Halloween 2009

Halloween was a blast. Liam threw his 2nd annual Halloween Party and it was a great success.

Liam made these cupcakes with his mom and I think he probably ate most of them himself. According to him the were "Dee-lish-ious." He looks like he's been caught red handed in the above photo. When we were preparing for the party he looked at the table with all the different kinds of food on it and after a long pause, went to the kitchen and opened up the fridge and got out some baby carrots and said that we had to put them out too. The perfect host, he doesn't miss a thing. What a cutie!

Here's cowboy Liam saying "Howdy!" He had authentic cowboy duds from his grandparents' ranch out west. Such a little man!

Conor made his Halloween debut in style, as a pumpkin. He liked having all the people around at the party and was as sweet and calm as can be. It was a very fun Halloween, and it was great to spend it with such cute kids.

Vera Wang

Vera Wang always delights me. With a few modifications (the addition of sleeves and a back) I think the above dress, by the always fabulous Vera Wang, would be my ideal wedding gown. It is romantic with some modernity thrown in. The stripes are satin and the rest of the dress is organza, oh how lush!

Up close

A view of the back

Simplicity and elegance... but do excuse the model, she is in serious need of a vacation to a sunny locale. First of all, she looks depressed, nothing a beach won't fix, and another thing, she could really use a tan, or at least a little bit of color.

Mortified!

I made a boo boo today. This week has been really rainy and cold making my commute not so pleasant. I have been splashing through puddles getting my shoes completely soaked through. I know there is a simple solution to this problem, a lovely invention called rain boots. I have been on the lookout for some, but haven't yet found "the ones." So, today,not being able to take having wet, freezing feet any longer, I did something I made a commitment never to do, I wore sneakers for my commute and brought shoes that actually matched my outfit in my bag to put on when I got to work. I really looked silly. A sad, pathetic looking rained on mess! That was me. Maybe some people can pull off the commuter look, I cannot.

I have done some research and I have found some excellent boots so I can avoid this problem in the future. I think I will order them soon, they are a reasonable price.

These Boots are by Soft Style

And while we are on the subject of rain gear... I found this trench coat that is full of pizazz. And the best part is that it is purple! (This one goes on my wish list!)

The coat is by Burberry

Glee!

This video just makes me happy! I haven't gotten into the series Glee yet but I sure love this clip.

Milestones

Conor Oliver Slater

The wonderful, amazing, stupendous, (insert preferred superlative here) family I nanny for welcomed a new addition to their home. Conor (the Irish spelling of Connor) Oliver Slater was born on Thursday, August 20, 2009. Weighing in at 9 lbs 6oz and measuring 21.5 inches he follows in his brother Liam's footsteps in being a big kid from the start. Liam is reacting with a mixture of awe, trepidation (he is worried that when Conor cries he is hurting him), and excitement.

Here are some pictures of me with the two cutest boys a nanny could hope for!

Welcome to the world Conor!

In another big change in the Slater household and my job is that Liam attended his first day of preschool. Lots of changes for Liam, the former only child. He loved his class, met some friends and said he would go back again, so all in all I think it was a good experience for him. Have I said lately that I love my job? Well, I do!!!!!

A Little Bit of Crazy: Mother's of Capitol Hill Edition

In my experience as a nanny here in D.C I have met many interesting mothers. Many of these woman have become great examples to me of not only being wonderful mothers but accomplished woman who are blending motherhood with all of their other interests and aspects of themselves. However, there is the occasional experience that leaves me scratching my head. Motherhood can bring out the crazy in some woman.

I am finally getting to blog about a situation at illustrates this kind of crazy. Last month, I was at the park, enjoying watching Liam playing with his trucks in the dirt, when I see a woman get up from where she was sitting and run to the other side of the park. Once there, she started yelling at another mother, whose son had accidently pushed her son and had not apologized. The two moms really got into it and screamed at each other for over 15 minutes. Some of the insults that were hurled included "You are the worst mother ever," and "You should have never had children." Wow, real mature. All the moms and nannies just stayed out of it and kept our kids away from the situation.

I am just glad there were no punches thrown. It was touch and go there for a minute.

The British Library

When I was an 18 year old freshman roaming London on Study Abroad I missed a great treasure. I didn't visit the British Library.  On my most recent trip to London I accidently visited it.  Wow, so glad I did.  I was with two of my friends and they wanted to go see it and I had no objections.  I went along for the ride.  When I went into the room where they have manuscripts, ranging from The Guttenburg Bible and Beowulf  to Alice in Wonderland. Also, the Magna Carta and sacred Buddhist texts.  I walked around the room quietly and slowly, absorbing the fact that so much of what I had studied in school through out the years was represented in this library.  It also kindled in me a desire to learn everything, yes, everything.  I just was overwhelmed by the genius of Leonardo da Vinci and Dante.  The manuscript of Handel's Messiah practically moved me to tears.  My favorite treasure was the manuscript of Jane Eyre, opened to the page where Jane states "Reader, I married him."  I have loved this novel since I was a teenager and I remember when I was 16 years old reading all of the Bronte sister's works in one summer.  At the end of my marathon I still loved Jane Eyre best. I still do. Here is an image of the manuscript, I was not the naughty one who took this picture (photography is not allowed for reasons of conservation). 

