Biting the Big Apple.......

 A few weeks ago my brother Charlie called. His roommates were headed out of town for two weeks and he wanted me to come visit. Right. I have five kids and a husband with a crazy schedule. Only. Everything kind of fell into place. Like I was meant to take this trip. Who wants to tempt fate, right? I just happened to luck out that for the past few months Charlie calls New York City home. Well. That's where his job is located anyway.

Friday morning I flew into the big apple. Alone. With directions and a location to pick up his apartment key. I hopped in a cab and made my way to the lower east side to the Klean and Kleaner laundromat where a key was left in an envelope for me to retrieve. Funny thing is? The key wouldn't actually open the outside door. Nice. A fellow tenant was leaving so I was able to sneak in. Luckily the key to his actual apartment let me inside. I have to give NYC credit for making every space usable. Small would describe the apartment. But it definitely had it's unique characteristics. And a spiral staircase.

Charlie has become really good friends with a girl named Diane. (With one "n") I mention her because she was the first person I called. No. I've never met her previous to this phone call. But. Charlie was going to be stuck at work until evening so she offered to take me into SOHO shopping. Who can resist an invitation like that? After hearing a description of her, we agreed to meet for lunch at a place called Rubys.

Diane is one of those girls that you feel like you've known forever, even though you are really eating lunch with a complete stranger. After lunch we headed to do a bit of shopping. We hit all the stores I had in mind, and just as we were tiring of the shopping world, Charlie arrived on the street.

That evening we had purchased tickets to see Mike Birbiglia's comedy show. Before that we had to try another amazing restaurant. Char and Di know all the hotspots. Caracas. Venezuelan food. Arepas. Amazing. Then to the show.

Hilarious. At one point I was laughing so hard it hurt and I didn't know if I'd ever be able to recover.

Charlie and Me

Diane, Charlie, Me



 Perfect show. And then perfect dessert at a place called the dessert truck. Chocolate bread pudding and Chocolate lava cakes with homemade ice cream. Then off to sleep off the food coma I was headed into.

Saturday morning was rainy, so we nixed our run. Did I mention I slept until 9 am? Uninterrupted? Sweet. We met Diane for brunch at a place called Frankies. I guess brunch is huge for New Yorkers.

I loved the unique style each restaurant possessed. And how each place is so small you are shoulder to shoulder with complete strangers. And nobody feels awkward. I tried the steel cut oats with fruit. Not a disappointment either. Yum.

We then went and saw a movie. The new one out by the guy that did "supersize me". All about advertising. I'll never be able to see TV or a movie the same again.

Charlie works as a civil engineer for a company based in Germany.  It's a company that specializes in cool projects.  And glass.  Charlie showed me a few of the projects his company is in charge of.  One of their huge clients is Apple.  They make all the Apple buildings.  And the cool glass staircases in the larger ones.  They also have a few other projects around town I was able to see.  Pretty cool job.

His company also has a corporate apartment that has an amazing view from the roof. Fabulous. And a bakery that sells life size cookies nearby. Double fabulous.


Hell's Kitchen





The view from another angle



Charlie and Diane enjoying the view



We decided that night to eat at a place called Ippudo. Since the wait was going to be 2 1/2 hours, we decided to get massages to pass the time. Amazing. I've never had one before. I won't let it be my last either. Then we still had another hour or so to wander the streets until our table was ready. It turned out to be worth the wait. Japanese style. Ramen noodles. Not your typical Top Ramen Packet of seasonings either. Amazing flavor.

Sunday morning we awoke (again at 9! I could get used to this!) to a sunshiny outside. We decided to run. We left Charlies apartment and headed to the Manhattan bridge. Before we hit the bridge we stopped to take a picture of this monument. Kind of cool.

From the Manhattan bridge we got a nice view of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Then we stopped half-way across the bridge for a photo.

We crossed into Brooklyn where we viewed artwork on the street then headed onto the Brooklyn bridge.



