A quick trip

In January Connie told me that she was making plans to go visit Mimi and go to Disneyland with her. And of course I wanted to go too. Mimi had some extra passes that were going to be expiring soon so we figured we better go ahead and do it. We were only going to Disneyland for one day so we decided we would drive one day and go to the beach that afternoon the next day go to Disneyland and then the next day come home. Joseph was just as excited about going to the beach if he was about Disneyland. He kept saying things like "thank you for taking me to the sea". I thought it might be too cold for the kids to play in the water but I was wrong. It was cold but it didn't seem to bother them one bit.

We really did have a wonderful time at the beach and it makes me excited to go back sometime this year hopefully. After that we went to our hotel that was close to Disneyland. Then we went to dinner with Mimi at Millies Café. That night in the hotel room we decided we should probably measure Joseph to see which rides he would be able to go on. He was just a hair under 40 inches which is what most of the rides require, so Connie and Mimi, just to be safe, ran to Walmart to get him some new shoes with thicker soles. By the time they got back the rest of us were all sound asleep in our beds excited for the next day at Disneyland.

Farewell Reeds

My neighbors and good friends, the Reeds, bought a new house and moved. They aren't far away but they're not down the street anymore. This picture was taken as the kids were going down to see if their friends could play one last time before they moved. Unfortunately they weren't home, but they were able to come over later that night for a farewell bonfire.

It was handy as we got to also burn some trash that's been in our yard for a long time. Including the old  Christmas tree.

We're really happy for them but pretty sad for us.

Disney after thoughts

Here are a few things I forgot to blog about Disneyland. 

The genius idea I had for Louisa's baby bed. She's not happy in this picture, we just took it right before we left so that we could remember how we did it. But when she was sleeping she was swaddled up and slept comfortably on the pillow right next to me.

This is a cute little Olaf that Gracie made after we got back. The piece of paper that is the carrot was a scrap piece of paper left over from a project I was working on it apparently she thought it looked like Olafs nose so she colored orange and made the rest to go with it.

After we got home we wrote some thank you cards for Mimi giving us such a fun time. This is Joseph contemplating what he's going to "write" in this thank you card. And this post reminded me that all of the thank you cards came back in the mail so I need to check the address and try sending them again. Sorry Mimi.

Dinner for Baby 9/24

Connie wanted to throw me a little sort of shower but since I already have all the baby girl stuff that I need I said just a dinner to celebrate and they all chipped in and gave us money to get a new car seat since that is pretty much the only thing we don't have. And of course people brought other gifts anyway even though I told them not to. And Connie did more than she was supposed to. She was only supposed to reserve a place and invite the friends but I show up to this...

Baby Cakes is the name she has been calling this little baby and her baby cakes were so yummy. All the treats were and I left feeling grateful for all the wonderful friends I have in my life.

Meeting Lennon

Abe and Jessica's baby, Lennon took a long time to get here but it was worth the wait. The kids were so excited to meet her. 

Sweetest little chubby cheeks.

Bisa

We live next to a apartment complex that houses seniors and some of these apartments look over our back yard. One Sunday afternoon one of them knocked on my door. A sweet women who is originally from Brasil. She told me that she needed someone to help he with some projects around her house and that she has seen Russ out working in the yard and thought he might be able to help. He has gone over to do a couple of things here are there and she has stopped by to see the children. She loves them and they love her. Here she is measuring Gracie so she can make her a dress.

She stopped over again last night and it was good to see her. She has asked if she could be their adopted Grandmother and wants us to call her Bisa. I feel bad cause I know she would like us to come over and visit her, when she comes here she feels like she is being a bother (even though I told her she is not). There is just so much going on right now we don't typically have time when I'm not doing something. She told me that when she saw the children playing in the yard that she thought to herself, "I need to have these children in my life." I know it must be hard to have been a mother and grandmother for so many years and then find yourself living alone. I am glad we are friends and that she is our neighbor. 

The last day in New York

 The morning started off with cake for Lindsey. And we sang happy birthday, which was special with my croaking voice and it is always magical when Lauren sings;)

We had to hurry out the door to meet one of Connie's author friends at High Line park. It is a really cool park that used to be raised train track and has not been transformed into a very long and beautiful park.

