:) sbc
Shelby Bupp Crockett
- Shelby Bupp Crockett
- Birmingham, Michigan, United States
- I live in Birmingham, Michigan, with my husband Kyle, our son Nathan and our daughter Evelyn. The blog is named for our late dog Pete, a Rhodesian Ridgeback who died in 2014. Late in 2015, we returned to the US after living five years overseas (Seoul, South Korea and Königstein im Taunus, Germany).
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Sunday, December 22, 2013
Signed, Sealed, Delivered
Since Natey and Evy can't be with their cousins for the Holiday Season, I thought it might be nice to share in a little festive "advent"ure…We assembled and filled Advent Calendars for the Allens, NC Bupps and Lansing Crocketts.
Oh what fun!
And from Lansing, Michigan:
Oh what fun!
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| All set up and ready to stuff |
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| My Christmas elf |
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| BEFORE aka: "Hmm, this looks yummy, perhaps I will sample some…" |
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| AFTER aka: "Delicious!" |
One table full of candy was temptation enough. I decided to assemble and stuff the remaining calendars without my little elf's "help."
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| One of our cards accompanying the packages |
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| All done! |
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| Off to the Post |
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| Signed, sealed and ready to be delivered |
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| "…and also this truck, please." |
Then we waited…
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| Mom waited |
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| Nate waited |
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| Evy waited |
In time for the first day of December, news of their arrivals trickled in from North Carolina:
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| Sydney |
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| Sydney and Brady and an elf-on-a-shelf! |
And from Royal Oak, Michigan:
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| Sami reaches for a treat |
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| Sage |
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| Sophie |
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| Laura and Claire reach for a treat |
Success! It was a really fun way to share a little part of the holidays each day with some of our family. We miss you guys very much. Merry Christmas!
:) sbc
:) sbc
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Put Me In The Zoo
Did you know that Kyle and my brother Tom share a birthday? They both turned the big four-oh on December 9. It couldn't have happened to two nicer guys ;-)
After the Mother's Corner Christmas Party (previous post), we headed to the Zoo for dinner. Yep, the Zoo.
The Opel Zoo is very close to us and houses a great restaurant called The Lodge. It's really a beautiful restaurant with an elegantly rustic interior that overlooks the outdoor habitat for the giraffes and zebras.
Gone are the birthday dinners that start with a dirty martini before you get around to ordering then flow from course to leisurely course over shared bottle of wine and talk of aging and the year to come.
Nope. We are blissfully at the birthday dinners that come with car seats and booster seats and wipes and blankets. Birthday dinners full of lap sitting, transformers via iphone, cutting chicken into small pieces, using a fork all by yourself, breastfeeding, the occasional sip of wine and bite of filet.
Knowing that bedtime was looming and wanting to avoid a meltdown, we divided and conquered as we often do. You get the kids. I'll find our waiter and get the check. Here are the keys. I've got your phone. I'll get the our coats. Where is our waiter? You dropped Nate's hat. Where did you put the keys? No mommy can't carry you. Come back here. Let's put on your hat. Shh----inside voices. No, I think the Zebras are sleeping. Do you have her binky?
As we drove away from dinner with half of our bottle of wine still at the table, I asked Kyle if this is how he imagined his 40th birthday. He smiled--a content, happy and satisfied smile.
Happy birthday!
:) sbc
PS: If you look at the cake and the cover closely, you'll notice that there's a little dent in the frosting and smudging on the cover. After his nap, I showed Nathan the cake (dumb, yes). I told him that it was Daddy's birthday and Daddy's cake and we had to wait until he got home from work to eat the cake, so on and so forth. After asking for cake 35,679 times, he lost interest. About an hour later I was feeding the dog. Nathan was quiet. I asked what he was doing. I came into the dining room to find him on his hands and knees on top of the table. He was supporting his body with one hand and lifting the cover with the other--while dragging it across the cake. He looked at me and said, "Happy birthday!" Nothing comes between this boy and his cake. He is more like his father every day!
After the Mother's Corner Christmas Party (previous post), we headed to the Zoo for dinner. Yep, the Zoo.
The Opel Zoo is very close to us and houses a great restaurant called The Lodge. It's really a beautiful restaurant with an elegantly rustic interior that overlooks the outdoor habitat for the giraffes and zebras.
Gone are the birthday dinners that start with a dirty martini before you get around to ordering then flow from course to leisurely course over shared bottle of wine and talk of aging and the year to come.
