What a hoot.

Apart from little one's tummy aches, we're still riding high after this weekend's surprises...and what else?

1. It's GORGEOUS here. In the 70s and so pleasant out. I've got a bit of a sinus thing going on but it doesn't matter because I can go outside and get a bit of warmth.

2. We had a SPECTACULAR time celebrating my wonderful in-laws; what a joy.

3. We also had a great time watching some good football this weekend, though we were disappointed to see the Packers throw it away.

4. Though flying is never fun {in my opinion...would it get better if I were more positive about it? I can't see how I could trick myself into that...} it does mean that we will sleep in our own bed tonight, never a bad thing.

5. We do NOT have a red-eye flight today. Hallelujah.

I hope you're enjoying your long weekend! 
xoxo, natty ♥

Two hours.

It's cold and rainy out today but that's OK because...

1. Thanks to said weather we had a two-hour delay this morning; I certainly do love me a bit of extra sleep!

2. Maybe more delays tomorrow? 

3. Baby is being hilarious; always fun!

4. Parks and Rec comes back this week!

5. I'm loving the slippers my dad gave us for Christmas; it's like walking on pillows and they're so cozy...thanks Dad!!!

Happy Monday y'all.
xoxo, natty ♥

Let's read!

Hello Monday...what's new and good?

1. I had retreat at work today. This was a TRULY MARVELOUS way to begin work after vacation.

2. It was a lovely retreat as well and a nice bit of time for quiet and reflection, something I sorely need.

3. I got this email today! Now for some free time to get to reading...

 

4. Snow is on the forecast for tomorrow which could maybe mean some time for reading said book, if only baby naps...

5. That baby...though she's been tough since she's dealing with jet-lag and teething she's still such a light and joy, we love her so so much.

Hope you're well and peaceful wherever you are Reader.

Viola.

We took the baby to the San Francisco Zoo today. My dad took me here a lot growing up so it was really special for him to take his granddaughter for the first time.

And she loved it! Hanna Lu just this past week started to show some major interest in animals, giggling and laughing and pointing {a new skill!} whenever she sees Zee Zee or one of the cats. She started off with the Giraffes and loved everything she could get her eyes on.

 

She napped a bit and we met this ferret, Viola, while she slept. We capped off the visit with a merry-go-round ride which wasn't a hit with our baby and proclaimed it a very successful and happy visit. Thanks Grandpa and Lola for taking baby Hanna to the zoo! This was a truly marvelous Monday!

Chipwiches!

It's the last working Monday of 2014...woah!!! And...

1. We're watching WWE Monday Night Raw...good trashy fun that I only discovered last week. No judgies.

2. I picked up some chipwiches while grocering today; yum.

3. My school had its annual student/faculty/staff Christmas assembly this afternoon which includes a reading of the Polar Express, an American Sign Language Christmas song medley, and an amazing full orchestra rendition of Sleigh Ride.

4. Today was my last day of teaching for 2014...though it was a review day, it still counts. Here's to making 2015 a good teaching year as well!!

5. We get to see family THIS WEEK! And next week too!! We are so lucky to be able to spend the time with them all.

We hope your day and week are decent enough and that you've got some holiday/family love coming your way soon.
xoxo, natty ♥

Contest.

Someone under the age of one was very off, sleep-wise, after my post last night and it made for a tired family this morning. Let's hope that tonight is better and in other more positive news...

1. Our school has a gingerbread building contest that I entered along with a coworker. We were the only teachers {ha!} but had a blast trash-talking the kiddos and creating something out of graham crackers, frosting, and candy. I doubt we'll win but it was good fun and the first gingerbread house {even though it was out of graham crackers} I had made in years - my best bud and I used to make gingerbread houses this time of year at the community center; there was a two-week class kids could do which was amazing. The first class was constructing the house with some nice solid frosting and after a week of curing, the second weekend session was spent decorating the houses with as much candy and supplies which was my friend's favorite part since she had a delightful sweet tooth.

