Goodbye & Welcome Home - Part 4

Today is the day we were originally supposed to head back to Scotland. We had booked a trip to California for the holidays before we knew we were moving. And that round trip ticket turned into a one way ticket. A thought I am still trying to wrap my head around.

Looking at pictures of Scotland makes me sad. It is so close to my memory, I can close my eyes and feel like I am there. But I know my house and my life there no longer "exist". Its weird. It makes me sad.

Sure California is great. At one time, I thought it was the best place to live. Ever. And I am sure I will get back to that place. However, I have gotten used to a much slower pace of life. And sometimes I have been getting overwhelmed by all that is going on in California. The first couple times I went to the store or the mall, I just wanted to leave. There was too much going on and too many people everywhere. Sure, it was before Christmas, but I think there was more to it.

Living with my parents feels unsettling to me. I want to live in a place of my own. I want to unpack all my stuff from storage and make discoveries in all that stuff. I want to decorate a room for Connor. Decorate it exactly how I want to...a luxury I didn't have in Scotland (given that we were in a rental). I got a car last week and that helped me feel a little more settled. I could stop dragging Connor's car seat from one car to another. And I got to stop begging people for rides.

There are things we did in Scotland that I didn't want to lose. I enjoyed walking places. I really do miss that. There is no where to walk around here, except around the neighborhood and that isn't exciting. I wanted to continue cooking all the time. I still have been doing that...good job Jessica! Of course, there are subtle differences about the groceries in the different countries. Differences small enough to annoy me, but not large enough to drive me crazy.

Today is the first day I have felt "normal". It felt like a routine and I liked that. Connor and I hung out more and rushed around less. That was nice. I want more normal, calm days and less rushed crazy days. So bring on the normal!

New York City, Part 2

When I originally started talking to my aunt about going to New York City, I was excited. Then when it came time to buy the tickets, I started getting nervous. Or, more correctly, I started getting separation anxiety. The thought of leaving Connor for a week seemed almost too much to handle. I could barely handle leaving him for two hours, how was I going to get thru a week?!? But, Ian reassured me. And very quickly I started to realize that this trip was a once in a lifetime opportunity. How often do I get to hang out with my aunt and cousin for a week? Umm...NEVER. And Connor was in the safe hands of his daddy. A daddy who was kind enough to send me multiple pictures a day and video call with me at night. Thanks Ian!

Sightseeing in New York was great. The shopping, even better. The smallest cupcakes I have ever seen, made my mouth the happiest it has ever been. And the company...it was great. The talking, the meals, the running around New York, it was all so great. And really, a once in a lifetime thing.


My cousin lives on the fifth floor, in a building that doesn't have an elevator. So I am pretty sure even though we ate our way through the city, we didn't gain an ounce. How could you with a climb like that?!? And imagine hauling a Christmas tree up it!



I love Christmasy stuff so was all ready to see all things Christmas in New York. We got to see the tree in Rockefeller Center, complete with someone proposing in the middle of the ice rink! We went to the Christmas shops in Grand Central Station and also wondered around two different outdoor Christmas villages/flea markets. I was able to score Ian a beer making kit, that I hauled all the way home for him for Christmas (and which he has put to good use...although the beer has to "cook" for a month).




New York City is such a magical place. There is constantly stuff going on. Just people watching is amazing. And, my favorite cousin lives there...really what more is there? I am already planning my trip back, but this time bringing my little family with me.

A Lesson for the New Year

Normally on New Year's day, one might want to reflect back on the year before. Or perhaps, share some resolutions. Or even, reflect on their hopes and dreams for the year to come. My dear readers, you are in luck. I will not be sharing any of that with you today, but instead will be talking about something close to my heart.

Gas Station Etiquette

Yes. You read that correctly. There is an unspoken etiquette for gas stations and when people don't follow it, it causes disarray...well, and for people to get pissed off.

I drove into a busy gas station the other day and picked a vehicle to wait behind. A mini van. Sure it doesn't matter what kind of car, but it just gives me another reason to dislike mini vans (sorry all you mini van lovers out there). This particular mini van wasn't pumping gas and everyone was in the car...all three of them, that is. So I sit and wait. About 90 seconds into the waiting, the driver side door opens and out pops dad. Dad opens the back door and gets out son. Then mom gets out and dad proceeds to walk son to mom and get them clear of the dangers of the gas station. Mind you, son looks about ten years old. Does dad really need to be protecting son and mom at the gas station? Then dad starts thinking about pumping the gas. At this point, I am totally committed to waiting for this pump and I am getting annoyed.