Nope. We are blissfully at the birthday dinners that come with car seats and booster seats and wipes and blankets. Birthday dinners full of lap sitting, transformers via iphone, cutting chicken into small pieces, using a fork all by yourself, breastfeeding, the occasional sip of wine and bite of filet.
Knowing that bedtime was looming and wanting to avoid a meltdown, we divided and conquered as we often do. You get the kids. I'll find our waiter and get the check. Here are the keys. I've got your phone. I'll get the our coats. Where is our waiter? You dropped Nate's hat. Where did you put the keys? No mommy can't carry you. Come back here. Let's put on your hat. Shh----inside voices. No, I think the Zebras are sleeping. Do you have her binky?
As we drove away from dinner with half of our bottle of wine still at the table, I asked Kyle if this is how he imagined his 40th birthday. He smiled--a content, happy and satisfied smile.
Happy birthday!
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| Nate, Evy and I advanced dinner by having lunch at The Lodge after one of our Tuesday music classes. We decided it was a great birthday venue :-) See the zebras in the background? |
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| Lunch with zebras |
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| My best cake yet, if I do say so myself :) |
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| CAKE! |
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| May all your wishes come true |
PS: If you look at the cake and the cover closely, you'll notice that there's a little dent in the frosting and smudging on the cover. After his nap, I showed Nathan the cake (dumb, yes). I told him that it was Daddy's birthday and Daddy's cake and we had to wait until he got home from work to eat the cake, so on and so forth. After asking for cake 35,679 times, he lost interest. About an hour later I was feeding the dog. Nathan was quiet. I asked what he was doing. I came into the dining room to find him on his hands and knees on top of the table. He was supporting his body with one hand and lifting the cover with the other--while dragging it across the cake. He looked at me and said, "Happy birthday!" Nothing comes between this boy and his cake. He is more like his father every day!
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
So Be Good For Goodness Sake
The first weekend in December we attended the annual Mother's Corner (an expat sub-group associated with the American Women's Club of the Taunus) Christmas Party.
Nathan spent most of his time in the toddler play area (cannot resist TRUCKS), so I think it won't be until next year that he really embraces all the dancing, face painting and musical chairs that is this holiday gathering.
But, we did get to meet someone very special:
Before the actual meeting, Kyle spent a great deal of time telling Nathan how friendly Santa is and that he is just such a nice and fun guy that everyone likes to talk to him and sit on his lap. Nathan remained skeptical, careful never to make eye contact with his new "friend." But no crying! I call that a win.
:) sbc
Nathan spent most of his time in the toddler play area (cannot resist TRUCKS), so I think it won't be until next year that he really embraces all the dancing, face painting and musical chairs that is this holiday gathering.
But, we did get to meet someone very special:
Before the actual meeting, Kyle spent a great deal of time telling Nathan how friendly Santa is and that he is just such a nice and fun guy that everyone likes to talk to him and sit on his lap. Nathan remained skeptical, careful never to make eye contact with his new "friend." But no crying! I call that a win.
:) sbc
Friday, December 6, 2013
Weihnachtsmarktes
In Europe, especially Austria and Germany, Weihnachtsmarktes--or Christmas Markets--pop up everywhere. As you may know, I heart Christmas. To kick off "advent season" as they call it here, we ventured to Dresden, the home of the oldest Christmas Market in Germany.
It. Was. Magical.
I heart Christmas.
Our hotel was right around the corner from Altmarkt Square which hosts the Dresden Striezelmarkt. The market at night is, in a word, festive. It was like being in a movie. People were literally merry and bright.
The next day, we visited the more commercial markets. We preferred the "old style" markets. And, of course, we found Starbucks. ;)
More scenes from the old town market.
:) sbc
It. Was. Magical.
I heart Christmas.
Our hotel was right around the corner from Altmarkt Square which hosts the Dresden Striezelmarkt. The market at night is, in a word, festive. It was like being in a movie. People were literally merry and bright.
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| Crockett boys (and girl hidden in stroller) |
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| This was my first sight of the Christmas market. I fell in love. |
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| Quarkbällchen. Delicious. A warm, fluffy donut like ball of yummy. |
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| Even Kyle was happy to have his picture taken…I am telling you, this place casts a spell! |
The next day, we visited the more commercial markets. We preferred the "old style" markets. And, of course, we found Starbucks. ;)
More scenes from the old town market.
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| Sorry, I couldn't resist this photo. It made us stop in our tracks because of the big cow being roasted in the background. It was the length of the truck! |
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| Mulled wine. Yum (We felt bad drinking while our kids were in the rain, so we poured out the rest and took the cups home!) |
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