I digress.

2. One more Monday is between me and our winter break!

3. I'm feeling hopeful about making some cookies this holiday season; last year I didn't make any.

4. My calves are super sore today after our 14 flights of down-stairs last night {read HERE} which can be construed as a positive in the sense that maybe it will motivate me to actually re-start my running career.

5. My sweet husband. What a dude. He took care of dinner tonight and has been doing so many dishes/dog care which is a huge burden off my working mother shoulders.

Good Monday for you today folks?!?
xoxo, natty ♥

Warm day!

It's super nice out today! And in other news...
1. Funny baby...Hanna Lu has been ridiculous recently with her babbling and latte-machine sounds.

2. Getting our apartment together - we just got another set of shelves which is more storage and with a bit more straightening up, things are feeling great.

3. A great daycare provider - baby is just so happy with this lady and that makes us happy.

4. With the way time goes, our visit with families is rapidly approaching and will be here SO SOON...yippee for this!!!

5. Maybe snow again tomorrow morning? Let's actually hope not for our commute's sake.
xoxo, natty ♥

Leftovers.

I'm very fortunate to have this whole week off from school/work so...

1. I've been enjoying this sight ever since the first week of November.

I sincerely love it, though I"m not sure why. I think it's poignant? I've been thinking all along I'd love to take a really nice picture of it but it's on my way home and at that point of the day I'm soooooo on my way outta Dodge that pulling over for a shot, however meaningful in some abstract way it might be, isn't on my agenda. But today, I took in our baby to daycare which is way the heck up by where I work and my leisurely morning sans bebe meant I could drive along side this view and get a few phone pictures.

2. I took our baby to daycare today. I hadn't been in our apartment without her except for once when Michael took her for a walk whilest I napped and though we missed her it was liberating to get some stuff done and not worry about her.

3. Speaking of that daycare lady, we are SUPER fortunate that our baby loves this woman and that she takes such sweet care of the little nugget.

4. Vacation! 

5. We get to see Ellie later this week!!!

6. This paw.

I love this paw.

How YOU doing Reader??
xoxo, natty ♥

Today was awesome.

Pertaining to yesterday's post...today was awesome. It had challenging and tiring parts to it but it was a day with my family and that's enough. And the best part is that tomorrow is the same. Truly, that attitude of mine can be a powerful tool and I don't wield it in the most productive of manners; this is a lesson I struggle with on the daily.

More things?

!. After much delaying {and dinero}, we got our car registered here; Maryland does not this an easy process make.

But at least the DMV was relatively quick, low on expletives, and had friendly employees.

@. With such a busy and coordinated afternoon this

was in order. Thank goodness for delivery.

#. It's looking like I might have all of next week off - now that's a reason to give thanks. Several of those days might be taken up with doctor's appointments considering it's time off and I've already used more sick days {for me and baby} this year than ever in my life but it's still a week where no alarm clock shall be set.

$. There was also oreo cookie ice cream on the menu tonight.

%. A Happy Birthday to a dear friend I left back in California; I hope that today was lovely in many ways!!!! And due to the delights of leap years and calendars, your birthday won't have to be on a Monday again until 2025!

&. That's a good guy I got hitched to and an amazing father to our little girl, says a grateful wife.
 

How's your week going Reader? Well and hopefully warming up a bit I hope!
xoxo, natty ♥

On the horizon.

Oh oh oh Monday is donezo...what else is nice?

1. There's some nice weather on the near horizon {& some not-so-nice weather further away}.

2. We had a great weekend relaxing around here before a little trip we have planned for next weekend.

3. A little trip planned for next weekend! More on that later.

4. Our baby is being her funny self and today at least took some naps, after yesterday's marathon awake time.

5. Thai food for dinner; so good on so many levels.

How's your week {& November} shaping up Reader? Well I hope!
xoxo, natty ♥

Sliding.

Today was a bit warmer and far less windier than yesterday, perfect for being inside at work.

