Thanksgiving feastie weekend

It was a fun-filled Thanksgiving this year. And being in a new place we got to make some new traditions.  We had some amazing friends that came in to town for the day (friends from our mission) and we had a blast! When they arrived on Wednesday is was really cold and raining, but we still ventured out to the UWS to see the floats getting inflated.  It was fun for like 10 minutes until everyone was cold and wet, so we might not be doing that one next year…

But Thanksgiving Day was awesome! Adam and Jim got up early and headed up to the Upper West Side to save seats. They arrived at 6:15 and it was still dark out and they were able to save 2nd row spots for us.  Emily and I got ready as fast as we could with 2 kids each and hurried up to meet Val who had just flown in that morning from Utah. We all met up and headed uptown.  We arrived minutes before the parade started and we couldn't even try and get close enough to our spouses. It was packed and their was no way anyone was letting us through. Especially with our minivan stroller in tow. I decided to shuffle Solana and Riley over to the hubbys, so that at least the girls could see it up close. I walked about knee level between the crowds of people and had Solana scream daddy the whole time. It actually worked and I was able to see Adam for like a minute during the parade.  Then the girls and I watched the parade from further back, and both our kids were perfect.  

It was cold and it started to rain/snow towards the end, but it was so fun to be adventurous and join with millions of others for the big event. 

6:20am, in position.  (You had to be there much earlier to get a front row spot…)

The one minute we spent together. 

Emily and her kiddos enjoying the awe of it all. 

While Solana's favorite part of the parade was dancing to all of the marching bands, she also freaked out with excitement as we watched Santa come rolling down Central Park West.

After the parade was over we re-grouped and booked it out of there!

Eating at my favorite stand in the city - Waffles and Dinges!  Warm, fresh waffles drenched in chocolate, nutella, and strawberries!

The Thanksgiving dinner set up.

Solana loved having a friend to play with, and pretend to be a big sister to (lipgloss application is one of those things..)

The kid table.

The final presentation.  (Every year, Adam re-watches his favorite video online to refresh his turkey carving and presentation skills.  He loves it, obviously!)

The day after Thanksgiving we headed out to 34th street. Boston loves the subway.

We headed over to Eataly and stopped for some to-die-for Italian hot chocolate at LaVazza.

Adam described it as by far the best hot chocolate he had ever had, with nothing even coming close enough to be mentioned second.

Chocolate steals the heart of both my boys.

Seeing Santa was so much fun. 

Whole Foods was having a great deal on trees. So we headed over last minute to pick out a beauty.  (No, the guy in the poster in the back is not a giant farmer.)

This tree was the winner!  But the delivery time was closed for the night...

So Adam carried it home! Its about a 15 minute walk. He said it wasn't heavy, but annoying to have the pine needles poke his ear….

Solana asked him "Daddy are you strong enough to carry the world?" of course is answer was yes. 

Let the best holiday season begin. Merry Christmas!

November!

November was fun and cold! The fall weather was in full swing and it was fun to really watch the leaves change and get prepped for the holiday season. We recovered from everyone being sick and finally ventured out more.  Adam was super busy at work and even worked his first 100 hour week (he survived) and I adapted to being at home alone at night. We are still adjusting to city life, and everyone tells us we need to enjoy every season here to really love it, and a couple of people have told us they didn't love it for at least 2 years! So I guess we will just know it will get easier.  We have learned that some things are just hard in the city,  like having to do laundry in your building and not in your own home. And running errands outside when its freezing and not in the comfort of a heated vehicle. But we have also loved so many aspects. I love that I can get anything delivered and usually the same day. I love that when I want to go shopping that all the stores that I could ever want are actually here. We love the endless food options and endless entertainment options.  I do miss quiet neighborhoods and a lot of small town life. And I would love to not have to deal with so many people each day, but this is life and we will find happiness no matter what. We are learning to love our simple small apartment and realize how little space you actually need to survive. Its all a learning process. 

Here are the random activities of the month (except for Thanksgiving) 

Enjoy!

Bedhead and smiles is sometimes all you need.

While Solana has school each morning, B and I get to enjoy some quiet play time.

He is obsessed with the camera.

He is also obsessed with his sister's scooter.

Suckers on the subway, not a good idea….

Chillin' at the doctors office. We were there a lot this month.

Solana begged me for a picnic with her dolls, and it lasted all of 10 minutes until we froze.

Playing in the fall leaves behind our house.

I can only avoid baking for so long until Adam and the kids are begging me for cookies.  I'm often pretty quick to oblige. 

Great helpers.

The "minivan" on a typical day.  Rain cover - check.  Groceries- check.  Backpack, umbrellas, tons of other random gear, and two sweet kids - check check check check!

We finally ventured to Central park. It was beautiful and cold. And we instantly felt happier being there.

FInding sticks is her favorite thing.

The park is truly are favorite part of the city.

Love these kids!

They are besties.

She was perfectly happy in the park. She is my nature girl.

We got lost (in an exploration, not sure how we get out of the park kind of way) and Solana really thought we were lost in the wilderness. haha

Our best friends Matt and Heather sent Solana a dentist kit! Matt is going through his pediatric dentistry  residency.  And Solana talks about being a dentist often, she was pretty excited about this.

Daddy was her first patient

Then Solana wanted to be the patient and she loved it. She loves bruising her teeth.

We treated ourselves to cupcakes. Because it was that kind of day….

Our lille Bos man.

Beautiful!

His favorite past time is playing his mini "guitar" and now he even sings. We love it!

A sibling tea party is all you need in life :)

Jaryn is one of my oldest friends. We have known each other since I was 4. She comes out every other year with her mom. And she even braved our disastrous apartment on a Sunday evening. Its always so fun to catch up with her!

Its always such a fun treat when friends come to visit the city. The Shannons from Texas are one of those really fun couples we love.

On the bus on our way home from church. Adam had worked 100 hours that week and Bostie falling asleep on him was a tender highlight.

Sometimes we throw in the towel and go out in public with hair like this. 

They like to be close when they watch T.V.…actually they don't, hence the capturing it on camera.

On the Ikea ferry on our way to get Boston a toddler bed!  Solana says her favorite part of living in NYC is Ikea and the ferry there!