NYC & Me....

 In January I was due for a weekend away.  I LOVE New York City and Paula had a work trip scheduled there, so I decided to tag along and had a great time!

I love the feel of NYC - it's like Chicago, only bigger.  On Friday I walked all over Manhattan - stopping at street vendors (eating a "slice" the proper way), got my nails done, went to the 911 memorial and walked the Brooklyn Bridge.  It was one of the best days.

  

Walking across this bridge really moved me.  All I pictured was the people on 9/11 trying to exit the City on foot.  I guess I was surprised when I went to the 911 memorial earlier that day how much it moved me.  I sobbed.  You can just feel the heaviness there, I don't know what it is.  So that kind of set the tone for my walk across the bridge.  Amazing city.  Amazing people.  

 On Saturday we took the subway uptown and saw the musical "Everything Goes" - it was amazing!!

 John hooked us up with reservations at one of David Burke's restaurants and it was fabulous!

 We walked all over again on Saturday - Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Rockafeller Center, 5th Avenue...

   I love Central Park!

 Thanks Paula, for letting me tag along - I had a great time!  Let's do it again soon!

Happy New Year!

Happy 2012! We had a great New Year's weekend. Nate's parents came to town to celebrate Christmas with us since we didn't make it out to Michigan this year. New Year's eve we headed over to a friend's house (she lives on Lake Shore Drive) and watched the fireworks at Navy Pier from their balcony. The boys LOVED it! Yesterday we had some family over for a little surf n' turf - Nate cooked lobster tail, muscles and steaks on the grill - so yummy, and a fun, relaxing day!

I don't really believe in making resolutions anymore - I can never keep them anyway. I am just looking forward to a new year in our new home. I hope this year brings everyone I love happiness and is just an overall great year!

Christmas Morning 2011...

My friend Emily gave us this great dish set/Night Before Christmas story...

Aidan of course ate the cookies that came with it (they were from Mrs. Fields - can't blame him!) so we left brownies for Santa. I don't think Santa complained - they were made by my sister's friend Tim Connors - amazing!!!!

Lucas was so happy - he opened a talking Woody (or as he calls him Buzz...every character from Toy Story is Buzz)...

Aidan was very pleased that Santa thought him a good enough boy to bring him the Lego Hero Factory robot he wanted....beyond thrilled (Nate wasn't, it took 2.5 hours to put him together!)

Chloe is getting settled in our new home as well. She loves laying by the fire and sleeping in the boys room...

We enjoyed a low-key Christmas morning at home. It was great - except for Aidan throwing up all morning...and Nate throwing up all night...the in-between parts were good though!

Some of my favorite ornaments from our tree:



So great mom's think alike I guess...below are Nathan and my ornaments...the gold angel/drummer boy are from when we were both kids...my mom got us the jingle bell snowmen with our names on them and Nate's mom got the snowman angels...

I love the ornament below - it was Nate's from when he was a kids...it's the smallest "Night Before Christmas" story....

One of Aidan's favorite things are snow globes...we have a pretty big Christmas snow globe collection going....

Aside from the flu hitting our house we had a wonderful Christmas.

Looking forward to a new year!

Christmas Eve and my crazy family....

Christmas eve is when we always celebrate with my crazy family. I had the bright idea to try to get a family picture in our new home. Aidan has decided that whenever I pull out my camera he has to practice his karate moves...

Santa showed up at Aga's house...but he apparently forgot his beard so Aga had to make one (as Ken named the toilet bowl on Kevin's face) ...Aidan wasn't impressed...

Once Aidan realized "Uncle Kevin Santa" was giving out presents he was a little more cooperative...Lucas still hates Santa...



Remember the inchworm? Lucas got one for Christmas - he loved it! Aidan got a remote control car and was in awe....



Santa had to get a little action before he left from his future Mrs. Claus...



We had a great time, as usual, with everyone. The boys got spoiled and someone got a hold of my camera....it started out nice....




Then it all went downhill....













We are still missing my dad - I think this year was even harder than last. We remember him and celebrate him and just have a great time together - that is exactly what he would have wanted us to do.

Mama love....

Kelsey, where are you? :-)