Chillin' in the breeze

Blow. Blow.  Wipe. Wipe.

Yes, I actually dusted off my big girl camera this past week and snapped a few photos of the dumplings enjoying themselves at our favorite-y favorite park by the river.  Our move a few months ago makes it less convenient to venture there.  Add to that the big cul-de-sac and neighborhood kids, and we haven't spent a whole lotta time there this spring.  Well, I hope to change that these next few weeks.  I certainly can't predict how well re-entry to the U.S. will go this summer when we all return home from China with Havi. So I want to make sure the dumplings enjoy some days at the park while I'm completely cohoerent and functioning.

So last week, we did just that....enjoyed a beautiful day at the park.

Madeline enjoyed blowing her face dry as well as her hands after using the potty. And Caleb decided to photo bomb the shot.  That stinker!

Look at those furrowed, grouchy eyebrows.

Then she thought she'd pinch them for good measure.

Seriously, I love that park.  I love the oak trees and the gorgeous view of the river. No, I didn't snap any down by the river because I took these in the middle of the day.  But ya better believe we're gonna do our best to catch some sunsets down there this summer.

Well, this weekend we actually sneaked away as a familia to attend the wedding of the daughter of dear friends of ours.  I brought my big girl camera with me and snapped a bunch of shots during our trip to the beach and around the hotel, but I didn't bring it to the actual wedding.  I did, however, bring my iPhone, for which I am glad.  You'll have to wait until I get those photos uploaded and posted to hear about where the wedding was held.  It was pretty stinkin' cool if you ask me.  That's why I'm keeping mum until I actually share the photos.  And if you're my sister and you're reading this, zip your lips too! he he.

We went to the park

We love winters in Central Florida because they are so mild.  And this winter has been an exceptionally mild one indeed.  We usually hit up our favorite park by the river quite a bit, but because of our recent move, the dumplings have spent more time playing in the cul-de-sac than at the park.

So when I told them the other day that we were going to head to our favorite park, they lit up!  As we were driving along the river and the park was in sight, they gleefully exclaimed from the back of the van "We missed you!!!!"  Hilarious.  But true.

I always bring my camera to the park, ever since those photography classes I took last summer.  So snapping a few shots of the dumplings was to be expected.  What I wasn't expecting, however, was the early winter sunset.  I just forgot that it sets so early now.  So this was a total plus.

They chased dragon flies and rolled around on the ground while the heron on the dock posed for me.  Of course, when I wanted to snap them having fun, they were done.

I think we need to get back to the park some more.  Sorry new cul-de-sac.  I do love you, just not at this time of day.  I hear the river calling my name.

 

NYC: Family and Central Park

So our last full day in NYC was filled with family and fun, except for one major mishap.  Patrick's family took the train in from Connecticut.  Lydia was so excited to see her cousins, and the feeling was mutual.

Bammy was tickled to have all her grandkids under the same roof.  And of course, we were all so excited to see Bammy, Aunt Chele and Uncle John.  (Caleb could never say Michele when he first came home from China.  So we shortened her name, and it stuck.)

We made our obligatory trip to Rockefeller  Center to look at the tree.

Then we hailed a few cabs and made our way to Central Park.

A $4 bag of nuts (all 10 of them) was purchased and consumed before we stepped too far from the vendor. Gotta love NYC prices.  Oh well.

We wound our way through the park until we reached our destination: Wollman Rink.  We knew how anxious the kids were to ice skate, it being their first time and all.  What we didn't know was whether the outing would be a winner or end in tears.  I'm happy to report it was a winner!

Well, it was a winner for the most part.  Remember the mishap I've alluded to?  Well, we had quite a scary moment when all the skaters had to clear the ice for the zamboni.  Caleb had taken to ice skating so well that he managed to get too far ahead of me and Madeline (and Michele and Lydia.)  So when we I finally made it off the ice, we couldn't find him!  It seems that he got off at one point (the one Patrick was not waiting at for him), and they crossed paths.  Michele immediately went to the PA crew and had them make an announcement.  At the same time, John spotted Caleb walking back inside the skate rental.  So I raced over and grabbed him.  When he came off the ice and didn't see any of us, he headed inside to look for us.  A lady saw him crying (oh that part killed me) and said she would help him find us.  I still don't know how soon after the lady spoke to him that John spotted him outside.  At that point, I was just so thankful he was safe.  

Thankfully Bammy bought the kids some warm chocolate chip cookies to eat, and thankfully, the whole situation didn't keep Caleb from returning to the ice.

After another round of skating, we packed it up and made our way to Grand Central Station to say good-bye to Bammy, who had to leave early.

After I took the photo above, a kind lady offered to take the same photo but with me in it.

Since I had the shot set up, I willingly gave her my camera, thinking she should be able to take the same shot.  I should've known something like the shot above was going to happen when she initially held my camera out in front of her and tried to take the shot without looking through the viewfinder!  I kindly told her she would have to look through the viewfinder to take the shot, but at that point she had already pressed the shutter down part way and locked the focus on the background and not on us.  Oh well.  At least I'm in a shot, right?

The kids loved to climb all over the rocks.  So we let them.

Just look at that love between cousins!

Lots of hugs and kisses were given and received as we said good-bye to Bammy.  Then we walked back to the hotel from there while the boys went to John's Pizza (I think that's what it was called) to grab some pizza for us to eat back in the room.  The kids had a blast eating and playing while the grown ups enjoying chatting with each other.

The next morning, as we were packing up to head home, Caleb was playing on the bed when that wiggling, barely-hanging-on-there tooth of his finally decided to fall out!

After packing up, we made our way to the airport.

The kids had an absolute blast watching the planes take off.  Did you know that planes are kings, queens, princes, and princesses?  Well, they are!!! lol.

Well, while that might sum up our trip to NYC, I still have a TON of photos I want to share. And with Christmas around the corner, I better see to it that I share them because, no doubt, Christmas will mean a boatload of more images to share!  Hope you all enjoy a safe, fun pre-Christmas weekend!