What are you doing this weekend?
Me? Listening to direction from God through the mouths of His living Prophets. Go here to listen, or here to read or listen to what I got to hear last weekend. (This one is my favorite.) So inspiring!
It's one of my favorite weekends all year. We even have cool weather and fall colors, which makes it even more perfect for curling up on the couch with a blanket, notebook, and cup of hot chocolate. Can't wait. :)
September 30, 2011
September 29, 2011
Security
Flying in to New York on the weekend of the 10th anniversary of September 11th gave me the unique opportunity to witness security like I have never seen. I believe it was the safest place to be.
When I arrived at the Newark Airport, I had an hour before my parents came, so I took my time making my way down to baggage claim to meet them. Bought a snack. Checked out the restrooms. By the time I went to the escalators, I was alone in the stairwell. And the escalators were broken. So, I got to carry my big bag down the stairs. And two uniformed men, sporting gigantic guns and bayonets, watched my every move. I am not sure if they were waiting to make sure I was safe or waiting to split the contents of my luggage once I tumbled down the stairs to my demise. Luckily, there were no mishaps.
I soon learned they were two of many, many uniformed officers and security guards. The place was crawling with them, along with foreign speaking travelers. I am quite sure I was the only American in the terminal until my parents showed up. Already I felt a long way from home. And when we had to pay $120 for a cab ride to my friend Lindsay's home, I knew I wasn't in Kansas anymore. Or Indiana, for that matter.
We arrived in Brooklyn, greeted by a gracious hostess who offered divine raspberry lemonade after she helped us hoist our bags up her three flights of stairs. (On a side-note--why do they call those apartment buildings "walk-ups" when clearly it is more of a "hike-up"? I can't imagine doing it with newborns, toddlers, groceries, laundry etc. Whew!) When her husband got home from work, they took us to an authentic New York pizza place where we folded our slices in half to eat them so people might think we were locals.
The next morning, my dad walked with Blake and little Garrett to visit the Bagel Boy store around the corner, where they were served by a brisk and efficient baker, reminiscent of this Seinfeld character. "No soup for you!" Very funny. Luckily they knew just what we all wanted. :)
We enjoyed a leisurely morning walk through their neighborhood and along the promenade. They have some amazing homes in their neighborhood. Amazing architecture, a few with marble rain gutters, and one house that we thought looked like Snow White's cottage. (Minus the trash cans and car, of course.) (The real Snow White, not my Snow White.)
It was then time to head to our ship. We hired a car service for $34 to take us into Manhattan and to the dock. We crossed over the Brooklyn Bridge and sat in traffic for a very long time. They were checking all cars coming into Manhattan. Our driver was great, especially if you closed your eyes and pretended you were on a roller coaster or something. There were too many close calls for my liking, but it doesn't seem to bother anyone else that the cars pass each other with inches to spare. If that. Yikes. But, we got there safely and in plenty of time to spend in the long security lines.
When I arrived at the Newark Airport, I had an hour before my parents came, so I took my time making my way down to baggage claim to meet them. Bought a snack. Checked out the restrooms. By the time I went to the escalators, I was alone in the stairwell. And the escalators were broken. So, I got to carry my big bag down the stairs. And two uniformed men, sporting gigantic guns and bayonets, watched my every move. I am not sure if they were waiting to make sure I was safe or waiting to split the contents of my luggage once I tumbled down the stairs to my demise. Luckily, there were no mishaps.
I soon learned they were two of many, many uniformed officers and security guards. The place was crawling with them, along with foreign speaking travelers. I am quite sure I was the only American in the terminal until my parents showed up. Already I felt a long way from home. And when we had to pay $120 for a cab ride to my friend Lindsay's home, I knew I wasn't in Kansas anymore. Or Indiana, for that matter.
