Spring Creek Forest Preserve - Nature Time

Mister wants to walk and so we shall.  I think we are going to the Arboretum but he heads off in an entirely different direction and once again we are back in Garland.  His destination is the Spring Creek Forest Preserve, a city-owned nature preserve.

There are very few cars when we arrive and you can hear birds everywhere.  Cameras ready?  Let's walk.  It is soooo peaceful.  I love it.  Good choice Mister.  As we get down towards the creek, Mister has brought along a thermos with hot homemade chai tea (his own recipe and dang he does a good job on it) so we stop to have a drink.  It is cool enough that I can see the steam rising as he takes a drink.

We continue on our way and I spot this old gnarled tree.  Isn't it beautiful in it's own way?  Especially with that gorgeous blue sky behind it.

Ahhh -- Boston With Bob

13th - Over Christmas I mentioned to my nephew that if he would like to go to Boston, I would take him after the girls finish their visit.  So, true to my word, the flights look open and we are on our way.  Hello stand-by.  This is Bob's first time flying JetBlue and also stand-by so the whole experience is interesting to him.  We are issued seats right away and after a short delay are boarded and ready for fun.  It is after 7 in the evening and we will arrive around 11:30 p.m.  See ya in Boston.

Our arrival in Boston goes well, we find the Silver line into the city and are soon on our way.  Once at our stop, our options are to walk the 12 minutes to the hotel or wait and catch a subway train that lasts 7 minutes and gets us within a block and a half of the hotel.  It's kind of a no-brainer and we opt to walk.  Well --- we are not exactly dressed for the weather and it is 16 degrees out.  We are dressed for a flight.  We find our gloves and set out using our phones as GPS guides since we have come up out of the station at a street that wasn't on our list.  My phone just plain old won't follow us as we walk and so we switch to Bob's phone and it takes us on a merry walk through some interesting parts of town including Chinatown at 1:00 in the morning.  Oh goodness.  We are freezing and this is just not a great start to our trip.  Finally, I spot some "you are here" maps on the street and we get our bearings and locate the hotel.  Two walking ice cubes check in and I discover that my room was booked incorrectly and that it only has one bed.  What??  Within moments, they switch our room and we are soon dumping our backpacks and climbing into warm beds.  Bob's fingers are finally starting to thaw out.  I'm thinking he thinks his aunt is a nutcase and that this is going to be one very long trip.  We crawl into bed and neither of us are tired after our 30 minute walk so we talk until around 2:30 before crashing.  Oh --- the hotel room is nice - nothing special, but nice.

Ohio State Marching Band

I had received information on the neighborhood Facebook group that the Ohio State Marching Band would be at a local school to practice this morning.  They are getting ready for the big game tomorrow.  I called Jen when I found out to let Bekah know it was happening and told them to let me know if they were going to make it.  When I was driving back from taking Rhiana and the girls to the airport this morning, Jen sent me a text saying they were on their way.  I returned home and relaxed for a bit before sneaking out the door to go and meet them, thus letting Mister get a little more sleep.

It is a very cold morning, but still fun.  Obviously Bekah wouldn't get in a picture -- what's new?

After the rehearsal, Jen, Jon, and Bekah headed off to Temple for the day with the grands spending time with friends and Jen having a much needed spa day.  I'm kinda jealous.  

Mister called while I was at the practice and we decided to go and get some coffee and enjoy the morning together.  All in all --- busy morning, but fun.

Elena and Malea Visit -- Days 12 & 13 and Saying Good-bye

9th - Where is the time going?  We only have these lovelies for a couple more days.  Oh my and there are still so many things we want to do.  One of the requests that Elena had when she first arrived was to sew a skirt.  I get the fabric washed first thing so that she can cut out her skirt today and start sewing.  To appease Malea --- a new toy!!  As soon as Elena has her fabric cut, she starts ironing in her hem and casing for the elastic at the waist.  Then to the sewing machine to put both of those and the back seam in place.

Elena and Malea Visit -- Days 10 & 11

7th -  Grandpa is working from home today and has set up shop in the living room.  We must be quiet little angels during the conference calls and it is still blessed cold outside.  That's okay though as we have some fun things to do today but right now my tummy is growling and Malea is definitely interested in some breakfast.  What shall we make?  Fruit salad - yummy yummy.

Elena and Malea Visit -- Days 8 & 9

5th - It is still oh so cold out.  I am so sad that the weather is not cooperating with the girls stay.  They didn't bring warm coats and stuff so it is hard to be out when it is freezing.  Drat.  I guess it's time for another craft and some games.  We will enjoy the day no matter what.  I gave Elena a modeling magic gift for Christmas and this is as good a time as any to make it.  She has to push the different colors into the spaces and make them fill the area.  It takes most of the morning but her finished product is amazing when we flip it over.  So pretty, yes?

Elena and Malea Visit -- Days 6 & 7

If you are wondering where days 3, 4, and 5 went ---well the girls were with Aunt Jenny in Abilene while Gammy had quilt school and I don't have any pictures of that time.  Yep --- you read that right.

3rd -  Today is Saturday and it is the last day of quilt school for more.  The girls are spending the day with Grandpa and after I get finished, I drive home to pick everyone up for a night at Jason and Tina's where the girls meet a new playmate and spend the evening enjoying some social time.  I think Grandpa must have misplaced his camera all day today for I cannot find a single picture of their day together.