New York (week 2) & Anniversary

The second week is when the real fun started. Once we got all settled and started finding our way around we could get out and just enjoy all the great things the city has to offer! We were told that NYC was much better without kids, and YES they were RIGHT! (Again, love you little guys!)  So we soaked up date nights and went all out for our 5th wedding anniversary (5 years!).  

My new favorite store, C Wonder!!!! We entered there flagship store in Columbus Circle (my new favorite mall) and I thought I walked into my own dream house (well kind of) but bright fun colors, the modern decor and preppy style was enough to get me all giddy.  I started to go so much that I became friends with the girls there (yes I'm embarrassed, but not enough that I stop going).  The highlight for me, practically one of the best compliments I've ever received, is when one of the girls told me I looked like I could be THE C Wonder girl!  Haha!  Must have been because I lit up at everything I saw there.

On our way to church. We checked out the East side and it was too far to walk, so we hopped in a cab. Solana always loves to do this!  Even though she gets to ride in luxury in the stroller, if we're walking too far, she'll ask for a cab!

The ever famous Guggenheim Museum

For our 5th year anniversary, we we out to dinner at Landmarc, it was delicious!!!

This was our view at dinner!

Then we headed up to the top of the 30 Rock building.  It was so fun to see the city at night, it was packed full of tourist, but it was something I had never done in the city before. 

This was a daily busy activity, Squinkies and going to the park.  

This girl is flower obsessed! It is so cute so how much to loves to pick, smell, and buy and then play with fresh flowers.  She is such a girly girl :)

We headed out to Connecticut for a JRLCS pool party.  It was so gorgeous out there, and while we headed out we checked out some possible places to live. It was a fun and very HOT day!

New York living (week 1)

For those who are just tuning in...we moved to New York City! Well for the summer that is. Adam had been doing his 3 month long internship in the city and after being apart for 2 months, we decided to sublet a place and move there with him his last month there.  I would be lying if I said it was a non-stop party (with kids involved the party always ends (but I mean that with love, little guys!)) but we had fun none the less.  

When you think about a vacation you think you can forgo all parent and personal responsibly, or I do at least.  But when living somewhere else for a whole month, I was still putting B down for his naps, making dinner, cleaning the house, doing laundry and on top of all that, trying to explore the biggest city with 2 kids in tow.  So at times I was not having fun, but once we were out and about and not lost, things were great!! We stayed on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and we grew to really enjoy it. Adam's office is in Midtown East, so for a slightly easier commute we are also looking into moving to the Upper East Side as well.  So we will see where we end up at the end of next summer.  But for now, here is the first week in the city. 

Who knew minivans could be so great for families? ...Okay well everyone does, but we just figured it out.  Adam, now long-removed from Texas glory days of driving this —

—unashamedly loved it.  Can you say "features"!  And Solana, applying totally rational linguistic analysis decided that our "Minnie-van" was actually a "Mickey-van!"  So that was a fun way to road-trip in style.

The Manhattan Minivans at church is what they are called.  Seriously I can't find which one is ours.

Watching taxis go by became her favorite past time activity.  She and Adam counted 100 in about a minute.  The little surprises of discovering what she enjoys are always so fun!

Sugar and Plumm was amazing! Macaroons were to die for. 

Heading down to Riverside Park.  I actually really liked this area better than Central Park, mainly because it was less crowded.

First park we hit, she had a blast and loved making new friends.

First time in the swings.  I love his "I'm not so sure about this..." face

Going to The Dakota was a fun one to see.  The gates right here are where John Lennon was shot and killed.   Yoko still lives there. I love historic buildings, and there are so many in New York!

The Dakota is the oldest residential building on the Upper West Side, and it really is so beautiful, and right next to Central Park.

Elephant park was so much fun.  I was so impressed by the parks they have everywhere, all so different and all so fun!! Especially because most of them have water stuff to do. It's the only kind of free entertainment you can find in the city.

Just chillin' - at West Elm!  After a long day roaming the city, Solana decided to make the display chair her personal lounge, cozying up with a blanket and pillows.  All that's missing are a show and a snack!

Best. Bakery. Ever! Period. Cookies are to die for.  Just Yelp it.

I have no idea what this face is, but it makes me laugh every time. She had a similar face, which she called her "Princess Face".  She loves picking up flowers everywhere we go, including Traders. 

Riding the escalator in Traders, it was fun to have it be 3 stories! But not fun to battle the mobs of people.

On Saturday we walked down to our favorite park and when we arrived we found both our kids asleep. Not how you want your park session to begin. 

Having fun with Daddy. These 2 could climb around all day. 

32nd and 4th (no that's not our address)

This was by far one of my best birthdays! And I have no idea why it was, but it just was.  I grew up with parents who made birthday's pretty special - always parties and always fun activities.  And having your birthday on the Fourth of July always has its perks.  Adam has always been great at making this day seem amazing and he went above and beyond this year.  One of the best presents was picking up Adam at the airport about 1/2 hour before my birthday, keeping the kids up late at night on the 3rd.  It was a sweet reunion and having him home made me feel like he never left, which is always a great feeling.  

So for the hot 4th of July day we headed to the beach, which we did last year and had so much fun, so we decided to head to Yorktown beach again.  We met up with some great friends and just waded in the ocean for a while and got some color on our pasty white bodies (which resulted in Adam sustaining what he calls his "semi-annual horrific sunburn").  I finally got Boston to doze off in the shade in my arms, and then after that we decided to head home.  I then took the most amazing nap (which I had missed being able to do with a spouse at home) and then after some amazing gifts and my traditional cookie ice cream cake, we were spent.  We decided to skip live fireworks and tuck the kids into bed early.  We watched the fireworks live from NYC on TV which was funny because we were leaving the very next day to move there for the rest of the summer.  We were exhausted, but nothing is better than having Adam around. It truly was an amazing birthday!

Cuddling buddy at the airport!

Family selfie at the airport!

Hanging out at the beach with great friends.  

Boston's first day at the beach.  He was a trooper for a bit, but he finally crashed out in the shade.  

32 with 2!

She can always make Boston laugh the most. Two cuties!

My big 5-monther! Sitting up and trying to crawl (just really good push ups right now).