"Home" for the Holidays

Tomorrow marks the 5 month mark for us living in Pennsylvania - it is really is hard to believe it is passing so quickly, but also feels like we have been here longer too!  It is feeling like home to us more and more each day -  Sidecar is doing well and Hubby is very pleased by the progress they are making on the sales front.   The girls have really settled into their surroundings and are starting to use "northern" phrases when they talk.   Like "cart" instead of "buggy" and "soda" instead of "coke" - check out this map if you have time!   And I am enjoying some new friends and getting a little girl time in too! 

There are a few things that will take some getting use to...such as lack of sunshine!!  Even on the days the forecast call for sun, it is just party sun!  And the fact that the sun sets at 4:30pm - M always says that A gets off the bus around bedtime.  Oh and still haven't found Sister Schubert rolls.   I was never expecting to find Duke's mayo, but no Sister Schubert???

But there is plenty to enjoy here -  we have found the people to be super, super welcoming and nice! Granted, my family doesn't lack in small talk or in being outgoing, so strangers have no choice but to talk to us!  And the scenery and small town feel of the area is fun to enjoy during this time of year.   For instance,  Malvern Victorian Christmas - our little borough of Malvern hosts an adorable kickoff to the season with a weekend of activities to help celebrate.    Lots of residents dress in victorian - style clothing, the town tree is lit in the park, churches put on various plays and nativities, and the shops are all lit and decorated beautifully.   For the girls, the highlights were riding in the horse-drawn carriage around town, seeing A's music teacher and students from her school carol in the streets, and watching the nativity and choir at St. Patrick's Church.   And of course, no celebration can be complete without a visit from old St. Nick.    It was a charming weekend and really helped get us into the holiday spirit.

And of course, the proximity to NYC is great and allows for some pretty cool day trips, such as the past weekend.    Going into the city for the day is pretty easy from here and we were amazed when we parked right by Bryant Park and didn't hit a bit of traffic!  We took in the Christmas sights such as the window displays around 5th ave, Rockefeller Center and the highlight was seeing the Radio City Music Hall's Christmas Spectacular.   The Christmas Spectacular was just that - spectacular!  It was quite magical and a very good production that the girls really enjoyed.   A has been practicing her high kicks ever since :)  

Did I mention that we chose the weekend of Santa Con to visit NYC???  At first, it looked like the Santa Pub Crawl that hits Midtown ATL each December.    There were so many Santas, naughty elves, scantily clad Mrs. Clauses - lots for the eye!  However, when I saw that Justin Timberlake was tweeting about how the lower east side of Manhattan was covered with Santas,  I realized this much much more than a neighborhood pub crawl!   As Hubby always says "Good for them" :)  I think he was somewhat jealous he wasn't in on the action.

I started this journey by counting down the months until we return back home....now, in just 5 quick months, I am thinking about what we will do next Christmas here.

 Enjoying Rockefeller Center

M's reaction when I said no to waiting 3 hours to skate!

Waiting for the show!

Tis the Season

There is so much to see and do around this time of year in Philadelphia - especially if you are new to the city and seeing it all for the first time.   I imagine my posts over the new few weeks will include lots of holiday activities and today marks the first one!   I really can't get enough of the sights and sounds that accompany this time of year, so we are going to take in as much as we can before we are exhausted and someone starts bah humbugging.

Hubby had to go into the office on a Sunday today so we tagged along and saw a few of the sights that Philadelphia has to offer.   We took the advice of a few local friends and started with lunch at Reading Terminal Market, where you can at one time be both excited and overwhelmed by the vast array of vendors selling and tourists eating.   It is a landmark that has been around since 1893, so you just gotta see it.  And or course, sample some of the food!

After we fueled our tanks, we popped into the Macy's, which is located in the historic Wanamaker building and features a huge organ that is used for concerts twice a day.   It is pretty cool hearing an organ play while doing a little shoe shopping.  But today, we came to see the light show and then to visit the Dicken's village.   The village comprises of 26 scenes from the Dicken's classic A Christmas Carol and spans over 6,000 square feet.  And at the very end is good ol' Santa.   Here is a video recorded by some random gent, but does a good job of showing you the last few minutes of the lights and just how large this Macy's really is!

