New York City

Forgive my delay in posting about our fabulous trip. Let's get down to business.

We went to the Letterman show last Thursday. We sat in the front row and were even on TV....for a split second. Of course I noticed the camera on me, so I very nerdly (is that a word?) waved. If you'd like to see our Letterman debut, come to my house. I have it TiVo'ed. I really wish the second picture turned out. I'm posting it anyways. All around the city there are these guys selling bus tours. (I highly recommend doing the tour if you are going to NYC. Great and cheap way to see everything, and since it's hop-on, hop-off, you can use it in lieu of a taxi.) Scott and I bought our tickets from these 2 Jamaican gentlemen. They learned it was my birthday and insisted on singing to me. Loudly. With lots of movement - if you know what I mean. It was great!

This is Ground Zero. We poked the camera through a hole in the fence to get this picture. After 6 years, this is all that's happened.

We are huge Office fans, so I had to get Scott in front of the Dunder Mifflin sign. I should have bought him a Dwight bobblehead.

This is the view from our hotel room on the 42nd floor. We stayed right in Times Square. Had to be in all the action.
This is me doing what I do best. It's been so long since I've shopped without kids...I loved it. Why Scott took a picture of me shopping, I'm not sure. Maybe to document what I spent. Yes, I bought almost everything in my arms....and then some. ;->

Perfect Angels....Or Devils??

Tomorrow we leave early a.m. to go to New York. I am so excited! We are dropping the kids off at Scott's parent's house in Maryland, going to a Philly playoff game with a college friend of mine (the Phillies might be playing the Padres that day, depending on if the Padres win tonite. Go Padres! We want to cheer you on in Philly!) (Ok, I know it's sad that I know this much about baseball.), then onto the Big Apple. We will sleep in (maybe, depending on Scott...he hates sleeping in and I love it), go shopping (that is NOT a maybe!), go see Wicked, and, mark your calendars, go to the Dave Letterman show on Oct. 4th. Everyone TiVo Dave that nite, and keep your eyes out for Scott and I. I'm so excited....getting tickets is quite the process involving answering a Dave trivia question. Good thing my aunt and uncle went last month...I asked my aunt what her trivia question was...and I basically got the same one. Whew! I love Dave, but he's on too late here. Maybe in a few years when sleep isn't such a precious commodity we'll watch him and Leno more often.

Hopefully the kids will be good for Barry and Linda. Soleil is (of course!) getting her first tooth now. She slept through the night last night; I'm hoping that becomes a habit. Caden loves his grandparents so I have no worries about him.

Ok, Jen just stopped by with vacay goodies. How cute is she?? Thank you! I will enjoy it all immensely!! You are too awesome, girl!

I know everyone gets on to see pictures, so I added a couple of the kids. I actually like these pictures of Caden and Soleil. They are looking at the camera and smiling, which as all you parents know, is a feat unto itself. The last picture is what I do not want to come back too. I know we are just starting the sibling rivalry/teasing/physical tortue stuff and we have years of it to come, but maybe the kids will miss us so much, they'll be perfect angels. At least for the 5 hour plane ride home? A girl can dream....

Alright. Enough rambling. I have to continue the all-day process of packing. I will leave you with this thought (directed at the San Diego Girlfriends): my 30th birthday is next week. When and where are we going to dinner? Discuss.....

Girls' Day Out

I got the best present from my husband and got to run away for a day with some girlfriends. Amy, Chanel and I went downtown on Saturday for some shopping, spa-ing, and lots of eating! We stayed at the ultra-hip W Hotel- so hip, in fact, that the lobby turned into a nightclub, much to our surprise. Good thing we were on the 17th floor so the bass thumping wasn't too loud! It was so nice to indulge ourselves. While I did miss my family, it was nice to have a break from the dirty diaper routine and get to enjoy some nice, leisurely meals with some great adult conversation. Can't wait to do it again! Thanks Chanel and Amy! And special thanks to Scott for taking over with the kids so I could go play! I love you, hunny!



Starting the day off at the W Hotel


Us out on the town
Pretty dinner at Laurel (gotta love Amy's hand position!)


Us in Laurel's lobby (gorgeous!), yummy desserts - without the hands

Are we ready for potty training??

