We had such a wonderful time with the Miners and Emily and Jacob over the weekend. I have so many pictures that I want to post, I think it'll take me two days at least.
Crossing the Tappan Zee Bridge on the way to Massachusetts was a breeze compared to the traffic on the way home Sunday evening.
Dallin was fascinated with baby cousin Celeste. He kept saying "Bebe!" with his eyebrows raised for emphasis.
He got a kick out of cousin Camille pushing him around in a booster seat.
Jacob, smiling for the camera in the kitchen.
Ariel at the playground. We went to the elementary school down the street so the men could play football. I was really impressed with how the playground was built around some giant trees, it made you feel like you were in a forest.
Aunt Emily helping Annika up the really tall and steep slide. She was determined to climb all the way up a few times. Check
Emily's blog for a shot of her climbing from the front.
Nikolay learning how to play American Football for the first time. This was an historic moment.
The guys playing football. It was Jeff, a neigbor and his son, Nikolay, Jacob, and another neighbor. They even let me play for a few minutes. It was great.
I don't know if you can see it in this picture, but there is a genuine smile on Nikolay's face, and if you know anything about him, you know that is something very hard to capture in a photograph. I guess he likes football. Later he joked that maybe he will start watching it too. I have always been grateful for not having a husband who has to sit and watch "the game" for hours and hours.
We couldn't get Gwyneth to play football, we had a lot of fun playing other games with the little kids.
I don't know what we would have done without Emily, she was the leader and protector of this little band of girls.
The Miner's yard is so beautiful in the fall with the contrast of the dark tree trunks against the background of the golden swamp grasses. Rebekah says that each season has its own splendor, and I believe her. I got Emily to take a couple shots of me and my little buddy, I feel like he is going to get too big too fast.
I just had to take a picture of this beautiful table. My sister has a knack for simple elegance when it comes to home decor. It inspired me to make more of an effort in our home, or at least plan for our future home, when we get settled.
The kids' table. Dallin wasn't in this shot, but the whole weekend he sat and ate with the big girls without parental supervision just fine.
Emily and Celeste.
Another shot of pretty Gwyneth right before the feast began. We had such a great time the whole weekend, and felt really at home. It was so good to catch up with each other and make new memories. All of the cousins had so much fun playing with each other, was hard to say good-bye at the end. I overheard a conversation between Camille (5) and Annika (3)
"I have something really sad to tell you."
"What?"
"You are leaving tomorrow."
"Me?"
"Your whole family."
"You are going to come with us!" Determinedly.
And Adriana told me a secret that her best friend is Camille.
I'll post more tomorrow about our outings to the Museum of Fine Art and our frigid walk along the Freedom Trail of Boston.
Acting out the nativity story as Papa read it from the Bible. Ariel is Joseph, Adriana: Mary, Annika: Angel Gabriel, and Dallin Baby Jesus.
Gwyneth gave Ariel this really great mosaic kit which was a big hit with all the girls and occupied them most of the day. Grandma Svetlana helped Annika do hers.
The finished house, after which we napped, then woke up and started eating it. After tasting how scrumptious home gingerbread is, I don't think I'll ever buy a gingerbread house kit again.
