(Backup) NYC family vacation

I wanted to take the kids to New York City for several days for a family vacation for years. The kids really have enjoyed our trips up there over the years. The trips are usually very short though. Each time I go to the city I see something new that I want to show the children. Finally, we scheduled one for the summer. I’ve just settled into bed upon return from our trip. We were gone for six days and five nights. I am exhausted. I also believe the children mostly had fun.

 I have asked them what they enjoy the most. It seems the children museums were the hits - staten Island children’s museum, children’s art museum of New York, and the MTA museum. We made sure to make time to plan a playground every day while we were gone. They enjoyed that time as well. They told me the playgrounds got better as the week progressed. I guess we did a better job of looking for playgrounds that were impressive as time went on.

There’s so much to see in New York City. I planned each day quite full. We only were able to do some of the things. We did make it to four of the five boroughs and to Roosevelt Island. The kids enjoyed all types of transportation except a plane on this trip. We even took Amtrak to and from the city. Clair was very excited to be taking the train this time.

They very much look forward to returning to Dylan’s candy shop. We took them there on the last trip and it was very memorable for them.

We also introduce them to what happened on 9- 11. We took them by the new World Trade Center and the reflecting pool. We also went to the FDNY museum which has an exhibit focused on the story of 9-11and a 353 firefighters who lost their lives that day. Ellie seem to really take it in the most when she saw a makeshift memorial that somebody had created on the reflection pool. 

The hardest thing for Ellie was definitely seeing all the homeless people. She had a breakdown on the third night. She didn’t understand why there were so many homeless people and how her father and I could be so cold as to not solve the problem. Ellie took $20 with her to New York City. She didn’t use that money to buy anything for herself. Instead she use that money to donate to people who were begging for money on the street. In one case she gave five dollars to a street musician in Central Park that was there to entertain the children.

We enjoyed getting to see my cousin Karlye and her little boy are a little. It’s the first time I’ve ever met our love. It was nice to see them.

The food highlight for the kids was definitely the huge Sundays they got a black tap yesterday. They were magnificent. I enjoyed tasting all three of them and helping the children enjoy them. We didn’t have any amazing food. But we also had a lot of pretty decent food. I always enjoy how easy access good food is in New York City. I ended up feeding the kids movies quite frequently as it was a good way to get protein and fiber into them. I always love how convenient the city is, but the prices fell extortionate during this trip. I think it’s time I take a trip there I’m further from getting to retire there.

Clair did say several times that she was ready to move there. I told her that she could go to medical school in New York City and enjoy living there at that point in her life. She got very excited about solution.

Max took it all in. He really does hate walking. Ellie enjoyed watching her step counter go up over the past five days each day. Max really looked forward to those moments when he could find a seat. I don’t think he’s a city boy. However, it was most impressive to watch him make friends at the playground. Twice he found a group of boys that he jumped right in and started playing with.

David got to catch up with a couple friends. I got to enjoy feeling a little bit of confidence as I paraded my kids around New York City alone and kept them safe. It would be really hard to raise kids the way I want to raise them living in New York City.

By the time we got back to Baltimore I was ready to be home with the kids in their familiar environment where they could be free and just enjoy doing whatever they want and having some downtime. Everyone is tucked into their own beds and hopefully having a good night sleep. Lady Grey missed is terribly and I snuggling at my feet.

It’s hard to pick just a couple pictures to put into the block. Here are a few.

A very nice long weekend

I don’t feel like I’m always good at taking time out around here at home just enjoy being with the kids. I will admit that I absolutely love long weekends because it means it’s an opportunity to catch up on housework and projects. This weekend I think we did a good job of mixing task accomplishment with enjoying family time. I’m proud of this.

Saturday we managed to do a lot of gardening after a trip to buy more flowers. While we put the flowers in the ground, we set up the slip and slide in a little baby pool for the kids to enjoy. We don’t do this often and we all enjoyed some time outside getting things done. We took time to stop and have Popsicles together. After a nice afternoon we enjoyed dinner at the house and went out for snowballs, the first of the season.

Send a David worked most of the day, and the kids and I hung out in the house. I caught up on laundry and some cleaning. I also have been getting help from the children on chores, and I feel good about this. We read stories and played games. Then we went to visit Robert, Colleen, Peter and baby Luca late me afternoon before meeting David for dinner and doing the shopping. I really loved watching my kids play with Peter and seeing how gentle they were with the baby. In the midst of all the crazy day in and day out, it seems that kindness and love are winning yogurt. They are gentle with the little ones and they really do take time to enjoy them. This makes my heart feel good. I also love getting a chance to see Robert and his family as it grows. It’s so great kept in touch.

Monday, we decided to visit Cunningham Falls State Park. We took the short hike up to the Falls. It was the first time we braved this since Max was one. All three kids walked all the way up and back, and I think they enjoyed it. Clear title that her first trip in the woods. She was fully sure about it all because of all the talk of snakes. Max is currently obsessed with snakes. In the afternoon we hung out at the house. After lunch, introduced Ellie to several patriotic country music songs. I’m not sure if she was just happy to be watching music videos or really is taking some of it in. I sat at the table in tears watching the videos about songs of soldiers who lost their lives. Memorial day is a nice long weekend, and I hope that I haven’t been complacent and insuring my children understand the value of our military and our freedom’s. 

