Hudson River Park

Hey New Yorkers, have you been to the beautiful, new piers along the Hudson River?!  Just north of Chelsea Piers.  I love that the city is turning all the old, run-down piers into beautiful parks.  This evening Brian met us for a picnic dinner on Pier 63 and then he and Isabella rode the carousel on Pier 62.

Unique New York #8

Yes, I know I'm a complete slacker with my New Year's resolution.  But I think of it often and I'm still taking photos; just not as many as I wanted.  I will post them, I will.

But this is one of those things that I LOVE about New York.  My good friend, Roxy, told me about this place years ago.  I enjoy sewing on my old, hand-me-down Singer, but I still haven't quite figured out how to get the button hole attachment to work (without breaking my needles!!).  Projects will often sit, unfinished for months, until I give in and take them to this little store in the Fashion District.

It's called Jonathan's and it is on W 38th St, between 7th & 8th Aves (closer to 8th, on the south side).

 I love that there's a tiny spot to help me finally complete those little projects for just a couple bucks.

My Girl

I guess I've overdone it!  Too many photos!  Isabella is rarely willing to look and smile at the camera anymore.  (Most face shots are coincidental and she's "not so happy about that".)  But I still take photos...trying to possibly capture what she finds interesting.

WATER!

There is something magical about the water fountains/sprinklers at New York City playgrounds.  There is much excitement (both for moms and kids) when the water gets switched on.  It's the city's way of declaring "SUMMER IS HERE!"

Saturday was a Special Day

Last Saturday all of the church youth in Manhattan (our stake) put on a huge block party and tag sale in order to raise money for scout camp and girls camp this summer.  It was an awesome success!  They closed down the entire street in front of the church building on the eastside.  The young women in our ward (12-18 year old girls in the congregation) chose to do a "pie throwing" booth to raise money.

Brian and I spent the day eating food off the grill and browsing through all the tag sale items.  We scored some great pieces of clothing and a couple nice toys.

My Loves

Some favorite photos of my favorite people!!!

Enthusiastic Chicken Tortilla Soup

I recently came across this recipe on a blog I very much enjoy, called marta writes.  Since the soup had everything in it that I love I decided to give it a go.  I made it last night and it was yummy!  Since it was a cold rainy night it totally hit the spot!  I made a few changes/clarifications which I have noted in red.  Here's the link to the recipe on marta's blog with more delicious photos. 

Confession: I am in love with lime & cilantro!

enthusiastic chicken tortilla soup

2-3 cans chicken broth  (32 oz)
3-4 chicken breasts, cooked & shredded  (1 really big one)
1 can (7 oz.) diced green chiles  (4.5 oz can)
1 clove garlic, diced  (crushed)
1/2 cup salsa  (homemade pico de gallo)
1 cup corn, rinsed & drained  (I used frozen)
1 cup black beans, rinsed & drained
1/2 a bunch of cilantro, chopped
1 tomato or 1 tomatillo, diced  (I used tomato)
1 lime, juiced

toppings:
fresh slices of avocado
a dollop of sour cream
grated cheddar cheese  (jack cheese)
crushed tortilla chips
(homemade pico de gallo)

combine all the soup ingredients together in a large pot or crockpot. stir occasionally. simmer for a half hour or more. ladle soup into bowls and garnish with favorite toppings. enjoy. 

And, here's my pico de gallo recipe:

I make it just from my head, so all measurements are approximate. I taste as I go and never add all the onion or jalepenos unless it needs it.

1 lb tomatoes (I use Romas), diced
1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
1/2 red onion, finely chopped
1-2 jalepenos, finely chopped
1-2 limes, juiced
salt to taste

Spectacular Saturday

Last Saturday was one of those days...absolutely perfect in every way!  Pancakes first thing in the morning followed by playing in the city all day long in the 70 degree sunshine.  So fantastic!

I ran a 5K race in Riverside Park with my friend R-J.  (And finished in 27 minutes!)

We ate a yummy brunch on the Upper West Side at Regional (good food, fabulous staff). 

Then I changed my clothes and we headed out to Flushing, which is an authentic "Chinatown" (not touristy).  We were the foreigners (we felt tall) and signs in English were minimal. 

 

While there we bought our favorite Chinese treats:

and ate AMAZING soup dumplings:

Isabella even loved them!
(I'd love to tell you the name of the restaurant, but it was only in Chinese...sorry!)

In the evening we dashed home, left the kids with a babysitter (yeehaw!!) and went to see Ironman 2 in IMAX.  The movie was fun.  But the whole day was spectacular!!

Hiking Heublein Tower

A couple weekends ago we went to Connecticut for our usual weekend visit.  The weather was so perfectly gorgeous we decided to spend a bit of Saturday hiking up to Heublein Tower in Simsbury, CT.  The view was beautiful, but we probably picked the wrong time of day to go: right after lunch.  Isabella was tired and wanted to be carried a good portion.  She even fell asleep, in my arms, on the way down.

Oliver: 11 Months

Can you believe this was me last year?  That big, huge belly has turned into this amazing little boy:

I can't imagine our family without him.  What a joy!

He's just started crawling, very very slowly.  Loves to sing paddy-cake and itsy-bitsy spider.  Sweetly smiles at anyone who looks at him.  Becomes giddy when Isabella enters the room, until she smothers him with loves or takes a toy away.  He hates having anything removed from his hands (he screams!).  Thinks it's funny to put non-edibles in his mouth and have mama attempt to dig them out.  Uses his morning oatmeal as a facial and hair gel.  Has fallen in love with bath time (except hair washing).  And makes some really silly expressions (see above): scrunched up nose, fish lips, etc.

Oliver, we love you!

Savannah

I know, I KNOW!  We went to Savannah over a month ago and I'm barely posting photos!  Caring for two little ones in New York City is no walk in the park (although we do frequently walk in the park), and down time is very minimal. 

Riding on Phil & Paula's boat through the intercoastal waterways.  The girls, both named Isabella and 6 mos apart, are too much alike: so sweet and so very stubborn.  

 SCAD was having a fun festival while we were hanging out in downtown Savannah.  And it was Isabella's chance to finally sit on a double-decker bus. (Before this she kept asking to ride those tour buses around NYC.)

Relaxing: Southern Style

Tasting freshly pulled salt water taffy at the candy shop.  Delicious!

Sweaty, sweety

The fountain at Forsyth Park at night.  Isn't it perfect?!

Lunch at the Crab Shack

The boys at the beach

Biking with Daddy

Driftwood Beach on Jekyll Island

Another on Driftwood Beach

We took a very long walk along Driftwood Beach.  It was stunningly beautiful.

Sunset on Jekyll Island.

  It was a beautiful, fun, exhausting day.  We tried oysters for the first time (raw and cooked...I prefer cooked).

Savannah was amazing, beautiful, fabulous, etc.  We loved it!  And we are so grateful for Brian's cousin, Paula, for allowing us to hang out at her home the whole week.

Right Now

Chillin'

Right Now

Loving our jaunt through the Flower District.