Back Home Again

So here we are back in good ol' Glasgow. It's funny because I now feel so relaxed as life is a LOT less busy here than it was for me back in the states - and we were on vacation! Not sure if it is simply our overall life here or that Europe is just at a slower pace in general - probably both. We really had such a wonderful trip. I am posting some more highlights below.

Thank you to all the friends and family who took time out to visit with us and bring special presents for Ruby. I am in the process of unpacking. She is ONE lucky gal!

Glasgow is cloudy/sunny and 64 degrees as usual but, I do not mind at all. Heading back to Buggyfit class tomorrow and although I THOUGHT I would do a lot of working out in Boston, not such the case as it was more EATING black and white cookies, BBQ chicken, Lobster, birthday cake, Mac & Cheese, Italian cookies and much more! Oh well, I had to right? You cannot get ANY of that food over here. Seriously. Even the Italian cookies are different.  I did however, get to attend a Baron Baptiste Power Yoga class - which was WONDERFUL (and super challenging!) and a highlight of my trip.


We had plenty of sun in the states and even saw the seasons change a bit.
Brent is back in full school swing. He had a few meetings this week regarding his annual art school auction in December - which I attended last year and raised thousands of pounds! As well as he heard about last year's degree show in Berlin which he will be participating September 2012. A family Berlin trip indeed!

I am simply trying to pick up the pieces of being away for 5 weeks - hoping to have it all sorted by the end of the weekend to start poking away at some new work (which is some new and exciting stuff to post later!). We celebrated my birthday on Thursday jetlagged however, I told Brent all I want for my birthday is to be able to go to 1 bikrham yoga class a week for the next month. That would be heaven! As for Ruby, I can say as of today, she is recovered from jetlag. More difficult coming to Europe because you lose a lot of time.. leaving you to ask.. is it time to sleep? awake? eat?

Immediately after we arrived, we received a visit from our friends Kim and Finlay - which was such a welcome home. From here, just poking away until we head to Paris at the end of October.

Quelle belle vie que voilà!

Here are some highlights of our WICKED SUMMER HOLIDAY 2011!

Ruby's first dip in the Atlantic.. in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

A visit to the Boston Seaport with Angelique - who came from NYC to see us!

We also took time out to check out the sea lions at the New England Aquarium.


Happy Birthday Grandpa Dave!

Beautiful August Sunflowers at Sherman's farm in New Hampshire.

Ruby's first swim in a lake on a breezy August day.



A NYC-New Jersey visit!
Ruby took a dip in my old friend from college Megan's daughters PRINCESS POOL with another wonderful friend from college Nancy... needless to say Ruby needed an outfit change after that.. but, no worries, we had a great time catching up.. a tasty BBQ in Megan's beautiful backyard. :-)

We spent the night at my friend Allison and Geoffe's house with their 2 year old daughter Olive (and baby on the way in 10 weeks. YAY!)

Soho brunch with Amy in Union Square.  Ruby LOVED NYC!

In NYC, we stayed with our lovely friends Su and Cathy in Brooklyn.  Su and Cathy were simply wonderful with Ruby.  She sends special hugs and kisses to you guys!  Here we are a Peaches cafe in Brooklyn.

Ruby enjoyed dancing with Su and Cathy!

And.. I introduced Ruby to Bloomingdales.. nothing like Bloomie's on 59th Street.... It's so shiny.  I even splurged on a Ralph Lauren outfit for her. Unnecessary? Yes. Who cares!?

We also had time for an informal get together of some friends on Labor Day.  Ruby met some of Brent's friends - and although not pictured, my friend Clare was visiting from the UK so, she came as well.. which was really cool as we will see her again in a few short weeks!

Ruby met our friend Mike who just got engaged. Congratulations!

