Why I don't make breakfast anymore...

I was making waffles for my sweet ones a few days ago and found this little guy.  He had somehow gotten the top off of a tub of lotion.  It was the good, thick, expensive stuff, so instead of washing him off I made all the kids lather up.  They were all so soft the rest of the day.

Madison Square Eats

In the spring Brian (my purveyor of all cool things in the city) told me about Madison Square Eats.  Several food vendors (food trucks and/or Brooklyn based) set up shop at Madison Sq Park for a month.  Problem was: Brian told me on the last day they were running and I desperately wanted to go.  I made him promise to inform me of such things farther in advance.  'Cause my get-up-and-go for spontaneous adventuring is finally weakening with three wee ones.  (Sleepless nights are my kryptonite!)

In September he held true to his promise and told me Madison Square Eats was luckily happening again Sept 23-Oct 21.  I was so excited!  I had visions of me meeting Brian for lunch there at least once a week and tasting all that is to be tasted.  On Thursday evening (Oct 20) Brian asked, "So are you going to go to Madison Sq Eats?"

"Of course!" I replied.  I was sure I was only a week behind and had plenty of more days to go.

"I think tomorrow is the last day." he warned.  I googled it.  He was right.  A whole month had slipped through my fingertips.  Yikes!

Fortunately, I had nothing planned for lunch on Friday.  Fortunately, Brian's schedule was light enough that he could join me.  Fortunately, the weather was beautiful.  Fortunately, Oliver was willing and able to nap in the stroller (and slept the whole time).

It was crowded (which I expected).  I couldn't maneuver a double stroller through the crowds or find a table to sit at.  Brian held tight to the food lines and I held tight to the stroller.

Next time I will try and go before 12noon or in the 3pm lull.  It's a NYC lesson I've learned from a lot of experience.  If you want to go eat somewhere popular--especially with kids--go before 12noon or 3-5pm.  Another rule I have is, I tend to judge food by the length of its line.  Which isn't always a positive correlation (frequently, but not always).  It's also a hard rule to follow if you are short on time or really hungry.  (Now I'm thinking of all the rules I follow for eating out...maybe I'll write another post on that...someday.)

Asian flavors + hotdogs = yummy from Asiadog

We finally tried the famous momofuku crack pie.  "Crack" cause it will leave you with a splitting sugar headache.  Yes, it was tasty (it's 99% cream + sugar!!).  And, yes, completely overhyped (read: not worth waiting in a long line for). 
Also pictured: Milk Truck's yummy vanilla shake.

Roberta's Pizza: "The Speck"
simple+delicious=perfect

Even with all that good food, this baby was still the most delicious thing around!

Note To Self

Don't slather a crawling baby with lotion and then plop him down on the hardwood floor.

Birthday Interview + Photos

Picking her up from school on her birthday.

I love the tradition of doing a birthday interview with the kids each year. So I did it with Isabella the night before birthday!

How old are you? Five.
What makes you happy?  Tickles.  Anything else? Playing with Simon, making funny faces.
What is your favorite animal?  I have three favorites: cheetah, lion and elephant.
What is your favorite thing to eat?  Chocolate ice cream.
What is your least favorite thing to eat?  Spaghetti: plain with meatballs.  (I dont’ think she’s ever had speghetti and meatballs.)

She had been asking for a bike for months.

What is your favorite thing to do?  Play with my brothers.
What is your favorite TV show?  Strawberry Shortcake.
What is your favortie movie? The Smurfs. (She’s only see the trailer and posters plastered all over the city.)
What are you really good at? Playing on the monkey bars, watching out for kids on the slide, balancing.  (She desperately wants to learn how to swing on the monkey bars.)
What is your favorite color? Pink and purple....(long pause)...and green and blue.
What is your favorite song? Glee.  
Who is your best friend?  Ari, Danielle and Violet. And Lucia and Henry and Hudson and Sawyer and Maddy.

Grandma Marilyn made her a beautiful cake.

What do you and your mom do together?  Science.  That’s it?  Sick stuff. (pause) I forgot what I said, do pizza with friends [in the park].
What do you and your dad do together?  Play at the playground (hardly ever), go hiking, play go hiding & seek.
What is your favorite sport?  Doing soccer.
What is your favorite place to go?  The Hudson River.
What is yoru favorite book?  Caps for Sale.
What to you want to be when you grow up?  A zookeeper.

Right Now

Enjoying some 1-on-1 with my amazing little Oliver. I love moments like these.

Attitude of Gratitude: Change

Hiking in The Ramble, Central Park.

Maybe it's the beautiful fall air, maybe it's my need to begin eating healthier again, or maybe it's watching how quickly my kids are growing.  But change is definitely on my mind lately.

Specifically, I'm grateful for my ability to change.

The most amazing thing about change is I can begin now.  It's not easy.  It's actually amazingly difficult.  But it is possible.  In order to be a better person I don't need to save money, go to that party, buy that organizer, carve out more time, or anything of that sort.  The most important thing is to never procrastinate a change for the better.  I want to be a more patient mom, a more loving wife, a more compassionate friend.

I know it's possible to be better in all aspects of life.  Just one step at a time.  I can begin to change a little bit right now.  The ability to change is so powerful and a beautiful part of life.  I hope I am always choosing to change for the better.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Inspired by my favorite blog: SouleMama

Isabella: 5 years!

I just realized this never got posted on her birthday (almost a week ago)!  Life is busy.  I had planned to write more about her and her life this last year, but it hasn't happened.  (Hopefully I can get to it soon.)  But I hope you enjoy the photos!

