1. On the “fake Monday” – that is, the Tuesday after the holiday weekend – sprite pinged me mid-day about meeting up for dinner. We met up at a mutual favorite, Luna Grill, and caught up over grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup. Comfort food and excellent company made for a perfect ending for a long day.

2. Keeping on with the food-and-friends theme, Wednesday’s breakfast-for-dinner extravaganza (hot chocolate, blueberry pancakes, and bacon) with Alison and Lynn was similarly enjoyable, for the same reasons.

3. I saw crocuses for the first time on Saturday. I am so totally ready for spring, and nothing says it’s on its way like the return of flowers. In case they are not yet where you are, here’s a peek:

Yay! Crocuses!

What’s been beautiful in your life this week?

1. At the very last store we checked, I finally found the lined wool pants I’d been seeking on the shopping trip Joanne & I took last Sunday. My week was much warmer as a result.

2. We recently had a really big save at work, and much to my surprise, I was part of the group called out for special recognition in making it happen during the office-wide celebration.

3. After nearly a year of trying, I finally figured out the last step in taking the old name off this blog. Joy!

What’s been beautiful in your life this week?

Fallingwater! It's Fallingwater!

1. As I mentioned a little more than a week ago, my oldest nephew had a birthday. His party was last Saturday, and I decided to finally acquiesce to his pleading for the Fallingwater LEGO set (which he had asked me for pretty much every time I’ve seen him since he first saw it over the summer). Eileen & Chris went in with me on it, which solved the it’s-really-expensive problem, but did nothing to mitigate the it’s-for-ages-16-and-up issue. To say that it was the hit of the party would not be overstating things – D jumped up on his chair, waved it back and forth, and yelled. “Fallingwater! It’s Fallingwater!” Seeing him so happy and excited totally made my day. (And my concerns about it’s age-appropriateness proved to be unfounded. Between D and his four-year-old brother G, it was finished by Monday. And D has asked to go see the real Fallingwater!)

2. Last Sunday was bitterly cold, and I was dreading the wait for the bus after my book group meeting in Adams Morgan. As luck would have it, however the bus – the one that goes closest to my house, no less! – was coming up the street as I got there. I was only in the freezing weather for a moment – joy! (I’ll admit, I did have an assist from the NextBus website, but given that it’s hit-or-miss at best, it felt like a win.)

3. There was enough snow this week to force two two-hour delays at the office. Now, I am no particular fan of snow, but I loooooove a late start at work.

What was beautiful in your world this week?

1. Ever since the debacle with my nephew in 2009, I’ve been kind of afraid to go ice skating. I recently became aware, however, that the Kettler Capitals Iceplex (scene of said debacle) offers adult learn-to-skate lessons. I decided to give them a try and had my first session last Sunday. I was neither the best nor the worst in my class, which made me pretty happy.

2. I had the kind of day at work on Thursday that put me in the mood I call “stabby” and I was planning to console myself with a dinner consisting entirely of beer and chocolates. I was saved from my wallowing by a well-timed call from sprite, inviting me to join her and Rudi at the pie restaurant over on H Street. Even though I was afraid I’d be a pill to be around, I went anyway, and their good moods (and two pieces of pie!) cheered me up greatly.

3. Ever since it was installed the week before Christmas, the new-to-me washer/dryer in my apartment hasn’t worked. The needed parts finally arrived, and I finally am back to having laundry at home – with the added bonus that the dryer on this machine actually dries, unlike the old one. I celebrated by doing lots and lots of laundry.

(Note: this was thumb-typed on my way to dinner. I’ll spell-check and add links – like to the skating story – when I get home tonight. Apologies for the inconvenience – and the typos.)

Links – finally – added on 1/19/10.

My awesome family, rocking the red.

1. One of my favorite moments of my Winter Classic experience took place before we ever left for Pennsylvania. Everyone in my family – mom, uncle, siblings, cousins, nieces and nephews – all donned a piece of Caps gear for our annual self-timer photo. Everyone was so enthusiastic about sharing our fun, which just made me so happy.

2. One of the newest additions to the office is a disco ball, purchased as part of our holiday decorating scheme. It hasn’t been turned on since the competition ended, but we all discovered last week that for about 10 minutes each afternoon when the light is just right, it covers the ceiling and walls with charming sparkles.

3. By a stroke of (very fattening) luck, two food trucks – one a favorite, and the other one I’d been wanting to try – made their way to my neighborhood at lunchtime today, so instead of leftovers, I had a lobster roll and a slice of Baltimore Bomb pie.

1. I spent the first week of November visiting my new nephew, James (and his parents, of course). As you might expect, he’s adorable, not that I am in any way biased. Don’t believe me? I have pictures to prove it.

Sweet baby James having sweet baby dreams.

James in his too-big auntie-made hat.

James likes rocking the red!

