Easter in the Big Apple.

There hasn't been a time when Nate's parents have called to say they are going to new York and will have an extra bed in the hotel room if we want to come up, that we haven't jumped at the offer. But most of these times, it's just been me and the boys.
This time we got Nate for a day. Nate got done early the Friday before Easter so we drove to Newark, hopped on the NJ transit and got off at Penn Station New York. Grabbed a cabbie to the hotel (realized later that said cabbie took off with our DVD player.) then ran like crazy to catch a 7:30 show off Broadway called Mr. and Mrs. Fitch. There were only two actors, (that's right you guessed it. Mr. and Mrs. Fitch aka John Lithgow and Jennifer Ehle.) It was fun and entertaining, but mostly it was a great break from two crazy kids that had been strapped in a car for the previous 5 hours (bad traffic!). They, got to go on a walk with Bompa and find a McDonalds, their kind of entertainment!





The next day we took a walk down to FAO Swartz
to find that they now have a section of Harry Potter findings. Oh what a marvelous day for one specific 4 year old, who just happened to be wearing his Harry Potter shirt that day, (Oh wait he wears it most days...)













































When asked we were told the hat said gryffindor.
























And NO we didn't leave without buying those glasses which had the "real" Harry Potter words on them which his ones at home did NOT!


























Wait. Is that a Nimbus 2000 in New York city? Sure is! And you can have one of your own for only $250.






















Owen found what he'd been looking for.































































































We then took a stroll through Central Park and went to the zoo.


Owen Enjoyed looking at the turtles and trying to fall in the pond. (so unlike him?)















How many turtles can fit on a sunny log at once?



















Any questions if Owen is his?














Watch out when you ask Owen for a kiss. He ONLY gives them on the lips, and they are more like smooches.















Nice try Nana.





















But this one will give some loves.




















Owen was watching a Mother bird give her baby bird some food in the bird exhibit, so he thought he;d try that with Nate.
















Yep, works with humans too!

















I was finally able to catch Owen in one of his "Brotherly Love" attacks:



























































(that's right, two arms to tackle buddy!)



















Football player in the making?

















We also took a jaunt to the petting zoo. I think this was the kids favorite part of the zoo. Although there was really just a cow and some goats, but they enjoyed the other "activities" they could do while in the zoo.





























































































































































































































































It amazes me how this kid can still sleep amywhere, anytime!


















This was one of the Easter displays at Rockefeller Center on 5th Ave.
























Nate had to go back the next day to do a 24 in the SICU so he took the train back, (you know, I envied him a little. A three hour train ride with no kids and a good book to listen too...)



The next morning there was an "Easter Parade." I say this because a parade should involve floats, beads and throws, this parade didn't include any of these but it didn't include costumes. Here are a few of my favorites!


























































Wait.  Who are those cute boys?




































































This particular balloon man was the cutest, yet stinkiest man ever! You see that red shirt hanging down his back? Well, that is actually hair under there in dreds. They smelled so bad...But he made my kids happy so I tipped him. Should have given him a bar of soap.



















































































































































Nothing better than sitting on a park bench eating a sponge Bob.


Oh and we've added a NEW HP t-shirt to the rotation! Thank you GAP.






































This was the kids favorite part of the day. Sliding down this marble slide. It was really fast and I thought for sure we were going to leave in tears, but the tears were only because we had to leave!




























All in all the trip was a blast, and the best part was we got to bring home Nana and Bompa with us to PA for the next week. More to come on those adventures:)

Hershey VFD

You might wonder what the V stands for if you are not from Hershey. When we first moved here, I would randomly here these sirens from somewhere. I'd look around and it was blue skies, or overcast or whatever and would run to the TV to see if there was a weather warning on, but nope NOTHING.
Until one day I asked, What are those sirens for? I was told that all the Fire Departments here are Volunteer, so they use that as a "calling card," so those who can help will stop what they are doing and go to the station.

As one of our PIM playgroup activities we visit the Hershey station each year. The guys there are great and the kids love running and playing on all the different engines.








This year one of the dads had the day off and he volunteered to try on all the gear to show the kids. (I think he's a little taller than this particular person?)


I know now that this is not the job for me, I'd be way too claustrophobic!


Liam now says he wants to be a fire fighter when he grows up. Glad it will be some time before his head actually fits into this helmet then!


Looks pretty good though.




And his trusty sidekick!

My how things change.

Ten years ago, if you asked my what a bobbin was, I would probably have thought a new flavor of ice cream at BR's, but now days, you will find me threading a bobbin quite often. I still don't have the straightest stich or the steadiest hand, but I had a great teacher, (thanks D!) and now I can get by making most things if I really try. I haven't ventured into clothing yet, but we'll see.



I made this for a friend of mine out here in PA. You can also see some of the other things I've done on my craft blog,

Magnoliavali

The Terrible Twos...

So my baby is offically 2? (Most peopel would guess 3, due to his height. I like to call him the Jolly Green.)

But here are a few shots of him, and I just look back at these when I find magic marker on my walls, or my ipod in the toilet.








What's with the tongue you might ask? Didn't you know he's part dog?































"GO..."



"Cougars!!!" That's my boy!

PUCKER UP!

Buttercup...




Nana sent the boys some shirts to fit their personalities.



I'm not sure why, but cupid hid the boys gifts this year...Oh I remember Dad was at work that day and Cupid thought that'd be more fun?


"Hi, I'm Doug. SQUIRREL!!!" Is all I heard the rest of the day.

Liam is slowly turning into his father and will only wear "comfy" clothes, so I got him a new play outfit that fit the description.


Since Dad was working, Mom said there had to be some kissing so the obliged and, then shortly after wiped their faces so there would be no evidence.


And what holiday would be complete without a package from Nannie and Papa???

And a Little more winter...

Those last pictures were from only ONE of the many snow storms we had this winter. They say it's the worst winter they've had in over 6 years. Not surprising. It seems wherever we go there is some kind of natural disaster, worst ever's, or some kind of calamity.

But I relished in all this snow most of the time. I would rather it be freezing and have there be snow on the ground than freezing and no snow, but it could have stopped at about um well, 2 ft...



NO kidding the snow once piled by little bulldozers onto our lawns stood about 15 feet high. I think you could see the Poconos from the top.

Liam jumped from the top and was stuck waste deep.













We liked to call this, the whale. You can't tell from the picture, but it has a curled fin at the top. It was a snow drift,that was across from our house and stood about ten feet tall.


But here is where I would like to add the most awesome video of the year!!! Careful, you might pee your pants. I almost did. Nate didn't find it as funny as I did???






Not far from the whale you could see grass??? Crazy how it would pile in some places and be only a dusting in others.


It made for many days stuck inside enjoying our pseudo tent. But they will be some of the days I will always remember, just playing with my kids, hearing them laugh as they made snowmen, forts, and just got to be kids.