Smith Family Weblog

Our holiday preparations started Thanksgiving weekend–given the crazy amount of travel we’ve planned for this month, we had to get an early start. And yet, somehow, the month is already more than half over!

We arrived back from Nebraska the Sunday after Thanksgiving weekend, opened the door and threw our luggage, then headed out to cut a Christmas tree from a nearby farm. It was windy, but warm–perfect for a hayrack ride. (It was not perfect for hauling a giant tree back on the top of your SUV, but we made it, despite 45 mph wind gusts.)

I selected a tree in record time–after all, 17 loads of laundry awaited me at home.

The following weekend, Doug and Karyl came down. We spent Saturday morning at the Old Fashioned Christmas Parade, where we paid for the warm weather from the previous weekend. Fortunately (?) my car battery died on Mass Street the night before, securing us a fantastic spot to watch the parade with friends.

Olivia–not one for serious winter wear–kept saying, “Mom, my eyeballs are cold.”

We kept warm with coffee and hot cocoa. Every five minutes, Bryan would say, “Wow, I wish we could turn on the car and enjoy the heat!”

The big girls didn’t seem to mind the cold.

Once the Pilot was back up and running, Bryan and I went to the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City while Doug and Karyl stayed with the girls. We had a great time watching the Big 12 Championship, though admittedly, it would have been better with a Nebraska win. We spent Sunday being grateful for grandparents and making a big dent in our Christmas shopping.

Last weekend, we attempted to make our way up to Nebraska to celebrate birthdays with Wyatt and Grampa Great. However, 45 minutes outside of Omaha, Olivia threw up. Between the blizzard and the desire to spare our families exposure to a stomach bug, we turned around and drove three and a half hours home, without seeing anyone. Bryan–in good humor–promptly proclaimed it “the worst trip to Nebraska EVER.”

We recovered at home, playing Candy Land and finishing Christmas shopping. While it wasn’t the weekend we had planned, we did appreciate a quiet day at home together.

I just returned from a three-day trip to Madison (with an extra night at the KC airport hotel due to an ice storm yesterday). It was fabulous to see Alisa, Melissa, Lori and Liana–the spa and the snow were pretty awesome, too.

So, while December has been a blur so far, we’re having a great time. We’re looking forward to the coming two weeks and all the gatherings they will bring. Hope the holidays are off to a good start where you are, too.

One of my favorite parts of the trip was an afternoon in the Public Gardens.

Shortly after we left the gardens, we headed into Beacon Hill for gelato. Olivia, who was short a nap and long on energy, ran head first into someone on the street. I apologized as I pulled her out the way, just as Katie whispered, “Hey, that was Denis Leary!”

Tom immediately recalled that he was in town to host Comics Come Home, while I posted Liv’s brush with fame on Facebook. At some point, he must have circled back, because we found ourselves waiting at a stoplight with him. I am sure he was completely impressed with the giant tantrum Olivia was executing at that moment.

After taking the train back to Medford, we drove to Cambridge to watch the Huskers take on KU. We joined what must have been the entire Boston chapter of the UNL alumni association at a small pub. I can’t recall the last time I had so much fun cheering for the Huskers.

We had a great trip, thanks to Katie and Tom. We can’t wait to go back!

While in Concord, we stopped by the Old North Bridge, the site of the first battle of the Revolutionary War.

Last night, Ava, Olivia and I arrived in Boston for a long weekend with Aunt Katie. As I noted on Facebook: “After 1,200 miles, three hours, five partially-watched DVDs, four trips to the bathroom, two complete meltdowns, countless lollipops and only one glass of wine, we’ve finally landed in Boston. When exactly does the ‘vacation’ start?”

About that time, Olivia decided to entertain us with her antics, an act she kept up until 4:30 in the morning. (Seriously.) By the time I was on my second cup of coffee this morning, I was ready to leave the kids here and head south alone.

I’m glad I didn’t, though, because today turned out to be almost relaxing. Of course, thanks to Tom and Katie, we outnumbered the children three to two, which is a near perfect ratio. (Especially for a mom that just wants to pee alone every once in a while.)

We started the day at Castle Island, on the shore of the Boston Harbor in South Boston. Here are Katie and Tom at the shoreline with the girls.

We had lunch at Sullivan’s, a food stand that offered lobster rolls and fried clam bellies—along with 80 cent hotdogs.

Our picnic table overlooked the harbor—thankfully we had abundant sunshine to offset the rather chilly winds.

The girls ran off what energy they had left tumbling down the hills and chasing the gulls and geese.

After a driving tour of downtown Boston (during which the girls snoozed peacefully), we headed north to Concord. More soon!