Ellie made chocolate chip cookies for Peter‘s party. Max and David finish putting up a fence around our vegetable garden in hopes of keeping the bunnies from eating our plants any further. Claire played in route Peter a book about shapes. I did some quick shopping and then we joined Peter and his family to celebrate his second birthday at the local park. We had a lovely evening. I love getting to catch up with the P family anytime. It’s exciting watching it grow.  

Tomorrow we start a new journey. Tomorrow is our first day without for Sarah. She took care of the kids for seven years. I will really miss her and all the help she gave me feeling good about working in knowing the kids were in good care. But tomorrow is a new journey, and the kids are excited about Michaela coming.  I was worried clear would not be able to handle Miss Sarah’s departure. Seems that she’s doing OK so far, and I’m pleased with that. I don’t want her to be sad. I want her to see all the exciting adventures ahead. We will definitely try to keep in touch. 

(Backup) Reflections because my baby turns 5 when I wake up

Clair has been so very excited about this birthday. She just cannot wait to turn 5. It is a big deal to her. She’s been counting down the number of days for months, literally at least since it was 38 days away and I think many more. 

I have been telling her I wasn’t going to let her turn five. She was going to do four again so she could stay home with me and give me snuggles and keep me company all day. She was always very good natured about this joke. I think he consistently came up with a new good valid reason why that wouldn’t work but she would give me more snuggles everyday anyway. 

The running statement has been, “Mommy is X days you are going to have a five year old running around the house!”

Tonight when I put her to bed we took a few minutes to rock. My babies are growing and I don’t get the pleasure of rocking them to bed, cuddling and sniffing their clean heads as they lay against my chest each night anymore. During those years I knew i would miss it, yet there were nights I was so rushed I couldn’t stop to enjoy it. Today another milestone of my life and my parenting journey passes. When we wake up we will have a big kid on our hands. I know it’s just another day. But as I see almost 11 years of parenting as a lifetime journey of exhaustion, love and business continuing to fly by, I just wanted to take a few moments to reflect on the feeling of loss during another amazingly full and busy day. 

Clair had her big party today at Pump it up. She loves it. It was everything she wanted it to be. She had it planned. She loved every minute. She was a perfect little host. She really took it all in! I’m so greatful for those friends and family who were there for her today. 

After she went to bed I set out to decorate the house for her all day party on her real birthday. I hope it meets her expectations. I was at it for about an hour. Presents are under the tree. The children are all asleep. My work project that was late is now in my bosses email in box. I will lay down exhausted and try to remember each of my babies when I could rock them to sleep and let them snuggle in on my chest while they slept. Those days, those cuddles, they were my life goals. I love watching them grow. I do. I just miss those lovely baby snuggles. From the day Ellie was born I have not been able to snuggle another baby they way I did mine. It just felt different. I must have held 100s of babies growing up. I loved babysitting and helping others with their children. But something changed the day Ellie was born and I have never looked back. It’s like I was born again, differently, a mother. It is the best job I have and will ever have. 

For the love of snuggles

Clair loves to snuggle. I’ve always talked about wanting a smuggler in my family - David doesn’t snuggle, Ellie doesn’t snuggle, Max doesn’t snuggle. But somehow, Clair collected an oversized mega love of snuggling with me! I am so lucky. I love her snuggles very much. 

Sometimes I can not stay and snuggle as long as she wants. In those moments when I have to push her off me because encouragement to end the snuggles hasn’t worked, I say a little prayer that when I’m older and she’s older I can remember how wonderful it feels to hold her little body on mine while she hugs me. Her soft little skin, warm arms, fluffy fresh smelling hair, and lovely giggles or stories are the best. 

If she’s not pinning me down then she’s snuggled into my right armpit with her arms on my chest, head on me and often one leg thrown over me as well. We will talk, giggle, kiss, and she will always tell me many times that I have the best snuggles. 

Usually we are chatting. She tells me stories or asks me questions. She is in control and I just soak it up as long as I can. 

This girl is such a light for me in so many ways. This is one of those ways I’ve never experience. I know it will be a short matter of time before these cuddles become less frequent, less appreciated and fade. Today I said to Clair when she was laying on my chest that I hoped that when I’m older and she doesn’t snuggle me anymore that I will always remember this moment. My girl looked at me and instantly started crying at the thought of not snuggling me anymore. I quickly told her that I will snuggle her as long as she wants. That I am her mommy and I will always appreciate her snuggles. Her frown turned upside down as she told me good because I will always snuggle you. 

Date with Max

Last night was my chance to spend an evening with Max. He and I don’t get to have date night enough. We both enjoy it. I love that Max knows it’s special. He really looks forward to it and puts thought into it. 

Last nights agenda included a shopping trip to Walmart to spend a gift card, dinner at Chick Fil Et, and playtime at Adventure Park. 

We really had a nice time together. I especially enjoyed playing the games with him at adventure park. We played air hockey along with several arcade rocket based games. It was fun when we teamed up on Down The Clown. He’s such great company and really enjoys celebrating successes.