Thursday, December 22, 2011
Monday, December 19, 2011
The most wonderful time of the year
Jake took Rachel ice skating for their Daddy daughter date on Saturday. Rachel was ecstatic! It was her first time on the ice, and from the report she did very well and loved it!
It was actually a double date with Jake's friend from MBA school who came down with his daughter Cecilia for the day from Connecticut. They had a great time together.
Afterwards we enjoyed a fun evening doing sugar cookies and movie night
Last night my stomach started getting a sinking feeling with the sirens I was hearing in the neighborhood, until a neighbor of ours came to tell us it was Santa coming to visit. My kids went crazy! Even I was giddy and excited. It was a fun unexpected surprise.
It's times like these that make this time of year so magical...to see your kids' face light up like that. Sadly, afterwards we went to a dinner with some friends and on our way home Rachel was telling us how the kids were telling her that St. Nick has died and that there's no Santa Claus. It's fine if families choose not to believe, but I wish they could be better about keeping it to themselves. This magic only lasts a few precious years.
It was actually a double date with Jake's friend from MBA school who came down with his daughter Cecilia for the day from Connecticut. They had a great time together.
Afterwards we enjoyed a fun evening doing sugar cookies and movie night
Last night my stomach started getting a sinking feeling with the sirens I was hearing in the neighborhood, until a neighbor of ours came to tell us it was Santa coming to visit. My kids went crazy! Even I was giddy and excited. It was a fun unexpected surprise.
It's times like these that make this time of year so magical...to see your kids' face light up like that. Sadly, afterwards we went to a dinner with some friends and on our way home Rachel was telling us how the kids were telling her that St. Nick has died and that there's no Santa Claus. It's fine if families choose not to believe, but I wish they could be better about keeping it to themselves. This magic only lasts a few precious years.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Brookie!
We had the great privilege of having my sister Brooke fly out to visit us! She timed it well. We had plans to take Rachel to go see the Rockettes again this year, so she got to see the show and a little bit of NYC at Christmas time. I wanted to show her so much more but we just didn't have the time.
The show was phenomenal once again! I could watch it a 1000 times and never tire of it. We did like the story last year a little better though. Rachel kept waiting for the kid to fly.
The tree! Much less crowded during the day!
Tommy (and Kate) got to play with his friend Merrick while we went to the show. It was great to be back in the old neighborhood. I wish we had more time to visit everybody, but it was SO fun to randomly run into 3 friends. That's one big thing I miss! The community there! You don't run into neighbors in friends in the car. I'm already so tired of the car...I'll be grateful when the snow and freezing temperatures come though :)
On Saturday we took Brooke to see the Princeton campus
The tree in Palmer Square (downtown Princeton)...almost as impressive as Rockefeller.
We spent the evening decorating gingerbread houses. I wish I could express how excited Tommy was for this activity. Don't you just love this picture? The chef hat...the candy cane...
He did a great job decorating it. He had Daddy help him too and he had very specific instructions on where he wanted things. He wanted it "better than Brookes"
Brooke saw me make a sled with the candy canes so she had to "one up" me by making a snowman sledding down a snowhill...show off! ;)
Rachie did an awesome job on her little house!
Wouldn't you love to live in this neighborhood?
Before Brooke left we took her to get some gelato downtown. We got a cranapple pear ginger flavor. Wow, it was amazing!! What's even more amazing was that we got to eat it outside in 60 degree weather...in December!
Thanks for coming Brooke! We had a blast with you here!
The show was phenomenal once again! I could watch it a 1000 times and never tire of it. We did like the story last year a little better though. Rachel kept waiting for the kid to fly.
The tree! Much less crowded during the day!
Tommy (and Kate) got to play with his friend Merrick while we went to the show. It was great to be back in the old neighborhood. I wish we had more time to visit everybody, but it was SO fun to randomly run into 3 friends. That's one big thing I miss! The community there! You don't run into neighbors in friends in the car. I'm already so tired of the car...I'll be grateful when the snow and freezing temperatures come though :)
On Saturday we took Brooke to see the Princeton campus
The tree in Palmer Square (downtown Princeton)...almost as impressive as Rockefeller.
