Weekend away

Our last 'Violet flies for free before 2' weekend is here and we flew to Boston! But our flight was late, rental cars backed up and car seat damaged, so we didn't have any time in the city before headed north for a non napping car ride. Friday was exhausting. Our B and B was interesting. The couple who ran it were OLD. Plus they yelled at each other. I'll have a post soon about if I ran a BB what would be different. We spent dinner with a 3 year old for her birthday and it was great to catch up with her parents. 

Saturday we drove north to Concord,

stopped at a farmers market and slowly made our way north to Thornton where we had a cute little cabin!

We made it there by nap time and Violet did not need to yell 'bed' this time. She slept for 3 hours while we sat and watched leaves fall. That evening we went to the marshmallow roast with the owners and learned Violet is afraid of the fire, we have not camped enough point number 1. 

Sunday we headed a little farther north into Franconia Notch State Park for a little walking.Violet made Point number 2 that we have not camped or hiked lately when at a water fall she called it a fountain.

That afternoon we headed south east to check out the Atlantic before heading back to Boston. 

Back in the city, we stayed at the Buckminster and our room was huge! It was luxury for Violet to sleep in another room and not worry about waking her!

Monday we headed out to explore. The weather was beautiful so we caught the T to Boston Commons and then followed the brick path to some historic sites. Bob had a research appointment part way through, so Violet and I walked on!

The only part of the Freedom Trail we didn't get to was across the bridge. So when we met back up and Bob wanted to see Fenway before checking out of the hotel, I had little interest. It was a quick tour of the North East, but it will do for now!

Bob's office

Just in case it's been a while since you've seen inside a professor's office. Or were curious about Bob's sense of style...

I was sitting at the desk with him for a conference call, two chairs like that isn't quite normal. 

Half way

We've now been away from Oregon the same amount of time as we have left before we return for the holidays. I guess it has gone quickly. We've kept ourselves busy here and will continue to do so. It doesn't mean we miss family, friends, our house and neighborhood or my job less. Today I missed Ventis and lifesource. Some days it is Burger Basket fry sauce. I bet there are similar places here, but it will take time to find them. I always miss the ease of getting around Salem by car or bike!

Cathedral of Learning

On the edge of the university of Pittsburgh, is the cathedral of learning. It is 36 stories tall, built in 1936 and has a steel frame with the limestone over it. It has classrooms and admin mostly, but also these nationality rooms. Enjoy the sample. Chinese, Greece, Indian, and German below. CofL and Heinz Chapel on a different sunny day. 

Children's museum

A little inside playtime today. 

Mom's visit

Just a couple pictures while my mom is here!

Pirates game

One of the things on our list to see while here was a baseball game. We didn't need to see much of the game, we went for the view! We took the bus downtown and then walked.  

Growing up fast

Some days Violet changes so much that we stop and stare at each other. At breakfast she counted to 10. She had been counting to 5 for about a week and today went to six, but I hadn't heard her go to ten without me filling in. 

Then there are the times she pees on the kitchen rug after running off her toilet because she was done, or yells 'all done library' when story time is a bit too long that make me realize she is still little. She is still cuddly, she runs to us if she falls down, she won't let one of us leave without a hug and kiss goodbye, she can buckle herself in at the table, but just yells 'dinner ready!' She will look through a book on her own for a few minutes before demanding, 'mommy read.' I don't find myself calling her 'tiny' and I can't even guess what she weighs now! She can fill in ABCs when singing and point out b, c, i, j, n, o, and z. She knows her cousins, grandparents and great grandparents, but doesn't understand why she can't climb through the computer to get to them, even if she says, 'scuse me.'

I'm not sure what to do for her birthday. We know people, but aren't close to them for such a personal day. She saw a picture of mice in a book and in the middle they had a candle, she kept pointing and saying, "Happy Birthday". She loves monkeys, cows, kitties and duckies right now so I'm trying to pick a little decorating theme at least. 

Reading

After the library, while I was making lunch, she climbed on the couch with a book. 

A reminder, this city is old.

Apples!

Saturday, we went apple picking 30 minutes outside the city. It was great for Bob to join us and explore the area too! And more farm animals. Here's hoping for a pie this week!

Latest obsessions

Vi- stickers, kids songs on the radio which leads to this: 

Bob-Star wars game on the mini or his new computer:

Me- I'm not sure, besides words with friends, I guess finding activities and produce. This week I found a farm to order eggs from, but maybe I mentioned that already...

Outing take 2

Video from today's outing.Violet and I try to do something most days of the week. Today it was berry picking at a farm. She ate so many berries I was worried, but the best part was seeing the animals. She actually was waving and saying, "Hi chickens, hi cow" it was too hard not to laugh!

Csa

We're getting a CSA every other week and they come in these uber cute crates! This week, two heads of lettuce, cabbage, an onion, 2 nectarines, a pepper, an eggplant, dill, parsley, carrots and a ton of tomatoes. Last time we were eating one a day! Saturday I think we're going apple picking and I found a farm stand that has eggs in our 'hood every other week. It still isn't as easy as texting my neighbor, but I'll order online! 

Look Out!

Now that I have not only figured out how to post from my phone, but how to send an email with videos attached, I really have no excuse to not get the movies from our trip uploaded, well that is if they are a small enough file size that I'm allowed. If it restricts me to one minute, we might still have issues. I'll at least try and be better about taking videos from here on that can be uploaded to share our life in the big city. So look out world.

Test post

Video from today's outing.Violet and I try to do something most days of the week. Today it was berry picking at a farm. She ate so many berries I was worried, but the best part was seeing the animals. She actually was waving and saying, "Hi chickens, hi cow" it was too hard not to laugh