New York, New York...

Oh New York, New York.....

Ba da ba dada Ba da Ba dada! Start spreading the news, I'm leaving today... I want to wake up in the city that doesn't sleep.

WOW! What a whirlwind of a trip. We had so much fun in the city that doesn't sleep and I was beginning to wonder if that rubbed off on my children, who could go for hours without rest. It didn't matter how much we walked them ( or in Brenley's case, carried her) they were ready to rock.
We left on Friday night, taking the red eye to JFK and amazingly after battling B a little bit to sleep, they crashed the whole way there. Phew, one way down now the stress about whether we could go 2 for 2 would remain for the next week. We touched down in NYC at about 615 in the morning on Saturday and waited for the rest of our party, grammy Bev and papa Rex to join us. They got in about 30 mintues later and our journey began. J insisted that riding the subway would not be a problem (although anytime you have more bags than people and 2 kids along for the ride) there are always problems.

WE ARE SOOOOOOO TIRED...
We jumped on this train and then switched to another and pushed and pulled bags through turnstyles, even setting off an alarm or two just trying to get all of our stuff through. Skinny people have a hard time fitting through the subway turnstyles, let alone all of us with luggage. Well, we did make it, thanks to a few nice New Yorkers leading us along and pointing us in the right direction. I have rode the subway quite a few times, but those first few take some time to get your bearings. After walking and dragging and riding and then walking more, we made it to our apartment at about 9ish in the morning.

We had rented a triplex in the Upper East Side of Manhattan that had four bedrooms,a couple of baths, kitchen, dining room, large family room and a few cockroaches the size of a small poodle. The kids thought these were great. Of course they were upside down and couldn't run, so they didn't get to see how creepy they really are when they are moving around mach 10.

We settled in on Saturday, took a little nappie and then headed out to Times Square. It was way busier than the last time we were there, just two months after 9/11. The kids thought all the signs and huge buildings were cool, of course, who wouldn't? We wandered around like kids in a candy store for quite awhile and decided to eat at Heartland Brewery in Times Square. Good choice, it was sooooooo good. They had the best drink ever called the "Vanilla Vixen", it had vanilla vodka and their homemade black cherry cola, it was a guzzler as I quickly downed the first one. They don't cheat you there either. As I debated another (at $11 a pop), my sweet hubby replied, "we could all die tomorrow, might as well enjoy yourself.) So true! Enjoy what you have when you have it, so I ordered another. Since I would be in NYC over my birthday, they all thought it would be great so celebrate EVERY night at dinner. Oh, I just love my birthday anyway (NOT), I got to celebrate everyday. After dinner and dessert, we headed out for some more people watching and shopping at the biggest Toys R Us in the world. I don't even know how many stories it is, but it had a huge ferris wheel on the inside that we rode. The kids were in heaven, all 1 million of them that were in the store while we were.

Sunday we decided we better go see Shea Stadium, since it is in its last year too this year. So, we went and watched the Mets play the Cardinals. Johan Santana (wish the Yanks would have got him) pitched a complete game and looked great, I think. We were so far away from the field it could have been the Bad New Bears playing and I wouldn't have noticed.
Of course J decided he would take T and they would skulk up closer, yes he loves to do that.

These seats are waaaaaay better. Thx Dad!
So, away they went. They ended up behind third base dugout really close to all the action. I found them in the last inning and me and B sat with them and watched the end of the game. The kids got FREE Mets lunchoxes in a giveaway, which was the only reason we have anything Mets.

It just goes against everything I am to have Mets stuff in my house. Oh well!

That night we went to Bubba Gumps for dinner in Times Square, again soo good other than the really loud, obnoxious and super embrassing birthday song they sing to you. At least they wished me a happy 21st. They aren't too far off.

Monday came and we headed out to see the Statue of Liberty. The last time we were there, you couldn't go see it cause of 9/11, so J had never seen it before. We waited forever in line to see it and then with the masses, took the ferry to visit ole Lady Liberty. Apparently to go in it now, you have to get a pass two weeks in advance, which we didn't know or do. So, we wandered around with the trillions of other people and took lots of pics. The kids learned about it in preschool, so they thought it was pretty cool to see in person. We then went to Ellis Island, which I don't know if I was just tired, or the kids were getting to me, but I was bored there, to death. I know there is a lot of history there, but I just couldn't get into it.

