Monday, December 10, 2012

New York

Wow. What an incredible trip! I cannot express how much fun we had in the Big Apple. It was the Nielsons, Fords, and Ross' and no kids...phenomenal! We ate, toured, shopped, ate, toured, and shopped some more...and then ate.  We stayed right in the Flower District in Chelsea and it was the perfect location. We took the subway lots and walked even more.  We soaked it all in while we could, the sights, the sounds, and of course, the company. I feel so lucky to have taken this trip with our best friends!
I don't even know where to start, so why not the very beginning, especially because it was actually really funny. This trip had been in the works for awhile, and yet for some strange reason, we had a major miscommunication with the booking of our hotel rooms. So there we are, after midnight, asking for a room. Yeah, wasn't going to happen. Everything was booked!  We ended up finding a room with just one bed for Cody, Cheri, Tucker and I to share. It was the hardest $500 to spend...
Ok, so we didn't really sleep like this, but we had to take a picture!
Once we got that over with, we were ready to start our trip bright and early the next morning. We headed to Rockefeller Center. We passed by the Today Show, walked through the NBC store, tried and failed to get Jimmy Fallon tickets, and did some shopping around there. 
We then headed to Canal Street for more shopping and lunch at a fabulous cuban restaurant called Cafe Habana. Think hole in the wall, packed with people, delicious food. Yum.
Checking out Times Square later that afternoon...
Cody is a huge baseball fan and with the Yankees in the World Series, we couldn't pass up a game. Tucker and I aren't such fans, but even we could appreciate the overall ambience within that amazing stadium. Hot dogs eaten, National Anthem sung, America's favorite pastime being played, it was totally worth the tickets we got from the scalpers (who just about got into a fight because of us!).
Friday was another big day, a perfect day really. It started with a bang when we got the last 6 tickets to see Newsies. We were pretty excited...
 So were the guys...
 Since we were down that way, we strolled along Wall Street. I was determined to find the bull, but no one was giving us great directions. Not until we found these guys. Who would want to get directions from the NYPD? They were actually really nice, maybe too nice! ;)
I talked everyone into doing a harbor tour and I am so glad they were up for it! It is the best way to see the city, Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and a few of the magnificent bridges. It was more than a bit breezy, but totally worth it...
 The girls...
The boys...

Lady Liberty. Hearing about Ellis Island and the thousands of people that traveled through really makes you feel a sense of pride. I loved it.
At it again in Times Square! This time we had an awesome accordion player doing his very best to make his instrument as cool as possible by playing "Bad Romance." Cheri and I thought it was perfect polka music...
 Me any my wonderful, best-in-the-world kind of husband.
For dinner that night, we ate right near Times Square at John's Pizza. Sounds like nothing too exciting, but it was nothing like your standard pizzeria. The restaurant was housed in an old church and left many architectural details to let you see what the church must have looked like. And hello, the garlic rolls and pizza were heaven.
Saturday was spent taking a quick walk through Central Park, stopping at the Manhattan Temple for a peak, and anxiously waiting for Newsies! We put our excited energy to good use...




















And finally it was time for the show! I was beyond excited and I don't think I stopped smiling the entire time. It was even better than I thought it would be with extended songs and dance numbers-I was dying! We got a picture with the lead right after the show...
 And now we want to audition...
Even Tucker liked it, but really I was just happy that he was willing to go!
That night we went to a fabulous mexican restaurant where we ate way too much guac. It wasn't enough to keep us away from our favorite desserts from Stand 4. Toasted marshmallow shakes and banana bread pudding-I am certain there isn't a better dessert on this planet, and I know my desserts!
Our last day was also Annelise's birthday so we had to celebrate with a breakfast fit for any birthday girl. Max Brenners...if you think you have had a beyond-rich-and-delicious breakfast, you are mistaken, unless you have eaten at Max Brenners. Think white chocolate syrup for your french toast...it's that good!
We needed to walk off the ridiculous amount of calories we had just eaten, so we took one last stroll through the park. It was the perfect way to end the trip...
Me and my two best friends. How lucky am I?
 I guess I must be pretty lucky because I have this guy as my husband...
With a group like this, anything and everything is pretty great! A trip to New York-absolutely Fabulous!!!

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Some More Fall Fun...