Hubby then headed off to work, so the girls and I made our way to the Comcast Building for their Holiday Spectacular - which is movie that displays on the  3’ x 25’ Comcast Experience video wall in the Comcast Center lobby, which is the world’s largest four-millimeter LED screen with incredible resolution that’s five times that of an HDTV.    My pictures do not really capture how cool this wall really is so check out the video I linked out to so you can see for yourself.    The best part, according to A & M, was when they made it snow indoors with some fancy bubble machines.  

It was a great day and we are just getting started exploring how PA celebrates the holidays!   We have stuffed lined up every weekend and through the New Year.  I hope I can make it :) 

Photo op at the entrance to the Dicken's Village

one of of the scenes - Ghost of Christmas Past

HDTV wall at the Comcast Building

Southern Comfort Zone

I am in LOVE with the Brad Paisley song "Southern Comfort Zone" for many reasons:  I love Brad Paisley, love country music, but most of all it is somewhat near to my heart these days.   My life is not nearly as extreme as the lyrics and actually there are some similarities here that make it easier and easier to call PA home now.   But still - there are things -yes, "things" - that just are not the same.  Cue the white noise because I have sung this song before so I know you are tired of reading about it.

Anyway, it was so relaxing to be at home over Thanksgiving and around familiar sights and sounds.   Nothing is more comforting than hearing a good southern accent on others besides myself or feeling the hug of a loved one.    I cannot put into words how these things just put me at ease.

We had a whirlwind trip and felt a little like gypsies - starting off our journey by visiting Hubby's sister and family in South Carolina.  Then off to see dear pals in East Cobb, where we managed to have a little party for M's 5th birthday and her birthday twin, Mr. J!  After which, we headed to spend Thanksgiving with my loving family in Newnan.   And to top it all off, we were hoodwinked into staying in town a little longer and go watch UGA beat up on those Yellow Jackets!  I cannot turn down an opportunity to watch the Dawgs play in Athens - worth sticking around for and to spend a little more time with friends!

It felt so nice to be back and know where everything is...you easily take little things for granted like which bakery for the best birthday cakes in town and those cute little boutiques and gift shops that you only hear about via word of mouth because from the outside you really can't tell what they sell.   Yeah - I miss that, but have met some great people who are steering me in the right direction up here.  

So now we are home and I must admit I am enjoying sleeping in my own bed and getting back to a routine.  But I do miss that Southern Comfort Zone!  Enjoy a few pics from our visit down south!

A, Cousin D, and M

Best Pals

Birthday girl and her best pal E

Gotta make time for the Santa at Phipps!

What Are You Trying to Tell Me?

I am posting this and will more than likely live to regret it.    There is a YouTube video entitled "Sh%T Southern Women Say" and it has now been sent to me several times in the past two weeks.  I mean directly to me with comments like "This made me think of you" and "I have heard you say several of these" and the best being "I think you might know the girls in this video".    Anyway, I am posting here for you all to see that I am aware this video exists and you do not have to send it to me anymore!     It is pretty funny, especially if you are really from the South.    While some of these are pretty much stereotypical, there are many that I have heard come not just out of my mouth, but from the pieholes of my friends and family - bless our hearts!    And for my new northern friends, Sh%t is a two syllable word back home!

And when we visit Georgia next week, you can bet I will be picking up some Duke's mayonnaise!

Enjoy and you might not want to share this with the kids :)

Sh%t Southern Women Say

Halloween with a Hurricane

"Hey girls - we are going to sleep in the basement tonight".  To which A responded, "Why? Are there tornadoes up here, too?" 

Yep, I really thought our basement sleeping days were behind us or at least reserved for the rare instance or a northern tornado.  Little did I expect our first major weather system in the north to be one from a hurricane and nor'easter colliding.  However, when the weather channel predicted the winds to be in the 60 - 80 mph range, we were taking no chances with all of the large, old trees around us.   Especially since we have had friends with trees falling through their homes from past storms and that leaves quite a impression on the kids and myself.

Thankfully, we managed well and can't complain when a 4 hour power outage and tons of rain and wind were the worst of what we saw at our home.  Well, and the kids being home from school for two days!  I am feeling blessed especially when there are trees and limbs down all around us and still many without power here along the Philadelphia area.   Not to mention the complete devastation of towns along the coast up here.    Mother Nature can sure rear her ugly head.

