Under the Stars

Photo credit: Daniel Tran

This past weekend, we went camping with our church in New Hampshire.  First time for all of us to go tenting. It was so much work trying to figure out what to pack for the 3 kiddos (4.5 yo, 2.5 yo, 6.5 months) because it made us felt like we had to pack our whole house just to go!  Okay, not that much.  But it felt like it.

It was exhausting just in packing!  And we couldn't take everything, because really, what can you cram into a Toyota Corolla, with 3 carseats squished together in the back?  Our trunk space could barely hold the tent, all the sleeping bags, stuff for the kids, swimming things, food, etc.

This is when I DROOL for a minivan.  Or any car larger than a Corolla.  (Okay, I digress...)

But, we survived.  

And at night, there literally were thousands and thousands of twinkling stars.

I had forgotten what the sky looks like without the lights from the city.

Breathtaking.

(Photo credit: Daniel Tran.  He's talented enough to capture all the stars in this pic! And by the way, this photo is not of our tent.  Just some other folks from our church who came to camp with us.  We camped way further down the hill, away from the building.... long story, but it was exhausting to have to trek up here just to use the bathroom every time!)

Remembering Marathon Monday

The kids and I went to the Boston Public Library last week.  And right in front of it, is the site of the Boston Marathon finish line.  

My heart stood still as I recalled that fateful afternoon that was supposed to be a fun-family day for the city.  I am usually not interested in marathons and have no desire to run one.... but I did have a fleeting thought that day (that lasted exactly 1 second) that *maybe* it might be fun for us to all go watch... since our home is only 3.1 miles away from Boylston street, where the finish line is.  

But alas, little Evan was sick.  Coughing, congestion, fever, hacking sick.  

We not only had to cancel a playdate that morning, but the thought of venturing out at all was soon doomed.  

We stayed home, rested, took a nap.  At 3pm, Edwin woke me up and told me that I had a lot of text messages.  

"Are you safe?" "Are you home?" 

I turned on the TV. And the rest was history.  Those were images that I will never forget.  

This past week, we finally saw the finish-line in person. My heart is just so grieved.  

Tragedies happen daily and all over the world.  But with sensational media, we've become almost hardened to it.  (Terrible, I know.)  But when it's so, so close to home.... it makes me remember again that life is fragile.  Only God knows the number of my days.  And I'm reminded of Psalms 39, which resonated so much with me.  (It was my favorite Psalms my freshmen year of college -- during the time when I felt empty and trying to find purpose for my life.)

Show me, Lord, my life’s end,

and the number of my days;

let me know how fleeting my life is.

You have made my days a mere handbreadth;

the span of my years is as nothing before you.

But now, Lord, what do I look for?

My hope is in you.

Psalms 39:4-7

(Photos above: from my cell phone)

Thank you, Cuz!

So after my cousin read my last post about having to "save" parking spaces, he surprised us by sending us a package in the mail -- an awesome parking CONE!!

It was EXACTLY what we needed.  And it successfully saved our spot after the most recent snowstorm.  Here's a photo to prove it!

Thank you, Jimmy (and Lynn, Jacob, Andrew, and Tyson)!!  We love you guys! :) 

Now NO one better ain't dare steal this.... OR ELSE!!!!

the CONS of snow + city life

With every pro, there is a con (or cons).  Such is the case with snow.  On the first days of fresh snow, we are in awe of it.  We played in it, took pictures, reveled in it... and then...

Well, besides the digging and the shoveling.  There's slush.  No longer the beautiful snow it once was....just a mix of melting snow that thawed, frozen, and thawing again... (as the temperatures waxes and wans).

But the grand finale of it all...that makes me turn from a snow-admirer to the snow-hater... is the fight for street parking.  The worst scenario is having to spend hours and hours digging out your car, and then to have someone steal your spot after you go on a quick errand.  Parking-spot-stealing is almost looked upon like a crime here.  (Not officially, but an unspoken rule on the street).

How to protect your spot after digging out your car?  Here are some photos of the "space-savers" on our street.

A stool
(And notice the unsightly snow piles)

A Microwave.  

Not pictured here are also lawn chairs, tables, folding chairs, trash bins, toys, and cones.  (I think the cones were stolen from the city.)

I didn't realize how serious they treated their spot, until friends informed us that their tires got slashed. Not only that, but the local police department released a statement that car vandalism sky-rocket during snow season.

So then here is the dilemma.  I don't want my tires slashed, so I don't want to steal someone else's spot.  But parking spaces are all taken and hard to come by.  So in order not to take someone else's spot, I had to "save" our own spot.

So in the end, we had to join in the ridiculousness.  Too bad I don't have pictures, but we've used diaper boxes, bins, crates, etc.

So far it's working.

Maybe because others are afraid that if they take our spot, their tires will get slashed? (Not that we would). But, after all, it's an unspoken street rule.

Sigh.  I am so ready for spring.

Blizzard 2013

So an enormous blizzard just blew through.  It's being compared to a record-breaking blizzard of 1978.  Weather forecasters nicknamed the storm "Nemo" though I am still not sure why.  There were a lot of power outages, but we're so, so, so thankful that we still have power.

Here are some photos of our neighborhood, covered in white snow.  There's something so beautiful about snow... it covers everything, makes everything look so new, clean, and pretty again.

Side note about our neighborhood.  These are called triple deckers that are built from the late 1800s, early 1900s.  They used to be where wealthy people lived. However,in the modern day, the city has taken a transformation and many of the triple-deckers became dilapidated and in dis-repair.  However, recently, many investors buy up these homes and convert them into apartments/condos. (Each of the triple deckers can house up to 3 different families.) Now, these triple-deckers are part of the inner-city Boston with it's own fair share of "grittiness". Welcome to our neighborhood.

If you have ever seen the movie "Gone, Baby, Gone" done by Ben Affleck, it's filmed not too far from where we live.  (I actually have never seen it, so I really have no idea. But that's what I've been told.)

Some photos from today:

Here the kiddos are looking out begging to go outside.

Our street. Not looking forward to digging our car out.

Sitting in the middle of our street (minus Clara, who is sleeping inside).

Sledding down the street

Manual labor.

Picture updates

This poor blog has been somewhat neglected.  So let's start with some recent pictures for 2013.  (Sorry if you've seen this before -- it's a re-post from facebook.) But better something than nothing at all.  Here are some pictures of the little people that have been keeping us pretty busy lately. :)  And oh, how I wish I was home to be close to grandparents to have some any reprieve or breaks.  But alas, this is our lot since we have moved many states away. :(  

Anyhow, I'll just start off with these pics for now! 

Clara's many faces

 Sisters

Everyone before bedtime -- Onesies galore! 

 Evan sneaking a peek at his sister in the crib

Someone likes to smother this baby.

Someone needs a haircut in this pic....badly. (And it's not the baby)

Okay, I finally gave him a haircut.

Finally, getting everyone to look at the camera.

I need to...

I need to blog more.  Maybe I'll be better in 2013...