happy (belated) christmas & a december catch-up

Christmas has come and gone, and as we approach the New Year I was reminded of how poor a job I’ve done recently with this blog…so can you guess what one of my resolutions is for 2013?

Before we leap into “Best of’s” and “Year in Review” and “resolutions”, I ought to catch you up on the past month. The first weekend of December M, B & I went into NYC for some Christmas Tree viewing, shopping, and a fun night out. Let it be in writing that this was the first weekend in NYC I have actually enjoyed in YEARS. KO came to visit for awhile which was absolutely wonderful, took another weekend in NYC to museum hop & brunch & lunch in Chelsea. Then, after a blur of holiday assemblies, Hanukkah dances & stories, immigrant journals, ice skating and holiday parties…we all left for two weeks off. Me, back to Philly & then Chicago. On Sunday, I’ll make my way to DC for New Years!

So here’s a catch-up of this past month in pictures…

m, me & b in nyc

the tree!!

chelsea market lights

kids getting into the holiday spirit on their hw

kevin durante's shoes made into a share!

ice skating with my hockey boys!

m & her gals

the art of scent exhibit in nyc - SO cool!

german christmas bar in nyc - xmas light heaven

personal pizza night makes it to CT...yumm

more ice skating <3

apprentice secret santa exchange

immigration day for the third day! we did a mock ellis island experience for the kids, citizenship test & all

welcomed back to chicago with greens & reds all over the skyline!

home!

three of four woods!

& so begins the christmas season

       

        Christmas has arrived in NC in the form of lights & garlands downtown, snow sprinklings, holiday songs during chorus, peppermint mochas, marshmallows & hot cocoa, and a secret Santa exchange among apprentices!

        Today was Parent Visiting Day, so we had at least 20 parents in and out of the classroom all day. It was hectic, a bit stressful, but insightful seeing all the kids interact with their parents in school. Looking forward to two "normal" school days & then NYC this weekend!

bises

an american thanksgiving

This time last year I was celebrating an American Thanksgiving in France...joined by a few French & Scottish friends! It was wonderful being back in the US for my absolute favorite holiday of the year - and although I didn't get home to Chicago - I was lucky enough to spend the holiday with friends in NC and family in DC.

most of the apprentice thanksgiving spread! (and everyone around the table instagramming it)

country roads on my drive south

Georgetown! it's still fall down in DC

GBGs

lots of fun ice skating! (but missing one Goodwin gal)

cozy around the fireplace

O&G <3

I'm so thankful for the time I've been able to spend with the Goodwin side of my family, and am really looking forward to seeing more of the Woods over Christmas!

Also on my thankful for list...

the christmas lights up in NC

my family

arts assemblies in lower school

katie o's upcoming visit

NYE with KKG in DC

a wonderful job at a fantastic school

my lead teacher

amazing friends i've made here

those 8 months in europe

my 18 kids

the 6am bootcamp class i did this morning

snow

french

christmas in nyc

new england

my trip to boston

& my really cozy bed

bisous!

november snowfall

swinging through right after Sandy, my first "nor'easter"!

the snow was absolutely stunning & i realized it had been nearly 2 years since i had been in 

a true blizzard

the whole town, and especially near the school, looked like a winter wonderland

the heart of new england...

Boston...
I've always wanted to go, figured I'd love its history & that it was on the water
We left Wednesday afternoon & stayed 'till Saturday eve

& after about 3 days I think I want to move there, or at least spend several years soaking up the life of the city.

boston bound!

the commons

follow the red brick path

love how you can see how much the city has grown in this shot

chowder & lobster roll - YUM

Mr. Revere's house

inside the old north church - love the family pews

nccs in beantown

yes, i could live here

then we spent a day up in salem (witches galore)

and kept north for newburyport!

cute town that reminded me of the UK

clapboard houses...

roadtrips are always wonderful, but made even more so with great friends :)

Boston, I'll be returning for your Christmas festivities...and then maybe for an apartment?

bises

finally - northbound!

Sandy came & went, and although the news reports for most of the eastern seaboard are devastating - our apprentice "compound" got lucky. we've had power the whole time, no damage to cars or houses... we withstood the hurricane (and had a bit of fun with it).

we haven't had school this whole week because about 80% of new canaan is without power, and we just found out it won't resume until monday

the spontaneous, adventuresome part of me is leaping & dancing because what else does this call for than a ROADTRIP! :)

i am so lucky to work with & be friends with people that are completely with me...and within minutes we all decided to road trip up to BOSTON for the long weekend!! 

new town, new friends, another chance to explore?? 

i can't contain my excitement!

will update with pictures & stories throughout the weekend

bisous!

an autumn morning

good morning!

fall can be distracting...in the best of ways

Sleeping Giant

You've got to appreciate teaching even more when you get 3 1/2 day weekends...and can rally a few friends for some new england adventures:

                                                                   

       

 Deep, colorful roots

 Uphill

Melissa & Luisa!

View from the top of a huge rock hill we tackled... & our picnic location

hello, new haven

Squiggly trees! We hiked for about 3 hours, and it was absolute perfection. I loved being outside, in the (relative) quiet, and with friends. Sleeping Giant State Park is about an hour away, just past New Haven...so there are closer state parks I plan on getting to for the next few weekends as the leaves change.

a sea of greens and yellows

"If you can see your path laid out in front of you, step by step, you know it's not your path. Your own path you make with every step you take. That's why it's your path." ~ Joseph Campbell

castle at the top of sleeping giant

...we finally made it back to the car & then headed back into New Haven for some delicious pizza & a walk around Yale! I ordered the White Clam Pizza, and as strange it sounds, it was SO good. I'm learning to take more chances with seafood out here, and it's been worth it so far :)

bises