Showing posts with label Traditions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Traditions. Show all posts

Friday, May 23, 2014

My First Mother's Day!

Emerson planned a really fun day for my first Mother's Day.  I was really hoping to start a memorable tradition for this special day as well, like I did for some of my other favorite days. Since this task wasn't exactly in my hands, then I didn't know how to make sure that this would happen.

First, I got my first home-made gift from daycare.

 

Of course, the gift contained a good story. First, it has an English teacher's nightmare of a grammatical error. Next, it was funny because we tried to make those Christmas ornaments I talked about in an earlier post, with his footprints, and then the daycare worker told me that he wouldn't cooperate with his left foot and kept curling his toes up.

Then, on the actual Mother's Day, daddy made reservations for brunch in the Compass Room at the downtown Hyatt. This was very fancy! Mimosas, a carving station, and the craziest "pancakes" you'll ever see! I was just happy to dress up and go someplace we never go!

Yep, pancakes... and a free flower and mimosa! (Ok, not free, with the cost of brunch!)
Waiting for brunch- Emerson wore anchors for his momma!

Getting hungry~

A room with a view!
Then we headed over to the neighboring Japanese Friendship Garden, but Emerson fell asleep so he missed most of it!

"Out" for a walk!

Mom loves waterfalls!

Last, we headed to another garden, the Desert Botanical Garden, so we could take in the Chihuly exhibit once more before it ends. Since we are members, we took advantage of the cooler weather to visit before the summer season. It was a perfect, relaxing day, during which I did no grading and got to spend plenty of times and take plenty of pictures of and with the family!

The star burst at the entrance

Another "momma" was celebrating her first Mother's Day! Found in a cactus in the wildflower garden section!

Emerson taking in the sights

"It is too bright, momma!"

This is much better!

Wish this was real! And permanent!

Taking in some shade in the mud hut.

What is that wet stuff? So neat!

The sun began to set as we watched all the people walking by on the path.

So happy!

This is the "mother's" sculpture- it was pink, white, and purple.

Sunset!

The most beautiful sun ever...

Saying goodbye to the garden!

Same sculpture, different lighting...

Last, we capped off the night at Caffe Boa downtown Tempe for a glass of wine and some bruschetta. It was the best way to spend a full, as usual, but unique and memorable Sunday. My first Mother's Day- the only "first" one I'll ever get!

I guess that made up for last year's last-minute card...

Monday, December 16, 2013

First Christmas Preparations!

Emerson has been alive for 2 months officially as of today!!!

I know it isn't officially his first Christmas yet, but Emerson has gotten to join in on many fun Christmas traditions that Kyle and I started years ago. We love having him along, even if he does sleep through them.

First, and this sounds horrible, I know, but Emerson tagged along for a bar on the annual 12 Bars of Christmas pub crawl. Really, I wanted to go shopping and Kyle wanted to go drinking, so I met up with Kyle at a bar for some appetizers and an adult beverage after feeding Emerson, then we split off to shop for gifts for my long-term sub and some others.


After this tradition, we shared in our annual ZooLights fun with him. We've been going to Zoolights every year with our good friends the McKevitt family. This year we continued and Emerson slept through the entire thing.



Watching the light show from the bridge



I started a new tradition by getting Emerson's picture with Santa, even if this one happened to ride into campus on a Harley. I didn't want to disturb Emerson too much, though, and it was cold, so the picture of him crying on Santa's lap will have to wait until next year.

At Basha's Winter Fest- benefit for the ASL club


All this holiday cheer is certainly much more fun with a little one to share it with. I can't wait to leave out milk and cookies for Santa, bake cookies for that matter, and fill his stocking! Or, see what Santa put in his stocking. I made sure that we decorated using all our stuff so that even if he can't remember his first Christmas, he will sure have pictures to prove it.