Night Two In Manhatten

We just got back to the hotel after our second night on the town. Mesa Grill was cool (Bobby Flay's restaurant), but it totally caters to the masses. The food was okay, it was just really crowded and not as "upscale" as I expected. I guess when you get all famous it's all about selling out and sqeezing as many people as you can into your teeny little restaurant that serves pretty decent food. We had a few drinks and an appetizer at the bar before being seated. I had duck for the first time ever (okay, so there was that one time duck pate was served on our first class flight on Air France, but let's not get into that) and it was very tasty. Of course we had desert...chocolate tart with plantains...two of my favorite things in the world in one dish..hmmmmmm. The bartended recommended a little pub just down the street off the beaten path (Park Bar) so we headed there after dinner. A really good place to kick back with a few glasses of wine. Now here we are, back at the hotel.

I talked to the husband tonight and all is well on the home front. Sooo awesome to have a husband that can and will stay home with the children while I sneak away. I LOVE YOU BABY! I got the girls a few things at FAO Schwartz today. Can't wait to give it to them...they're just so awesome and deserving. It's time to get some sleep, tomporrow we are headed down to the Greenich Village area and Becca wants to visit Ground Zero.

Day One, No Kids

I took off from St. John's yesterday morning headed for New York for a girl's weekend with my sister. It felt so vey strange and distantly familiar at the same time checking in for my flight by myself. There was only me and one bag, not two kids running around, a stroller, a diaper bag, an activity bag and mass chaos trying to not hold up the people in line behind me....just me, my bag and a good book.

After I got totally felt up by multiple people at security I jumped on my plane, curled up with my good book and a cup of coffee for a 3 hour 20 minute flight south. The cup of coffee is important, you can't have that on a plane when you're squished between two kids. If you burn them on accident, even if the accident is caused by their flailing about because they can't wait another second for their pretzels and sprite, CPS will certainly be waiting for you upon your arrival.

I for the most part, hate to fly. Medication and alcohol are usually required to get me through a flight, however when I fly with the kids neither are available (remember, CPS) but I don't typically need it with them. Parenthood has this crazy bravery inducing affect on me. To show them fear is to set the situation up for mass chaos, especially at nap time. On my flight yesterday, I did feel a bit nervous and since even I won't drink at 8:30 in the morning (okay, they didn't have bloody marys or mimosas) I just shut the window and tried to get into my book. About an hour away from New York though, I opened the window and was really glad I did. The view was spectacular. I'm guessing we were over Novia Scotia or somewhere close. The sky was so clear, the ocean was so gorgeous and the little broken pieces of snow and ice covered land scattered out below. Ahhh, peace.

My sister landed shortly after I did and we grabbed a taxi and headed out. Had some great Cuban food for lunch, did a little shopping and then got ready for a show. Unfortunately, the play sort of sucked. It was at the American Airlines theater and I've never had so little foot space at a theater before. And the acting really sucked too. I'm still wondering if it's just a bad play in general, of if it was this cast in particular. Even the applause at the end was so half-assed, you really felt sorry for the players.

So, we grabbed some post show Mexican food and headed back to the hotel. It was lights out for us and 10 hours later, I woke up. Amazing. My body hasn't had that much straight sleep in, well, a very long time. Becca is busy planning our day and we'll be heading out soon for the MET, some more shopping and later tonight, dinner at Mesa Grill. I really don't care what she's planning over there, it's just really great to spend some quality time with my little sis.

Just Checking In

So, Jeramy has been gone over the past week to New Orleans for some training. He left on Monday morning and Monday evening his mom came for a visit. We had a really great time just hanging out and enjoying the girls. She left Thursday morning and Jeramy returned home last night. Now we're just enjoying a nice family-style weekend. The kids are asleep and I would like to write more, but I'm just dying to take a shower, put on my pajamas and go snuggle up with my husband and watch The Office that I recorded on Thursday. So, instead, here are some pictures from the past week or so:

Avery attempting to dress herself:



Thinking that she did:





Ryleigh enjoying mommy's tub:



My contribution to the inauguration watching party that I went to.:

One Hour Later

Folks, We're Just Getting Started!

We got our first big snow storm today. Actually, it's still going on right now. It's supposed to dump about 10cm on us when it's all said and done. With all the accumulation we've had since December 31st, here are some pics of the back door and back deck.