More brevity? Ok!

1. At the pumpkin place yesterday our entrance fee {we shan't be returning, I've decided...a bit too much kitsch and detritus laying around but for the slim pickins available to us late-seasoners it served a purpose} included unlimited slide use.

This thing was far steeper than I realized and I screamed the whole way down. Which wasn't that far but it was exhilarating.

2. We've got some fun plans in the next two months...friends, travel, family, woo hoo!

3. There was a wonderful candy/snack-make-your-own-bag-of-treats-bar at work today commemorating the end of the quarter and I was one happy teacher.

4. Someone learned how to wave this past week; this is serious cuteness.

5. There are a bunch of leftovers in the fridge, good ones at that, which means no cooking for {hopefully} two days; yesssss.

How's your week shaping up Reader? Much darker tonight than what you're used to, yes? I felt off all day thanks to the light difference!!

xoxo, natty

They're watching.

Hello Monday!

1. I threw caution to the wind and did an actual run today, not just a one-minute-on-one-minute-off sorta thing.

2. On that run I looked up at the beautiful sky and snapped a shot.

    Only to later realize that it's one of those darn cameras. I have a hard time     
    knowing which are for traffic purposes {curses upon you} and which truly are just 
    the big-brother variety. I'm OK with the big-brother ones but I freaking hate those 
    traffic/speed cameras - it feels like such a violation. Says the girls who has gotten 
    several tickets this way {the last was over a year ago, mind you!}. 

3. We are still riding high from our glorious visit with Rebecca this weekend; what an amazing friend we're so lucky to have in our lives.

4. We've got some pretty weather on the horizon!!

5. How about those GIANTS?!?!?!

How's your week so far Reader? Do you have your pumpkin{s} yet?
xoxo, natty ♥

I needed that.

So the baby and I stayed home sick today; not fun...but!

1. I got some cleaning/arranging done; so nice!

2. We had dinner from the crockpot; so nice!

3. Daddy's home; so nice!

4. Baby got to visit the pediatrician and she doesn't have an ear infection or anything that's moved into her chest; really nice!

5. REBECCA'S COMING TO VISIT US ON FRIDAY!

Bonus 6. That "strata" I mentioned earlier only got better and lasted us through lunch today.

How's your week shaping up Reader? I hope you're staying healthy!!
xoxo, natty ♥

20 minutes.

A day off! But we've had some rough sleep this weekend {teething? Getting used to being home [still?]? Too many new experiences during the day?}. Soooooo...

1. Yesterday I strapped on my Brooks and got in a bit of a run, the first since July. That's all.

2. This is a bit of an abbreviated week at work which allows for some extra grading/planning time; much needed extra grading/planning time.

3. Hmmmm...this baby has been a bit of a pill this weekend; maybe daycare and working and all that jazz ain't all that bad after all.

4. Black bean and pumpkin soup; YUM.

5. Leftovers!

How's your week shaping up dear Reader? Well I hope!!!
xoxo, natty ♥

Joy.

I'm in a post-vacation/red-eye daze...in some happy news:

 

1. We made it home safely.

2. I got the baby to nap with me all afternoon. We unfortunately got up at seven PM which is her bedtime so there have been a couple of tearful hours while we've been trying to put her down, but now hopefully she's good and ready for sleep.

3. I got all our bags for work/daycare {& a new one at that} ready for tomorrow; even if I'm not prepared at work {but I should be; I left everything set for my return} I'll at least have everything set to go when I walk out the door in the morning.

4. My dear husband is taking care of dinner tonight.

5. Did I mention that nap after a red-eye flight with another one after it {with a baby?}? 

 

What's new for you folks?

xoxo, natty ♥

Hello week.

We had a wonderful weekend...in other news:

1. Some pals recently purchased their first home and now reside in said residence; many happy congratulations to you two and your hound!!!!

