New York, New York

Oh how we love the big city life!!! Scot and I celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary in the Big Apple. Five days of just the two of us…….bittersweet, we were nervous and sad leaving our lil’ guy, as we had never been separated this long before.  Landon was in the best hands with my mom, his Ga-a, and they had a hefty, chock full of fun itinerary planned.

The instant we stepped into the airport we were so excited.  A double Bloody Mary and Mimosa by 6:45 am and vacation had begun!!  Manhattan here we come!  Toting the camera everywhere, but photos were few.  Our third time there, we had no desire to grab the touristy pictures of well known sites, just anything new.  Scot and I had the ultimate blast, eating and drinking our way through NYC, walking miles upon miles exploring new and old areas to us into all hours of the night, we splashed through  puddles on the empty streets during a heavy down pour as people pointed and smiled at us acting as kids, got a visit from my brother, sister in law, and niece, and overall had not a care in the world!!!  We stayed at The Manhattan Club in the Theatre District, a perfect location, across from Carnegie Hall, a five minute walk to Central Park or Time Square.  The weather fluctuated between hot and humid to chilly and rainy…..sunshine or not, nothing would keep us inside. 

After stepping off the plane, we were starving.  Not even changing our clothes or unpacking after checking in, we left our room to explore our area.  Settling on French food, we made reservations at Cognac, quickly changed and started our food excursion and self tour of NYC.

Eataly (www.eatalyny.com), the most incredible find and was our favorite stop as soon as we entered.  Their manifesto, “We sell what we cook, and cook what we sell”.  Eataly, a substantial market of decadent foods, that beyond surpasses an AJ’s with several restaurants. Scot and I roamed each aisle appreciating the delicious sells, then ate and sipped wine at the standing tables.  This was by far, my favorite place in NYC……a foodie’s paradise, which we are.

Eataly has several partners, one of which is Mario Batali, Scot’s favorite Food Network chef. 

 

Beekman Beer Garden Beach Club was an accidental and amazing find on Pier 17, as we stumbled upon the fake stretch of beach overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge.  With chilled cocktails in hand and sand between the toes, the hustle and bustle of the city streets is easily forgotten.

Celebrating our anniversary, reservations made over a month ago at Mesa Grill, a restaurant by my favorite chef, Bobby Flay.  Cocktails at the bar, then dined on Bobby’s savory Southwestern cuisine.  The flavors in our dishes were remarkable and Mesa Grill became another fast favorite!

 

Craving Eataly again, we had to go back for more wine and prosciutto. 

 

Roaming “The Village”, we landed at Favela Cubane, a local Cuban cuisine hotspot spot, with live Cuban music, and of course, delectable foods and drinks.

Scot enjoyed a Jalapeño infused Tequila cocktail and I, a classic mojito, as we snacked on fried plantains and chatted with our server on life in “The Village”.

 

Melissa, Vince, and Chloe paid us a visit from Connecticut.  We took Chloe to play at Central Park, FAO Schwartz, then enjoyed some down time catching up. 

Scot and I enjoyed every minute of each day, not skipping a beat for how we used to travel!  We brought home so many memories, inside jokes, and recommendations for NY dining, and considered even moving back east.

Landon had a great time with Ga-a, with only one day when he was sad talking on the phone to us. Ga-a and he made their own memories with their special time together.  She catalogued their days and fun stories for us.  Thank you Mom, for all you did!!  We love you!

Happy Anniversary to us, 10 years and counting!!

Here comes the bride….

My sweet sister, Jenna, is officially tying the knot next July.  Her groom is in the Marines and is scheduled to be home next year.  Fortunately, Jenna has been able to put forth tons of energy and keep busy with planning their big day.  The girls got together for the most important detail……THE DRESS!!!   An appointment made at Suzanne’s Bridal Boutique with plenty of seating for the bride’s entourage.  Champagne, score cards to rate the dresses, tiaras, girl talk and laughter completed our afternoon. 

1st task of my Matron of Honor duties, pour the bride her champagne. Jenna, the bride, Brittany, the groom’s sister, her daughter Emma, and Jeri Barmore, bride’s grandmother.

Waiting anxiously for the bridal gown fashion show!!

My mom and I

Beach Party Slumber

 

Over Easter weekend Landon’s jungle themed room got a little “big boy” makeover.  Not wanting to rid of his palm tree mural, we went with a beach theme….."Beach  party”, as Landon refers to him room.  He hand selected all the new room accessories and green and blue bedding for his new full size bed.  The final piece to be ordered is a surf board and Landon’s photos on the beach.  He room is so massive,  with  so much wall space, its taking some time to complete our new design. 

