Sweet, So Sweet

A few really sweet things that Mikey has done this last week that I really wanted to get down before I forget.  Just one of the many reasons I have this blog.

Let me just set the scene here.  At night we have both kids in our bed, we read a book, sing a handful of songs,say our prayers and then I lay Katie down while Mikey gets a few extra minutes of special Mommy and Daddy time.  So when I go to lay Katie down, everyone says goodnite....

Scenario 1:  I am walking out the door of our bedroom to lay Katie down for the nite and Daddy says "Nite Katie."  Mikey says "Nite Katie Baby." Then Katie gets a hug and kiss from Daddy and he says "Nite Nite Sweetheart" and Mikey says "Nite Sweetheart."


Another nite while laying in bed after we put Katie down....

Scenario 2:  Mikey grabs my face on each side, and as he turns my head toward his he says "Mommy, look at me.  Mike love you." Then gives me sweet kisses.

Love him right back.

Playdates

We have been having quite a few playdates lately.  I feel like I haven't seen really any KPMG friends in the new year yet and we were all so busy around the holiday's that it's been a while.  Now that we are back in NY and finally getting back in the groove we have been enjoying playdates! 

Mikey has a few good friends from school so we have had playdates with his friend Evan and his "girlfriend" Emily.  Apparently the first day back to school, Mikey and Emily were attached at the hip and played together and were hugging each other the entire time at school.  The teachers said they were very sweet together and some kids just naturally gravitate toward each other.  Emily lives on 75th street (so a bit of a hike for them to get to school on 91st) and has a 9 month old sister, Katie, so on Monday's when Mikey is at school Emily's mom, Jan and Katie hang out with Katie and I.  It's really cute watching Katie play with "Baby Katie."  (Confused yet?!)  She touches her hair and says "nice" and will let us know when she is crying.  She likes to give her blankets and say "aww," "cute," and "baby."  She is so gentle. 

We also have had a number of other playdates but have had so much fun or the kids have been running so wild that I didn't or forgot to get pics.

But I do have some pics. below of a quick weekend playdate with Jack and Madison and Jen, so the Dad's could get some weekend work done. 

Mikey loves playing with older boys.  It's so fun to watch them play together and Katie just tries to keep up!

They love building a slide when we go to the playroom!

Maddie teaching Katie how to dip the cracker into the cheese.

They loved the fort!  There is Katie again doing downward dog.  She loves that pose!



Katie sliding down and Mikey running up.  He was going to fast.   Running around the whole time and getting really sweaty. He's all boy.

Love their happy, happy faces.

Sitting still for a few moments to have a snack and some hot cocoa.

 After running around for almost 90 minutes nonstop, we came home and not even 5 minutes of being home this was Mikey.  Scott said to me "Psst.  Check out Mikey."  Mikey heard his name and it looked like he took whatever ounce of strength he had to lift his head before it fell right back down on the couch and he was out cold.


 Poor kid didn't stand a chance. 

Symphony of sounds.

Tonight, rather than go to a Broadway show we wanted to try something a little different....so we got dressed up and went to the New York Philharmonic.  We enjoyed dinner at Cafe Ronda, a little cozy Latin joint that had amazing tapas, and authentic paella.  We split some tapas, had drinks and finished with some hot tea for Scott and some spiced hot cocoa for me.  It was delicious and afterwards we walked about 7 blocks to the Lincoln Center where the Philharmonic performs.

It was a first for both of us going to listen to an orchestra live and it was a unique experience.  They have signs posted telling attendees to minimize noises and coughing, emphasizing that every sound counts and the slightest sound could disrupt the music.  The accoustics inside were probably the best anywhere and so it was true, even the slightest cough echoed throughout.  They even offer free cough drops in the restrooms. We enjoyed a cozy box seat for just the two of us and had lots of leg room...definitely the way to go!

The nite we went the Philharmonic played:
Tchaikovsky - Romeo and Juliet, Fantasy-Overture after Shakespeare
Lutoslawski - Chain 2: Dialogue for Violin and Orchestra
Shostakovich - Symphony No. 5


Tchaikovsky was by far my favorite of the evening.  I was so mesmerized by the music and don't think I moved in my chair at all.  The music definitely told a love story and after hearing this I think I'm hooked.  Can't wait to go again.

Lutoslawski featured a solo violinist named Jennifer Koh.  You can read all about her here.  She has an impressive resume! She performed in a gorgeous flowing red/magenta gown and was the only one other than the conductor to stand the entire performance.  She also was mesmerizing.  I don't think I took my eyes off of her.  Even from our seats near the back you could tell how passionate she was playing the violin.  I for one can bang on some piano keys but that's about it!  Scott and I both agreed that this particular piece of music was something we probably would hear in a murder mystery movie. 

Shostakovich was my least favorite of the evening but still nice to listen too.  I'm not sure if it was the music, my full belly or the late evening creeping up but I almost fell asleep.  It was also 52 minutes long!  Phew.  I wonder how long it took to compose? Hum.