We decided to check out the South Street Seaport for dinner that night. So after wandering around Wall Street a little, we walked down to Fulton Street. Fortunately for me, they had a great Yankee team shop there (they are all over there, I Love it) and got me a cool jacket for my birthday present. We ate at a nice place called Il Porto, which was outside. It was pretty good food, Italian restuarant. There was a lady there, a street performer, who was doing balloon creations. T got a spider man one and B got a fairy princesss deal, not really sure what it was. B made really good friends with the hostess at the restaurant and we got a great pic of them together.Of course it wouldn't be dinner unless, of course, birthday singing and dessert. YUMMY cheesecake here. It was some of the best ever. We walked to the subway after and back home we went.

The subway was funny to watch, or at least funny to watch my kids on it. T acted like all the other New Yorkers, you would think he does it all the time. He would crowd in like everyone else and then snag the last free seat. I was proud of his subway saavy, he fit right in. B used her smiles and charm to get people to give her a seat, and it always worked. Tuesday, we were on our own. Just us and the kiddies. Since Night at the Museum is one of their favorite all time movies and it was highly recommended as a must see, we went to the Museum of Natural History.




We were a few blocks walk from Central Park, so we walked to Central Park and then the whole width of it to the museum. I love Central Park, it is so amazing and beautiful and needs its own zip code. The kids were dying to see "dum dum" at the Museum, so we were off. The place was absolutely amazing. You could have spent a couple of full days in there, it just went on and on and on. It was fun for kids and adults. The movie made it even more fun for the kids cause they recognized a bunch of the stuff and wanted to see Teddy Roosevelt and the T Rex and dum dum. They also couldnt wait to see all the little people, I think they were waiting for everything to come to life. We saw a really cool live exhibit of lizards and snakes, which B loved. We saw dum dum and all the kids were there saying the same thing, it was kinda comical. They had so much to offer and is a must see if you are in NY. That night we went to Spanky's bbq to chow~

Finally we made it to the first Yankee game on Wednesday afternoon. Holy sHi* was it hot. I felt like I was melting into my seat at the game. I don't know if I would do another day game in NYC, unless it was Spring or Fall, definitely not in the heat of July. However that being said, I was so excited to be there. Joba pitched and the Yankees won. A-Rod and Abreu both hit home runs and Edwar Ramirez got thrown out of the game after throwing only one pitch. It happened to be at Kevin Millar's head, big deal. It was a big time butt kicking over the Orioles and I felt like maybe we were going to start them on a big comeback.

Well, not so fast. Thursday was my "real" birthday and we were heading back to the Yankees game that night. Not a better way to spend a birthday than at Yankee Stadium. Me, J and the kiddies spent the day doing fun stuff for the kiddies. I really wanted to take the kids to Build a Bear in NYC, since it was supposed to be the mega store of Build a Bear, and I was not disappointed. It was huge. Both of the kiddies got a Yankee Bear made, one pink and one blue. Perfect. They had so much fun stuffing them and putting their hearts in. They then got to pick out their outfits and off we went. We actually hit FAO Schwarz that day too for some toy browsing and shopping. That was the toy store that had the big piano in it from the movie "big". Not quite like the movie, what is I ask, but they still got to run over the keys and they thought that was great. They got to each get a toy and then we were off. We checked out the Plaza Hotel, Trump Towers (where T asked the doorman if Derek Jeter lives here) lol and Madison Square Garden.



We tooled around on the bus for quite awhile and then went home to get ready for the big game. Unfortunately, they played the Angels and Pettite didn't pitch real well. However, one big plus was we were there to see Pudge Rodriguez's first catch as a Yankee and his first hit. I am so happy that we got Pudge, what a great pickup!But, we lost. Oh well. We had so much fun at Yankee Stadium and was so glad that we made it before they rip it down. The new one, right next door, looks incredible. I can't wait to go check it out too. Maybe this time without the kids. :-)

We got home and my mommy and daddy had got me a delicious birthday cake from a bakery that we kept drooling over every time we passed. We almost started a fire with all the fire and smoke from my candles, but it was fun. Thanks to my mom and dad, Bev and Rex and J and kiddies for making my birthday a great one to remember. Although I hate my birthday, I loved celebrating it in NYC!

Finally the last day of our trip and we decided to head out to ghetto island, I mean Coney Island. We tried out Famous Nathan's hot dogs, YUCK!!!!!! I will take Oscar Mayer anyday! However, it was a great place to people watch and boy did we see some interesting people there. They had a game on the boardwalk called "shoot the freak". Some dude in paintball gear ran around while you paid to shoot a paintball gun at him. We got funnel cakes and the kids swam in the Atlantic Ocean, which was probably the highlight for them. Give them a beach and they are in heaven and remarkably quiet and well behaved.

