December: Art Update

We are getting ready for our long drive to Michigan this week- can't wait to see Hillebrands and Swansons and more! Although I will be honest and say I'm nervous about the drive- the doctor told me to stop every hour and a half, and if you've ever been a road trip with me you'll know that is the opposite of how I like to travel-- I'm more of a destination than a journey kind of girl! However, that's not been the case for this pregnancy, so maybe that's changed. As I'm nearing month 8, I don't mind if the journey slows down a bit!

Aaron just had his third Open Studio at SVA (School of Visual Arts). He did a great job setting up his studio and hiding some of his hundreds of pieces to highlight a few favorites from this fall. He's been making art like ants storing up food for winter lately- trying to get as much made as he can before the baby comes. His next and last Open Studio will be in May, which will be Baby Swandobrand's very first art opening of many to come!

If we are seeing you next weekend or the following week we CAN'T wait! If we don't get to see you at the Michigan Christmukkah/ shower/new year's celebrations than we wish you very happy holidays!

See more of Aaron's art at www.aaronhillebrandart.com

Thanksgiving

We hosted our usual Thanksgiving crowd this year-- after eight years of making Thanksgiving together, Aaron and I have gotten quite good, if I don't say so myself! This year we even did some preparations early, and Aaron's turkey cooking skills are such that we didn't even have to wait around for the turkey to be ready! I didn't cook as much as mingle, but I did that well!

We had a total of ten for dinner. Both of my cousins came this year- Shandra from Philly for her 6th Thanksgiving with us, and Jacy from Wisconsin for his first. We had some regulars join us for "orphans thanksgiving" who aren't able to get home, and a couple first timers. Food consisted of turkey, tofurkey, twice baked mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, peas, cranberries, stuffing, brussel sprouts, mac 'n cheese, three different pies and a south african pudding- pretty much way more food than any group of 10 people need.

I'm very aware that this is representing a shift in our holiday tradition this year. Next year we may have some of the same guests and all the same food, but the nine month old baby will make things feel different!

I'm also very thankful for the amazing friends and family in my life, and for the many blessings I am fortunate enough to have received. At the risk of sounding cheesy... Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Bump Update

We'll see if this blog is happening because I've been laying around sick all weekend, or if it is actually something I'm going to update regularly. I think it will depend on how much interest there is from you, far away friends and family! But, here I am, 6 months pregnant, making a blog...because facebook is too public and requests for prego-pictures are abundant.

So- here goes. Included are pictures from our recent trip to Mexico--a fantastic, restful week on the beach with Aaron and my parents, which wound up our "babymoon" vacation. We had a wonderful, relaxing time-- avoiding a hurricane, a surprise trip to the jungle, kayaking to snorkel, and primarily laying on the beach in the sun and sand.