Being Cute

Olivia is less than two weeks away from being 18 months. I love this age. Her personality is certainly shining bright.

She likes to sit here when I'm getting breakfast for everyone.

She has been fairly regular with her naps, although this day, I think she tried her darnedest to pass it up...

Nothing like sleeping on bamboo.

Doesn't look like the most comfortable place, and I wonder how long she would have actually slept there.

It must be tiring being so cute.

Visiting Connecticut - Fun with Cousins

My kids are growing up like I did. No cousins nearby. We usually only get to spend time with Hunt siblings and cousins once a year, so we are thrilled it will be twice (for some) this year.

Our kids and Stuart & Rebecca's kids are all 6 mos to a year apart. Everyone had a buddy to play with - and they LOVED it! It was very entertaining watching them partner up and run around the house together.



I feel very foolish that my camera didn't make it out much the rest of the week while we were back East. (Rebecca, I'll have to snag some pics from you!) While Monday was a full day, we contemplated heading down into the city again on Tuesday. However, more snow was coming. The kids were more than happy to play with one another at home. And, with aunt Rebecca's genius idea, we held our own Winter Olympics. The events included hockey, floor skating - both individual and couples, and free dancing. I can't believe how much I missed without having my camera ready.

Floor Skating

Receiving their medals


While the snow fell the kids bustled around the house having fun.

Wednesday morning while eating breakfast, we watched several (10!) of these guys behind the wire in the backyard. I'm not sure I've seen so many together before. It wasn't long though before one of them found a way to get through into the backyard that they were chased off. (Not to mention we almost hit a couple the night we flew in.)

We said good-bye to Gma & Gpa Hunt and miraculously outfitted all the kids into winter apparel for some sledding. Once again, didn't think to bring my camera. It was pretty chilly, but that didn't stop any of the fun. Clay even tried skiing for the first time. Much harder than he thought! :) Believe it or not, we pulled the kids away after 2 hours!

That evening the Elder came for dinner. What kid (or adult) doesn't love being entertained by singing Elders with a ukulele?!

(Look at those girls right up front, mesmerized)

Thursday, the kids wanted to sledding, again. Bundling up, we headed to Compo Beach, right off The Long Island Sound. Again, forgetting the camera, the kids thoroughly enjoyed playing at the park, and especially collecting shells and crab parts (Clay). It was really pretty - even if it was cold and windy.

After an hour, we headed back to the sledding hill surprised that much of the snow had started to melt, exposing grass. (You wouldn't have known it had warmed up with that nasty wind.) After about 15 mins, the moms called it. Not enough snow, and too cold.

Thursday night, a babysitter came to our rescue and we headed out to dinner with Stu & Becca. It was a delightful evening at a wonderful restaurant followed by taking a drive around Westport. It is such a cool place. Fun shops everywhere with homes that are breathtaking. I kept telling Ryan that I would love to see Connecticut in the Spring. So many trees, I'm sure it's just lovely. And, the homes! Such gorgeous homes.

We had such a fun week. Playing the Wii, kids running on the treadmill with Uncle Stu coaching and supervising, and watching the Olympics after the kids had gone to bed.

Thank you Stuart & Rebecca for having us and showing us such a great time! Just yesterday Lucy says "I miss Matthew. Can we go back to New York?"

I would love to.

The Big Apple - the City part of our Trip

We loved our trip! We left Saturday (the 13th) around 1:30pm and made our way to the airport.

Here we are waiting for the shuttle. I should have zoomed out so you could see all our luggage. We had 3 car seats, 6 back packs and 5 carry-on/rolling suit cases. Oh, and the stroller for Olivia. Getting through security was fun. Actually, it went really well. Both times.

The girls at the airport. The kids put a good dent in the goodies/snacks for the plane ride just waiting to board. They all did really well. Who knew that letting them watch tv for 4 hours would do the trick? :)

We landed just after 10pm Eastern time at La Guardia and headed up to Westport, CT to see/stay Stuart (Ryan's brother) and Rebecca and their family.We had a nice relaxing Sunday catching up and preparing our adventure for the next day.

