much fun to watch.

Eva Brooke, I am sorry to say it but there is another woman in Hunter's life now... :-)

 We topped off the evening with a trip to the "Pho", our favorite Vietnamese place. A nice bowl of beef noodle soup goes a long way when it is cold outside.

 We've had a great time so far and there is much more to do while they are here. More pictures to come for sure! Kenzie's loving her new friends!

Ashley