On the Brooklyn bridge



View of Manhattan bridge from Brooklyn bridge

 If I could train for a half marathon in NYC it might be a little more fun.  Just a little.
After our run we had to consult with our travel agent Diane, who's been a New Yorker longer than Charlie. 

Brunch again.  The Spotted Pig.  No pictures this time.  I must have been drooling over the eats too much to remember to take the shot.  Then we headed over to what is called the Meat packing district.  There used to be a train that ran above ground and carried all the waste out of the city, but it is now paved and full of plant life.  We enjoyed the sunshine along with most other people in the city.  We even ran into a famous person.  Josh Charles.  Only I know him as Will Gardner from the Goodwife.  He was so close to me at one point I could have honked his nose.  And we made eye contact.  Because I didn't want to be an annoying tourist interrupting his day, we tried to take distant pictures. 

 If you click on the picture you might be able to make him out.  He's the one in the black hat way off in the distance.  I'm now famous by association.

We wandered a lot more and ended up at Washington park. At least I think that's what it's called. And some Gelato at it's finest.  For a neverreallyeatengelatobeforegirllikeme.   

We hung out for awhile and watched a four man group trying to hussle donations by putting on a show.  They were pretty good.  At the show.  And at the hussling.

Then we grabbed a slice of traditional NY style pizza and headed back to Charlies.  So sad.  My trip was coming to a close.  So much more to see.  And waaaaaay too many more places to eat!  My trip ended the way it started.  In a cab.

Thank you so much Charlie for inviting me to share your city life with you for the weekend.  And for you Diane.  For being such a great tour guide.  And a really fun girl to hang with.  One day I hope to return to start our own documentary "eating your way through the city".  And I truly hope it takes 8 years to accomplish.  That would be a fun job.  I hope New York can squeeze in a family of seven.

Color Me Please.....

This egg dying ritual is the worst part of the entire Easter holiday for me.  As a kid it was great.  As a mother?  Not so much.  A mess waiting to happen.  But.  It's a right of passage as a child.  So.  I cave.  Every.  Single.  Year.  Did I mention only one of my kids will actually eat hard boiled eggs? 
This year I found a dye kit that appeared to not be as messy as years past.  (Especially when used only when the two year old is napping.)

*note:  I do not make my boys strip every time we do a family activity.  This occurs naturally.  And.  It still does not stop them from managing to get whatever medium they are working with all over their clothes anyway.  Strange phenomenon. * **Also to note:  Ethan did participate in this activity.  He just hurried and finished before I had a chance to break out the camera.**

Science Everywhere.....

 If a typical husband walked through the door after work carrying this box in his arms:

most wives might panic.  Me?  Not so much.  The huge smile on his face was priceless.  I knew I couldn't intervene, so why try.  I knew something had sparked his interest.  Okay.  I admit I was a *little* afraid there might be a used body part entombed in this box as he stuck his hand in to retrieve the contents: 

I was completely relieved once he revealed there was only pellets of dry ice.  No stray organs.  

Then again.  Four careless hands near contents that could possibly cause them to lose a finger (or hand) if improperly handled?  Maybe I should've been a little more leery than I was.

After testing it in the sink Shawn put some pellets in an empty mountain dew bottle, took it outside, filled it with a little water, tightened the lid, and gave it a big toss over the deck.  It sounded like a gunshot.  And the kids squealed like it was Christmas morning.  Fabulous.  

Baking Beauties.....

A month ago when Kennedy and Jenna heard we were planning a neighborhood garage sale, they jumped all over the chance to hold their own little bake sale while we were selling all of our stuff.  Kennedy bought a book on creative ways to decorate cupcakes.  I took them to the store to purchase all of the items on her list, but that was the extent of my helping.  It's usually hard for me to let things like this happen without my interference.  I'm OCD and am typically afraid of what the outcome might be.  But.  This time?  I just set the tools for them to use on the counter and went downstairs.  I left them to their own devices.  Was I a little nervous?  Sure.  But not enough to intervene.  It's time for my little girl (and her friend) to figure things out on their own.  And.  Wow.  I'm sure glad I did.  Their creations wouldn't have turned out near as perfect as if I'd tried my hand at helping.  They made little "fruit pie" cupcakes.