Back in Boston, we also had a visit with my awesome friend Michelle who came over with her husband Dan and little one Braydon (2 years old).  We went to the Zoo - which by the way is a SUPER zoo - and Bray went on the Merry-Go-Round.. his excitement is infectious! Dan and Brent also took in a Yankees vs. Red Sox game at Fenway Park. Miss you guys! xo



I made some time to meet up with old friends from high school at Boston Latin Academy.  Ruby and I had lunch with my friend Meg and saw her office at Berklee College of Music.  We also had lunch with my friend Lisa and spent time with her fantastic kids Jack (almost 4 years old) and Ellie (almost 3).
Here is Ruby and Ellie on the swings!

Ruby takes her first ride on the swings!

Happy 7 month Birthday Ruby!

As a finale from our trip to Boston.. we had a visit from Grandma Suzie and Grandpa Larry who drove all the way from Michigan.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY RUBY!

and a special special thank you for Grandma Jane and Grandpa Dave for welcoming us to Boston this summer. 
Here we are at Logan Airport saying HELLO on August 15th!

and here we are saying GOODBYE on September 21st.

Ruby Does America!

Apologies for not posting but we have been BUSY!
We have been in the states since the 15th of August, Brent has been to NYC 3 times already and we are using Boston as our homebase.
Here are some highlights:
6 month birthday party with Grandma Jane

Ruby's first swim in a beautiful lake up New Hampshire

A beach trip with our NYC friends Scott and Gloria

Much more to come!! Still enjoying our vacation. Loving it!

Being Adventurous!

For Ruby's 24 week birthday we put together her walker thingie.. she loved it! Well, anything that gives her more attention from us, she loves..
She has been getting very bored of her bumbo seat so we decided to take her play things "to the next level" by putting her walker together.
Here she is trying it out for the first time.

Ruby likes to talk herself to sleep lately

At 23 weeks, Ruby has started to roll from her back to her tummy...

and back again... (action shot)

We had a super special visit last week from my friend Amy. Amy and I were room mates at my sorority at Syracuse University. Amy is a big time animator at Dreamworks Studios in LA now. She was headed to London to visit another sorority sister Vicki who lives in London (and is due in September!) and came up to visit us. Super special! I hadn't seen her in 13 years but we laughed and laughed like time had not passed at all. I cannot explain how WONDERFUL it was to have a visitor.. to have such a special friend all this time. And it also made me even more excited to head home in 6 DAYS to visit my girlfriends in the states.

Ruby birthday cupcakes with Amy. 23 weeks old! (when am I going to stop weekly cupcakes, when I get sick of cupcakes! which will be NEVER!)

On the train headed to Edinburgh.

On a ferry around Loch Lomand.. It was such a nice day everyone was on top - we needed to stay on the bottom as we had Ruby's stroller... but we had it all to ourselves!

Thanks for the visit Auntie Amy!

A visit to the GP

While waiting in the GP's office today (doctor's office) we met Evvie.  Evvie is 2 years old with bright red hair in curls.  While we were waiting to be called, Evvie and her mum were playing shop.  Evvie was fetching pretend items such as bread, cheese, tea and bringing them to her mum.  Evvie then got enamored with Ruby.  Evvie's mum told me that she has recently become obsessed with baby dolls.  Evvie was trying to push Ruby's pram, started playing with Ruby's rattle and started playing shop with Ruby - she brought Ruby strawberry yogurt and some bananas.
Soon, it was Evvie's turn to go to the GP, when she and her mum returned to the waiting room a few minutes later.. her mum told her to gather her things and put on her coat as it was time to go home.  Evvie looked over and then said... 'Take Ruby home?' - her mum laughed and said.. 'No Evvie, we cannot take Ruby home with us.'
:-)
ps: We were at the GP because Ruby has a bit of dry skin. The GP prescribed Aveeno lotion and bath.  In the states, the doctor would most likely tell me to pick some up at a CVS however, in Scotland, he wrote me a prescription for Aveeno and we picked up 4 massive bottles at the pharmacy - FOR FREE - we can get FREE refills and will never have to pay for the lotion and bath cream EVER.