Oh, my sweet Isabella turns 5 years old today!  She has changed me forever.  I am so grateful that this amazing little girl is my little girl.  She is so patient with me and so forgiving as I learn how to be a mom.

5 days old: apt in Hell's Kitchen

6 months: apt in Hell's Kitchen

1 year: Sheep Meadow, Central Park

18 months: Conservatory Gardens, Central Park

2 years: W 110th & CPW Playground, Central Park

2 & 1/2 years: The Ramble, Central Park

3 years: apt in Harlem

3 & 1/2 years: Times Square

4 years: Upper West Side

4 & 1/2 years: Macy's

5 years: The Hudson River

I love...

...that this little guy often sleeps with his tongue poking out. Adorable.

Right Now

Happy Birthday Isabella!

Right Now

Oliver woke up with a substantial fever. So we are taking a sick day. We just got back from dropping Isabella off at school. He's still lounging in his stroller and is now watching a movie. That's how we do it in NYC, when your grand entry leads right into your living room (aka the office, library, den, dining room, and guest room). It gives a whole new meaning to drive-in movies. ;)

Ceci's Wedding

My sweet, beautiful, amazing niece, Cecile, got married last weekend.  She is the oldest of the oldest (on both sides of her family), so it felt monumental in so many ways.  It also made me feel old.  How can my baby niece be married?!  Granted, I was 12 years old when she was born and she is only 21 years old.  But still...I was taking care of her only yesterday!

Brian was so good to watch Isabella and Oliver for the weekend while Simon and I flew to Seattle and back.  I had such a great time.  All my siblings, except one, could make it: 6 out of 7 of us were there!  I was reminded how much I love, love, love my brothers and sister.  They are the funniest people!  I love them to bits and miss them so much.  There's nothing quite like being around a bunch of crazy, funny people just like you.  They totally get me!  (Even if I was adopted. :))


I loved being able to see Ceci marry Josh in the temple for eternity and begin her family with such a strong foundation.

I loved that I arrived earlier than everyone else and got to hang out with family for just a bit before all wedding craziness ensued.

I loved that everyone finally met, adored, held, kissed, etc my sweet Simon.  I loved that Brooks (my oldest brother and father of the bride) was crawling on the floor delightfully chasing and wrestling with Simon within minutes of our arrival.

I loved that all my teenage nieces greeted me like I am a superstar.  I love those girls!

It was very touching to watch my oldest brother as he experienced the intense feelings that came with watching his daughter grow up.

It was an amazing, wonderful weekend.

Here are a lot of my favorite photos:

The beautiful bride and Sophie (her mom).

All the cousins that were able to make it.
I love Simon's expression.

The beautiful Mary!

The siblings:
Brooks (the bride's dad), me, Anika, Seth, Sean & Kayle.
Brett (Sean's twin) was missing.

I loved getting to spend so much solo time with my sweet Simon.

Mom and her grandkids.

Silliness.

Cousins!

The glamorous Emma!

The reception was beautiful.
I laughed.  I cried.  I ate a lot of delicious food.

Brooks gave a touching & hilarious speech about Ceci and her big day.

We said farewell to the bride and groom with tons of sparklers lighting the path to their car.

Right Now

Loving the beautiful morning at an empty playground.

Attitude of Gratitude

Right now I'm grateful for several things:

• This may sound silly, but I'm so glad today is a Jewish holiday.  (Silly, because I'm a Mormon--yes, we do believe in Christ.)  Here, Jewish holidays are recognized and so Isabella gets today (and tomorrow) off of school.  (That never happened in CA when I was growing up.)  
• It's a raining today.  So we are just chillin', calm and easy, inside.  No pressure to run around on adventures.  If it wasn't raining we'd probably be at the Bronx Zoo.
• Isabella is still in her pajamas.  This morning I never said, "You need to ... now!"
• All morning she has been playing with her toys.  Something she hasn't had time to do much of since school started.  
• Right now she's spontaneously gluing, painting, stamping, drawing, etc.  Imagination and creativity are thriving today.  It feels good.
• Oliver has joined in creating more than ever before.  He's mostly cutting and gluing galore.
• I finally painted Isabella's nails.  Something I've been promising, and putting off, for well over a week.
• I'm so glad I have today and tomorrow (and the weekend) to have my little girl around.  I've missed her so much!!!

It is a beautiful day!

School Wardrobe

My little Isabella loves fashion and to dress up.  Since she was about 18 months old she has demanded to get herself dressed and wear whatever she wants to wear.  In theory I'm totally okay with it.  But in reality, wearing snow pants in July?  Not an option.  (Same goes for swimsuits in February.)  And since she's a strong willed sweetie (I have no idea where she got that from. ;)) I prepared myself for school.  She and I worked to put some good school outfits together with the clothes she has.  I took photographs and we are using these photos as our morning guide.  

Most mornings she's fine and will pick out something that works perfectly (even if its not photographed).  But mornings, like today, when she's insisting on wearing something that won't work for school (like Oliver's tiny t-shirt) I pull out these photos, tell her which ones are still clean this week, and let her pick.  It worked beautifully.  I was so relieved and happy!  Power struggle solved!

Since taking these photos I've purchased leggings and long sleeve shirts to wear under the skirts and short sleeves.  I'm sure as it gets chilly I'll need to update our options.

Next up...her hair.  She's been demanding some funky hairdos ("Two braids and two ponytails.  Right here and here and here!").  How do I redirect that without squelching creative thinking?!