We spent the evening decorating gingerbread houses. I wish I could express how excited Tommy was for this activity. Don't you just love this picture? The chef hat...the candy cane...
He did a great job decorating it. He had Daddy help him too and he had very specific instructions on where he wanted things. He wanted it "better than Brookes"
Brooke saw me make a sled with the candy canes so she had to "one up" me by making a snowman sledding down a snowhill...show off! ;)
Rachie did an awesome job on her little house!
Wouldn't you love to live in this neighborhood?
Before Brooke left we took her to get some gelato downtown. We got a cranapple pear ginger flavor. Wow, it was amazing!! What's even more amazing was that we got to eat it outside in 60 degree weather...in December!
Thanks for coming Brooke! We had a blast with you here!
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Our weekend together
It was a tough decision whether to do the parade this year or not. Rachel really wanted to go but it's really not as convenient as it was last year. But, Rachel's multiple doodles of the Macy's parade all over the house with the Hello Kitty balloon and the nice weather (no snow or rain) swayed us to do it. We missed the early train by 30 seconds and caught the next one to arrive as the parade started. We didn't have as good a view but it was a little less crowded further back and we didn't have to break our back holding kids either. Sadly, the crowd also helps with warmth and the kids got really cold. We missed Hello Kitty, but we still saw Buzz and lots of other good balloons and they still had a great time. It was all worth it to capture these smiles on their faces.
After we warmed up in a drugstore, we headed north to see if by any chance our beloved Shake Shack was open for lunch (or maybe just for their pumpkin pie concrete :) Unfortunately it was closed, but on our way we crossed paths with a family leaving the parade that offered us their VIP passes. We headed in just in time to see Santa Claus up close and personal. Which was really great because we missed him last year. Rachel was jumping up and down waving and she was so excited when Santa blew her a kiss. Such a fun surprise!!!
You know, this was my first time back to the city and I was amazed how comfortable it felt. It felt more like home than where we are now. I know it's just a matter of time (we've only been here a few months), but I have been actually feeling a little homesick for the city since then. I never thought I would say that.
Anyway, later that day we enjoyed an amazing meal with some friends from church. With how much we fit it, it still felt like a very relaxed, and also long, day. The rest of the weekend we just enjoyed having Daddy around. He's been traveling for most of the month of November and even back in LA now.
We went to a farm in PA to get a tree and drive through their holiday light show
We were standing next to this big tree enjoying the "snow" (made of soap?) and listening to the Christmas music. Lots of people were taking pictures in front of it and all the sudden I notice Tommy doing this...he had patiently waited his turn then stepped up and smiled. I had to hurry and pull the camera out. I just LOVE this kid!
Roasting marshmallows on an open fire
The kids loved all the lights. As we were finishing up the show Rachel lets out a good sigh and say, "I feel very merry!" Isn't Christmas time wonderful!?
On Saturday Jake and I headed back up to New York to attend his cousin's wedding reception. He hadn't seen Cathy in 15 years, can you believe it? We enjoyed a nice dinner with them and had to miss out on the dancing to get home to our babysitter. Bummer, but it was great to see them.
After we warmed up in a drugstore, we headed north to see if by any chance our beloved Shake Shack was open for lunch (or maybe just for their pumpkin pie concrete :) Unfortunately it was closed, but on our way we crossed paths with a family leaving the parade that offered us their VIP passes. We headed in just in time to see Santa Claus up close and personal. Which was really great because we missed him last year. Rachel was jumping up and down waving and she was so excited when Santa blew her a kiss. Such a fun surprise!!!
You know, this was my first time back to the city and I was amazed how comfortable it felt. It felt more like home than where we are now. I know it's just a matter of time (we've only been here a few months), but I have been actually feeling a little homesick for the city since then. I never thought I would say that.Anyway, later that day we enjoyed an amazing meal with some friends from church. With how much we fit it, it still felt like a very relaxed, and also long, day. The rest of the weekend we just enjoyed having Daddy around. He's been traveling for most of the month of November and even back in LA now.
