Viva la Mexico!

Last week we hopped on a plane and flew to our perfect place--Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.  Upon arrival we rented a car and drove to a small pueblo about 20km north of Tulum--Chan Chumuyil.  Our 2 bedroom casita served as our base for the week.  Rich and Emily joined us and had a house just a few doors down.  Each day we enjoyed the sunshine, visited different beaches, some ruins, and just relaxed.  We were on vacation time, which meant the only thing scheduled was Hersh's nap.  We enjoyed swimming, snorkeling, and beach combing.  We went out to some dinners the 5 of us, and had other opportunities for date nights :)

Hersh had a great time, growing more comfortable with the ocean each day.  He loved swimming in the waves, searching for fish and sea sponges.  With us and his Sabba and Savta there, I do not think he could've been any happier.  Although it is always nice to come home, it was very sad leaving the sunshine and the beach for the cold DC winter.  Alas, Mexico will be there next winter to welcome us with warm, sunny arms.

Sunset swim.

Eco-cafe lunch.

Exploring the ruins of Tulum.

We had a lot of fun:)

The happy Sabba and Savta.

Sandcastles with Savta.

Lazy Weekend

We are just finishing up a lovely, lazy weekend at home.  Addie and Craig came down from Philly for some quality HBB time.  They graciously babysat on Saturday afternoon, which allowed Jacob and I to go to the movies--second movie since Hersh was born!
Other than that we have been relaxing, exercising, cooking, and enjoying some mellow time.  Next weekend we leave for a week in Mexico (whoohoo!), so now our attention will turn to vacation prep!

Morning at the zoo.

Shadow dancing.

Giant stick!

Love.

Bringing in the New Year!

This past week and a half was filled with fun, visitors, travelling, and lots of treats!  We began our winter break by having our good friends Matt and Liz visit, as well as Aunt Mimi join us for traditional Chinese food  on Christmas.  We waited many, many hours for the Chinese food, but it was well worth it.  Hersh was a rockstar and stayed at the restaurant until 9pm!  He was a bit loopy by the end, but his usual happy self.

We then hopped in the car and headed to Philly where we spent Shabbat with Aunt Addie and Uncle Craig. From there we visited with my girlfriends (and their respective families) in NJ, before heading to Long Island for the New Year's weekend with the Ambalu's.  It was very cold and a bit snowy, but we celebrated Jacob's 32 birthday in style, visited the LI Aviation Museum, and even went for a swim at the JCC.  Jacob and I were fortunate enough to be able to leave Hersh with the Ambalu's and head into NYC for our annual Phish concert on 12/30.  It was a wonderful night--great friends, wonderful  music, and lots of dancing!

After ringing in 2013 we loaded up the car and headed home.  In all of our driving we didnt have any traffic (!), so we cruised.  On the way home we visited with our friends from Vienna, Fran, Jason, and Sean, who were in town visiting their family.  Again, it was so nice to be reunited with old friends :)

A few Hersh highlights:  he gets more delightful each day.  He is so creative, good-natured, and easy going.  On our drive to Philly (we were in the car from 5-730pm) we watched the moon rise.  It started out low, very yellow, and with craters very visible.  Over the course of the drive the moon rose high into the sky and kept going in and out of the clouds.  Hersh loved watching the moon, and had so many interesting questions. He is also interested in the trails that planes leave in the sky and what happens to them when the night comes.  When he is feeling super lovey, he tells me that I'm his Imma Puppy and that he is the Baby Puppy--couldn't be any sweeter.

Here's to 2013--a year to be filled with love, laughter, light, and joy.  So many days lie ahead, we will see what awaits us, always remembering how lucky we are to have each other, our friends, our family, our jobs, our community, and this wonderful life we live.

A silly picture with Matt...

...and again with Aunt Mimi.

Sledding with Aunt Mimi,

I challenged Lauren to make Jacob a math birthday cake.  Challenge accepted!

The Cradle of Aviation

With an old friend from Vienna.

Excited to go to the library.