T'was the Night Before Hilton Head

And all through the house, little kids were stirring in their beds, and not quiet as a mouse.  Probably because they ate three tons of chocolate before we sent them to bed, mostly because we had a "practice" Easter egg hunt and let them eat some chocolate.

Please enjoy the photos of our hunt, and anticipate a deluge of photos and posts as my job change is now officially complete!

NH Maple Sugaring Weekend

This weekend the Joel's were able to go skiing for the last time, and James and I stayed home by ourselves to get caught up on laundry, buy groceries, pack for Hilton Head, get drycleaning, etc, etc.  Who won out there?  How do I get to be named Joel?

It wasn't all chores though, we had a good time of course.  Though James has certainly entered the whiny phase of life.  He also says "Mommy" about a bizallion times a day.  I am pretty psyched for naptime.  I cooked pretty well all weekend, including sauteed scallops over soba noodles last night.  I also realized pretty quickly that my 5k running is around the corner, and I have officially gained 15 pounds since I started my job one year ago.  This means that my clothes from last year, do not fit.  This means that packing for Hilton Head was not pretty.

In avoidance of weight issues and impending 5k, this morning I made pancakes (whole wheat?!) - but we had run out of maple syrup!  How that worked out though, as I quickly did a google search, thinking: "Isn't it maple sugaring season?" and, sure enough it is - not only that, but it is maple sugaring weekend in NH.  So, in the car James and I went and we visited two sugar shacks.  We are set for maple syrup now, and James was able to stomp in puddles, get covered in sticky syrup, see chicks and a few horses and eat the messiest cookie in his brother's car seat.  Everyone was a winner.

I am about to start my last week of work, and then we are off to Hilton Head before I begin my new job as the Interim Administrator of the American Independence Museum.  I am hoping that the eating better and exercising will all come with these changes, because it is too hard to get a grasp on now with so much going on!

Catching Up

So, a lot has happened since the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago.  We had a great trip with Ama and Grumpy, we visited the Museum of Science and Industry again, which I love, and the plan ride home was miserable.  You are caught up. We also had a lovely weekend with the Solso's at Sunday River where we got to see Maddy ski for the first time, and Mommy had one of her last late night out's ever (sorry Auntie Jennie, my 2013 late night out has already been spent!).

More posts will be coming soon before this history all blurs into one, but in the meantime I thought I would fill you in on some terminology around the house lately:

Turd Bucket (Taa-d  Baa- KIT) -  James' nickname.

"Joel Did it" - James' new catch phrase.

"Daddy, you are ruining my day."  - what Joel Andrew says when Joel Husband makes him clean up.

"Welcome Home" - what the Disney people say when you bought into Disney Vacation Club and now will go there for the next 27 years!

Brookfield Zoo

Just when you thought you could not get better than the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, then comes the Brookfield Zoo.  What a fun time!  Keep in mind we went in the dead of winter, when there were snow piles on the ground.  What seemed like miles and miles of parking lots were covered in unplowed snow, as clearly no one braves the Zoo in the dead of winter, no one except for the Halls.

Joel Andrew was so close to the Lions it really scared us, and James was enjoying every little animal. Grumpy, Ama and myself were with James and were constantly telling Joel Andrew to slow down - but in the end, Joel Andrew was right - there were way too many animals to see in one visit, and we did not see them all.  They were everywhere!

They had a Children's Zoo which is a must see.  I am a museum person, and I am perplexed by this new thing I keep seeing of Add-on costs.  This Zoo, a zoo-within-a-zoo had add-on costs that were nominal, but still in my opinion ridiculous.  I paid (well, Ama and Grumpy paid) for us to come to the Zoo, and now more costs?  But, it was worth it.  Joel Andrew made an awesome lion mask, James was fascinated with the toys and the whole experience reminded me how fun it was to take the two places and how I can't wait to begin again with my new job change shortly.  Ama was a bit exhausted by trying to follow the two in a public place... who knows what I have gotten myself into!

We also went to see the dolphin show (also alacarte) which was very nice, succinct, with education but with also a lot of splashes.  I get annoyed at the shows that want to be all education.  It is a huge bummer I understand, for the animals, but lets not kid ourselves here, there is one reason and one reason only everyone is there - and you have to give it to them!

Enjoy the photos of the day!  And get excited for more posts!  It is kind of exciting, terrifying, awesome and crazy that pretty soon I will be the head of a Museum myself.  Kinda my dream, heading one of these places and hoping others will enjoy them and write about them, tell their friends, learn from it, and bring their kids.  Exciting!

Plane with Two Boys

The Plane ride out to Chicago, was surprisingly not brutal.  It was getting there that was brutal.  The small snow storm that hit our area turned into 14 inches on the ground, all schools closed, but no problem with the airport - flights still going.  So, we left extra early, and while I was grabbing my coffee to go - it spilled all over me and my coat, and my outfit.  Deterred to change my clothes for the fact that I am heavier than I have ever been without a recent child birth to explain for it, I kept my outfit on and blotted it off and kept going.  There was no time to try and find something else that would fit.

An hour and a half drive later (or an entire Peter Pan movie with opening Ads for the boys0 - we were at the airport.  In the elevator going up Joel Andrew exclaimed: "Mommy, I smell coffee!"  - Yeah, yes he did.

The boys adorably scarfed down egg and cheeses from DD.  We got on the plane, and it started.  They were pretty good, but the movie on either the iPad or the iPhone did not occupy them for more than 10 minutes at a time.  DEAR MAC - PUT A BUTTON ON THE IPAD OR THE IPHONE TO MAKE IT SO THAT A 22 MONTH OLD CANNOT CONSTANTLY TURN THE MOVIE OFF AND GO INTO YOUR WORK EMAILS.  THANK YOU.

They overall were great though, I cannot complain.  I am hoping they will be just as great tomorrow too.  The key I think is having lots of snacks, lots of movie options, we colored, we looked out the window, we were constantly occupied. It was exhausting.

On the landing it was kinda sketchy and the plan bounced around and both James and I screamed.  Joel Andrew looked at us and said: "This is fun!"  The ladies all around us said they did such a good job.  I was proud.

Life Style Change

Today it was official, I have announced I will be leaving The Trustees.  (Well, I announced it last week, but now the word is out).  One year as the Director of Annual Leadership giving I have travelled all over the state of Massachusetts from Stockbridge and Williamstown to Leominster, Sharon, Beverly, Nantucket and Westport.  My car has 20,000 additional miles on it.  I learned a lot, enjoyed meeting great and dedicated volunteers and staff - but missed my two little ones every step of the way.

An opportunity, which I could not pass up, presented itself and starting in April I will be working for a small Museum in Exeter - 5 miles from my house, part-time, and a chance to help them find their way during a period of transition.

Get ready for more outings with the little guys.