COUSINS SLEEPOVER
We had an official sleepover complete with popcorn and Journey 2. The kids were beyond excited that the Curtis boys didn't have to go home-it was epic for them! Those boys are absolutely the best friends for my kids. I don't know why they are so nice, especially because Eli and Spencer are so much older, but it makes me happy when my kids are at their happiest!
Spencer is so darling with Karoline, I can't wait for him to get his own baby sister-she will be spoiled!
 Here are the rest of the kiddos getting ready for the movie to start...
 YOGA IN THE PARK
We had such a fun night burning some serious calories! A good friend of Annelise's, Sariah, teaches yoga at Lifetime Fitness. We got a private session, however, in the park down the street. I was dying at times, I was laughing at times. It was intense, but a total stress reliever. I loved it!
 MOTHER/DAUGHTER DATE
Girly time! We had a huge bunch of moms and their daughters join for a special date. We painted fingernails and toenails, braided lots of hair, and even played with a bit of makeup. To say Capri was in heaven would be a ridiculous understatement. They were both on cloud 9! I was too actually, and loved this time with just the girls.

 
Once we were all dolled up, we headed over to San Gelato for dinner and dessert. YUM!

We ended the night by going to play on the stage. Oh how I love my girls!!!
 LOOK WHO IS ENGAGED!!!
I could not be more excitedRichard and Elizabeth Cannon are engaged!! Elizabeth's sister, Annelise, and Cheri and I played matchmaker and it totally worked. These two hit it off and are just about the cutest couple out there. Richard popped the question up at Silver Lake with roses, rose petals, and a gorgeous ring. Annelise, Cheri, my mom and I all got to be up there to take pictures and congratulate them right after!
The Matchmakers...
We all met up at Elizabeth's house where her mom, Robin (her mom's name is Robin and her dad's name is Robert-CRAZY!), had thrown an over-the-top engagement party. The counter was full of sweets, treats, and tons of decorations. Such a fun way to meet the families!

Monday, November 26, 2012

Still Twins...

The kids were not going to bed. Tucker and I could hear them playing, talking, whispering loudly, and sneaking. After numerous calls out to the kids telling them to go to sleep, they finally did. When we went to check on them before going to bed ourselves, we found them like this. I love that they still love each other!

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Hogle Zoo...

...One last time before the cold sets in. And it was a perfect day! We got another great performance from the polar bear (he never disappoints!), we watched the brown bears (that are not so little anymore) trot about, we found the sleeping tigers, and we laughed as we watched the elephants play in the mud and poop. We didn't laugh, however, when the enormous gorilla pooped into his hand and then started to eat it...the second time we have witnessed such nastiness!
Roman and Capri climbing on the bronzed rhino...
 All the kids loved the spraying elephant...


 But only Roman was willing to stand in the path of the spray!
 My sweet Koko watching the polar bear lay down to sleep after a great performance...
 Roman talking about the huge tiger with the huge paws and the huge mouth... 
We may or may not be back for Zoo Lights, but at least we know we took great advantage of our zoo passes this season!

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Farm Country

We got family pictures taken at Thanksgiving Point in September, and the kids weren't going to let us leave without making a trip to either the Dino Museum or Farm Country. It was such a gorgeous day that we chose Farm Country. The kids were so thrilled to be there and I ended up staying for a few hours. We did the hay ride, saw all of the animals at least once, played in the jail and saloon, and spent a lot of time in the "farm factory." I love that my kids are so easy to take places like this. They are so easily entertained and no one could wipe the smiles from their faces.
And let's not forge a favorite activity while at Farm Country, the pony rides...


Roman was a bit bored with this, but he was a champ and pretended to have fun!

Sunday, November 11, 2012

3 days


That's all it took. This girl was potty trained in 3 days and I could not believe it! What was funny was the fact that she started the whole thing. It was going to be a hectic September day and I was watching my niece London so I was not up for potty training by any means. Karoline, on the other hand, had found the new princess potty seat I had purposely hid, and was not going to back down. I went with it thinking it would last an hour. Then two, maybe three. The busy day continued and without too much thought of the potty training. I tried to remember as often as I could to take her, but she did great on her own! She loved her "potty training" which was what she called her princess seat, and she loved her princess panties. The treats didn't hurt either (though I wasn't really prepared so she got chocolate chips)!
She had her first accident on day 3 when she was too busy at Grammy's, but even then, she didn't pee all the way. Within the week, we were totally set. I had taken her to the gym on day two and when I came to get her, Capri had taken her potty already. I was golden! I didn't even have to stay home for more than that first day! Thank you Koko, you are amazing. You turned something that I was totally dreading into the best potty training experience on record...not to mention the fact that I don't have to buy anymore diapers-you were trained through the night a week later!