The next day, Monday, we headed down into Manhattan. The weather was in the 20's with a pretty chilly wind. We bundled up though and made our way down. (Just a note, if you're ever looking for a pretty easy day to visit Manhattan without a lot of people around, go in February, preferably a holiday, with cold, cold weather. It really was great.)

Loaded up, ready to go

Driving into the City
(Note: all pics taken from the car. Hence, the blurriness. Click on the pics if you'd like to see them closer)

The USS Intrepid
(So huge it was almost scary to look at!)

In Manhattan
(pics from the car still)

Ground Zero
(the pic on the right is from above)

On the Roof
We parked and went and saw where Stuart and Rebecca (and their 5 young children) lived for a few years - they moved up to CT only 3 months ago. Really cool to have them show us the ropes of city living and getting around. Amazing, really. Luckily, we also had Gma & Gpa Hunt there to help move 10 kids and 3 strollers.
We went up to the roof of their apartment building.
What a spectacular view!

Here we are on Wall Street

We went over and saw the Bull and then headed over to take a ride on the Staten Island Ferry to see Lady Liberty a little closer.

Waiting for the ferry

On the Ferry
A great view of Manhattan

And, of course, The Statue of Liberty

After we crossed over to Staten Island, we ran (literally) around to get back on the ferry to get back over. Everyone made it back A.OK. Well done.

Once we got off the ferry we headed over to The Riverwalk (is that what's it's called?) the trail that is right beside the river that you always see in movies, on TV or even commercials. It was really neat. I wish I had gotten a better picture. By the time we had made our full circle back to where we'd parked, the lights were starting to come on everywhere. Ah, the city.

As we were heading back to the cars, we passed this:
The 9/11 Memorial
The names and pictures of all the firefighters that lost their lives.
It was really neat to be there.

One of the things I really wanted to do while visiting New York City was to taste the pizza! And, Stu & Becca knew just where it was. We loaded everyone up and headed over the Brooklyn Bridge to Grimaldi's. There was a line out the door! so we parked illegally (still surprised we weren't asked to move) and waited for our pizzas. The kids did really well waiting and it was about an hour later when we tasted PURE GOODNESS! WOW.

Fresh Mozzarella and Fresh Basil with the thin New York crust, baked to perfection.

I've never tasted pizza like this before and may have just ruined eating pizza anywhere else forever.

(this is a picture from their website, but exactly what the pizza looked like. I want it again.)

We ate and finished up in the cars and headed home. Once again all these pics were taken from the car. The building with the white lights on top is the Chrysler Building - I had actually mistaken it for the Empire State Building when we flew in, and the building with the red, white and blue on top is the Empire State Building. Glad we cleared that up.

I absolutely loved all the bridges. So fun to see them all lit up.

It was really a once in a life-time trip for our family. Just incredible to be there together.

Next time, it's just me and Ryan.

On the Bright Side

We were supposed to fly to New York this morning, but because of the insane weather back east, our flight was canceled.

BUMMER.

I was so disappointed and frankly, a little angry that after getting everyone packed, the house in order, and a crappy night-before-you-leave-out of town-sleep, we weren't hustling to the airport. All the anticipation shattered, forced to see another normal day. The kids headed off to school and Ryan back to work. Ugh.

Thankfully (and I mean thankfully) we've been able to find a few bright sides.

1. Although the earliest flight is Saturday night (after niece Mia's baptism!) we were able to change our return flight and we can stay the next week - no extra fees. Saturday to Friday.
2. The cousins out there have the week off of school - very cool.
3. The contacts (lenses) I had ordered last Thursday and paid extra $$ to ship in 3 days did NOT arrive so I'll have them for the trip now (anyone else have problems with Acuvue?)
4. Not 30 mins after school has started this morning, Rylee calls home with an excruciating ear ache. Get into the doctor and she has a nasty ear infection - that she said started when she got on the bus this morning. Can you imagine flying in incredible pain with an ear infection. Yikes!
5. Rylee will get to go to her last gymnastics lesson tonight.
6. The kids will get to go to their Valentine's Parties at school.
7. After changing my next OB appointment from Friday the 12th to the 19th, I called this morning and changed it again. (They are so nice to me). I go to the dr tomorrow. So no waiting until after the trip.

Yay for bright sides.