Awhile ago, we bought Caden a little toilet for the impending journey known as potty training. I haven't been in any hurry to go there yet. I mean, Caden and Soleil are finally wearing the same size diapers! Anyways, we had the toilet, never used, in the guest bathroom, until we had guests stay. (This is the Bramwell Bed and Breakfast!) Being the wonderful host that I am, I tucked the still-pristine toilet away in Caden's closet. These poor guests don't want to stub their toe on the kid potty during a late-nite pee break, do they? Fast-forward to this morning. While Caden is getting dressed, he pulls out the toilet, asks to take off his diaper, and proceeds to pee into the toilet!!! I WAS SO EXCITED!!! (I know it's sad that a 2 year old's pee excites me so.) I didn't even mind that it was slightly weird that all this occurred in his bedroom. So I showed him how to wipe (little boys wipe after peeing, right? I seriously need a handbook!) and happily whisked the toilet away to sanitize and sterilize. Needless to say, this was a moment NOT to catch on film, but thought I would share anyways. Little boy underroos, here I come. Ok, moms of potty-trained kids.....how do I do this? I've heard of letting them walk around naked for a week (staying at home, obviously) while they figure this out. And buying tons of underwear and throwing them out when dirtied instead of trying to clean them. I need suggestions!!!

Go Big Blue!!

This is how I need to position myself for all photographs. Just my head showing. We went up to LA for the BYU v UCLA game. It was hot and the drive was long, but it was fun. That will be the last game we take the kids to for a long time. Caden LOVES to go to the Padres games, but this game didn't hold his attention like baseball. Maybe it's because we always have rockin' seats at the Padres, and as you can see, we were up the stadium a bit here, maybe he just likes baseball more than football (fine from my mommy perspective!), maybe it was just too hot. He and Soleil both squirmed the entire time. Well, at least I know to get a babysitter for next month's game in San Diego!

Eatin', swimmin' and boatin'...then back to reality

We just got back from our annual trip out east for Labor Day at Scott's family's lake house. So much fun, as always. Since we hadn't been back to HdG (Scott's hometown) in over a year and a half, we stopped there first for a couple of days. We hung out with Scott's best friend, Jason, and his family. Jason and Amy are so fun - and have the cutest 4 blonde girls you have ever seen. Their third girl, Caroline (in the purple shirt), is exactly Caden's age, so of course we've already started the matchmaking efforts. She is as white-blond as Caden....if they do end up together, their kids would have no chance of pigmentation! And how cute do their names go together too, Caden and Caroline. Just like Scott and Sunshine. Eww...that was too sugary sweet. Anyways, what do you do in Maryland in the summer? Eat crabs!! Or, if you are under 6, eat chicken nuggets.

Then it was onto North Carolina to the lake house for more good eatin', swimmin' and boatin'. (This is the South, folks, drop your g's.) Caden got to play with his cousins, Soleil got cooed over by everyone, I got to read a book, and Scott got to hang out with his family. I was fiddling around with the camera trying different setting with 3 of Scott's nieces - this was self-portrait. My arms aren't long enough to get everyone's faces in the frame. And the next picture is Scott and Caden on the pontoon boat with Grandma. Caden fell asleep about 30 seconds later. Scott's aunt is a FANTASTIC cook, so I now also have to lose the 5 pounds I gained there. And that is in addition to the my-baby-is-10-months-old-now-and-I-still-haven't-lost-that-weight weight. This is a sad admission, but it's my goal to not eat fast food for the month of September. I am totally addicted to french fries. Think I can do it? So far, so good. 6 days down, 24 to go. This morning was the first swim class I started with a couple of friends. Now I know I can't run a marathon. Heck, I have enough self-awareness to know I can't run a mile. (I HATE running!) But I've always considered myself a fairly strong swimmer. Until today. Jen and Tammy must have both lapped me 3 or 4 times. Excuses: because of the previously mentioned vacation, I missed the first 3 classes, so they are 3 classes stronger! I also forgot goggles and a swim cap, so my hair was in my face and my eyes were stinging! Lame excuses, I know. Jen and Tammy CAN both run marathons (and do!) so I know I've got my work cut out for me just to try and keep up with them. Hey, maybe I really will lose some weight before our big trip to NYC next month. That's right - Scott and I are going to the Big Apple next month for my 30 birthday!! (childless, of course!) I am so excited! We are staying in Times Square, going to see Wicked, and will for sure be dropping by the diamond district! ;-> So if anyone has suggestions on what to do/what not to do in NYC, I'd much appreciate them! Ok, Sunshine out!