Happy Holidays!

So we have nearly wrapped about 2018.  Here are some highlights for the past few months that went by ridiculously fast!

Early Oct, I headed up to Boston.  I got a bit addicted to a story about a museum heist that happened at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in 1990.  There are a couple podcasts about it now.  Definitely worth learning about.  But I stayed just opposite Fenway park and a game was on during the playoffs right before the World Series.  I loved Boston.  I had never been before.  It was pretty cold, but worth the trip for sure.  

The Stadium from my Air  BNB

 At the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

 One of the empty frames hanging on the wall from the heist

 The amazing courtyard

 Isabella's portrait

 Walking tour of Boston

 Some haunted mirror at the Parker House Hotel

I was invited to an Opening at the Barnes Foundation.  It was the first time I ever went to the museum in Philadelphia.  There is some controversy surrounding the museum so I wasn't sure if I wanted to go, but it was surely impressive.  Amanda and I had fun dressing up and seeing all the artwork.

 The Postman by Van Gough

I didn't get out west at all this time of year, but it looks like the kids had fun in the leaves!  Malcolm and Nora are getting sooo big!

Election time rolled around, and I worked at the polls.  It was great to go to the Delaware Dems party afterwards to see all the results.  I really do think things are changing, and the 4 women heading to Congress from PA make me very proud.  

My friend Karina from Denmark happened to be travelling through the US for work.  We got to spend the weekend together in NYC.  It was great.  We saw Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and made it over to the Statue of Liberty.  So fun to see her.  We met when I first moved to Sydney all those years ago.

 Long day at Cursed Child, but so worth it!

 At the Statue!

Mom and Dad came over for Thanksgiving, and we headed up to NYC on the train.  The coldest parade in history, but we persevered.  I wanted to make sure we saw Santa.  We went to Rock Center Cafe for dinner the first night.  Got to see the skating rink, the lights at Saks, and the Today show studios.  We watched the Parade the next day and ate Thanksgiving Dinner at Smith & Wollensky.  We even managed to check out the new spy museum, Spyscape.  Even though it was super cold, we had a great time.

The highlights from NYC Thanksgiving

I managed to get out to Longwood Gardens for the big light display.  It was quite impressive as always.  Highlights below:

I had the entire TD team over for Techsgiving Dinner between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  We had a great time and destroyed the turkey.  Unfortunately, I forgot to take a pre-devouring photo.  But it was huge!  Biggest one yet.  We played Jackbox Games for ages!

We did a Christmas Door again this year.  This time we did our own version of HQ Trivia and gave away a tree full of beer to the winners.  It was very good fun and the audience participation was spectacular.  We only came 2nd, but I think they felt we couldn't win 2 years running.  Video link below.

Christmas Door 2018

Went to Ohio to see Mom & Dad for Christmas.  We got the rebar tree up just in time.  Saw pretty much the entire Ohio contingent, even those in Gallipolis so that was good.  Did some shopping and of course, FaceTimed with kids as they opened their presents in their new house in Seattle.  Nora is demonstrating Malcolm's new piano and practicing her drawing skills with her new projector.  Santa was very good to everyone.  We closed out the Ohio trip with a quick game of Cards Against Trump, sure to be a new family fav.  

The rebar Tree

Christmas Punch

Cards against Trump...and Goodnight Trump, Who's Boat Is That Boat, and Fear to just help you get a vibe of how we feel about that dumb guy who supposedly runs our country.

So I am back in Philly now just getting ready for end of the year festivities.  My friends, Mary and Kyle, are getting married tomorrow night.  I am seeing John Oliver on New Years Eve with Dave and Amanda.  Then it's pretty busy at work until the end of Feb.  Decent size announcement coming soon, but you will just have to wait to see what it is.
All the best for 2019.  Still plenty of room for guests at my place if you are ever East Coast USA bound.
Love you all,
Sarah xo