When we decided to make this move, I was told by some former expats that I know (including my mother in law) that the friends I made while living abroad would be some of the best friends that I would ever have. I could have never imagined that they would be so right so quickly. I have made some amazing friends since I've moved here, both expats and Newfoundlanders. I have really enjoyed reading my fellow expat friends' blogs if only to let me know that I'm not the only one learning about snow for the first time. (Staci, you blew snow in your face, I totally busted my ass on my driveway while attempting to shovel.)

Much love to all my new friends and to all your beautiful, wonderful children. You have enriched my (new) life more than I could have ever imagined.

Ahhh, Mexico

So, for those who don't know, my brother-in-law Chris is getting married. His wedding is going to be in Puerto Vallarta in March and we're taking the whole family. So, tonight I'm researching options for airport transfers and I found a website that offers them and noticed this notation on their price list:

*2 People Minimum - Single Passengers Pay for Two.
Kids 2 and Under are Free if sitting on Parents Lap.
Reservations must be made at least 24 hours in advance.

Seriously, should I want to ensure the safety of my baby by strapping her into a car seat I will have to pay extra? Because you know, airport shuttles and taxis are the times I think children should be extra locked in as to prevent shifting during flight.

Those Crazy Kids of Ours

A few videos that I just pulled off our camera. Enjoy!

Avery's latest little game:



Mama, I just want to dance!

Sledding!

We had a pretty good snow on Saturday so Sunday morning we drug out the sleds, invited some friends over and did some backyard sledding! Here are a few pics that my friend Betsy took.

Avery Milestones

Just a bit about what's going on in the life and mind of Avery Skye. While she still hasn't figured out how to say very many words, one word is crystal clear. Dad...or should I say DAAAADDDD! She says it that way when he comes home from work or when she needs him in general. And of course, he comes running. Avery has also learned the meaning of the word trash-trash. I can give her a used tissue, wadded up piece of paper or any other random piece of small trash, tell her trash-trash and away she goes to the nearest trash can. This has so many wonderful uses.

We are weaning, no seriously this time I mean it. It's happening. I nursed her before bed tonight and it was the first time since last night. It's been very hard for me, we are 98% sure that this is our last baby. Anyone that has ever breastfed knows that it is such a special and wonderful time that you get spend, quietly snuggling and feeding. I can't believe that it's already over. She and I had a talk about it tonight. We discussed how she no longer needs it or even seems to want it for any sort of nutritional purpose. It's purely a comfort thing, something that helps her get to sleep and makes her feel better when she bonks her head on something. But the thing is, mama is going to meet Aunt Becca in NYC in 4 weeks for 3 nights and there is just no way that I can still be nursing then. I just don't know that I would remember to pump after partying all night and sleeping all day...:)

All kidding aside, it has been and continues to be a very hard thing to let go, even if it was always inevitable.

Today we invited some friends over and had a good time sledding in the backyard. I even strapped Avery to a sled and pulled her around for a bit. She was pretty much totally confused on what the purpose of that was. Tonight Jeramy shoveled our front porch and steps. There was about an inch or so of ice under all the snow which he did his best to chip away and salted the rest. As he finished a few hours later, it started snowing again. Ahhhh, gotta love this place.

Am I Doing Something Wrong? Everything Maybe??

I had this conversation with Ryleigh tonight, after visiting some friends for a little New Year get together. They have several play areas in their house.

Ryleigh: Mom, I want to have two playrooms.
Mom: Really? Beacause when I was growing up I didn't have any playrooms.
Ryleigh: Really??? How did you play???
Mom: I played in my room, which I shared with my sister and my bed.
Ryleigh: Why?
Mom: Because we were poor and we had a small house. Ryleigh, do you realize how lucky you are? Most kids don't have playrooms and most kids don't have a house this big.
Ryleigh: Why?
Mom: Because you are just really lucky to have a daddy that works so hard to get you nice things.

Seriously, I couldn't come up with a better answer than that?? What is wrong with us that my daughter just asked for a second playroom???? She's just begging to have to share a room with her grouchy, orderly, snoring little sister. Perhaps having to attempt to sleep through teeth grinding and log sawing would make her realize just how lucky she is to have a playroom.

Congrats all the Way Around

I've been meaning to post a few Congrats! to some folks that deserve it:

Congrats! to Karen and Jeremy on the arrival of the very cute and very photogenic little girl Autumn. Karen and Jeremy met at our wedding when they walked down the aisle together and now they've started their family! Congrats!

Congrats! to Sara and Kalman on expecting their second child. Two is way cooler than one! Hope to see you guys soon!

Congrats! to my brother in law Chris, who is finally getting married! Congrats and good luch to Valerie, the woman who has managed to rope him in. Can't wait to see guys in Puerto Vallarta!