Homemade Eruption

Recently, Landon has been interested in volcanoes. We have been researching  and watching videos of volcanic eruptions.  He is fascinated with them!! I found an easy at home volcano recipe, sans the plaster of paris and hour and hours of drying time.  Lan and I had such a great time erupting the mini volcano over and over.  Just the beginning, I imagine, of our at home science experiments!!

Aspiring Thespian

Do we have a budding actor/performer on our hands?  We are always shocked and awestruck with the levels of Landon’s imagination with play and pranks(this week he “booby trapped” the laundry room for when I walked in from work with the dog leash strung and tied to where I couldn't walk through).  Landon has many roles he loves to play: fire man, pirate, “army guy”, doctor, dentist, the list goes on and on.  We joke about his dramatic descriptions of occurrences and overly enjoys being center of attention with everyone looking at him.  He has more facial expressions than Jim Carrey, and most recently doing voices pretending to me mom with a high pitch voice, and dad with his low pitch.  To add to all that, Landon has taught himself to talk with his mouth closed…toddler ventriloquist perhaps.

Ready for my close up!

These pics are just too adorable too not to show off!

Friday, Landon had his assessment and observation day at the private school we have had our eye on.  What does this entail?  The assessment and observation occurs in the classroom where he joins into the day’s curriculum.  He is paired with an outgoing child to assist in his transition.  During the class one of his two teachers will sit down with him to perform an assessment of his “skills”.  The day prior to going to the school, his teacher, Miss Downing, called to give me my mommy pep talk and reassurance that Landon is going to have a wonderful day and they will take amazing care of him.  Landon was thrilled to be heading off to school, as soon as he woke up he was eager to go.  With his lunch box (he picked it out, “red like a fire truck”) filled with the best assorted snack and lunch items (Scot and I are determined he be the kid with the best lunch) and a fire truck for show-and-tell, I had to snap a photo of his adorable-ness.  Lan lined up his school items and posed himself, then would come to view it on the camera screen, and pose himself again for another snapshot!   He was ecstatic when we arrived, a quick hug and kiss for mom and he was off playing with his new friends.  Anxious to pick him up and see how his day went, I arrived a little early, peeking my head in the window, I could see the kids sitting in a circle and singing the Rainbow song.  Both teachers looked over at me with a big smile and a thumbs up, mouthing “he did great”.  The finale of class, the parents got to come in and join into Animal Day, a working dog, tortoise, crab, and lizard, where brought in for the kids to see, pet, and learn about.  To sum it up, Landon had an amazing day, his teachers were impressive, and Landon was officially accepted into preschool!  Harvard here we come!

 

Easter Eggstravaganza

Easter weekend:  visit from Aunt Bella…his partner in crime, brunch at our house with the fam, egg hunts, baskets overflowing with treats, and a new bike compliments of the Easter Bunny!! I love this time of year!

        

Goodnight Moon

Fun Finds of Our Day

Find #1: Landon and I happened to find the Town and Country farmer’s market yesterday when we stopped to shop at Trader Joes.  Lan was just as excited as I was to shop the organic produce, holding back not to eat the colorful, delicious finds.  As we loaded up on our produce treasures, all Landon could talk about was eating “delicious carrots like the Easter Bunny”. 

 

Find #2:  Trader Joes grocery shopping, always a favorite of Landon’s and mine.  Pushing his “teeny tiny shopping cart” (as he calls it), we always have to head to the sample counter to see what is on the menu.  Item of the day:  Thai Beef.  Two small servings into it and Landon’s response, “Mom, we gotta buy this”.   I have to share this recipe, it was a hit at last night’s dinner.  Love finding new, simple recipes!

1 ½ lb cubed sirloin

1 cup low fat coconut milk

1 cup Thai red curry sauce

Organic Jasmine rice

Organic Stir fry vegetable

In a crock-pot, combine sirloin and sauces. Cook on high heat for approximately 6 hours. Add vegetables to crock-pot 30 minutes before serving. Serve over rice.

Find  #3:  The introduction to a new crafty blog has my creative spirit going. I scanned the site and fell upon a few ideas.  Let me preface by saying,  I do not have much of the creative gene, but I think these moss covered letters turned out pretty good! What do you think? 

Happy 34th!!

My sweet hubby turned the big 3-4 yesterday and I just need to take a minute (and a post) to dedicate to just him!  Friday I surprised him with small birthday bash, family, close friends, and an abundance of Mexican food.  Saturday, relaxation day, which is a rare treat. Hanging by the pool, massages, and sushi.  Thinking I would be working all day for his actual birthday, we didn’t have any plans set.  Fortunately, I sent myself home early, was home by noon, and spent the day with my boys. I prepared a feast for dinner, while Scot and Landon could just enjoy playing outside together, without interruptions.  A wonderful couple of days celebrating….just what he  wanted!

