O' Christmas Tree

A couple of weeks ago, Don and I picked out our first ever, real Christmas Tree!  In past years, we have really only had room for mini trees (like, pint sized ones...).  But this year, we decided to get a nice 5-footer.

Now that we live in JP, it is actually quite easy to find a farmer who sells Christmas trees locally.  In fact, these pop up tree farms are just about on every corner.  We found a lot nearby, and embarked on our first ever Christmas tree shopping experience.

We picked out a beautiful little fir tree, and walked away quite satisfied with our decision.  He's a little lopsided, but is perfect at just the right angle!  Seeing our little tree brings joy to my heart everyday!

After we picked out our tree, we stopped by the local cafe for some refreshments.   We had a nice conversation about Bonnie and Clyde (awesomely terrible people, btw), sipped chocolate, shared raspberry bars, and headed back home.

The Christmas Spirit is here!

Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving!  

Philip, Aubrey, and the little kiddos came up to visit from D.C. this year!  It was so much fun.  

Sister Snuggles.

Mimi.  You know, just taking her seat at the head of the table.

Ready to eat.

Just prior to the, "waiting-for-the-turkey-to-be-done-walk/kids-are-going-crazy-so-we-need-to-send-them-out-walk".

"People who love to eat are always the best people."  - Julia Child.

Roast Beast!

Expert turkey carver.  

It seems Nelly had to make a couple of serious decisions during dinner.  I'm pretty sure this had to do with the fact that the girls wouldn't eat anything besides rolls and turkey...so silly, those two.

Eating her roll.

I look tired.

During clean up, there was a small fiasco involving the wrong kind of soap in the dishwasher...which ended in a lot of *bubbles*.  The girls were stoked.

Bubbles!

Bubble Beards.

Beacon Hill *trick-or-treat*

So, I absolutely love Halloween.  I love dressing up.  I love handing out candy.  I love eating candy.  I love pumpkin carving and scary music.  I love haunted houses.  I love everything about this absurdly fun holiday.  Well, this year (ugh...as has been the case every year since we have been married), Don and I were not together on Halloween night.  Usually I'm the one working in the evenings, but it was his turn tonight.

Because of our opposite schedules, we made sure to carve pumpkins earlier in the week.  It was fun, and I'm so proud of our creative little jack-o-lanterns!  Don labored diligently to carve "Welcome" into pumpkin #1, and I carved my predictable goofy face into pumpkin #2.

Mimi = scary Halloween kitty.

While Don was working tonight, I met a group of friends from our ward in Beacon Hill.  Beacon Hill is known for its overwhelmingly fantastic Halloween traditions...and...it did not disappoint!  It was the most magical Halloween place I've ever been to!  It was wonderful!

For those who don't know, Beacon Hill is one the oldest sections of town.  Its streets are still made of imperfect cobblestones, some of the windows are still tinted a faint purple from their original glass, and gas street lamps line every sidewalk.  To say it's picturesque might be an understatement.  It is a site to see on a normal day, but during Halloween, these Boston natives go. all. out.

Ooooo....I loved it!  

Don where are you?!  I wish you could have been there!  You were the only thing missing from this perfect night!

Here are pictures of Boston's beautifully haunted Beacon Hill:

Ghosts & ghouls.

Of course, a haunted ocean.

Cobweb corner.

GO RED SOX!!!

This was pretty much Diagon Alley in real life.  but at night.  and creepier.

Come on in!  All doors are open.

Speaking of Red Sox GO RED SOX!, this is just your average statue in Beacon Hill, hanging out with a Red Sox GO RED SOX!  RED SOX NATION! jersey and a beard.  It's only natural.

Tonight was so much fun.  We wandered this quaint little neighborhood for about an hour and half.  Then I returned home to hand out my own candy in JP.  Let's just say that JP is a Halloween town in its own right.  My *five* bags of candy were gone in less than half an hour.  I thought five was a lot?!

Just in case you were wondering, Boston does Halloween right. 

Boston -> Hartford -> NYC

Don and I had a great weekend filled with lots of travel, family, and friends.  On Wednesday, Don's friends from his mission flew in from Germany!  The last time we saw them was 3 1/2 years ago when Don and I were engaged and living in NYC.  It has definitely been a while.

Our schedule for the week was as follows:

Wed - Fri:  Party in Boston.

Fri - Sat:  Skip to Hartford for the Marathon.

Sat - Sun:  Off to NYC for more partying!

While in Boston, we took the Germans (we affectionately call them "The Germans".  Harald and Elke are their real names.) to as many cool places as we could think of.  We went out to eat, visited the farmer's markets, walked along Newbury Street, etc. etc.  One of my favorite destinations was Restoration Hardware.  I thought Elke would really like it because she is a talented designer back home in Germany.  She reupholsters furniture for her job/sometimes just makes her own furniture.  Does anybody else think that is the coolest thing ever?!  (Mom...I'm looking at you.)

So, we spent time wandering through RH, sitting down in every over-sized chair they had to offer.  Well actually, Don and Harald were the true chair sitters.  They wanted to test everything out, so I started taking tons of pictures of them in each chair they sat down in.

They humored me.

Not sure why this little guy made it onto the camera roll...Oh wait...maybe it's because he's the cutest chair sitter ever!!!  

The Germans flew in on the same weekend that I was scheduled to run the Hartford Marathon, so after spending some time in Boston, we all drove down for the race.  Unfortunately, I bombed it.  I really don't want to talk about it.  I admit, however, that my passion for pictures is greater than my shame of the race.  So here you are:

(This peppy picture was taken at mile 3.  HA.  This did not last.)

Don did such a great job of cheering/offering me beverage/offering me food/taking pictures/counting how many girls were in front of me.  He has excellent multi-tasking skills!  

Harald and Elke scheduled their departing flight out of New York City because they wanted to go back again. So, after a brief stay in Hartford, we drove down to NYC.  Don and I were SO happy about this decision, and we couldn't wait to get to NYC.

Things you should know about me and/or NYC:

- I'm obsessed with NYC.  

- I love it.  

- Whenever I leave NYC, I cry.  

- It's magical, and special, and unique.  

- I will cherish the 2 years I spent there forever.

- Don and I want to make NYC a part of our lives forever.

How can you not be enchanted by this?!

Ugh...I'm starting to cry right now...seriously?!  

Anyway, my brother and sister-in-law just moved to NYC, which means that we got to hang with them for the remainder of the weekend!  It is always great to spend time with them, and we are so happy they are now within driving distance!  I am also thrilled that they have a chance to experience New York.  Lucky ducks!

(#teehee #canvisitNYCforcheapsies)

My priorities in New York were as follows:  Superheroes.  More superheroes.

Thank you to all for coming, staying, and letting us stay!  It was good to see everybody!