Out and About

We've been able to do a couple family outings this week since the weather has been a little more cooperative. I had an evening event on Thursday at work, so I had the morning off and we all went to the Museum of Science. Luckily my co-worker gave me free tickets, so we were set!
Berke was as high as a kite to get out of the house and have a place to run around and be "free." This winter has been tough, and if it weren't for him visiting his friend Q, he may never have gotten out of the the house.

The best part about the Museum of Science (for Berkeley) is not all the amazing exhibits they had, but all the BUTTONS that he got to push.
Buttons=pure bliss.

I love spending time with my little monkey!

We invited our friends Lina and Rani to join us on our outing and they had a great time as well. I love this picture of Lina getting all close and cozy with Berke and in true boy form, he is totally awkward and silly. There is just no way he got this from his dad.......okay maybe he did.

Saturday we drove to Parker's Maple Barn in New Hampshire to see how Maple syrup is made, and then partake in delicious breakfast foods which included this amazing syrup. They just tapped the trees last week and are still collecting the sap to make the syrup. They collect the sap which is pretty much sugary water, in these buckets. It is a pretty amazing process.

We love how many wonderful things there are to do and see in New England. What a fabulous place.

I love how cute my boys are; two peas in a pod I tell ya!

I'll be on your side forever more....cause that's what friends are for

Presidents Day weekend for the last few years has meant Julia and Laci time. This year we didn't really have anything planned and thought perhaps the summer time might be a funner time to meet up. It isn't easy to get together two gals who live across the country from each other. I have been having a particularly difficult time lately with some personal things and because my BFF aka THE MOST AMAZING FRIEND EVER, decided she would fly out to see me and have some much needed BFF time. We had the BEST three day whirlwind weekend. I'm so grateful to have such a wonderful gal pal.

When she arrived we had a lovely 60 degree day; we took full advantage and walked around downtown and visited the aquarium thanks to the FREE tickets my co-worker gave me. Berkeley was so happy to be out of hibernation; he ran around the entire place rejoicing his new found freedom. He would stop and say' "Oooo, what's that Mommy?" His new things is grabbing our fingers to touch things he wants to touch, not sure why.

The highlight for me was seeing a clam spit water at me, it gave me a pretty good scare.

We also enjoyed the 80 penguins at the Aquarium, I never seen a penguin poop before, but now I have. We had a great time looking at all the sea creatures, a 70 year old tortoise, sharks, jellyfish, starfish, huge crabs, otters, etc.
Afterward, we sent the boys home so we could have a grown up night out on the town. We relished our dinner at a fine dining establishment without entertaining a two year old which was simply marvelous! We had grown up talk, girly talk and giggled a whole lot. We left the restaurant to find wind and rain; winds so strong at times that we either could not move forward no matter how hard we tried or we had near "run-ins" with cars as the wind was making us run with its strong forces. We enjoyed a movie....in a movie theater. I was able to use a gift card that I got for the theater Valentines 2010; yep that is how often I go to movies. We saw The King's Speech and it was SUPERB!

There is a few things that Julia loves: Dr. Pepper, me, Jed, and Chick-Fil-A. They do not have Chick-Fil-A in Seattle; and the closest one to me is 30 minutes away. But don't you know that we drove there (even though I am morally opposed) to get that darn food, cause that is what you do for your friend who flew across the country to see you.

After lunch we embarked on a SHOPPING SPREE~! We went to a few stores at the Burlington Mall and then headed to the outlets, another hour drive, but that is just how we roll to find the most amazing deals ever. Let's just say we found some deals that were so good that it would have been criminal to leave them behind. My #1 steal of the day were the hot black leather boots, you know, the ones that are the rage these days, that were originally $109 and I got them for $27! Did I mention that I look like a total diva in them? I also found some cute sweaters for $7-10 and some other fabulous shirts nothing over $10. Julia found a pair of $80 pants for work for the lovely price of $12. Man I sure do love shopping, but more than that, I love finding amazing deals. No wait, I think what I love the most is shopping without a kid.
We really did SHOP till you DROP!

We ended the evening with take out Thai and the movie Date Night which was so funny.
During the visit we also managed to squeeze in a Sunday Brunch and mani-pedis.

Berkeley was a little shy around his God Mother but he enjoyed having her around. Julia instantly won his love by bringing him a Tickle Me Elmo and teaching him how to do "Wolverine Knuckles."

The visit was short but surely sweet. We had an amazing time together. I stayed up way too late and got up way too early, but it was totally worth it. I feel so lucky to have a friend that I can just let loose, talk about exactly how I feel and just be listened to and can always have fun with.

Love you Ju!

I Heart You!

Wishing you a Happy Valentine's Day with all my HEART and "SOLE"!!!

Love, Berkey

An Ode to Winter

I hear that it is going to be 52°F on Friday. That sounds like an excellent idea. We are still wading in icebergs, dodging (most) gargantuan potholes, discerning between black ice and pavement with relatively great success. At least this year there hasn't been any huge slips. Every one's car has acquired a coating of grayish yuckishness from all of the accumulated salt and dirt. There are still grayish-hued parkas a plenty amidst the rainbow-colored bobbing sea of winter caps that dot the streets and train stations. Courageous (crazy) bikers and runners swiftly navigate the iceberg/concrete jungle like stealth ninjas with only one horizontal strip of eyes and brows exposed. The occasional appearance of the sun seems to be accompanied by a spirit of derision that laughs out loud through the bone-biting wind. Yet... every once in awhile inside this gray, black and super off-white jungle of salt, ice and potholes an outlier appears with a hoody, sweat pants and white k-swiss (beanie-less, gloveless, parka-less, Starbucks-less). This occasional sighting gives me hope. Maybe the weather isn't as cold, maybe the snow isn't coming anymore? The frequency of these sightings coupled with the variety of non-parka accessorized clothing seems to be an omen of a change that is about to befall us. Yes! The end is near. Then, the sun will do something productive besides mock and scorn. The trees will awake with phosphorescent buds of green and yellow. The joggers and bikers will shed their ninja costumes and reveal knees and ankles; elbows and wrists. The train station inhabitants will come out of their parka-lined cocoon to reveal grayish sallow selves that yearn for the new season. Cars will glimmer with brightness as they shake off the winter's dust. The smell of fresh tar and asphalt will effervesce from the streets as the orange vested workers move about a sea of similarly colored cones, shoveling, spreading and swearing. Icebergs will melt to reveal the detritus of forgotten recyclables, half eaten Christmas goods and unneedled Christmas trees. All of this, is just around the corner. I hear that it is going to be 52°F on Friday.

By Christian A. Gentry

Who Loves Ptibull and T-Pain?

You guessed it, this kid just cant help but bust a move when he hears this song.
There is no way to watch this and not smile!

My kid has mad moves.