We arrived in Brooklyn, greeted by a gracious hostess who offered divine raspberry lemonade after she helped us hoist our bags up her three flights of stairs. (On a side-note--why do they call those apartment buildings "walk-ups" when clearly it is more of a "hike-up"? I can't imagine doing it with newborns, toddlers, groceries, laundry etc. Whew!) When her husband got home from work, they took us to an authentic New York pizza place where we folded our slices in half to eat them so people might think we were locals.
The next morning, my dad walked with Blake and little Garrett to visit the Bagel Boy store around the corner, where they were served by a brisk and efficient baker, reminiscent of this Seinfeld character. "No soup for you!" Very funny. Luckily they knew just what we all wanted. :)
We enjoyed a leisurely morning walk through their neighborhood and along the promenade. They have some amazing homes in their neighborhood. Amazing architecture, a few with marble rain gutters, and one house that we thought looked like Snow White's cottage. (Minus the trash cans and car, of course.) (The real Snow White, not my Snow White.)
We liked the views of Manhattan and the Verrazano Bridge, and Garrett and Caleb loved the sticks and seeing the ships. Apparently , Garrett is very obsessed lately with going on a cruise ship. I wish security were not so tight so I could have taken him on our cruise ship for a minute to show him the pools and food, of which he seems to be particularly keen on trying out.
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| Get used to this bag...I think it is in the next 600 pictures. :) |
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| Staten Island and the Verrazano Bridge in the background |
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| Manhattan in the background |
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| Is that not the cutest face? |
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| Mom and Dad sporting their team colors heading to check in. |
September 25, 2011
Returning
Physically, I am back home. Mentally, (or more accurately, health-wise) I am not completely here yet. I am so glad I went on the trip, and so happy to be back home. I loved spending time with my parents, but I missed my girls and husband. I feel like I need a two week nap after my busy vacation to gear up to handle the normal strains life puts on my body.
Yet, since returning home, we have been to one track meet (which we mostly missed because we didn't know the location was not going to be at the school), two church meetings, dinner out, lunch out (we can't possibly stay home and eat when our grandparents are here to take to our favorite places), and a myriad of shopping trips. We (and by we, I mean my dad and my husband, but I was present) have installed light fixtures, worked on base boards, refinished our table, done laundry (that was mostly Mom), played games and cheered for BYU and BSU. We have had fights about showers, clothing, homework, and dishes (that was mostly my girls).
And it seems with a new week starting tomorrow, there is no rest for the wicked. Snow White has a out-of-town county cross country meet tomorrow, and then there is piano, mutual, homework, meetings, work deadlines and the normal life of a busy household. All that to say, I am so glad I went, and so glad to be back, but am not likely to tell you much about anything (either what is going on here, or what happened in New England) in the next few days while I get back my brain. Or at least the part I normally function with. I know, you are waiting with bated breath. :) I'll try to hurry.
p.s. I have 823 pictures from my trip--from my camera, Dad's camera, and Mom's camera combined. I haven't even gotten the good pictures from the two photographers in my family that were on the trip. If that doesn't scare you away, I don't know what will. :)
Yet, since returning home, we have been to one track meet (which we mostly missed because we didn't know the location was not going to be at the school), two church meetings, dinner out, lunch out (we can't possibly stay home and eat when our grandparents are here to take to our favorite places), and a myriad of shopping trips. We (and by we, I mean my dad and my husband, but I was present) have installed light fixtures, worked on base boards, refinished our table, done laundry (that was mostly Mom), played games and cheered for BYU and BSU. We have had fights about showers, clothing, homework, and dishes (that was mostly my girls).
And it seems with a new week starting tomorrow, there is no rest for the wicked. Snow White has a out-of-town county cross country meet tomorrow, and then there is piano, mutual, homework, meetings, work deadlines and the normal life of a busy household. All that to say, I am so glad I went, and so glad to be back, but am not likely to tell you much about anything (either what is going on here, or what happened in New England) in the next few days while I get back my brain. Or at least the part I normally function with. I know, you are waiting with bated breath. :) I'll try to hurry.
p.s. I have 823 pictures from my trip--from my camera, Dad's camera, and Mom's camera combined. I haven't even gotten the good pictures from the two photographers in my family that were on the trip. If that doesn't scare you away, I don't know what will. :)
September 7, 2011
Random Thoughts
*I saw a pretend arm and hand hanging out of the back of someone's trunk on my drive to the grocery store today. I laughed. It was very funny. In a disturbed sort of way.