Scot, the love of my life, married for almost 10 years and have known him for almost 17!  The years are steadily aging us together from when we met, when I was 15 and you, 17, but we are doing it together,every step of the way! Through all of life’s crazy curve basll, you have been our rock!  You have pushed me into so many amazing experiences that I was too hesitate to take and opened my eyes to beautiful new avenues that were waiting for me to explore.  Life with you is the true meaning of love! You are kind and giving, peaceful and energetic, crazy and sane….you are the other half of me!  Happy Birthday, babe!  I love you!

Combat Logistics Battalion 6

Combat Logistics Battalion 6, Marine Company Brandon Tucker……aka Uncle Tuck to us.  My brother in law was deployed this week.  His expected time away is 400 days.  First, short stop is in North Carolina, until he gets the call to leave immediately to Afghanistan.  Our thoughts and prayers are with you Tucker, as you are serving our country!

   

Landon just adores his Uncle Tuck!!!

A “see you soon” dinner at Baby Kays, followed by cigars for the boys!!

Tucker and his new bride and my sister, Jenna!!

Nothing can stop her!!

86 years old and our Nannie still knows how to keep the fun going!  My Nannie and Aunt Holly were in town for a much needed visit.  The first day after their long car trip here and Nannie is out playing soccer with her great-grandson!  Nannie is our cherished grandmother, she is “our rock”, an amazing, inspirational woman, that has a heart made of gold and a heavenly soul. When I was younger, my brothers and I joked that Nannie can do anything….she has special powers and skills that would allow her to be our super hero!   I am very close to her, as she is with all her grandchildren, and I am so thrilled that she takes so much time to travel here to be us and, more importantly,  with Landon.  

Dad and Lan days finally recorded

I am always telling Scot to bring the camera on he and Lando’s adventures together.  Scot and Landon spend every Sunday through Tuesday together, doing the guy-thing, when I work.  Scot is an amazing Dad, never a dull moment.  They are  “regulars” at Peter Piper Pizza, the train park, and Landon’s favorite, the reptile store.  Our boy has taken a small, recent liking to snakes.  Scot and he spent the  day at the zoo, specifically to see the snakes……yuck.  Camera finally in hand to record their fun for me. 

 

The Z’s

Back blogging, but these photos are some of my favs.  An unexpected Sunday off, found us with a chill family day.  Breakfast, lounging, and dinner at Scot’s parent’s house.  Prior to me working every Sunday, we used to have dinner nearly each Sunday over at Mumzee and Pop’s house.  Homemade pasta, crazy stories, and lets not forget plenty of wine and limoncello.  The tradition came alive  again this Sunday, complete with some park time to work off our carb fest!

Happy Birthday, Papa Jimmy!

We celebrated Jimmy’s birthday last night at Baby Kay’s….you just can’t have Cajun cuisine without our Papa! We pulled off a surprise dinner with my mom, sister Jenna, her husband Uncle Tuck, as Lan refers to him, and Jimmy’s mom.  As always, our family time is so precious to us.  We are so fortunate to all be so close, share crazy stories and memories.  I am so thankful for my mom bringing Jim into our lives, as he is always there to to fulfill what we need in a moment’s notice……that pep talk that was needed, relationship advice, travel arrangement assistance, photography mentor, computer genius, basically a resource for any type of trivia, you name it, he knows it.  We love you!  Cheers to you and many, many, many more family birthday celebrations together!

“My Bella”

Landon’s, Aunt Bella, stayed Friday night with us. Landon refers to his aunt, as “my Bella’.  His first sleepover with Aunt Bella was so special.  These two just adore one another and at seven years apart, they are more like cousins, than aunt and nephew. We went to opening night of Rango……a movie must for kids and adults, played like crazy, and Landon showed off his moves at baseball practice to his Bella.

Hoping to get much more Bella time over spring break and summer!!!  We love you!

Hiking Buddy

There is very little we do without our Landon and he is always up for new adventures!  This week, Landon and packed up our backpack, leashed the dog, and off we went to Cave Creek Recreational Park to hike the trails.

Time passed so quickly as we walked, explored, enjoyed the beautiful weather and landscape.  Landon caught the attention of majority of the hikers, as the youngest hiker seen on the trails.  He was quick to introduce our dog, to everyone that stopped to meet my friendly toddler, and discuss how we were hiking to the top of the mountain! This is a definite addition to our weekly activities, while the weather is just perfect.