The last photo is actually from after I was home, but was sent during James’ first hockey game and is my favorite picture of him so far. Not just because of the Caps onesie, but because he looks so alert and twinkly-eyed.

2. I decided last year at a work conference in Nashville that I really, really wanted cowboy boots. I didn’t find any then that were exactly what I wanted, but on this trip to Texas, I finally found the perfect pair. Most cowboy boots have ornate tops but plain feet, but since I never, ever tuck my pants into my boots, I wanted ones with fancy feet. These are exactly what I wanted, and wearing them makes me feel surprisingly badass.

My new cowboy boots - beautiful, no?

Love, love the fancy feet on my new boots.

3. We’ve been having absolutely perfect fall weather the last few days – cold and frosty in the morning, warm and sunny during the days. The air is crisp and smells like dried leaves, which reminds me of fall at home. So beautiful.

The first frost of the fall, or the first I was awake early enough to see?

And even though I’ve already made it to three, here’s one more item that can’t possibly go unmentioned:

4. The post I wrote on Friday got mentioned in that afternoon’s news links round-up post on Yahoo’s Puck Daddy blog, which is kind of the Holy Grail of hockey bloggery. I’ve been over the moon with giddy excitement.

1. James at two weeks old began settling into a marvelous little pattern (that continues to this day) of eating and sleeping. He has his bedtime snack around 10 or 11. Gets up for his mid-night snack between 1 and 2, then wakes up for breakfast between 6 and 7. This allows Mama pretty good sleep.

2. Although George & Gracie have left our home (sniff, sniff) they haven’t gone too far. Chris went out on a limb and asked his parents if they’d be willing to have grand cats for their spacious (mostly enclosed) yard. I’m so relieved to report that so far they have acclimated very well and are loving their new environs. And we’ll get to keep loving on them. A win-win!!

3. The weather here in Houston has been fantastic for a couple of weeks. Sunny, breezy, blue skies. Windows open weather!! Perfect

Oh and James, in addition to being a good sleeper and eater is p-e-r-f-e-c-t in every single way.

It’s been a beautiful week. How was yours?

1. I am waiting in an alcove at the Metro station when Brian, Jen, and the boys arrive. The kids see me, tear across the station, and attach themselves to me in the most enthusiastic, exuberant hugs an auntie – or anyone, really – could want.

2. James. As if there was a chance of him not making the list.

Sweet Baby James

3. It rained like crazy all day and night on Thursday, so I got to fall asleep to the sound of rainfall, which I love. It was the best night’s sleep I’ve had in a while.

Special for today, a bonus item!

4. My housecleaning company came yesterday afternoon while I was at work – the first time they’ve been there when I haven’t. I can’t even describe how lovely it was to come home at the end of a long week’s work to find my apartment sparkling clean, freeing up my weekend completely.

2. A lengthy, not especially (read: at all) worky chat at the office on Friday morning reminded me how much I enjoy my colleagues and how lucky I am to work with such cool people.

3. My nephew – who turns four tomorrow* – has decided that what he wants to do for his birthday is ride on the train. The simplicity of his wish makes me smile.

What’s been beautiful in your world this week?

***

* Most likely actually today by the time most of you will be reading this.

1. I have slept well 5 of the last 6 nights…meaning 6 to 8 hours per night I am now almost back to being human!!

2. My house is fantastically clean, thanks to our friends nanny who doubles as a cleaning lady on her “off” time.  In 5 hours she made the house sparkle! (And I’m sorry, I love the chemical smell of cleanliness!!) She is so worth every penny – and she isn’t expensive!  I think this is going to become a monthly gift to us and our home.

3. Two years after Hurricane Ike spawned chaos in our home office, I have reclaimed the space.  It is not totally finished, nor perfect, but it is good enough to rearrange/redistribute some furniture and see carpet.  Not to mention we have taken out at least 8 paper grocery bags of recycling. The danger of someone calling “Hoarders” on me/us has greatly diminished – which is indeed a most beautiful thing!

Bonus beautiful thing…George and Gracie, our cats, seem to be responding well to their medicine.  After almost two months, they have been out of quarantine for about a week and so far, so good.  And interestingly, quarantine seems to have turned them in to puppies – they are following Chris and I around the house constantly, rarely leaving our sides.  Its kind of cute!

I hope your week has been as full of goodness…

PS. For those of you who are wondering, James is apparently quite happy in his current environment.  Although he is due in just 8 days, he is showing NO signs of making his debut. Fortunately, I continue to feel really good and have the luxury of a light schedule, so we are getting along just fine.  Chris summed it up really well earlier this week when he said, “apparently the last few weeks of pregnancy is like Christmas eve…every day…with a lead weight in your belly…and there’s nothing we can do about it.”  We’ll keep you posted and when there is news to tell, I hereby empower Auntie Sarah to post an announcement and pictures.