Thanksgiving and Birthdays in Boston

Tuesday was Julia's third birthday! I had a busy day in school, but went home during my 2hr lunch break to celebrate Julia's birthday, have some cake, and watch Julia blow out candles and open her birthday presents. It was great! She had so much fun and she even joined me and Mark in singing happy birthday to herself! On Wednesday we had a birthday party for Julia and some of her best friends here in Cambridge came to celebrate. Julia chose the theme: Dora the explorer. We had Dora ballons, a Dora tablecloth, Dora plates, Dora cups, Dora napkins, and Dora giftbags for her guests. Julia also chose what to eat and drink: cupcakes and a choice between chokolate milk, apple juice, or regular milk for drinks. Nedless to say, Julia loved her birthday party!

For thanksgiving we decided not to join in the travel frenzy that most people in the US take part in at this time of the year. Instead we stayed here in Boston and on Thursday we joined with the other LFMs in town to have thanksgiving dinner. We were 32 people, 22 adults and 10 children, we each brought a dish or two for dinner. The food and company was great! It has been really nice to have a few days off from school to just relax and spend time with Mark and Julia. I have now taken Julia out running three days in a row, and I need it from all the thanksgiving food I have been eating. Here are some pictures of Julia playing during one of our running breaks at the playground on the other side of the Charles River. She loved running around in all the leafs on the ground and throwing them up in the air.