Here’s what’s going on in two words.

Eye Twitch.

I can’t get it to stop. I have tried all the tactics I can try, but I have a feeling it will not stop until I drive away on my road trip next month.

And then something else will most likely begin twitching.

Certain important somethings are all consuming right now, so please be patient with me.

In the meantime, I need suggestions for car travel with my children—you know them—I don’t need to describe them here. I, being the idea lady that I am, have a few tricks up my sleeves, but would love more ideas.  So, please please comment below. I will be in my minivan for over 100 hours over 7 weeks time. I will need ideas about:

Keeping baby entertained/happy
Healthy eating
Budget Everything
Favorite things to do in San Francisco

Ready, Set, Go–maybe this will help the twitch.

11 Months

Saints alive, yesterday this little one turned 11 Months old.

She has truly turned the corner from infant to busy busy pre-toddling boo bear.  She is constantly moving, pulling up, playing the piano, pulling the bike down on her (twice),  emptying bookshelves, crawling, jabbering, eating, pulling down my shirt, sticking her little fingers down my shirt, refusing bottles, laughing at sippy cups, pointing, touching people on the subway, petting dogs, saying hi to the cell phone, spitting out objectionable food, swimming and splashing in tubs and pools and filling our family with JOY.

We are still in love with the Pickle. Can you blame us?

I haven’t had her weighed or measured recently, but I’d guess she is in the 18 pound range.  She has 4 teeth now and I still can’t get over her hair.  Still no interest in tv or books, she learns by moving….she is my most athletic child so far.  But….not sure if there is really any hope for athletics–we’ll see!

I gave her another haircut this past month.  It’s growing in nicely lately.  She has become very expressive.  One of my favorite looks is when she sucks her cheeks in.

I interviewed the Pickle for you, enjoy:

Wrangling for Macy’s

More Macy’s Signage popped up on the subway below Macy’s on 34th Street and in the store itself. Pickle and I went on a little scavenger hunt to find some, and we were successful!

I loved how it all turned out. We got a lot done in one day!

Boston: GBBRI

826 is an organization that provides creative writing workshops for children.  Their writing centers are fronted by a store front that sells fun thises and thats.  We visited The Boring Store in Chicago this past Christmas with our Agent Evil O.

Of course we had to visit 826Boston, which happens to be called The Greater Boston Bigfoot Research Institute.  Agent Evil O brought her secret spy attache with her and carefully picked out more items to complete and compliment her secret spy kit.  Big Sister picked out her own specimen examination kit as well.  Unfortunately we haven’t had a chance to participate in the creative writing part yet, but these storefronts inspire creative play like no other.

Boston: Colonial Times

Lolly has been studying Colonial Times in 2nd grade, and as a result is very excited about anything that applies.  Boston was the perfect place to go for this phase in her academic career.

 

 

 

 

 

We saw The Old State House which has a Lion and Unicorn–signs of British Government, which incidentally were taken down and then restored later….so interesting the Unicorn right?

Faneuil Hall was also fun to see as that is another building from Colonial Times.  Lolly bought some Colonial Money to show her class.

On Saturday morning we went to the Boston Tea Party Musuem.  About halfway through Phoebe whispered in my ear: “Mom, this was SO worth it.”  Music to my ears!  The actors were fun and throwing the tea overboard was a treat.  We all played different parts, Lolly played the part of a man who was hit by a box of tea and knocked unconscious and dragged through the streets and hidden because they thought he was dead—but turns out–he was alive!

There is so much OLD architecture there—so many interesting churches!  I loved taking it all in.

Slice of Life

Boston: Public Garden & Boston Common

 

Boston in May is so beautiful. The tulips are crazy and they are everywhere. My nose was on fire!
The Public Garden was picturesque.  We rode the swan boats and saw the Make Way For Ducklings Statues, and it could not have been a more perfect day.

Pickle rode her first carousel with the Bigs and let me just tell you, I was dizzy.