Now we will move on a little further in the story as you really don't need a full blow by blow of my gas station experience. Since dad was taking so long, I turned off my car. When dad finished pumping gas, much to my surprise, he turned on the mini van and drove off. I thought for sure he would wait at the pump for his wife and son. Three points for dad mini van for doing something good!

While turning on my car and beginning to drive forward an old lady tried swooping in from the other direction to steal my pump. Mind you, every single pump had a line behind it and every single line went the same direction as I was waiting. Old lady apparently didn't want to wait. Hands were thrown in the air, cars were not rammed (though I considered it) and I ended up pumping gas in my car a few feet away from the gas pump as old lady refused to back up her car and I refused to allow her to pump before me.

I say all this to teach a valuable lesson in gas station etiquette. Always think of others. Be quick at the pump when it is busy. It isn't a parking spot, but rather a place to get gas. Wait in line and don't try to steal pumps from other drivers. You don't want to piss off the wrong person around all that flammable liquid!

Oh, and Happy New Year!!!
2011 is bound to be a great one.

Christmas

I don't know how it happened or when it happened, but somewhere along the line Christmas has become more about giving for me and less about receiving. To pick up gifts for this little man is a joy.


Just look at that face...and excitement over a fireman hat from the dollar store. If only he would always be this excited over things from the dollar store! Connor got more toys than he knows what to do with. We will need a ginormous house just to house all the toys Connor got for Christmas. Here he is helping set up and then taking a ride on the roller coaster Uncle Jeremy got him for Christmas:



And it seemed like this year people's presents found me, rather than me having to find them. It was great and felt so much more genuine. I love buying things that are perfect for that person.

Speaking of genuine, Ian and I both felt Christmas has become a little too overkill and materialistic. We are going to have to find a way to keep it toned down and more about the reason at our house. I don't want to do away with Christmas trees and not give my kid any gifts, but I do want him to understand you don't get everything you ask for and that Christmas isn't actually about gifts, it is about the birth of our savior. Any ideas on how to do this?

And last, but not least, some action shots of Connor opening his presents...just to prove we bought him more than a fireman hat from the dollar store! And I say this while trying to not be materialistic. Looks like I still have a ways to go.

Connor's Christmas Eve

How adorable does Connor look all dressed up for Christmas Eve? Seriously. I can't resist his adorableness!




We went to church on Christmas Eve. Connor managed to both fart and belch during quiet times causing giggles from those around us. Then he decided he could no longer handle being quiet and had to leave the service.

Connor also managed to wake up before midnight, but after santa came (how could he come before midnight, I just don't get it?!?) so had a little late night play session with one of his new toys.



Then back to bed so he would be all ready for Christmas.

Merry Christmas!

I lagged a little getting my Christmas cards out. I got them printed this week and managed to get a few in the mail, but that was it. So for those of you that I didn't manage to get to, Merry Christmas and enjoy the virtual card.

A Challenge in the City

So in New York City everyone wears fur. No joke. I would say about one out of every five people were wearing fur. The real stuff. Even men were wearing it. I made a comment about how I wanted to pet someone's coat. My aunt felt the same way. So, she extended a challenge. The challenge was to see who could pet someone's fur coat first.

It went down in an elevator. The lady standing right next to my aunt had a fur coat on. A lady standing two people away from me had one on too. My aunt was able to pet the lady's coat standing next to her. I burst out in uncontrollable laughter. The whole elevator was staring at me like I was crazy. I was unable to pet the lady's coat in the elevator, but did get someone a few minutes later.

But, the challenge didn't stop there. We became obsessed with touching fur coats. And I became overcome with laughter every time and got the weirdest looks for it. Sometimes I would cry, I was laughing so hard.

In the subway on Thursday, I reached out to pet someone's coat, my cousin grabbed my arm and said this had to stop. About that time, my other cousin decided she wanted to join in on the fun. She went and pet this lady's coat from top to bottom. The lady turned around. I went in to my uncontrollable laughter. My cousin was raging at all three of us. It was freaking funny.

Don't worry though, my cousin's annoyance didn't stop us. We continued petting fur coats until we left. And I would recommend if you make it to NYC in the winter that you do the same. It is so stinking funny and entertaining.