Houston Trip 2011

Well, here's something new. I'm blogging...on a weeknight...after 8:30! WOW! We're implementing something at our house called bedtime. So this means Avery has been in her bed now for 30 minutes, calling me for random requests - "Mama, I need my drink" "Mama, my nose is running" "Mama, please put my snowman light up, it's not Christmas anymore" "Mama, turn on my turtle light" "Mama, I need to kiss my babies" "Mama, I'm scared of that pointy shadow". Get the point? So I'm having about 5 minutes stretches of 'me' time and I actually found time to blog tonight! Maybe this is just what my blog needed. One moment please, the princess rings...

....this time is was "Mama, you sleep yet?" "No, Avery" "Well, what you doin in there?" Now this is the part where I am actually afraid to tell my child that I'm on the computer in fear of a tantrum.... I pause... "I'm looking at something in the kitchen" (partially true) "No you not, it's dark in there!" BUSTED. But, I digress. What this post is actually about is a trip to Houston that we took in August. Yes, August! You see, this is the problem with the old school film. First, you have to use a whole roll. Then you have to remember to take it out of the camera and bring it to CVS. And most importantly, pray they don't lose it. So far, I'm 1 for 2 on that one. As if that is not enough, you have to remember to tell them to make a CD, pick it up and load the pictures onto your computer and then into Blogger. I mean this was an ordeal folks! So, without further adieu, I hope at least one of you (mom...you out there?) enjoys the pictures!

Here's the gang...

And again...

Mark, Charlie, Josh, Mic, Avery, me, Stephanie, Grayson, Ryan and Zach's arm

Mic and his grandkids...

Avery, Steph and Mic...look at her blue eyes!

Avery was enjoying a big snowcone

The boys...

Clearly Charlie was in his TX teams fan stage

They did have a nice baseball park though!

Uncle Mic and Grayson

Grayson and Avery 

Finding our seats...

In front of the ballpark...

HELLO TEXAS!

Cousins...at the hotel

Cheesin...

Gotta love continental breakfast...

We had a such a great time and boy do I miss those cousins. Hopefully this can be pictures of the first annual Houston trip!

Catch Up

Ok, its time to play catch up. Let's see how many blog posts I can create in the next 30 minutes while I sit in my car waiting for dance practice to end!

In November, Charlie went with friends to the LSU/Ole Miss game. He always begs me to go, but that is a long drive to watch a blowout game. Besides, if I were there he would never get away with sitting on a statue on campus...lord.have.mercy! And speaking of blowouts, let's not discuss the BCS NC game, please. It seriously broke my heart!

Avery is totally into making people out of construction paper. I cut and she colors and tapes. I get confused sometimes when she is begging to "make Nonna".

The weather has been nuts this month. 76 one day, 34 the next... Seriously crazy! But I bundle Avery up in her cute new pig hat every chance I get. I bought it for a steal in China Town. Speaking of, boy I miss NYC every day. I mean I really do. I thought the more time goes by the more I wouldn't think of it, but it's opposite! I sure hope I can go again one day!

So tonight starts Project Bedtime. Avery has never had a bedtime and always gone with me. Lately she has been wanting to stay up later and play on her LeapPad all night long. Last night she threw a HUGE fit and was up until 11. So tonight it will be in bed at 8, read a book or two, LeapPad play until 8:30 and then lights out! Wish me luck :)

Ok...I win the prize for the most random post EVER!

How to Blow Bubbles

Recently, Avery gave me a lesson in blowing bubbles. I enjoyed every minute of it. She is just too precious for words.

"Mama, you want me to show you how to blow bubbles? C'mon!"

"First you hold it like this and dip it"

"See? Like that, mama!"

"And you blow it like this, mama!"

Fall Festival

Before we left for NYC, we took Avery to a local Fall Festival. Her dance studio coordinates this each year and we got to see her perform. She was also in a costume contest. Nonna and Poppa came up to watch her and we had a great time. Nonna took some great pics and posted those on her blog too. Then, they took Avery back to stay at their house for a week, while we went on our big trip! She enjoyed her time there so much. Many thanks to Nonna, Poppa and Gigi for keeping Avery healthy and happy all week long.

This is the best smile you're gonna get until you let me go PLAY!

Face painting time!

Weeeeeee....

Let It Snow!

SNOW?!? In New York City...on my birthday?!? Can you say dream.come.true! Although NONE of the New Yorkers appreciated my special birthday gift from God, Charlie and I sure did. On Saturday morning, we were scheduled to leave at 4pm. I had grand plans to get to the MET (no, I never made it - one of my few regrets!) but it was cold and sleeting outside and I just didn’t want to get caught out in that. I already learned that finding a cab in NYC on a rainy day was near impossible. So, we headed to Junior’s and had a delicious breakfast. As we got ready to leave we realized it was SNOWING! Someone mentioned that it hadn’t snowed in NYC before Halloween since 1952. I’m convinced God did it just for me. ;) 

We called the number to a cab that the restaurant had since it was coming down pretty hard and we couldn’t walk back to the hotel. He told me someone would be there in 10 minutes. After taking pictures and playing in the snow for 30 minutes, still no sign of the cab and every cab that passed was full. It was getting later and we had to checkout at the hotel by 1. At 12, I started to panic and called the hotel. Let me tell you, the Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge is FABULOUS. Their service day in and day out went over and beyond my expectations. They sent a towncar for us and he waited for us to get packed up and check out so he could take us to the airport. Pretty soon, it was all starting to come to an end. It was bittersweet because I so enjoyed my time there and there were a few things I didn’t get to see. But mostly sweet because my wonderful parents and one adorable, precious little toddler were waiting on me down South.

Top of the Rock

After a carriage ride in Central Park and shopping at FAO Schwarz, we were ready for a great dinner. We ate at the Sea Grill, overlooking the ice skating rink at Rockefeller. My only regret is that I didn’t dress for the occasion. It was pretty fancy, schmancy but they let me in - in my I HEART NY hoodie! Yikes!  

The food was fabulous and it was so nice to celebrate my 27th birthday in NYC. This is one I will never forget! After dinner, we went to the Top of the Rock. It’s almost as tall as the Empire State Building and it’s also at Rockefeller. Center It was much quicker than the ESB and before I knew it we were looking at nighttime in NYC from a bird’s eye view. It was just BEAUTIFUL. After a quick stop at the Ben & Jerry’s in the building (can’t beat Cherry Garcia!) we were headed back to Brooklyn. It was an evening I’ll never forget, thanks to my husband! He worked hard all week and was really sick by Friday night, but he was a trooper so that I could have this wonderful night with him in the city.  And to my parents, who were way to generous with my birthday card. ;)