View from our seats.

Our little box seats.

Starting to fill in.

We look so tired here.  Ready to go home.  Finally had an event to wear my sparkly top to and you can't see it!



The seats along the walls, are strategically placed, I'm sure.


 

No particular reason

I think I've mentioned before that we have a KPMG family that live in our same building.  They have become really good friends and we often babysite for eachother and play together.  Sometimes we even have dinner together if the dad's are working late nites.  So it was nice to get together just because.

Jen and I got together this evening for dinner and drinks. Thanks to Groupon we saved a ton of money on a restaurant only 2 blocks away from our building.  We got so caught up in conversation we pretty much closed the place down! It's always a fun time with Jen!

Naps anyone?

I have been noticing that if we don't have a particularly active day that Mikey won't nap.  It's been a bit of a challenge to be active in the winter.  I don't think there is really anything that is so important that we have to get all bundled up and go out in the bitter cold with kids who are 3 and 1.

Sometimes, he'll take a late nap from 4 to almost 5 but I try not to let that happen.  I like him in bed and asleep by 7:30, and that doesn't happen if he naps late!  But this was the first full week that he has gone without naps.   Hoping he won't completely give them up for a while.

VDazzle Jewelry

I found this great jewelry maker courtsey of Ree Drummond from The Pioneer Woman.  She makes really pretty earrings and I was looking for something new, and special looking but casual enough for everyday wear and I specifically requested that she make these two pairs for me.  So they are custom made but really affordable!  VDazzled Jewelry.

 

 

 

Matt in NYC

 

So my brother Matt drove us back to NYC today and he stayed the whole weekend.  Scott was more than willing to spend some quality time with the kids since he hadn't seen them in 2 weeks so Matt and I snuck out for a few hours on the town.  We didn't do anything crazy, just some touristy stuff but it was a lot of fun!

 

We took the subway down to Grand Central and walked around there a bit.

Always love watching the hussle and bussle of Grand Central and people watch.

Not sure what I was doing here, but this was at Bryant Park.  They still had the Christmas tree up!

It was huge!

Matt by the tree.

This awesome restaurant called Celcius overlooking the skating rink.  The outside tables each had their own heating lamp.

Skating looked very fun!  Hope to get Mikey here soon to try it.

The skyline from Bryant Park.

The New Years Eve ball on display in Times Square.

Okay, can't miss me in this pic.

Matt in Times Square.

I always see some new "group" posing for pics. in Times Square.

Matt



View of Times Square from the TKTS Stairs.

Me in Times Square



I was on the Times Square Jumbotron!

 

Here's a close up for ya.  See my mug? I'm the last person on the left giving the peace sign next to the lady with the yellow bag.

Radio City

Rockerfeller Square

Rockerfeller Square display made of Legos.

Beautiful Nativity at St. Patrick's Cathedral

It's so peaceful and scerene inside.

We were having such a good time walking from Grand Central to Bryant Park to Times Square, followed by Rockerfeller Square and then 5 pm mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral that before we knew it it was 8pm and we hadn't gotten anything to eat.  So we hopped back on the subway and grabbed a quick bit at the Shake Shack before heading home for the nite!

 

Dinner at Shake Shack.

Girl Talk

Sometimes all you need is a pizza pie, salad, wine, homemade cookies a quiet house and some girl talk.  So great to spend another evening with my bestie from college, Devon!  You better come visit me soon!  Thanks for such a nice evening!

Devon and I.

Papa's Birthday!

Today we celebrated Papa's birthday since we were in town.  His actual birthday is the 17th.  We made a delicious yellow cake with a salted carmel frosting.  All was homemade by me and it was delicious if I do say so myself!

Happy 59th Dad!

Cake.

Tried to get a pic. with the kids but they weren't having it.

Fun in PA

As you know we always have fun when we are in PA.  There is lots of space to run in, and lots of family homes to destroy!  We ended up spending an extra week in PA to help out my Dad who fell on the ice while shoveling and broke his hip. It was nice to spend the extra time in PA.

We spent quite a few days and nites in Jamie and Danny's new home.  Mikey and Katie loved their stairs, and Mikey loved playing with and shooting all their nurf guns.

Katie loved playing with the lights as we took the tree down.

Reading the newspaper.

Her - 17 month old pose.

Sharing toys with Bailey and Nana by putting ALL of them on the couch.



GG with all her grandkids and great grandkids.

Hanging with Papa....

....on top of the jeep.

She wanted to badly to sit on this little itty bitty swing.

Trying so hard.  I have it on video.  To funny!

Going thru the chocolate tour at Chocolate World.  We actually rode it twice in a row.

Throwing money into the wishing well.

Playing outside.  We were the only ones there.

So happy he found a nurf gun.

He has amazing accuracy.  Hit me quite a few times right in the forehead.

See those little tootsies sticking out of my parent's not child-proof cabinets?

She loved to re-arrange.

Climbing the stairs at Jamie and Danny's home.