 We started at the end and made our way down it and it really was so cool.

 I liked this fun little spot where you could watch the traffic.

Here is our host the lovely Elizabeth Eulberg. She really was lovely and easy to talk to. I felt like I had known her for years.

We walked all around the west village and that was my favorite part of New York. 

I saw the building they filmed for the TV show Friends (below), and Kiefer Sutherland's house (not pictured)...

...and the "house" of the girl from Sex and the City. I don't even know her name. I have never seen that show.

 I just really liked the colors of the buildings above and below.

 And I accidentally took this picture of my feet and found it later.

I saw this flower and was pretty amazed. It looks like something straight out of wonderland. I have never seen anything like it before.

 When we got back it was time for Connie and I to pack up our stuff so we could go and make our flight. 

 It didn't take long for me to miss these girls. They are the best. I don't know how I got so lucky to have friends like them in my life.

On the flight home I worked some more on my crewel and counted down the minutes until I could get home hug Russ, kiss my children, and go to sleep in my own bed. 

Thank you to:

-Connie for making sure the trip happened 

-Lindsey for riding a bus (or was it train?) from DC to be with us on your 30th birthday weekend.

-Lauren for hosting us and letting us sleep all over your apartment and embarrass you on the subway...and probably everywhere else. I can't wait for the next trip with you girlies.

As for my opinions of New York - it was a fun place to visit and there is so much to see and do that I would love to go back, but NOTHING (except food) is convenient in NY. I live in a place where a lot of things are convenient and I rather like that. And sometimes I feel like too many people is just that - too many people.

Our Last Full Day

Then next morning I woke up and my voice was gone! After awhile I could talk a little bit but it sounded bad. I spent some time looking around Lauren's house. She has a lot of great things. I wish I had taken pictures of more.

Her camel collection has always amused me.

That morning we headed off to central park. We were planning to go to the Met but realized that we would not have time for that.

(I did not edit that rainbow into the picture, it is real)

Central park really was very very lovely and we only saw a smidgen of it.

We were hungry so Lauren took us on a journey to find a Nutella shake and it was yummy!

Then we headed to a street fair where there was more nutella!

At the street fair we also ate this stuff (don't remember what it is called) but some kind of corn bread pancakes sandwiched together with mozzarella in the middle. It was very yummy. From there we ended up in Grand Central Station again and Connie and Lauren both wanted to change their shoes (we were smart and brought flip flops in our bags in case).

Lauren and Connie were going to try and see if they could leave a bag with boots in it and then come pick it up later but it didn't work. I loved watching Connie and Lauren looking over that high counter. It made them look like children. Too bad Lauren turned around just as I got my camera out.

Were were headed to the 9/11 memorial and it started to rain. Lauren was afraid she would slip on the wet stone so she held on to Connie. Lindsey and I were sharing an umbrella behind them and watching them made me feel like we were little old ladies walking through the city. I can 't wait until we are old ladies taking trips together.

The 9/11 memorial was amazing and worth the hour it took to get through security. It has always been hard for me to wrap my head around the magnitude of what happened  When it happened I was a senior in High School and I didn't even know what the World Trade Center was. Well these fountains are enormous and to see and hear all that water falling and not being able to see the bottom and seeing all those names made it feel more real to me.

Looking up

Looking down

We were all really touched by the story of the Survivor Tree

While we were looking at the tree we got to hear some bagpipes. As if we weren't all feeling emotional enough.

The remnants of a women's purse who was killed in the attacks. 

It was very sad to see. I can't believe it was so long ago. I hope we never forget.

Then we headed down to the Staten Island Ferry. This is where we got our best view of the Statue of Liberty. (Don't you love the way Lauren is standing?)

As we were getting off the ferry we asked a cop where a good place to eat was and her told us. It was yummy and a lot of fun. A lot of thick New York accents there and a lot of guys wearing jerseys and watching football.

Then restaurant was so loud that I didn't really talk the whole time we were there cause no one would have been able to hear me anyway.

On the way back

Then we stopped by magnolia bakery for some treats for that night and then next morning cause it was Lindsey's 30th birthday.

I got banana cream pie.

Then it was home again to SLEEP!