It’s chilly here. And, for the last 48 hours… rain. The whole weekend! Rain! Usually this would have me all up in arms with Mother Nature but lately the house is feeling extra cozy. In part because we’ve had a few fires going, Parker is pretty content with his newfound walking, I make a meeeean (boxed from Trader Joes do-nothing-but-add-an-egg-and-oil) banana bread, I’ve got a spicy candle burning almost all the time, jazz streaming from Pandora, and a cup of hot chai with some cream and honey and boom! Being house-bound isn’t half bad. By Wednesday if this keeps up, my story will change though.
This weekend we took advantage of the Smithsonian Free Museum Day and headed off for the Crane Estate–another tip thanks to Rachael! One of the most beautiful places in the Boston area. Heck, in Massachusetts! (USA! WORLD! I’m done.) We’d been on the grounds a couple times (family pictures, remember? Which reminds me, we’re desperately in need of an update!), but never inside. Do you know that the Crane family only lived here for 8 weeks of the year? It was their summer home, folks. That is just silly.
I’ve also been making good use of the beaches before they’re covered with snow. Parker and I have been arriving at the beach shortly after William and Lindsey get on the bus, and returning in time for his nap. They are the perfect thing for exhausting a very busy 14-month old. We get all layered up, he points to the birds, eats a snack, looks at the water, walks all around, eats the sand… you know how it goes. And William! He had his first cross-country meet. It was a two-miler and he did awesome. I’m going to enjoy going to his meets this year (cross-country was my favorite sport in high school.). I get all goose-bumpy when I cheer for him.
Hope you’re staying warm and cozy wherever you are. Though, some of you are probably heading into summer?
What I’m wearing: (faux! leather! runs super small!) jacket // flannel
And Parker too: green snapsuit (bought on Zulily) // pants (my favorite… I keep ordering the next size up because I love them so much) // shoes (Lindsey’s wearin’ em too!)
fall looks good on you girl. and on parker too. with his one shoe on in the sand. i die.
We're not quite into fall yet. So sad. But Louisiana doesn't get fall (or Trader Joe's!) for quite some time. I wish it were scarf and sweater weather!! 🙁
@megan, he lives on the edge.
@kara, no trader joes?! NO TRADER JOES? that is just wrong.
Sigh. You really know how to embrace the seaspns, don't you? I love that you two have fun at the beach. So sweet.
Just ordered those shoes for my little guy! I've been wanting some like it but couldn't find them anywhere. Thanks for the link!
Oh hey. Nice jacket.
Looks GOOD on ya girl.
I want to be cozy! Well, technically it's 35 degrees outside and our cabin is warm, but it's only because I'm not home. Home is hot. Porch pumpkins don't look as good in 90 degrees. They cry little pumpkin tears.
I love your pictures, but I have a soft spot for little little boys with footballs in the fall. Can I say it's iconic? Maybe not, maybe it's just incredibly cute.
love that estate. if i ever get married or engaged, def taking photos there 🙂 your hair is getting so long!! so pretty!!
@melly b, never leave the cozy cabin.
@emily baker, yesss. getting married there would be the bomb but probably ridiculously expensive i imagine?
@emily, guuurl. after seeing how hot it looked on YOU, i had to do it.
@beth ann, they're the cutest. and they stay on!
Love seeing pictures of you with the kids. You take on the mother role so gracefully with them. They are truly blessed. I have to admit, it brings me to tears when I see you with them. Its such a bittersweet story, how it all came about. But, Lord knows if something ever happened to me, I'd want to know my baby was taken care of…so, hats off to you girl! You're doing an awesome job!Enjoy the fall-like weather!
We're in the 80's today, but I think we're supposed to cool down this week. Thank goodness!! I can't wait to not be sweating (pregnancy thing). Plus: soup. And spicy candles.
Parker's so dang cute at the beach!
Those pictures of Parker are ADORABLE! You make one cute baby, that's for sure!
Your family is stunning, as always! How did you make your Halloween puff garland??
@stefanie, I linked to the tutorial in the comments on that post! check it out :). Martha Stewart tutorial…
l.o.v.e. the picture of parker in the sand with one shoe! he is darling! happy fall!
Parker is loving that football. ya know, Parker Hunt is a preeeetty cool NFL name.
and jealous that you live so close to the beach.
it rained for a lot of the weekend here too and on and off since and although after a while i get cabin fever at the moment i am enjoying just staying in and cosying up at home.
Cozy and rain and all that you mentioned in the first paragraph sounds fabulous. 🙂 And yay for beaches, runners and family.
i'm always saying i have to live near the beach when i have kids… even if it's not hot all year round, the beach is where they kids exahust their energy… and obviously thats a good thing!