Darren Visits

In November our good friend Darren visited. It was awesome to see him and catch up (we missed you Lisa!).

We have known Darren for quite a while, I first met him and Lisa at a track weekend in 2007 and Dan can't quite remember when they first met but thinks it was 2006 so it is at least eight years. Darren and Lisa actually appear on our blog a number of times... a roadtrip to see Moto GP, a camping weekend that was rained out, a track weekend with typical Dan and Darren shenanigans, another motorcycle weekend (I think there are a few more of these to like KY and such but not digging for them), hiking, and countless evenings at the Village Tap, brunches, dinners at one of our apartments, and watching races (that was really just Dan and Darren).

But anyways, back to the visit. We were worried about the craziness that comes with having a highly energetic (read wild) two year old and an increasingly mobile and energetic 10 month old - it isn't calm and sight seeing can be filled with screaming kids.

We kicked off the visit with a dinner at a quiet restaurant where the kids showed Darren how they don't like inside voices and how much Indian food they can shovel in before most people can get in two bites. This was after Jaime showed Darren all of his favorite stuff, latest art projects, his big boy bed, etc.

The next day we did a long walk in the park. Followed by a failed nap attempt, Jaime was too interested in showing Darren his collection of cars to sleep. Followed by a gorgeous evening walk on the high line and dinner at the Meatball Shoppe in the West Village.

That evening the kids were climbing all over Darren. We really didn't need to worry about the kids being too obnoxious, I mean they were, but Darren was great with them and they completely loved him. Jaime was sad to see him go.

It was really great to see our long-time friend and see our kids enjoy getting to know him. 

Renewing the lease

Living in New York has been a crazy experience. For the entire year of 2014 and much of 2013 (the later months of my pregnancy) we discussed moving - moving back to Chicago, moving to the midwest, moving to New Jersey, moving to burbs, moving to Brooklyn, moving within our neighborhood. Every time we landed back on staying put.

We dislike our apartment (oh my how I could go for a dishwasher or even just a full sized kitchen sink) but we love our neighborhood. I could live in the Upper West Side for the rest of my life and be content. I have everything I need within a short walk and when I am too tired or busy I can get pretty much what I need delivered. I have a locally owned bookstore (that is so pretty and inspiring to be in), a locally owned yoga studio with a class schedule that works for me, various grocery stores and bodegas for quick trips, restaurants, playgrounds are plentiful, gorgeous parks, public transportation, and a great coffee spot.

I feel set, content, comfortable.

So at the end of October when our lease came up, we stayed put.

And the kids and I stumbled up on a community garden just a block from our apartment that we had somehow walked by a million times but missed. It had a great little play spot and was so cute and relaxing. Jaime loved playing the house, he would wash dishes. And the sandbox had a cover so was actually relatively not nasty. I wish we had known about this garden when Shelby was with us as she would have loved relaxing in there while the kids played.

We watched the birds play in the bird bath on the way out and I walked home feeling so fortunate and thankful to be right where I am, home with my babies and living in such a great place.

Trick or Treat (smell my feet)

Halloween 2014 was special in that it was the first time we took our kids trick or treating. Last year Jaime helped hand out candy but this year I thought he was ready for a little trick or treating.

Jaime was excited about halloween and would say stuff like "I want halloween too!" all sad when he would see halloween decoration as if it might be reserved for big kids and he was going to get left out. This was along with him wanting pumpkins every time he saw one. It was pretty cute.

I get a little bit of self-inflicted anxiety about halloween costumes for the kids. I think those chubby animal costumes are so cute but I also just can't physically click order or hand over the card to pay for them. Then there is the cold factor - they are going to be in a coat anyways. I spent way to many hours looking at costumes for the kids. I thought Jaime would want to be a monkey given his love of his blabla monkey and Curious George but he said no.

I randomly landed on the construction worker toy set for Jaime. He was in heaven with that costume. He napped in it. He played "work guy" for hours on end.

For Ellie I decided to use hand-me-downs from her cousins to create a little circus bear (of sorts) costume. I made a little bear ear headband.

The parents here dress up to take their kids trick or treating. I wasn't into getting myself seriously dressed up but made a cat ear headband (an hour before going out).

Jaime was so excited to go out trick or treating.

But then the elevator was packed - as in lets all smoosh up and hope it doesn't get stuck. And he started to get a little uneasy. He was pretty uneasy with Shelby's vet handing out treats (they are just around the corner from us so it was on our way to the residential side street we headed to). And so by the time we got to it he was a little over it. He wasn't really sure about so many people being all up in his business talking to him and just wanted to work on the fences.

Ellie was just in for the ride and thought it was all a little too hyped up.

After a little bit of trick or treating he wanted to get a macaroon at Macaroon Parlor and then we headed home. We had mummy hot dogs for dinner and had a dance party to monster mash.

I predict that next year Jaime will be saying "trick or treat, smell my feet" - not sure who would teach him such a thing.

Pumpkin Garden

We visited the pumpkin garden at the NY Botanic Gardens on Halloween.

Dan took the day off and we basically had the place to ourselves. It was a stressful morning and we were a bit grumpy when we were finally all in the car. But it was a great visit and we all felt a little restored after a bit of time with space to explore.

I wanted a perfect picture of me with my two littles... Jaime was not in the mood to sit and wanted to start exploring so while not perfect it is an accurate representation of us at this point in time.

I wish I had a video of Jaime saying pumpkin. It was the cutest thing. He had been wanting pumpkins everytime we went to a grocery store or market all month. He was so excited to see so many pumpkins!

So many paths to run up and then down.

Jaime loved the maze and would get so excited to run around a corner into one of us.

We spent a ton of time at the instruments.

The little house was a huge hit.

Then we did a little walk to circle back. It was a good time. Everyone was busy taking it all in and soaking up the nature.

Jaime didn't want to leave. I didn't either. But it was time to head back to the city and get a little nap in before trick or treating. (we went to this in 2013 too, do I see a tradition starting?)

October in Snapshots

October was a crazy month. Our little family went through a lot.

We went through a revolving door of terrible nannies. I would leave for work with kids crying and come home to kids greeting me with tears and clinging to me. I was working from home twice a week and it was stressful. After a little while we cut back to just having the "trial nannies" come on the days I was at the office so I was balancing work with being home with the kids and pretty much overwhelmed. This was my "big month" at work and I found myself with a foot out the door.

Jaime started crawling out of his crib and wouldn't go to sleep ever. Ellie started work on a new tooth and was up at night.

Ellie also started to be on her feet more and more. The kids started babbling across the table to each other.

We ate apples like they were going out of style.

We considered a move to Brooklyn. We decided to stay put.

We saw our Shelby dog get very sick and said goodbye.

We went to playgrounds.

We found ourselves making the decision to move to one income and have me stay home with the kids.

Like I said, it was a crazy month.

We went to an October-Halloween kids' festival in Madison Square Park. Jaime had fun buzzing around and Ellie had fun hanging out.

Ellie grew up so much this month. She was suddenly this wild little girl.

Jaime got ahold of the snap and shoot camera a couple of times...

We soaked up the playground visits. Even though the leaves were still predominately green you just know that it will be freezing in a blink of an eye.

The kids loved eating lunch and snack together. Jaime would want to cut up Ellie's bites.

I said goodbye to corporate America.

We went to a halloween festival at the High Line. Jaime loved the band.

We went to the farmers' market on Sundays.

Jaime took these pictures ^^

We played and played and played.

We sat in the park.

What a month!