We headed home after a fun day at Coney Island and headed out for the one thing I was dying to do, Eat at Serendipity's. I had saw their froooooozen hot chocolate on Oprah a couple of years ago and was dying to go there. So, all of us headed there for our last night on the town. It was such a great place and the hot chocolate was all that and even more. Thier desserts were ridiculously huge, they have a golden opulence Sunday that costs $1000.00! Yes, one thousand dollars. It is a Guiness Book of World Records sunday and requires 48 hours notice. I can only imagine!

What a great trip. Thanks to my family for letting me go live my dream in seeing Yankee Stadium this year. I don't know if it lived up to all the hype, but it did for me.

Can't wait to do it again...

Breaking Dawn, worth the wait

Ok, won't go into anything here, since a lot of you haven't finished. But, I loved it. Much to my surprise it got here on Thursday and I finished on Friday. I am so sad that it is over, hopefully she will relent and write more in the Twilight series. I LOVED THIS BOOK. I think I may have loved the first one the most, but this one was just different and satisfying.
So, for all those reading. Enjoy. I think I may have to start all over again. I don't know if I can make it without my Twilight fix.
Hopefully more of The Host series will come out soon.
Oh, Edward and Bella, what a great ending!

Jonesing for Breaking Dawn...

Ok, so my NYC post is going to be a longer one, but while I contemplate all to post, I am currently jonesing for my copy of Breaking Dawn to get here. I preordered clear back in April, thinking that it would be sitting in my mailbox on August 2, happily waiting for me to devour it. However, it shipped on the 2nd. My lord, can I make it until its scheduled delivery on Friday????? I may have to sleep over at my mailbox on the corner so I can start reading on the way back to my house. Of course as zoned out as I get when reading about Edward and Bella, I could walk right into the creek.
On this subject, while I was in Times Sqaure in NYC, I looked up at the Nokia Theater to see that Stephenie Meyer was going to be there at midnight on Friday, technically August 2, to release her book with a huge party. I wanted so badly to go, but it was sold out and we had to leave way early that morning. I can only imagine the mayhem surrounding the release there and so wish I could have said I was there. Oh well!
Ok, countdown until Friday. It better get here soon, I can't take it. I gotta know if they "do it" finally and if she goes through with becoming one of them. I can't wait.
So, if you have read it already, don't rub it in and don't spoil anything.

Don't let go of the rope!

T made his first attempt at wakeboarding this past Sunday at the dam. We have tried over and over to coax him into doing it. He finally decided he wanted to try and out he went. J had T put his legs on the board and J held the rope while T hung onto his legs. They went for quite awhile before T decided he had had enough. But, as he came in he had a grin from ear to ear. However, he insisted no more for the day, which was fine with me. But, later on he decided to try maybe just one more time before we went home. So, J decided to try something a little different this time with the handle and rope and what not. Anyhoo, T is holding the handle on the rope and daddy just held the rope, no handle. As soon as we started going, daddy lost his grasp on the rope, and so I thought T did too. To my surprise, there T was hanging on bouncing off the waves. I didn't get too much of it cause as soon as I saw it, as you will see (and hear, minor expletive muttered at the sight of T slamming through the water) in the footage, I dropped the camera down. Both me and his uncle were yelling at him "Let go of the rope, let go of the rope!" Finally, he released his white knuckle grip on the rope.
Well I thought for sure he would be freaking out and screaming, but as we pulled up next to him, we was laughing and cracking up. He asked if I got that on video and then proceeded to watch it 100 times, laughing everytime. He didn't want to get back out there, who can blame him, but he said he will go next time. So, way to go T! You did it! He couldn't wait to get home to tell his friends that he wakeboarded, and wakeboard he did!

A Day at the Fish Farm

Well I ask you, what could be more fun than going to the fish farm? Ok, a lot of things, but it is like watching fire, you just can't help it. I just had to go. My mom and dad invited the kiddies to go, who love going there by the way. I thought I would have a few hours to myself to go shopping or something equally as fun, like reading. But B wasn't having it, she wouldn't go unless I went. If the truth be told, I was going to go anyway, but I will act like I didn't want to. That charade would last well after we got there, as I pretended I didn't want to fish either. The fish farm we frequent is like an insititution in our family, I have gone there since I was a little girl and it still hasn't changed a bit.