 They also made a few "Easter basket" cupcakes.  These girls might one day end up on TLC with their own baking show one day. 

And.  They made a killing at the bake sale.  The pies went super fast, the baskets not as fast.  They made money faster than I did.  Must be their irresistible smiles along with the baked goods that grabbed peoples attention.

Naptime Carry-over....

This is what happens when Presley decides playing with her siblings is more fun then taking a nap.

Unfortunately this is occurring quite regularly.  It's cute.  But also ruining my afternoon plans. 

The Great Wolf Lodge.....

Shawn had this last week off of work.  It also happened to be my birthday.  I suggested (strongly) that what I wanted for my birthday was to take the kids to the Great Wolf Lodge.  Wish granted.  For those of you unfamiliar, this place is a hotel with an indoor water park.  It's large.  Loud.  And a lot of fun. 

This is what part of the inside looks like.  There is a lot more to this place.  The older 3 kids were tall enough for all the rides to ride alone.  I caught up with each one sporadically throughout the time spent here.  Landon, however, was only tall enough to ride the large rides with an adult.  Me.  Serious bonding with the boy.  Presley?  She wasn't so much of a fan.  Shawn took over charge of her.  She lasted only an hour the first night.  The next day he spent time exploring the area outside of the hotel with her while the rest of us swam.  It worked out nicely because by the time noon rolled around he was able to bring us back lunch.  Which we enjoyed in the comfort of our hotel room.  Then Shawn and Presley napped while we all went back to the water park.  At about 4:30 the boys were done swimming.  So.  I went back up and got Presley.  Her, Kennedy, and I hung out for another hour.  That also happened to be the only time I brought my camera out at the park.  Too much fun to worry about pictures.

Sadly, I think Presley enjoyed pressing the elevator buttons more than she enjoyed the water.  She's her daddy's girl.

 She started to warm up a little.  If I'd let her splash me.  That always makes her enjoy herself.  At the expense of the mother.

 Water splashing in her face wasn't so much her friend.  Unless she was causing the splash. 

Kennedy always manages to make everything more fun for Presley.  I love watching them together.

In the evening at 8 pm they host a story time around the fireplace in the lobby.  We got all the kids cuddled up in pajamas and headed down.  To the lamest story time.  Ever.  Landon said to me "why did you make me walk all the way down here for this?!"  Yep.  Lame.  I was tempted to just pretend I was with the lodge and get up and tell my own story.  It would have been more entertaining. 

 Ethan was a pretty good sport.

So was Kennedy.

Jack was even willing to take a picture with the token mascot.
 Next to story time was an ice cream shop.  Photo ops and ice cream?  Nice.

 We took our sweets back to our room to indulge in privacy.  (or to contain Presley) 

 Jack and his cone.  (notice he's actually wearing a shirt?  Crazy.)

 Landon is thrilled with his choice, Ethan drunk with excitement. 

 Kennedy opted for a crystal sugar sucker instead of ice cream.

 Shawn chose strawberry in a bowl.  Which he had to share with Presley.

 Friday we checked out of the hotel and went to breakfast at IHOP.  Our families favorite breakfast destination.  Near the hotel is an amazing set of outlet malls.  And fountains for kids and dads entertainment.

Once the fun of flipping pennies in the fountain wore off, and the boys had pretty much drenched themselves, we started our journey home.  The joy of vacationing only an hour away is that it's such a short trip back home.  What a great little get-a-way.  Came at the perfect time.  Thanks babe for allowing me to celebrate my birthday how I wanted.