lately: enjoying the fall

I've been doing my best to enjoy all the fall weather we're having right now. This means especially on Saturdays, when I make Sam and Oliver go out and find fun fall things to do around town like I mentioned before. During the week, we do some fun things on our own (we took a little hike in the woods today!) and if I didn't hate the idea of a "fall bucket list", that would be what I'd call it. I love fall. I love the leaves, the cold weather, the sweaters and scarves and boots, getting blankets back out, drinking hot chocolate, looking forward to all the holidays to come. I want to let Oliver enjoy it all, too, so I'm trying hard to look for the fun in every season (but especially fall). 

We've been enjoying watching the leaves turn and walking in the crunchy leaves that have already fallen. It's a new neighborhood for us, and we're still learning our favorite walks, and the best places to visit for beautiful views. I miss our old town, sometimes, and the ease of walking around with lots of sidewalks, playgrounds, and old streets. 

The leaves are just beginning to turn. It's not quite peak leaf season, I think, but it will probably be here in a week or two. Some days it still gets too warm for sweaters and scarves, although the mornings are almost always delicious chilly. Even I can mostly enjoy that midday sun, though, and how easy is is to play outside right now. No heavy coats or snow getting in our way. 

So our rainy Saturday excursion. My mom had driven up for a few errands and asked if Oliver and I wanted to come along. It was a good excuse to get out the house on a rainy day, when we were a little bored and looking for something to do. Oliver go to wear his raincoat for the first time, and put those boots from last spring to good use again. It was pretty empty, probably due to the drizzly rain, so it was fun for Oliver to run and splash, and fun for me not to care. 

 

spring spring spring

Just last week the days were rainy and cold, and I wore wore all the layers I could. Then suddenly we turned a corner and bam, the sun was out, the leaves were out, and things here in Massachusetts are just a few weeks from full-on summertime (jungly, overgrown, way too hot).

So, from last week, when I introduced Oliver to splashing in puddles and created a dangerous new obsession with him, as he proceeded to spot every single puddle we ever passed from then until the end of time.

And above, on Mother's Day, when we went for a long walk to our favorite park. The only problem with this park is that there aren't any baby swings, but on Sunday we discovered it doesn't matter, because look who is grown up enough to sit and swing all by himself? You can't tell, but he really did hold on and not fall off even as we pushed him.

My husband freely admits that newborns and infants aren't his favorite, and he definitely dreaded it when I was pregnant. I used to dread the toddler stage. I know we're just beginning, but so far, it's pretty great. Tantrums and whining included. He's just so much fun when he's playing with trucks, making spice jars fly around like airplanes, or playing outside and finding all the sticks.

And now, from the sunny, perfect weather. Time for sand boxes, shorts, sandals, sunscreen and sweaty hair. Look at those brand new leaves. The gorgeous blossoms, huge flowers. So much beauty and change and maybe I'm already sick of applying sunscreen three days in, but I think it's worth it.

Oh and please note that playground picture, where he's pointing at the sky. Every time he hears a train or truck or airplane, he has to let me know. I can't wait to blow his mind when we actually get to ride an airplane ourselves (for the first time in his life! help!) next month.

the week that was: captured

I like trying to get a little record in of how I spent my week because I know I'll appreciate it latest on when I look back on my early days with Oliver. I didn't quite realize how much spit-up and pee and exhaustion these weeks would include. But that is vastly outweighed by Oliver's smiles and silly baby reflexes, like watching him shake his fists in the air or try to balance on his chubby legs or give me skeptical baby looks, raised eyebrows and wrinkled forehead included. I forgot to post this last week, though, so this will cover the past two weeks.

Last week, I visited the museum of Russian icons with my aunt, uncle and cousins on Tuesday. We had a tour, learned a lot about icons and their history and how they're made, as well as a bit about Russia. Oliver was charming and happy, like always. We brought turkey sandwiches to eat and then bought chocolate gingerbread from the Russian tea room. The museum was fascinating, and we all decided we would highly recommend it. So if you're ever in the area, go!

On Thursday we celebrated my mother's birthday with sushi, cookies and caramel ice cream. I also attended an awkward church activity that involved speed-dating to make friends. On Friday we got some more snow! It was technically the second snowfall of the season and it was beautiful. I love seeing roofs and streets and pavement all dusted with white. Later in the day our boxes from England finally arrived so we did some unpacking. We were particularly excited to see all our books again and put them out on the shelves.

Last Saturday, Oliver and I met my mother and aunts in the city for another birthday celebration. We ate delicious Vietnamese food and Oliver was so well-behaved in the restaurant.  As long as he is held, he is happy. (Well, held and fed.) On Sunday we had lunch with Sam's parents and stayed for a while, so they could have some time with Oliver (who was hungry and a bit fussy).

This week was pretty slow, and really I can barely remember what I did most days.  I did many more loads of laundry, sorted out some bills, took Oliver on several walks, and did some shopping.  There's a little cafe in town that closed just as I moved back, but a new one is opening in its place, so I went by to check on its progress.  I'd love to have somewhere so close where Oliver and I can go sit.  A friend from England called, and it was nice to get caught up on everything in her life, and hear about things we've missed since we left.  This week was so cold, I definitely started to miss English winters.