I remember going there with my grandpa K, he would sit in his own folding chair we would bring for him and throw his line in. He was quite the fisherman, although at the fish farm, everyone is. He would catch fish after fish and then ( like a child) bring his line back for my dad or aunt to unhook the fish and put in our bucket. Then when it was off, back in the water and then back out for my dad to unhook. This went on til we caught what we were willing to pay for and we were back on the road.

Well, these trips are not much different. My grandpa has since passed away, well 20 years ago. But T would throw his line in and "snag" one, flinging it out for his papa to get it. Yep, same guy who got to take the fish off for his dad, now gets to take them off for his grandson. Then B got in on the action, yelling "papa, I got one, come get it. Hurry!" They were a riot. I think T got about 10-12 fish and that doesn't count the 10 or so that "got away." ;-)

Well, I took a different approach. There was a pond at the very end that had the big ones. The reason why they are big, is they are smart. T & B started there, but too boring for them, no bites at all. The fish would come up eat that food off the top and be gone. You could see them swimming around teasing us, but they weren't about to fall for the leather on my line. So, I sat....and sat....and sat...and sat... Sweating, waiting, melting. I found a spot where I could hide my line and it blended it with the moss and food. I could see some big ones thinking about it, one especially kept swimming around my line, not quite sure, but sniffing (do fish sniff) for sure.

I just kept throwing food around my hook, keeping it right on top, which is where they were eating, right off the top.

Well, long story long... I got two 4-5 pounders. They were awesome and I felt like quite the angler. I called my hubby to tell him my accomplishment and his words were "wow, that is saying a lot, you caught fish at the fish farm. Wow!" Well, he wasn't there to appreciate all the hard work I had to do to catch these two "thinkers". Trust me, no easy task there.

Anyway, I recommend taking the kids up to the fish farm. Just be careful, its addicting and can be quite costly when you go to leave. All the fish that T caught and B, along with grandma and papa came to $64, skinned and filleted. My two big ones came to $14, although my 2 weighed as much as their 15. Go big or go home, right?

Happy 4th of July

How sweet? I love this pic... T, B and J just chillin' waiting for the candy. The anticipation, can't you just feel it?

I am so sad that the 4th of July is over, it is one of my favorite days of the year and definitely my favorite day of summer. Seems like summer just flies by once the 4th is over. I love the parades, bbq's and our annual bbq here followed by the fireworks. There is so much stuff to cram into one day, but I love it all.

B & T loving running through the water, especially with the heat that day.

We started with the parade this year as usual and the kiddies made a killing with all the candy they got. Although a really small parade and not much as far as floats, I love the atmosphere, watching all the kids get excited and hanging out with my friends at "our spot." Then over to the picnic after, with all the kids running through the water and enjoying the heat. Again, the best part of that, is hanging out with friends. I was so happy to have J home this year, instead of working. He got to enjoy ALL the festvities of the day, lucky him. The kids LOVE having him around, it is like a holiday everyday their daddy is home with them.

T and J.H. in the mud puddle, where did T go?

The water fun turned into a huge mud puddle, with the hole going up to T's knees. Oh, but what fun jumping in it. Him and his buddy JH took turns running through it and jumping in it. We had to drag them out covered in mud. The best part of the whole day for T, I think.

Later on that night was our annual BBQ with friends and family, food and fireworks, what more could a person need, I ask? Again we had too much food, but never enough fun. I love our front row seats to the fireworks, they were fun again this year. I must say having all the kids around was the funnest part, listening to them "oooh and aaah" over everything.

The only bad part was while T was playing in the backyard, a wasp or yellow jacket attacked T and stung him twice, once in the eye the other time on the head. Needless to say, and with good cause he freaked out. He came running in the house yelling "what am I going to do now?" Poor guy, his eye swelled up and he was pretty upset, so much he didn't even want to play for awhile. I located his pirate patch (aka, Jack Sparrow patch) and that made him feel a lot better. He was able to wear his patch over his swollen eye for a good part of the night. He is all better now, with no cool scar or even a mark to show for it. What a trooper!

Ow, look at my eye. Da** those wasps! He was scared to go outside the next day, he was afraid they were going to sting him again. He's ok now though!

Look at those sweet lil' boys! T & B love "their twins". What's not to love!

My girls: B, K, Me and A. I love you!

Thanks all of you who made it, it was a good time. Same time and place next year.

**A Special Thanks goes out to our Troops who are protecting our freedoms and Bless those who are away from their families. Thanks to our active military and our retired military for their sacrifices!**

GOD BLESS THE USA!!!