*I'm no good at packing. I either over pack or under pack. The last couple of trips I am afraid I under packed. This time I might overdo it. It think when the temperature will be anywhere between 50 and 80, it makes things too complicated for me. This is not a good situation for someone who (regrets to admit that she) spends 1/3 to 1/2 of her days in sweats or pajamas, saving energy most people spend on dressing and primping, to do fun things like pick kids up from track or make dinner. I don't know what to pack and wear for twelve days. It's overwhelming.
*Cinderella had her first piano lesson of the fall yesterday. She was actually excited. She didn't come right out and say it, but I could tell. And today she practiced for 30 minutes without me saying anything. Could it be that she is maturing and is finally grateful we "forced" her to take piano all these years?. . . Nah, must have been something in the air today. She is fourteen, after all. I haven't done anything right or good in years.
*I have discovered Words with Friends on Facebook, a game just like Scrabble but played from your phone or computer with your far or near friends and family. I am addicted. It's quite possible that I may need some intervention.
*Not that I blog with much regularity as of late, but it may be a while until you hear from me again. I am afraid every coherent minute I spend over the next couple of weeks is already planned for me. I think I may not be on a computer at all, except for maybe a quick check of my email. (Ah man, I might lose all of my Words with Friends games by forfeit. Bummer.)
*I bought a seeded watermelon yesterday. By accident. I usually buy seedless. It was one of the best tasting watermelons we've had all year. But, my family ate hardly any of it at dinner because it was "too annoying" and "too much work". Oh, boy.
*I'm no good at packing. I either over pack or under pack. The last couple of trips I am afraid I under packed. This time I might overdo it. It think when the temperature will be anywhere between 50 and 80, it makes things too complicated for me. This is not a good situation for someone who (regrets to admit that she) spends 1/3 to 1/2 of her days in sweats or pajamas, saving energy most people spend on dressing and primping, to do fun things like pick kids up from track or make dinner. I don't know what to pack and wear for twelve days. It's overwhelming.
*Cinderella had her first piano lesson of the fall yesterday. She was actually excited. She didn't come right out and say it, but I could tell. And today she practiced for 30 minutes without me saying anything. Could it be that she is maturing and is finally grateful we "forced" her to take piano all these years?. . . Nah, must have been something in the air today. She is fourteen, after all. I haven't done anything right or good in years.
*I have discovered Words with Friends on Facebook, a game just like Scrabble but played from your phone or computer with your far or near friends and family. I am addicted. It's quite possible that I may need some intervention.
*Not that I blog with much regularity as of late, but it may be a while until you hear from me again. I am afraid every coherent minute I spend over the next couple of weeks is already planned for me. I think I may not be on a computer at all, except for maybe a quick check of my email. (Ah man, I might lose all of my Words with Friends games by forfeit. Bummer.)
*I bought a seeded watermelon yesterday. By accident. I usually buy seedless. It was one of the best tasting watermelons we've had all year. But, my family ate hardly any of it at dinner because it was "too annoying" and "too much work". Oh, boy.
September 1, 2011
Before and After
The kitchen is not completely finished. We still have some little things like painting touch-ups and making curtains, and one big thing to do--the flooring. But, for all useful purposes, the kitchen is finished and we couldn't be happier! We love it. My favorite part is....well, all of it. It is just SO much more functional. I mean, I set my new oven on the temperature the recipe called for, cooked the muffins for the time it called for, and they were actually done. Perfect. That hasn't happened since we moved here. And my things fit in the cupboards, and the sink works. Amazing. So, here are the before and after shots you (yes, all three of you) have been waiting for. I'll put some more up when we finish the floor and painting.
BEFORE
AFTER
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