Day One - NYC

After successfully landing in NYC at JFK airport, we awaited the driver Megs had arranged for us. After several attempts to find us, the blue van #656 gathered us and all the luggage up and delivered us safely to 1425 York Avenue....Meg's and Chris' small NYC apartment (pics and video to follow tomorrow). We hung out with Megs for awhile, then we ordered some yummy breakfast from a local diner. Emma took a nap and then Angel followed suit. Megs decided to run me around the local city to several of her stores and stops. I was trusting her with my life as I followed her around this bustling city and held my breath every time we crossed the street with all the crazy cars coming at us. JAY WALKING doesn't matter here!! Then I went with her to her doctor's appointment where she had her first ULTRASOUND of BABY STURHAHN!! Her HCG levels are still very low so all we could see was a little "bubble" where the sac is forming and the endometrium thickening up. She goes next week for another ultrasound and they hope to see the heart rate then. It was a special moment to share. Megs and I then decided that we needed to go get a pedicure so that our feet would look marvelous walking to the park in our flip flops in the warm weather (I now have blisters between my toes from walking in flip flops!). We saw where Meg's old apartment was and went to a local park named, Carl Schultz Park. Angel had a blast playing, sliding, seeing the dog park and getting some fresh air. We enjoyed our walk home and ordered some Turkish food for dinner...yummy!! I gave Megs her birthday present finally (a family holiday cookbook I made her), we watched some home movies and then baths and to bed!! What a fun day to spend together.....can't wait until tomorrow!! Had to post some good pics....but the slide show has ALL of them...too many good ones to list here....so check the slide show out!!

DELTA Disaster

Well, we are FINALLY here in NYC!! And right now sitting in my sister's very small but CUTE NY apartment...getting ready to go to the park. But....more info and pics to post about day one later...first let me tell you about our flight experience. When we headed out to the airport with all our luggage (and yes we have a lot....bad packers I guess) I knew we would have lots of fun stories to tell just by traveling for the first time with kids and two under two!! But what I DIDN'T expect was what we did experience. After a long line at security (where Angel was very confused why we had to take off her shoes), we made it onto the flight and settle onto a long red eye flight ahead....there wasn't an empty seat on the plane. About two hours into the flight (after changing pee pee outfits and diapers and getting kiddies to sleep)...the flight attendant came over to tell us that she was going to have to separate us because two small children could not sit next to each other on our laps due to lack of oxygen supply in case of emergency!! We couldn't believe it...to make a long story short and AFTER lots of stern questioning from my husband....we had to wake up our girls and others around us to be moved several rows up and separated in the aisle seats. I was tired and upset....was angry that this was even an issue after we had booked the tickets with them knowing this and they waited so long in the flight to move us. So after too much arguing and some tears...we decided to try and "rest" and just get through the flight.....a very long, warm and tiring flight....but we safely made it to NYC and to family and I guess that is the most important thing....right?? Although, I have a feeling DELTA will be hearing from my hubby.....I am not looking forward to the rest of our flights being "separated!"

Happy Birthday!

Today is our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, birthday!!! How blessed we are to have him in our country on his special day!! If you go to http://www.pope2008.com/ you can get all the latest news and pics from his visit...and you can watch LIVE the EWTN footage of the trip...which I just found out about!!! How exciting....unfortunately I have things like PACKING to do or I would be glued to the computer screen. I also can't believe we arrive at JFK airport 730am Friday and the Pope comes in two hours later!! If I had known months ago that we would be in the same city the same weekend as our Holy Father, I would have tried to get tickets to see him. It looks like he is going to drive down 5th avenue on Saturday to 72nd street (where my sister's apartment used to be) so we may try and see if we can catch a glimpse or a BLESSING from him....amazing man and leader...his words and messages are so powerful!! I believe it was also three years ago today that he found out he was chosen to be the leader of the church...prayers to Pope Benedict on his birthday!!

Christmas Baby

Well....congrats to my sis, Megs and Chris...they are EXPECTING...due probably around Christmas...will keep you posted!! I get to go to her first appointment with her in NYC this Friday since we will be there!!

Angel or Emma??

Sharing outfits already!

Graduated...

Emma finally made it from the sink to the big tub!! She also turned over from her back to tummy this weekend and talked (ok...cooed...loudly!) for about the first 15 minutes of mass today. Our "baby" is getting so big!