2. Glorious weather abounds.

3. My husband has gotten in to getting the coffee ready for us in the morning; THIS IS SO SWEET.

4. We're going to California in a couple of days!!!!

5. For he wedding of one of our best friends. ❤️❤️❤️

How's your Monday going Reader!?! 

xoxo,

natty

Wedgie.

In a total fail this afternoon, after much planning and rushing and schedule coordinating {& driving through gnarly Monday afternoon DC traffic}, Michael and I got ourselves and our crying, dirty {after dousing herself in milk and crawling around daycare all day [what I imagine she must do while I'm at work]}, and exhausted baby to her 5 PM pediatrician check-up {it was 5:15 when we arrived}. And we were told that it's at 5 PM tomorrow. 

So, in some positive news...

1. I love my husband; he got me some lovely flowers last weekend that are still hanging around and I just love him.

2. Our child brings us humor.

Like when she got herself stuck between the couch and ottoman because she's been crawling way too early for our liking and today was chasing after a toy she kept flinging out of her reach and going after.

3. We've got some beautiful weather in the works this week.

4. I tried a few times in July to run and just couldn't really find the time desire but now I'm feeling some actual, organic want/need to crank out some miles. Now, just to find those extra three hours a day...

5. We have a quick little California trip on the schedule next week; WOO HOO!

How's your week Reader? Do you laugh at your children/pets/significant others/family?
xoxo, natty ♥

Mountains.

My title is referencing the amount of laundry I feel we go through each day...and in some more news:

1. Our washer/dryer is now right next to our hamper and it certainly makes going through those daily mountains much easier than at our old place; seriously, what a difference 20 feet make for people like us.

2. We had a lovely and relaxing weekend - something for which I was and am extremely grateful.

3. We've got some family fun in the weekend ahead; woo hoo! This fun may even include providing our child with the opportunity to sample some avocado...or sweet potato perhaps!

4. Target has a fun partnership coming up!

Maybe I'll snag a pair for little one for when her itty-bitty feet {they're seriously tiny} can fit into them.

5. And speaking of shopping; with September half-way gone, though it has felt like October for a month now what with the busy-ness of things, I see December rapidly approaching and WOAH this time is flying.

How's your week Dear Reader? Good I hope!
xoxo, natty ♥

Dark clouds.

We had some good storms this weekend...Saturday night's went on forever and the view from out 14th floor was glorious...in other news:

1. A certain thoughtful husband made me some dinner tonight after a long day; thank you husband!

2. We had a lovely weekend with a really good friend; thank you friend!!

3. The weather today was beautiful - cool, almost, which will be glorious if it sticks around.

4. I'm mulling over some apple-picking/pumpkin gathering activity for later this month.

5. Apart from a long day I have ahead of me tomorrow this week is shaping up to be a normal week where we're not up to too much; something that's decent after a busy month!

What's new in your neck of the woods Reader? Keeping occupied like we are?!
xoxo, natty ♥

Sweetness.

Today has been glorious; a bit of a sleep in {6:30 instead of 5:30}...and what else?

1. This morning we had breakfast out with my brother-in-law and his lady...

So curious.

and baby Lu sat in a big kid high-chair! She was propped up with some stuff but would've been fine without it all.

2. Our child "drew" with the restaurant crayons.

She's SO advanced.

3. I whipped up a nice jar full of simple syrup today.

Regular granulated sugar doesn't dissolve well at cooler temperatures and since I'm still on a big iced coffee kick thanks to this grossness:

{& still on a sweetened coffee kick thanks to something I'll explain at a later date}, this stuff makes the AM caffeine preparation go much quicker. And it's super easy; heat up equal parts sugar and water over medium-high heat until dissolved. This above is a cup each of sugar and water.

4. Short work week this week...woo hoo!

5. Some friends came over for dinner tonight which prompted some cleaning/clearing out. We really should've stopped using the "we just moved" excuse because we really did not just move. Thank goodness for some good old fashioned motivation.

How was your long weekend folks? Is it heating up alluvasudden in your parts? Have a lovely week!

xoxo, natty