Kate's Visit

My dear friend Kate came to visit Dec. 12th-17th. She is my best friend from high school and I am proud to have known her for over 13 years! This was her first visit to Baltimore and we had a blast. She fit nicely into our life routine and was extremely helpful. Thanks Kate for making the trip. Kate is an amazing photographer, she documented our time together beautifully and I am thrilled to have so many great pictures of my kids and city.

Doing life together:

Walking

Shopping

Baking

Bedtime

She did our hair in French braids- something that she did for me numerous times in highschool.

Elliott with his self-created hat

Watching the daily video and pulling hair

Lots of tea, chocolate and Trader Joe's cookies were consumed

during the kids rest-time and our work-time

Kate works at Trader Joe's- one of my favorite places!

I had to take her to ours which resides under a cross street.

I am not sure I could live in a place without TJs!

She was fascinated by the pillars holding up the store

I had to take her to all (at least most of) my favorite places in B'more! Here are some pictures of the places- outside and inside...

Baltimore Art Museum

Paper Moon Cafe

Sweet Sin Cupcakes- my friend's Gluten Free Bakery

Chocolatea- great tea and hot chocolate house

Red Canoe- bookstore and cafe

Baltimore Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

We did some driving tours to show her...

The best of Baltimore...

And the worst...

Some great nature pictures, Kate made winter look beautiful.

I am trying to convince her to come back in the Spring.

This one shows you what a warm November and December we had

My favorite photos of my loved ones (minus Eric)

Some other cool pics

I was SO blessed by Kate's visit and am praying she (and her camera) come(s) again!

Fall Recap

Fall came and went! Between life, working, and being constantly nauseous, I had no time to blog. Here is the run down of what we were up to this fall...

Well, it started right after Hurricane Irene... the awful week without power... Elliott got bit by Avery (our parrot of seven years). His finger was partially amputated. We rushed off to the local community hospital...

Were transferred by ambulance at my request after they said, "We will sew it back on and see what happens."

Spent the night in the hospital awaiting surgery by the pediatric hand surgeon, glad I was transferred.

He spent two weeks in a full hard cast, making my life lots of fun, especially since he decided to start feeding himself during that time. We were sad to miss our annual trip to the beach at my Uncle's house. Our fall hick-off was not the best.

Two week after his injury, we saw a double line!

Elliott's cast was off just days before I left for California (by myself!). I went to SoCal for a long weekend for my sister, Rahime's baby shower. It was such a blessing to be there!

Back at home, life trekked along...

Audrey enjoyed being part of a preschool co-opt. Every Tuesday the moms took turns teaching (every 6 weeks). When it wasn't my turn, I usually would run earns with Elliott, who was very sad missing his sister. He would sit there a say, "Audi, Audi?"

The preschool group went on outings on Thursdays. Here are some pictures from the zoo and pumpkin patch:

Eric's dad spent three weeks with us while he remodeled George and Stefanie's kitchen.

On October 30th, my niece, Eleanor Lin-Huei Ting was born and my heart grew a little bigger.

We celebrated Halloween twice, first at our church and then with Eric's family.

Elliott as a kangaroo. Audrey did point out that he went as a girl/mommy kangaroo.

Audrey was a ladybug

Eric as a lumbar jack and I as a (knocked-up) Little Bo Peep

Cedulie (as Dora) with the girls and their pumpkins

Elliott learned to climb and dance on the table

Audrey had lots more creative outfits

Elliott got his first hair cut

And learned the joys to walking in the rain

We enjoyed a newly discovered trail

Audrey was quite the climber

I got to go to NorCal for 6 days to meet my new nephew and niece

While I was gone, Eric hung out with some other daddies and their kids and introduced a new concept, "football dinner" to the kids.

Leaves were raked

I had my first work fundraiser, so fun!

We went on lots of walks and enjoyed the colors

We even made a leaf wreath

Thanksgiving was spent at George and Stefanie's house

No shopping on Black Friday, but lots of canning of apple butter and lemon curd. Yummy!

That wraps up our eventful fall! It was great, but super busy!