Boston Sleepover

Josh was given a one night stay at the Hotel Commonwealth in Boston because he was speaking at a conference there. Even though I suggested he might want to take advantage of a full night's sleep when he can get it, he invited Sophia and I to come along. I appreciated the proximity of this trip when other times it just  doesn't make sense for us to join him in his travels.

I picked Sophia up after work and we headed to the train. When we got off at Kenmore Station, the Red Sox Mascot was handing out t-shirts and promoting preseason ticket purchases. Sophia looked at him as if he was just another commuter, and I silently wished that she would always look at others with such equanimity, even when they are oblong, furry, and green.

For dinner we stopped at UBurger, where I got a veggie burger, a side of onion rings and a chocolate frappe (they recently won best of Boston for these). We were able to see Joshua for a few minutes in the hotel room before he headed to his dinner. While I ate mine, Sophia thoroughly enjoyed the squish of the ketchup in the packets.

Our room had a little teddy bear with a 'Commonwealth Hotel' sweatshirt for Sophia, and a great view of Fenway Park. Despite two months of Sophia sleeping in her own room at home, she fully embraced the concept of a sleepover by staying up later than her bedtime, sleeping in the same bed together, and eating quite a bit of the night.

The next morning Sophia and I were on our own in the city. Since it was only about 15 degrees we went straight to the T station. We crossed the river and met our friend Emily in Harvard Square at Zoe's diner. Sophia was still in her pajamas at breakfast, a critical component of sleepovers.

On the way home we met a man playing a Hurdy-Gurdy. We danced to one of his songs and then he played Sophia a lullabye. As our train approached he said "almost" as it hadn't quite put her to sleep, but to his credit she did sleep the entire train ride home!

New Year's Eve 2013

 Even though we have seen more of the hours past midnight in the last seven months than ever before, it was New Year's Eve 2012 when we most recently stayed up this late intentionally.

As we were boarding our flight at Logan airport the attendant said, "I hope 2014 is an even better year for you". I gestured to Sophia and said that this year would be hard to top.

 

Due to some flight delays our plane arrived in Philadelphia at 10 pm. Unfortunately this was after my brother had already left for his planned festivities and before my Mother and her husband had returned from theirs. Without a ride, we headed to the taxi stand. 

Finally at 11 pm we were home. A few minutes later Sophia's Gran and Grandpa arrived. The bright lights in the airport, along with all of the people and the fact that it was hours past her bedtime meant that Sophia was far from settled. I tried to ready her for bed, while Joshua joined his in-laws downstairs for snacks, champagne, and fireworks on tv.

 

 Sophia fell asleep 17 minutes before the start of the New Year. I snuck downstairs feeling badly that she came so close to it, but missed it. My Mom rightly pointed out that she needed the sleep, and we could celebrate without the attendance of an overtired little one.

 

Even though Sophia was born almost half way through 2013, it feels a bit odd to me that it is no longer the year of her birth!

First Christmas Part II

On Christmas eve after my work day ended, Joshua, Sophia, my brother James, and I arrived just in time for the Christmas Eve service in Vermont. I loved holding my daughter while singing one of my favorite hymns, "How silently, how silently, The wondrous Gift is giv'n!, So God imparts to human hearts, The blessings of His Heaven."

On Christmas morning we opened gifts with Sophia's Grammie, Grandpa, Great Grandfather, Aunt Becca, and cousins Blake and Aaron.

Sophia with cousins Blake and Aaron

Sophia's Grammie helped her unpack her Stocking while she continued a Condon tradition of wearing Christmas Eve pajamas from her Gran.

Two of her favorites that she opened Christmas morning:

Of course more than the gifts, her true favorite was the wrapping paper:

Also during this visit we went to a Children's science museum:

And she went on her first sled ride with her Dad and Uncle James:

A few days later we traveled to northern Vermont to celebrate with about thirty members of the Thurber side of the family. As the youngest, Sophia was able to choose the first gift in the traditional Yankee Swap. She walked over to the table, with some assistance, to make her selection:

First Christmas Part I

First Christmas Part I

Our Christmas season was spent all over the east coast this year. It began with a celebration right after Thanksgiving when we were in Pennsylvania. Every year we alternate between celebrating Christmas with our New Hampshire relatives and our Pennsylvania ones. Since we would be in New Hampshire this year on December 25th, my Mother called our November visit in PA "Thankmas", as she wanted to enjoy as much of Christmas as she could with Sophia. 

When we were in Washington DC during the first week of December we were able to see how our Nation's capitol was decorated. This tree at the World Bank had flags from many different countries represented.

The following week in Florida it felt odd to be listening to Christmas carols with the car windows rolled down, but it was fun when the Beach Boy's "Little Saint Nick" came on the radio. We loved the palm trees covered in lights and the beach themed decorations.

 

Back in Quincy, we had a special visitor at our house on the Saturday before Christmas. 

Our friend Hazel happens to be well aquainted with the gentleman who has been the Mayor of Boston's official Santa for many years.

His visit was a secret surprise for Sophia's Gran to enjoy with her on this first Christmas.

Christmas to be continued...