Monday, March 31, 2014

Not Quite Yet

Oops! When I was putting together the post for bonus days, I somehow missed these adorable pictures of Nonna and Zachary cuddling on the couch and playing a game on her phone! I promise, we'll be back in Connecticut on the blog, before we make our next trip to Iowa for Easter!



Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Bonus Days

















This is the second time I'm writing this post. Which seems appropriate since I was telling the story of how impossible it was trying to get home from Iowa, of course I'd have to write up the story twice. Wouldn't want to miss out on the opportunity to tell the story a few more times! 

We were supposed to fly home on the afternoon of January 2nd. We'd have a weekend in Connecticut to unpack, unwind and get ready for work and classes to start up again come Monday. Except our flight was delayed out of Moline, then it was cancelled, then it was rebooked for the next day, until THAT flight was cancelled as well. Finally we gave up and told Delta not to bother rebooking our flight until after the storm had a chance to blow through. It was too much packing and unpacking and repacking, and making tearful goodbyes, just to sit around for a few more hours. So we thoroughly enjoyed a few more "bonus" days in Iowa. We certainly made the best of our second chance, fitting in as much of the missed activities as we could. We're never really ready to fly home, but it felt better leaving after a few extra days then it would have to leave with our original itinerary.

Then we finally got on a plane Saturday. It was late, and de-icing delayed our flight by at least an hour...so we missed our flight in Atlanta. Zachary was quite pleased with our adventure, "We missed our flight in Atlantis, and had to stay at a hospital, but we are having so much fun!" We checked into a hotel, slept for a couple hours, then caught a very early flight to Boston, because we couldn't get into providence until Tuesday morning. But we made it. Our luggage didn't, but that is another story entirely. 

Home again, home again. Finally.

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Hold That Thought




Looks like Elara's youth and enthusiasm for yoga have paid off. Knees splayed out all over the floor, leaping out of Uncle Ben's arms like a Cirque du Soleil acrobat, running circles around me at the aquarium, climbing on top of the coffee table/box/bench/any available flat surface. I really have no excuse for this almost 2 years old and still lingering baby weight--I spend my days chasing around a nimble toddler! and her big brother!

Monday, March 24, 2014

The Return of Animal Rescue League (part 427)










It wouldn't be a complete visit with Poppa, if we didn't see the latest edition of Animal Rescue League--now with new Rescuer, Elara!

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Better than Me




All of the people featured here were feeling WAY better than me on New Year's Day. DESPITE my earlier mention of Champagne in bed, I really wasn't hungover. I woke up with a migraine, and DESPITE being the least drunk of everyone at the NYE party, I'm the only one who vomited the next morning. So, even though Uncle Rico had to wake up early the morning after his party and go to work, he still looked better than me the next night. And my kids are always way more energetic than me! 

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Name Games








Uncle Robert and Amanda were nice enough to host New Year's Eve for all of us. Zachary loved playing the game where you had to guess who you were, he was especially thrilled by all the superheroes! The night ended with me drinking champagne in bed. Which sounds way more glamorous than it was--I was stuck in bed at midnight, trying to get Elara to sleep! Now that we are three months into 2014--hope you're sticking to all your resolutions! 

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Then again, maybe not.











Elara is at a point in her life, where she basically never wants to stay still. She has a great surplus of energy, and too little attention span to stay focused on any one thing for very long. Doesn't matter if it is great food or a favorite television show, she will not last very long. She talks up a storm, always bossing us around. Sit here ("See"), more oranges ("innuh, moh"), give me your hand ("ham!"), music please ("zhzjuh plees")! Occasionally she'll even announce that she is ready for bed, by walking around telling everyone, "Nuh-nigh!" She's way more likely to respond like this, are you ready for bed Elara? "no!"