Sam had three days of training at work, so he worked a different schedule to usual, and on Saturday, he and I began a week of house-sitting.  The family have chickens, fish, a guinea pig, and a cat, so really it is more like pet-sitting, but we get to use their huge house while they are away, so we're enjoying that.  As long as we don't get any snow or ice for the next week, that is, because their driveway is impossible - long and curvy and uphill.  Today we visited Sam's parents again for a little Thanksgiving meal, since Oliver and I will be spending Thanksgiving with my family (and Sam will be working). 

lately

I was looking at my phone the other day and I realized there were several little day trips I've done recently and I never got around to sharing any of the pictures.  One was a simple afternoon walk along the Cuckmere River and another was a day spent at Bodiam Castle.  Most of our conversations lately have revolved around job hunting and preparing for our baby, so sometimes it's nice to go somewhere different and take our mind off all the upcoming upheaval. 

The top three pictures are all from Bodiam Castle.  I'd highly recommend visiting there.  It's in ruins on the inside, but they have lots of interesting information and we even got to hear two different talks while we were there.  They were both about women in medieval times and they were both fascinating.  On the bottom row, the first picture is looking out across some fields near the castle.  I love English fields more than almost any other view, especially at this time of year.  I love the yellow rapeseed and the hedgerows and the variety of greens.  The last two pictures were on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon spent at the river Cuckmere.  We walked along in until we came to the spot where it flows into the sea, which is such a cool sight.  I love the white cliffs of the downs, especially on bright sunny days, and I've never actually follower a river all the way to the sea before. I'd definitely recommend that, too. 

utah

I am one of the worst travelers.  I don't know why, but I start to stress about any trip a few days before it happens, and then do my best to enjoy it while it's happening, but sometimes that's hard.  Then I get home and think, but that was really fun, why didn't I enjoy it more at the time?  But my trip to Utah ended up being really fun.  Even at the time.  I loved seeing my cousins (most of whom I hadn't seen in at least six years) and my dad's siblings.  My cousin's wedding was gorgeous, I had fun with my sister, and I even took her to a college tour.  (Then I flew to Boston with her and made her start her college applications.   They're due December 1 and she hadn't even started!  What?) 

 

Top: mountains, my cousin and her new husband (and her perfect bouquet...I loved the autumn colors), the temple where they were married.

Middle: my cousin's family, her wedding cake, my sister and aunt with the sparklers we used to send the newlyweds off on their honeymoon.

Bottom: my wedding hair, more mountains, and our first picture of the couple after they were married. 

autumn leaves

Autumn happens pretty gradually here, so even now, trees are just starting to turn and leaves have only just started falling off.  It kind of drags the season on a little, but I love getting the chance to enjoy it for longer.  This week brought many rainy days (today brought thunderstorms and pouring rain, for example) and fireworks to celebrate Bonfire Night.  When we're feeling lazy (and it's wet out) we enjoy our flat's location even more, because we could see fireworks from our window.  It might be a really lame way to celebrate, but it was raining outside and we got to stay warm and dry, so I don't care.

(almost) wordless wednesday

I am a little bit obsessed with the seaside and the pier.  I know I take a lot of pictures there, but really, it's just so gorgeous.  It might sound silly, but just walking by the water and listening to the waves crashing and receding over the pebbles, or watching the sun hit the sea, can always cheer me up.  It's my favorite place to run or go for a walk, and I'll never tire of taking pictures because it looks different every day. 

from instagram: around town

 

Just some pictures from around my town, all from my phone.  I was just telling my husband yesterday how I didn't really love sunny days, but I actually do.  I just like cold sunny days.  And almost all these pictures are from bright, sunny days, when the sea is glistening and the sky is a ridiculous shade of blue.  Anyway, the last two pictures are from a random foggy day and playing table tennis with my husband.  We actually haven't played in a while (thanks to Sam's classes keeping him busy) but it's fun when we do.  I'm terrible, but I don't mind how bad I am when I just play with Sam. 

happy halloween

Today is Halloween but I don't really think Sam and I will be doing much to celebrate.  We didn't even buy a pumpkin this year.  Last year, we bought some extra candy in case anyone came trick-or-treating, but of course, no one did.  In fact, a far bigger deal than Halloween was last night's World Series win for the Red Sox.  Sam stayed up til around 4 am to listen to it.  I'm so glad they won.  Anyway, these are some of my favorite pictures from my phone in October: 

Flowers from Sam, rainy days, the pier on a stormy morning, and trees starting to turn for autumn.  I love these things.  (All of these are from Instagram, of course...you can follow me here.)  October was a fun month, with plenty of changing leaves, birthday celebrations, cold and rainy days, new books, and schoolwork (for Sam).  October used to be my favorite month, but last year, I started to think maybe November was even better.  I have big plans for this November, and I really can't wait.  

from instagram

follow me on instagram here

These pictures are pretty much from all over the place: London, my town, visiting friends, etc.  Lately I've been trying to plan out the next few months (like will I go to my cousin's wedding, what are we doing for Christmas, etc) and Sam has been finishing up his semester.  Yesterday, we went for a walk to the library so he could do some research for the project he's submitting next week, but timed it horribly, and got soaking wet.  Then it continued to rain all day and we never really dried off, anyway.  Of course, we came home and warmed up with hot chocolate, and today it is bright and sunny again.  Anyway, I was taking all the pictures off my phone this week (because I'm hoping to get a new one soon) and wanted to share some of my (mostly) recent favorites.  I really love instagram.  (Doesn't everyone?) I recently read this and was a little embarrassed, because I've done a few of those.  But then, as someone commented, it's instagram...what are people expecting to see pictures of?