Eben haircut

Merida

Off to Mexico for three weeks!! Can't remember ever having a holiday that long. Everyone - super excited, and the kids couldn't care less about Mexico but have been talking about the plane journey for weeks.

Not sure about the budget choice to do a stopover in Fort Lauderdale but we finally get to cancun, rent a car and drive three hours to Merida so about a twelve hour trip door to door. Al and I had both been here when when we were 19/21 and the city wasn't actually that different. Very beautiful, very friendly, not at all on the tourist route, but scorching hot. What made it was our hotel which was awesome. Kids essentially just wanted to be in the pool and in the shower.

But we managed to drag them out for some activities - ruins at uxmal (where we found a colorful ailing bird to stroke), animaya (animal park on a boat..), the biciruta, walks around the plaza and some really good meals to the dulcet sounds of despicable me 2.

On weds morning we headed out for tulum which was about a three hour drive from Merida. We went via Valladolid - cute little colonial town where we found a place to watch the first 30 mins of holland play the semi final. Then off to some cenotes near Valladolid which were amazing. Eben was terrified but ruby was fearless and totally fine swimming around. The caves were just incredible, filled with bats but all good. 

Ruby's 6th birthday

Chocolate mania even for America 

Goodbye Columbia grammar

Easter

Egg hunt in Central Park. Eben was adopted by new friend Kia. This kid was amazing with him.

Mopping up

Getting eben's hair cut is heartbreaking but one too many comments from rude old New York women demanding to know whether we are religious or have just neglected to cut his hair pushed me over the edge. 

In spike's capable hands luckily

Boston

Nothing reminds me of Boston and sylvan and Florence like this

WIN

My team winning PR Weeks infamous internal comms of the year award. Dancing in the bright lights of a hotel foyer has never been so fun

Urban chix

February March

Museum of Maths with ruby's class. Ruby and Sophia on the square bike! 

Although it's been criminally cold for this time of year theres been some gorgeous runs around the half frozen reservoir

Ruby's latest chess tournament. Really wish it wasn't so awkward to get my camera out as parents tutored their over anxious crying 5 year olds when they lost games . This was an all girls tournament at spence. Ruby and her two friends won the kindergarten team prize

Me and ruby today at effys cafe round the corner

Behold

Vegan cookie number 2 - the more advanced double choc chip. They were good