Sundays are Special Times

We are so blessed to live close to family. Sundays is definetly a day for Church and family. After mass today we hung out at Marmee and Poppy's all day because Caitlin was home and finally was able to show us pictures and tell us all about her trip to Holland and Belgium where she got to meet our family. It was lots of fun. We always have Sunday dinners together and I am so thankful that my girls will have such special memories of these special Sundays with their family to cherish and remember. There definetly is...no place like HOME!!!

Angel with her clog slippers from Holland.

A little Aunt Caitlin love.

Putting Caitlin to work changing the little one's diaper...

...while she is at it, might as well do the big one too!

PopPop and his great-granddaughters

I love how she is holding his finger and chewing hers!

Yup, another Hanna dress...

Soccer Saturday!!

Saturday we went to watch Caitlin play soccer against and at Seattle University...and Concordia won...1-0!! Caitlin had an awesome game even though she got quite beat up!! Caitlin...remember to take the Motrin!! It was almost 80 degrees and the girls loved it!! It was Emma's first soccer game, but I am sure there are many more to come!!

Angel enjoying her popcorn on the ferry...

...and hanging out with Poppy.

Caitlin's biggest fans!!
Eating Poppy's ice!!

Loved watching her Aunt Caitlin kick the ball!

Wanting to sit all by herself!

Emma trying to figure out this soccer stuff.

Getting a little fussy...

Time to take a snooze!

Friday Night Fun

We enjoyed time at Marmee and Poppy's Friday night...and enjoyed the sunshine. Angel colored with her sidewalk chalk...gotta love the heart person with the hat!

Happy 57th Anniversary!!

Happy Anniversary Meme and Pepe!! 57 years and still going strong!! We wish we could celebrate with you...and glad Pepe got to come home today!! We love you!

Prayers for Pepe

Please keep my grandfather, Pepe, in your prayers. He went in for oral surgery yesterday and while that was being done he has a mild heart attack. The strong man he is, he went ahead and finished the oral surgery and then went to the ER. They did some blood work and think that is what happened. He is still in the hospital, probably until tomorrow. They are running several more tests to see if there are clogged arteries anywhere that would entail open heart surgery. If not, then they will most likely be doing heart surgery to fix a valve they knew needed some work...so we will keep you posted and thanks for your prayers. Wish we were closer to give him hugs, kisses and moral support. We love you Pepe!!

Ready or not...

Next Thursday we take our first airplane trip with the girls. We are heading to NYC first to visit my newly married sis and then continue to VA to visit with Jason's family, meet some nieces and nephews for the first time and let the girls meet all their cousins and family!! So....if anyone has any travel advice or tips for airplane rides for two kids under two...we would appreciate it!! Thanks to those that have already given me good ones. I am hoping the poor person who sits next to us can find an empty seat somewhere!!

Outfits and Hair Styles

Just because I felt like wearing hat and mittens in the house

In an outfit Marmee made for Aunt Caitlin...tried to find pics of her or Aunt Alli wearing it to compare...

Gotta love the pigtails!
Her big sister shirt...which she demands is a pic of she and Emma
First real ponytail!!

Recipes to Share

In lieu of my Menu Plan Monday posts (which I am determined to get organized in doing again...maybe after our trip to VA) I wanted to share some of the yummy recipes from last week...enjoy!

Tuna Casserole

Chicken Enchiladas

Whiskey Cake (click on pic)

Worthy Reads...

Vietnam Man Runs 'Abortion Orphanage'

IN HEALTH MATTERS, ASK HOLY SPIRIT AND EAT WHAT IS CLOSEST TO WAY HE MADE IT (this is VERY interesting...)

and I love this post and all the comments it has gotten... Touching on Parenting Philosophies with a Ten Foot Pole

Happy Birthday Daniel!!

Our nephew turns 8 today!! Can't wait to see you in a couple weeks!

A budding pianist...

...I laughed...every time I would tell her to sing louder she would just raise her voice an octave in pitch, not volume. This is her new past time...especially when mommy is cooking.

Worth a watch...

We watched the movie The Game Plan last weekend. It is a very simple, funny and cute flick. Even my hubby enjoyed...maybe because "The Rock" starred in it or possibly because the father-daughter relationship in the film was so endearing. Also gave us lots of things to "look forward to!"

A Recommended Read

Just finished this and found it fabulous...a good read for all parents and just those who are interested...(click on)