My conclusion as I walked out of the library was that I have so much to learn and so much to enjoy during that process.  I don't believe I would have had those types of edifying feelings if I had visited the museum when I was 18 years old.  These gems of knowledge represent the best in humanity, so wonderful to see it first hand.  

London: Summer 2009

I have yet to unpack my suitcase from my trip to London... yes, it's been more than a week since I got back, yes, I have had the time, still not unpacked though. Must be a sign of my deep denial about being back from such a great trip.  Just being with my family in the same country was enough for me but, put my family, two fun friends (Andrea and Wendy) and London together and for me that pretty much makes the best vacation ever.  I am spoiled, and so lucky to have had such a wonderful trip and such an incredible family.

We took a trip to Oxford where we checked out the beautiful architecture of some of the colleges and churches that pepper the city.  The above picture is of Wendy, me and Andrea at Blenheim Palace, just outside of Oxford. The palace, Winston Churchill's birthplace, is massive and has been used in the filming of some movies including Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet and the new movie The Young Victoria, with Emily Blunt ( a great flick, a must see for any history buff or any woman who likes pretty dresses and a dashing lead actor). It was a burning hot summer day and we roasted as we toured the palace grounds and enjoyed the beautiful sculptures and gardens. Here are some pictures of the palace and the gardens (photography credits go to Wendy the Wonderful).

On the way home our bus was delayed because of multiple traffic accidents.  The bus was also over crowded and the air conditioning which had been such a life saver on the trip from London to Oxford was nonexistent on the return trip.  I have never been more hot in my life!!!  A lovely day, despite the temperature.  

We headed out to Leeds Castle later in the week and enjoyed the scenic hour on the train. At every stop along the way the train would wait at the station at least a minute or two as passengers got off and boarded.  When we reached our station Andrea, Wendy and I got off the train. John was getting off and the train doors started closing on him.  He barely made it onto the platform.  The train doors closed leaving Mom and Dad on the train as it continued down the track to the next stop.  All this happened within 20 seconds, literally. As the last train car passed us, dazed and confused on the platform, we saw one of the train operators, who was leaning out of the window. I yelled that the rest of our group hadn't gotten off the train.  He shrugged and said that they would have to get off at the next stop.  We waited on the platform and fortunately the train coming from the opposite direction arrived in only 10 minutes. Mom and Dad got off and we shared confused looks and headed on our way. Very odd.  We got to the castle and  gone was the hot weather and in its place a cool, yet sunny, summer day.  At Leeds there is an aviary with all sorts of birds that I have never seen or heard of before. The menagerie included a laughing kookaburra who's laugh left John cracking up and the rest of us laughing at him laughing at the bird. Silly. The gardens also included a maze and grotto, enchanting. The gardens and palace were out of a fairy tale. Perfect. Here are some pics:  





Other highlights included:  

Visiting Kensington Palace and seeing a sample of Princess Diana's amazing collection of gowns and the room that the then Princess Victoria shared with her mother until she became Queen Victoria at the age of 18 (her mother was a major control freak to say the least).  Here's a picture of the girls and me at the statue of Queen Victoria (carved by her daughter, Princess Louise)in front of Kensington Palace: 

Browsing the designer dresses (Oscar worthy, all of them!) at Harrods. Need I say more.

A taste test of European candy bars. Yum. Here is photographic evidence of our gluttony: 

Plays- The Importance of Being Earnest (at the outdoor theater in Regents Park) and A Doll's House. Wonderful!!! Amazing!!! Bravo!!! Oh, how I love the theater. 

So here ends my rambling account of my travels. There doesn't really seem to be a way to adequately describe the wonderful trip I had and my awesome family who made it possible. Farewell London and family, till I see you again!

Women in Art

Presenting a wonderful video that Laura made me aware of... women in art through the ages... it's kinda neat! Thanks Laura!

Pugs, Glorious Pugs! (An Ode to Pepinot)

The above photo is of my old dog Pepinot that I had my senior year of college.  He now lives with a wonderful family with five children and a big backyard.  They even send me updates on how he is doing!  I am glad he is happy and being treated so well!  I miss Pep, and whenever I see a pug it brings a smile to my face.  Gotta move on, a tear is coming to my eye! Here are some fun pug images (thanks to my daring sister Leslie. Merci ma soeur!  Je t'aime!):
This is high pug fashion by Valentino and I think it is just lovely!   
I just ordered this poster for my bedroom door and I am so excited to get it in the mail!  The words are true wisdom!
To end this post, another Valentino photo. The pug is saying "Ciao bella!"