We went to a farm in PA to get a tree and drive through their holiday light show
We were standing next to this big tree enjoying the "snow" (made of soap?) and listening to the Christmas music. Lots of people were taking pictures in front of it and all the sudden I notice Tommy doing this...he had patiently waited his turn then stepped up and smiled. I had to hurry and pull the camera out. I just LOVE this kid!
Roasting marshmallows on an open fire
The kids loved all the lights. As we were finishing up the show Rachel lets out a good sigh and say, "I feel very merry!" Isn't Christmas time wonderful!?
On Saturday Jake and I headed back up to New York to attend his cousin's wedding reception. He hadn't seen Cathy in 15 years, can you believe it? We enjoyed a nice dinner with them and had to miss out on the dancing to get home to our babysitter. Bummer, but it was great to see them.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Getaway
While my mom was in town Jake and I planned a little getaway to the Poconos. We have to take advantage of these times when I'm not nursing or pregnant. It was quick but just enough.
A nice evening walk along the Delaware River.
Jake wanted to be like Philippe Petit (the tight rope walker that walked between the two towers...if you haven't seen the documentary, you should...it's crazy) It doesn't look that high up, but Jake said it was a good 20 feet. 
Our lovely bed and breakfast. I took way too much time researching these things. Procrastination and indecision are some of my weaknesses.
Jake was in charge of the rental car. This is what we got. Supposedly he got it for only $10 a day. It's got amazing gas mileage too. Jake probably had a little too much fun with this on the country roads. I'm grateful I'm still alive!
Unfortunately most of the leaves had fallen but we still got some fun color.
We went to a place called Bushkill Falls. Supposedly it's the Niagra of Pennsylvania. Great hiking and scenery!
This was scary!
After the falls we drove up to a town called Milford, which was really cute. We ate some soup and baguettes at a Pattiserie and took a little walk down the main street. We see a sign on a house and it reminded me that I had seen something about the "Lincoln Flag" in my research. There it was, inside...the flag that was hanging in front of Lincoln at the theatre and used to prop his head after he was shot. Very cool!
This is a place called Grey Towers, home of a former PA governor. Amazing view and home, my favorite thing being their outside dining was a table of water. They would pass their food on little boats. I totally want one one day.
Our bed and breakfasts were both amazing.
This one even had a waterfall and hot tub in the backyard!
As I tell Jake on every date night, "it's been a while, huh? We definitely don't do enough of these!"
A nice evening walk along the Delaware River.
Jake wanted to be like Philippe Petit (the tight rope walker that walked between the two towers...if you haven't seen the documentary, you should...it's crazy) It doesn't look that high up, but Jake said it was a good 20 feet. 
Our lovely bed and breakfast. I took way too much time researching these things. Procrastination and indecision are some of my weaknesses.
Jake was in charge of the rental car. This is what we got. Supposedly he got it for only $10 a day. It's got amazing gas mileage too. Jake probably had a little too much fun with this on the country roads. I'm grateful I'm still alive!
Unfortunately most of the leaves had fallen but we still got some fun color.
We went to a place called Bushkill Falls. Supposedly it's the Niagra of Pennsylvania. Great hiking and scenery!
This was scary!
After the falls we drove up to a town called Milford, which was really cute. We ate some soup and baguettes at a Pattiserie and took a little walk down the main street. We see a sign on a house and it reminded me that I had seen something about the "Lincoln Flag" in my research. There it was, inside...the flag that was hanging in front of Lincoln at the theatre and used to prop his head after he was shot. Very cool!
This is a place called Grey Towers, home of a former PA governor. Amazing view and home, my favorite thing being their outside dining was a table of water. They would pass their food on little boats. I totally want one one day.
Our bed and breakfasts were both amazing.
This one even had a waterfall and hot tub in the backyard!
As I tell Jake on every date night, "it's been a while, huh? We definitely don't do enough of these!"
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