Fireman Nate

Gracie and Nate were playing dress-up today and Nathan walked out of the playroom dressed like this....

I said nice to meet you, my name is Mommy, what's your name?  He replied, I'm Fireman Nathan!

Big sisters pink flip flops, mismatched jammies and a pirate hat.  That's quite a fireman suit Nate!

Beauty and the Beast

Aunt Sara and Cousin Rachel drove all the way down from the "high country" today, so that we could meet and attend Beauty and the Beast together.  The girls liked the theater and it was a terrific day.  The cousins truly love each other and Sara and I enjoyed catching up, wish we lived closer.  Watching these girls together always reminds us of our blessings.

We had a very fancy ladies brunch at My Florist Cafe.  It was a "no boys allowed" day.  Nate stayed home with the sitter.

Gracie must have told Rachel a very funny joke!  Aunt Sara bought these adorable matching crowns for the girls.

This production of Beauty and the Beast was performed by the Ahwatukee Children's Theatre.  We were totally blown away by this talented group of kids.

Princess Gabby Grace and Princess Grace Mae

As my friend Ginee said in her blog... Thank's to some "Disney Magic" the highlight of our day was discovering that our friends the Venezia's were sitting in the same row as us at the Herberger!  

Our family met the Venezia family at a garage sale when the girls were babies.  I saw Ginee carrying baby Gabby and told Donnie that I needed to meet "that Mom" because Gabby had a giant bow on her head just like I always put on Gracie.  I walked over, introduced myself, invited Gary, Gin and Gabby to a barbeque at our house the next night, they came and we've been friends ever since.  The girls played together while they were babies until the Venezia's moved away three years ago.  Ginee and I kept in touch through emails, we've both had babies (me ~ Nathan, Gin ~ Sophie and Baby Jack), but we haven't seen each other since they moved.  

It was an amazing surprise to reunite with our friends.  What a gift!  I loved meeting Gin's new little ones and seeing her Mom.  Gracie and Gabby are now pen pals and we are planning a playdate later this summer.  

I love telling people that Gin and I met at a garage sale because of our girls and their BIG BOWS.... :-)!

Princess Rachel, Belle and Princess Gracie

100+ pounds of laundry

Today I woke up with full intentions of unpacking our suitcases and doing the laundry (100+ pounds ~ the airline weighed our bags!).  Even though I don't like laundry and the stuffs already been sitting for three days, I was totally on track to get my chores completed when my kids asked me to play with them.   So instead of unpacking and doing wash.....

We baked a cake for Daddy!

A much more fun and delicious way to spend the morning.

Until Next Time...

Tired, happy and ready to kiss & hug Daddy. We had a great trip home on the airplane.  

We had unforgettable adventures in New York with TT and Mikey.  Already planning our next visit and can't wait to go back!

TT's Tomato Pot

Gracie picked out a tomato plant for TT on the first weekend we were here. We needed to buy a pot for it, so we decided to buy a plain pot and paint it together. The pot turned out great and will be a perfect reminder to TT of how much we love and miss her.

Each one of us stamped the pot with our handprints. Gracie and Nate did the rest of the work, decorating and drawing pictures. TT will send pictures to us of the tomato plant in the pot soon.

Life is Good enjoy the Little Things

We spent the morning eating Dunkin Donut's (Mikey got them for us) and watching the baby birds in the nest outside of my sisters window as their Mama fed them. Each time the babies would pop their heads out of the nest the kids would get soooo excited.  

Today was our shopping and packing day. TT had a few things that she needed to pick up for the week, so the kids and I joined her this moring while she ran errands.  

Gracie and Milly ready to go shopping!

This afternoon Mikey offered to watch the kids for us while Shannon took me to her favorite store, MainStreet in Huntington. Shannon and I love boutiques (we get our fetish for boutiqes from our Mom), and this may now be my favorite store too!

My sister bought this pillow for me. I love it. 