Halloween had quite a dramatic buildup and was really the last thing on the minds of many.  A few of the townships around us have even postponed trick or treating until this weekend and when power can be restored to many of the home.   However, our township kept it going!  We enjoyed dinner with our fantastic neighbors, then the kiddos all hit the ground running to collect some loot!  I was quite surprised by how much chocolate was given out - well, surprised and saddened.  My favorite part of Halloween is going through the girls' bags once they fall asleep and taking my fair share of Twizzlers, Skittles, and Sour Patch Kids.   But there were none!  None!  Just lots of Milky Ways, Twix and Kit Kats and I am not really a milk chocolate girl.   I guess God was looking out for me in other ways than through just the hurricane :)

We hope you and your families are well!  Enjoy a few pics until next time...

Even Lucy got in to the spirit!

Loaded on carbs from Anthony's and ready to go!

Oh So Busy....

It has been a while since I posted and mainly because we were without our laptop for a week.  My love of photos really ate up our memory and space, so had to get a little upgrade to keep on going.  Now that the MacBook is back in the house, we are up and running again.  I do love my iPad, but it really does not replace a good ol' computer!

Life up north has really taken shape and we are settled into a good routine now.   Using the GPS less and less each day and even managing to find shortcuts to avoid the dreaded Lancaster Ave - which is really a lot like Johnson Ferry but much longer and with more traffic and lights.  Avery is rounding out the last few weeks of cheerleading, while Madeline will continue on with gymnastics for a while.  The volunteering with events at the girls' schools has kicked in and we are finding ourselves plenty busy.   It is starting to feel like home and that is both wonderful and scary!

The highlights of the last couple of weeks have been visiting with family and friends we haven't seen in four months.   My parents came for a long weekend and we enjoyed the many sights, sounds, and tastes of Pennsylvania.   It has been really nice and mild for the most part up here, but they did manage to come into town the weekend we had some super cold and windy temps.   My parents thoughts were mainly "It is so beautiful up here.  We could live here IF it wasn't so cold".   Sadly, they didn't even experience a smidge of what it could (and most likely) will be like in a couple of months!  None the less, we had a great time and it filled my heart to be with my parents for a few days.

Then, this past weekend I celebrated my birthday present from Stan by flying to Florida to seem some of my favorite people from back home.   It was a laid-back, sun-filled, girls' weekend and I couldn't have been happier to have the time with my dear friends.   And of course, it was even better with none of us hearing the word "Mommy" for three whole days!!!   As if my heart wasn't full enough from my parents' visit, this time with my gals really put my happiness on overflow!

We have a busy few weeks ahead before we head back home to Georgia for Thanksgiving.  More visitors coming before it gets too cold for those southern souls :)  Looking forward to sharing this beautiful state with our company - the fall foliage up here is spectacular!  Hope you all are enjoying the changing leaves youselves.

Until next time - hugs and kisses!

Beautiful Valley Forge in Autumn

Reality Check

Well, we built our first fire last night.  I am pretty sure I could hear people laughing as us "southerners" bought wood and lit a match to warm our trotters.   However, it was cold yesterday and again today!  I think the Indian Summer is behind us here in PA and it is officially time to don our jackets, mittens, and boots for the year.

I am realizing that we aren't in Kansas anymore!  Some noticeable differences were when Costco had an entire section devoted to "snow survival gear", including snow blowers, shovels, seat warmers, flannel and fleece sheets sets, and snow suits for the entire family.   It actually put me into a frenzy and I quickly started to panic and crazy thoughts invaded my head - "Oh my goodness!  Do I really need all of this"  "What happens if it snows and we don't have any of this?"  "Buy! Buy! Buy!"  Well, my rational side took over and I left it all on the shelves, but did have a frank conversation with Hubby regarding what all we need to have and be prepared for up here.   I was told it snowed as early as Halloween last year!!  Oh my!

And the corduroy!   It may be in all the stores down home too, but I am pretty sure I was on fire just thinking about it, never really owned much.   But now I am thinking it is necessary and I see why Banana Republic, JCrew, Loft, etc. are carrying loads of it up here!  Not to mention wool sweaters, pants, etc.   I will be prepared for what mother nature brings my way.   Going to buy Uggs knowing my feet won't sweat in them like they did in Georgia :)

Oh, I am a big wuss - I know this.   It isn't even really cold - yet, anyway.   I just can't help but look at the 5 day forecast for my new home and compare it to my old - like a 20 degree difference.   One positive to the cold weather - haven't had to worry about a pedicure lately :)  To much info???

Happy Fall, Y'all!