Saturday, March 21, 2015

Winter Wonders

Sorry it's been so long since our last blog post but it's been hectic over here!

Winter has been awesome! Snow has come is bits and pieces but we've always been sure to make the most of it! It's been cold, we had some days with days negative 20 and below! But the snow fights, angels and snowmen have made up for it!

This was our first true snow fall!




With the lack of snow we had a super skinny snowman! This was fun to build but he didn't stick around for very long.... maybe two hours!



Bella giving Snowy a little kiss!




The year started with Nick having plenty of time at home but in early January we heard that his work authorization came through! 

A month later Lily and Nick had the Greencard interview; and after a few questions our interviewer said "I think I've heard enough; it was nice to meet you.  You've recieve your greencard in the mail." So Nick is now a permanent resident of the USA.

In addition to this Nick is now working in NYC and commuting back to NJ. It's a bit of a ride but worth it to be home in time to read Bella her bedtime stories!

Having the snow hasn't stopped us getting to the playground though! Here's Bella at our favourite wooden playground.




For Chinese New Year the Philadelphia Seafaring Museum had Chinese dances, food tasting and many many crafts (Bella favourite at the moment).  We used this as an excuse to check it out! Bella is loving the crafts at the moment when we go shopping for coloured paper, sticky tape and other craft bits and pieces Bella shrieks with joy! Ask her what she feels like doing and its always colouring, painting, gluing and making!  It has got to the stage that every time a roll of paper towel gets used up Bella always says "we could make that into ....." or "I want to paint this" and she won't let us recycle any things like that she can get creative with!


Ice burgs on the Delaware River at the sea port museum








Bella getting a sea-faring tattoo







Hike through a historic preserved town! Snow doesn't stop us!


Snow fight!






Saturday, January 3, 2015

Christmas!


CHRISTMAS!! 

With two Christmas trees set up with lights and the house full of Christmas decorations it was easy to get in the mood for Christmas! Even on the drives around the neighborhood you'd see Santas on motorbikes, Santas jumping up to the roof, Reindeer pulling slays and crazy amounts of lights.  

When coming home we'd slowly pass the houses in the street to take in the lights and Bella would yell from the back seat "CHRISTMAS LIGHTS, Daddy slow down for them!!".  

We wanted to make sure that Santa felt welcome so we made choc chip cookies and left them out with some milk for him and a carrot for the reindeer.






Someone up bright and early for Christmas day!



Outfit No 1.


Outfit No 2.


Outfit No 3.


Emilio making a princess her favourite!! A babychino!





Nick sporting his new Christmas scarf






Outfit No 4. Doc McStuffin! Who's gonna be the doc?



Crazy Christmas lights!!




Mmmmmm. Fried Turkey!

Wishing you a wonderful and exciting 2015!

Love,

 the Beales in the USA


Friday, December 26, 2014

Nick's Birthday and Ice Skating

So amongst  the craziness that is December Nick's birthday managed find it's place.... and the thing to do for Nick was go  ice skating!

Lily's Brother Brendan was in town with his Girlfriend so the five of us set forth to find the local outdoor rink in Glassboro, NJ.  This would be the first time for Bella who was super excited as so was Nick because it had been 8 years since he'd done it last. As you can see in the photos we were the first ones on the ice so it was all nice, smooth and clean; not so after we ripped it up!


















We all had an awesome time ice skating and taking turns in helping Bella get her ice feel.  We stayed the full 2 hours and by the end we all felt like we'd done a good amount of exercise!


Nick's Birthday "Cake" was the tradition American Sweet Potato Pie made my Lily's lovely mother, Vahlia.






 




Christmas and New Years love from all of us here in NJ!