A little getaway

A few weeks ago Genevieve and I flew up to Boston to visit my family for the weekend.  For me it was much needed, considering being a single mother and living a good 500 miles away from any of your family can be a bit difficult at times.

The whole trip was wonderful, we all had so much fun, yet getting there was trying to say the least.  It was my first time flying alone with Genevieve were she needed her own seat and thought this is just going to be a disaster.  How do you get a two year old to stay in their seat through not one but two plane rides?  I had this genius idea I would take her car seat on the plane with me.  What better way to have a toddler sit still than strapping them down to the point they can't wiggle themselves away.  So I loaded my phone with Mickey Mouse Club House and Super Why episodes and went to the airport relatively confident I could do this. Two suitcases, a diaper bag, my work laptop, and my purse are enough to carry alone for one person - now add in a 35 pound child, a massive car seat and a stroller.  I should have gone into the circus instead of office management for my career, seriously.  So I schlepped my way through the airport performing a balancing act of stuff that could probably been my easy in to Ringling Bros. I decided to get to the airport a little bit ahead of schedule so Genevieve and I could have dinner there and run around a bit.  A tired and full baby makes everyone happy.  Except our flight got delayed 2 hours. So we spent lots of time hours finding the airplanes.

"It's so awesome, mama"

I'm not going to lie and say I didn't knock a few people while going down the aisle of the airplane, it's narrow, I wasn't able to be one of the first people to board, and that car seat is pretty wide.  I was super thankful this would be a short flight to JFK, until we got up in the air and they say oh sorry we're going to take the long way there, we will land in about an hour and 45 minutes.  Sayyy whaaaa?  A flight that is supposed to take 45 minutes will take an extra hour?  Are you kidding me people?? By now I was exhausted and really just wanted a nap.  Thankfully my flight from JFK to Boston was also delayed so I did not have to endure an evening at that awful airport with Genevieve.

"I'm in the airplane!

Spending the hour and a half at JFK airport on a Friday night, was like going to a Walmart.  Maybe it was exhaustion but I was overly terrified.  It was 11PM I was tired, my daughter was one meltdown past exhaustion, and I really wasn't trying to make friends with strangers.  We finally arrived in Boston at about 1:30AM and got to my families house around 2AM.  

So this is where the fun comes in.  Every year my family goes to Lake Champlain in Vermont to spend a week at a resort there.  I had yet to go so I was overly excited.  I love Vermont - the air is different, the scenery is breathtaking and the people are great, much different from where I live currently.  So we got up at 6AM Saturday morning, packed the cars and kids, I downed a few redbulls, and started driving.  I miss living in New England, you are so close to the ocean and the mountains.  People say the same about living in Metro DC but I think it is completely different.  Genevieve loved spending time with her Uncle and our family. 

 Picture overload.  They are so out of order.

Genevieve at breakfast Sunday morning

The kids on the deck running around after being in the car for 7 hours

The main entrance, I just LOVED the doors.

We came just in time for the festival

Getting her 2nd balloon animal.  (The first one we popped, it was a horrible sight.)

I just love her expressions, so much like her Mama.

Genevieve and I sitting on the gigantic adirondack chair.

Halfway done with the animal.

Genevieve & her Papa

The next morning after breakfast, she had to bring that balloon everywhere.

Eskimo baby & the bonfire

Lake Champlain

Me, Genevieve and my brother Freddy

Leaves!

Uncle & Niece (They are too cute.)

Christmas card picture? I think so

The kids outside the cottage

We even got to visit the Vermont Teddy Bear factory and make our own bears!

She named her bear Mickey Mouse - really she did.

A little pre-gaming Saturday afternoon before the Bacon & Beer Festival.

Rocktoberfest!  We arrived just in time.

We drove home Sunday afternoon.  Which I really didn't mind.  I was able to see some of my friends which was great!  Jackie & her daughter Skyler came over for dinner on Monday night.  I have known her since my senior year of high school so it's always a tradition for her to come for dinner when I am home. 

Jackie & I

Meghan, me & Jackie 

We were exhausted.

Our flight left Boston Tuesday morning at 6:30AM, since I had to be back at by 11AM.  After going out the night before with Jackie, I was a tad out of sorts at work that day.

We are now back into a routine? HA do we even have one and getting ready for the holidays.  I hope everyone is excited for Thanksgiving - I sure am!

November Goals

I always have a hard time remembering all of the things I really really really want to get done in a month.  Let's be honest here, I have a hard time remembering everything I want to do in a day.  I thought this would be a great way for me to be able to look back and remember.  Plus posting it on here, thinking someone reads it will be more of a motivator.  So here goes nothing:

• Get Genevieve at least one Christmas Present.  I am that insane person who does her Christmas shopping the day before Christmas, EVERY year.  If you can handle the crowds there are actually some pretty awesome deals.  One year I did all my Christmas shopping at Kohl's on the 24th.
• Clean out my car.  The suitcase from my trip to Boston is still in my car, I think that says enough.
• Go through all my clothes and donate things I do not wear anymore.
• Start meal planning.  I am sick of coming home from work with NO CLUE what to cook for dinner.
• Clean out my purse
• Keep my nails painted and not chipped and disgusting more than they are fully painted.

There we have it.  Let's see how I do for my first time :)

Happy Halloween.

Oh Em Gee - The first holiday I am not late posting on. Que fireworks and all things sparkly.  

I am more than excited for halloween this year - it happens to be the first year Genevieve and I go trick or treating, my last time was 11 years ago... sayyy whaaa?  I am overly ecstatic because this mama LOVES her some candy :)

Genevieve's costume was one of the most epic parent/child costume fails I have seen.  The irony in it is the topping on the cake - no pun intended. 
Allow me to introduce to you:

My 2 year old bride.  I kid you not, my daughter is a bride for Halloween.  Trust me I'm still trying to process it myself.  I honestly thought I bought a princess costume, in an attempt at being amazingly frugal.  I purchased this lovely bad boy at a discount store when we were visiting my family in MA (whole other post with a massive amount of mommy & daughter pictures, you have been warned.)  
I got it back to the house and had her try the dress on.  As I was unpacking all the little trinkets I noticed the pearl necklace? uh is this some classy princess, and then the veil.  
I was horrified and obviously Genevieve was beyond ecstatic about her "costume" because all she knew was costume = chocolate and she loves that. I know I could have "spiced it up" a bit, but she was so excited about the veil and dress, I didn't have the heart to do it.  
While doing our trick or treating trial run this past Saturday I noticed, her costume is the shizznit.  How many parents do you know who dress their toddler's up as a bride?  Um I saw none.  Am I messing with her fate?  It's completely possible, but homegirl over here is far more likely to have a better outcome than her mama has, bride dress or not.

"I like shoes!"

Cookies

Swings & Slides oh my..

We have mastered the playground this weekend. Most terrifying experience for me ever.

Alex who?

I have neglected this for far too long. In my defense we have been extremely busy ladies. (then I also thought it had been way too long to just post something without an explanation as to where we've been)
Last weekend, G loved going to the orchard and picking apples, peaches and blackberries.