Skipping Town

Each day is full to the brim. Thursday I took Farrah to the vet for her annual checkup, a well-timed appointment since she's been having some diarrhea this week. The vet confirmed that it is likely due to the anxiety brought about by our being gone for a week. Poor baby. One college tuition payment later, we left with some probiotics, some prescription dogfood, a year's worth of Heartgard and Next guard, and a fresh round of vaccines. Friday, after work and school, we went to the Market Square market again for some additional browsing. The kids each bought themselves something (they can't resist, even though Christmas is coming), and I picked up a few gifts. Back at home, we ordered Pizza Hut (the kids' choice) and watched a Hallmark movie in front of the fire. Saturday Andrew and I took part in celebrating the life of Jeremy's dad at a funeral service and luncheon. We were glad we could be there and see everyone. Saturday night was the Anniversary Dinner Dance at t...

It snowed so much Monday night that the kids had a snow day on Tuesday. Andrew and I both worked from home. The kids slept in and Lucia went for a run with some of her teammates in Schenley. Greta worked on some travel journaling. Piano lessons were cancelled, so in the evening I made chili, and then we put on a fire and watched a Hallmark movie with the inane title "It's Time for Us to Come Home for Christmas." The characters all had interchangeable one-syllable names--Bess, Cass, Ted. It was wholly enjoyable.  The house is getting Christmassy. I've put up most of our decorations, concentrating everything in the rooms that are not the family room. We put the lights on the tree. I'll decorate it tomorrow. 

Officially speeding toward Christmas. After school and work and XC today we went out and got our Christmas tree and weaths for the windows. Usually we get two trees--one for the family room and one for the library--but this morning I got confirmation from our kitchen contractor that we should get only one tree for the library, which means our renovation looks likely to begin this month (a renovation that encompasses the kitchen as well as the entire family room space). So, we got the biggest Christmas tree we could find. It's over 9 feet tall (Andrew had to trim a few inches since the ceiling in the library is 9 feet) and gorgeously wide. I still may decide to squeeze a second tree somewhere in the house--maybe at the top of the stairs?--but for now, we have one beautiful tree. We'll decorate tomorrow. Snow is imminent. My favorite holiday and season are finally here. I wish we could have no school or work for this entire month.

Saturday, November 29 We didn't have to leave the resort until noon on Saturday, so we squeezed in a few last bits of vacation life. Andrew went for a run; I walked to the coffee shop for a latte; we both took a last swim in the pool; we all had breakfast with Molly and Luca before they left for their flight; the girls and I took a last walk on the beach. Then it was really time to go. We piled into the rental car one last time, and Andrew drove us to the airport. The travel day was long but fine. Everything was on time. Back to winter in Pittsburgh. We were very happy to see Farrah and Nutmeg. Sunday, November 30 Mom and Dad spent the night at our house last night not only because we didn't get in until after midnight but also because today we had matinee tickets for Les Mis (booked well before we decided to go to Tulum). We got to the theater early and spent a little time walking around the Market Square Christmas market. Then we saw the show. It was absolutely wonderful--one...

Our final day in Tulum began early with the breakfast buffet. Then Andrew called for our rental car, and we all piled in, squeezing all eight of us into a van meant for seven. Lucia and Luca shared a seatbelt in the middle of the backseat.  Our destination was the Tulum Ruins, not far from the resort. We were talked into having a guide, which turned out to be not much more money than just the entrance fees, and we were very glad we had one. We all learned a lot about the various uses of the buildings that were now ruins, and lots of things about Mayan culture, traditions, and innovations. It was a great visit. The view from the top of the hill where the castillo rests was amazing. Next we drove into downtown Tulum for some souvenir shopping. We bought some lovely dreamcatchers, and Lucia and Greta both bought bracelets. On our way back to the resort we stopped at a big supemarket/superstore called Soriana so Mom and Dad could get a new suitcase, since theirs was damaged beyond repa...

Another spectacular day in Tulum. Nay, not just a day--Thanksgiving in Tulum! We slept in a bit this morning (well, not me; I got up and read on the balcony) and went to the breakfast buffet around 9am. We tried a different one this morning, Vela Sur, with very pretty outdoor seating.  With the whole day ahead, we set up by the pool right outside Casa 3 (where our room is) and spent the morning swimming and reading. The girls ordered hamburgers for lunch but then also came with us to the lunch buffet for desserts. Greta and I took a walk on the beach and collected some pieces of coral. We had several iguana sightings and many hermit crab sightings. Greta rescued on in danger of being stepped on by scooping it onto her book and depositing it in some landscaping. Rain arrived in the mid-afternoon, so we gathered in our room for a game of Code Names. Then Mom and Dad went to their room to relax; I set out with a book to read in the main building; and everyone else went to the gym. I c...