katespadeny:spread the word

Today I took a much needed day off from Nanny City. This season has been gogogogoGO and then GO!SOME!MORE! My holiday cards are collecting dust on my nightstand and so many gifts are lying unwrapped strewn across my bedroom floor. 

But yesterday I took a few minutes to see the season through the eyes of a bambina. I scooped her up while her brother pounded away on the iPad and we ooh-ed and ahh-ed at each ornament—I sang “deck the halls” and she clapped for the blue twinkle lights. And later on that evening I caught her dancing in her footed pajamas near the tree (no music, 21-month-olds never need music) singing quietly (“la, la, la, la, laaah”) and it was a perfect moment.

Merry, merry! 

GPOYW. Vintage Halloween. Remember?

It’s been over a year since I was asked to don a suit of pig and trek out to the country for a night of enduring the shrieks of 8-year-old boys (“AHH! GIANT PIG!”) and endless awkward introductions (“I’m really sorry [terribly impressive New Yorker], my hoof makes handshakes tricky…”).

This Halloween was slightly as swine-y but one, as they say, should never forget.

Speaking of Nanny City Sap, check out what was waiting for me post-Happy Hour on Friday night.

Three of world’s BEST thank you notes from my three favorite kids.

I think this is their blog debut, but this family (Georgia, Charlie, Caroline, and Mom+Dad) is one of my favorite things about D.C. I sat for them throughout all four of my years in the district. They’ve written countless recommendations, had my family over for tea, offered lasting and sound advice…they even arranged an introduction while I was studying in Colombia.

I’m not sure what it was. Maybe the jar of peppermint patties in the kitchen, or the couch where I did so much Locke reading? I’m not sure, but I can say with certainty that having these guys in my life at that time was completely necessary. It added a layer of comfort even though I was miles from home. Over the years I’ve learned I have a preference for people who live in houses with sagging bookshelves, matchbook collections, and walls covered in memories—these five taught me that.  They’re sweet, smart, constantly curious, and easily some of the best people I’ll ever meet.

Thanks for the notes! They’re going make perfect cubicle wallpaper.

Look what I found! 

It’s from last autumn, taken at NannyFam’s old rental house. This was back when the baby hated sleeping for longer than a housewives reunion show. This was also just after I started, when I still felt terrible about waking up the rest of house. So, on this all-too-familiar Sunday dawn, my (at the time) 6-month-old pal and I wound up rocking in a white rocking chair on the front porch with a stack of books next to us, staring out at the colors. Amazingly, after a few minutes of counting how much orange we saw, the bambina turned, mushed her face into my chest and fell right back to sleep. And everything was quiet for just a little longer. 

I can’t believe that was over a year ago.