Transportation. Week 26-52

26 weeks already? Where did the year go?  We spent the weekend in manhattan with great friends of ours.  The kids got such a kick out of riding the subway.  I liked the gritty texture of this filter as it seemed appropriate for NYC transit.

We got to see lots of people enjoying the latest form of public transportation in the city - Citibike is here! NYC finally catching up with the other great cities of the world.

Of course there have always been plenty of bicycles in NYC... but mainly used for pizza delivery.

Young. Week 25-52

Last weekend Seb called me on the way home from work saying he had a big surprise waiting for me.  Ducklings!!  A whole weekend of duckling sitting!  It was so much fun for the girls (and for me).  They were a week old!  So tiny, so cute and they were inseparable.  This is their first time on grass!

They got to check out flowers and leaves for the first time.  I love this one of Charlotte's hand holding out a little leaf that they want to see.

And they also got to go swimming in a little tub we made for them.  So adorable seeing them dive under for the first time.  I thought it would be cute to introduce them to our rubber ducky.  Apparently real ducklings are terrified of fake ones.  I removed him immediately (well, after I took the pic).  I promise no ducklings were hurt in the production of this image.

 By the end of the weekend I swear they had doubled in size.  They grow so fast.  As do my children.  Yesterday was Annabelle's last day at daycare before she starts pre-school.  She had the BEST person ever watching over her so we made some fun (and sad) photo cards for her.  I got this cute font at picmonkey.

Writing. Week 24-52.

Man... some weeks parenting can be rough.  One evening last week I had to put my 6 year old in time-out.  When that didn't work I gave her one more warning before it was ""no books tonight" - the ultimate punishment.  She wasn't happy about it at all.  After a pretty major meltdown (and no books) she finally quieted down and started writing little messages which she threw down the stairs (and then shouted "Mum, there is a message for you).
This was the first one " I love you, but sometimes I don't.  I hope you understand"  Yes. I was pretty crushed.

Six more messages came down the stairs that night.  I had to wait until the following day to get the message I really wanted though!

Countryside. Week 23-52

I was so lucky to go home to England last week and surprise my aunt for her big birthday. Luckier still that England was awash with golden sunlight from the minute I arrived until the moment I left.  Truly, I think that there is nothing prettier than the English countryside.  Here's just a sample.

And then of course there are english country gardens with little gates and gorgeous daisies

railway tracks that head off into the distance

signposts to the village hall

flowers that grow on stone walls with my uncle waiting patiently for me to take yet another picture

But mostly in the countryside you can be guaranteed a pub lunch/sunday roast with a yorkshire pudding that will blow your mind.  Oh England, I miss you.