The saying means so much to me because I really do try to appreciate the little things... espcially my little girl and little boy. Thank you Sister, it's already on my bed.

I also purchased a frame for myself at the store. I love it too...

That's Nate in my big pregnant belly and Gracie just before she turned three!

It says.....

Before you were conceived 

I wanted you.

Before you were born

I loved you!

It was a gift to spend time alone with Shannon even if for just a little while. We giggled, had uninterrupted conversation (for the first time in 2 weeks) and dreamed of a future trip to the spa together.

I love you Shannon. Let's set the date soon for when we will see each other again ~ having a date makes the time go by faster.

Mikey and Gracie cuddle and share popcorn together one last time before we leave in the morning.

When we arrived back home the kids were happy.  Mikey had taken them to buy ice cream from the ice cream man when his truck came through the neighborhood. We don't have Ice Cream Trucks in our neighborhood so this was a big deal.  

Magical Fireflies

The last two nights of our vacation included the magical arrival of Fireflies!!!  The last time I saw fireflies was 11 years ago at our wedding and honeymoon in Tennessee.  The kids had only heard of them in stories, so seeing them was truly magic.

Uncle Mike teaching Gracie how to catch the fireflies.

Magic

TT, Gracie and I just sat and watched them.  There were so many fireflies that it was like watching a fireworks show in the backyard.

Mikey's Dad asked Gracie tonight why she wasn't getting bit by the mosquitos when she was out hunting for fireflies.  She said, "Oh, well I just tell them that I'm from the desert and they don't bite me."  He then asked her why the fireflies lit up.  She replied, "because they've been sprinkled with fairy dust."

Barbeque, Baseball and Swimming

It was a perfect lazy Saturday.  We spent the day at Mikey-Mike's parents house in their beautiful backyard.

Chef Mikey-Mike

Gracie and her "boat"

Imagine mowing this lawn...  the front yard is just as big.  Nathan loved it and was Uncle Mikey's naked helper all day.

Flying

Sunset in the backyard.

Gracie continues to improve on her batting.  She hit's 3 out of 5 balls pitched to her.

Carriage Ride, Picnic, Sailing and Exploring

We decided that the perfect way to spend our final day in the Big Apple would be at our favorite place... Central Park.

We said goodbye to the city with a carriage ride.

Cuddling in the Carriage.

We picnicked under giant trees and skyscrapers.

At the conservatory water we rented a sailboat.

Gracie teaching Nathan how to use the sailboats remote control.

Alice and Gracie

The bronze Alice in Wonderland Sculpture is beautiful.  It was installed in the park in 1959.  Children climb all over it every day.  It was dedicated to the park by a man in memory of his late wife who "loved all children."

Nathan found an alligator hidden underneath.

From Belvedere Castle we had a great view of the great lawn and turtle pond.  Gracie told Nate and I that the Princess of the City lives in the castle.

Start spreading the news 

We're leaving today 

If we could make it here 

We'll make it anywhere

It's up to you, New York, New York!

 Thank you Gracie and Nathan for the wonderful vacation!

Mommy will never forget.

I love you.

Our last night in the Big Apple!

After we finished playing at the park, we decided to take a walk around the neighborhood and enjoy the terrific weather.  Imagine our surprise when we saw this.... 

"Piano Man" wheeled his piano down the street, parked it next to a fountain in the middle of Father Demo Square and was singing and playing music.

It was the perfect ending to our week in the city.

It didn't take long before Gracie was twirling and swirling to the music.

Cupcakes and Bleecker Street Playground

A visit to New York would not be complete without a visit to Magnolia Bakery.  One of my sisters favorite places in The Big Apple!

Waiting in line for the world famous cupcakes.

Delicious!

We picked one of every flavor.

We took our cupcakes to the Bleecker Street Playground where we played and ate the yummy sweet treats.

Nathan's favorite thing at the park was playing on this ramp.  His sister would help him push his bike to the top of the ramp over and over again and then would fly down the ramp.