Sweet Boy

I kind of think Micah is just the cutest boy around, second only to Shane.  He has this darling, robotic, deliberate way of speaking.  He also loves big words and uses them often. 

On Sunday as I was nursing Haven he shared this heaven sent message,

I fugot to tell you Mommy, Heavenwee Faver wuvs you.

In the morning when we open his shade and we tell him that the sun is shining he'll respond with:

Dat means da sun is awake!


Showing us his paper bag puppet made in Nursery:

I actually goo-ed it on myself (goo-ed=glued)

When I tell him daddy's coming home soon:


Ip Ip ooray...yipeee! (said in a high pitched girlie voice)


He loves to give us pats on the backs or little back rubs when we hold him.  He'll follow the pat/rub by saying, "She likes dat."  And sometimes when I'm really lucky he'll caress my face (SO cute!) and follow it with, "Mommy likes dat."

LIsten Up

Haven and I were just sitting folding laundry, listening to our Mellow Mix on iTunes and suddenly this song by The Civil Wars came on...it's too good not to share!

Day 5 in the Big Apple

Statue of Liberty

On Ellis Island

Am Egyptian tomb at the Met

A mummy!

An Egyptian statue

Outside the Met

Dear Sage,

Today was a busy busy day.  Kassie and I left her apartment at 8 AM, hopped on the subway and then boarded a ferry (boat) to Ellis Island.  On the way to the Island we passed the Statue of Liberty.  It was being renovated (fixed up) but normally you can walk all the way up into her crown and face!! It was a wet, gray day but we didn't mind.  Long ago, Ellis Island was where immigrants (people coming from other countries to live in America) had to stop before going on to New York City (or other places).  Kassie and I learned that 13 million people passed through Ellis Island.  We loved looking at all the photographs of the people from all over the world.  My other favorite sight were the baby shoes they saved from babies who had been through Ellis Island.  

Kassie had somewhere to eb for a few hours so Haven and I traveled alone to the Metropolitan Museum of Art (also known as the Met).  Haven and I were very tired by this point (it was about 3 PM) and from the point we arrived at the Met until we got home at 6 PM we experienced what Kass calls a typical NY day.

1) waited 20 minutes in the coat check line to check my heavy backpack

2) start walking into the gallery when a security guard stops me and informs me that I need a ticket.

3) go to get a ticket but oops remember I left my wallet in my backpack at the coat check.  One of the ladies takes pity on me and tells me I can pay on the way out.

4)We need to use the bathroom which the guard informs me is on the bottom level.  Walk downstairs, find the bathroom, use it.  Feed Haven then attempt to use the elevator.  It doesn't come 5 minutes later so I walk upstairs and get all turned around (it's a huge museum).  The I walk upstairs another gigantic flight of stairs and by that point I'm pooped and hardly even care when I see Monet (my favorite!).  I decide it's time to leave.

5) go outside and wait for bus.  I wait for 15 minutes wondering why the buses keep passing out stop.  I ask someone next to me and learn that I'm waiting at the tour bus stop.  We find the right bus stop and wait some more.

6) get on bus but bus doesn't go.  Everyone starts to get mad, driver finally goes and we're on our way.

7) Get off bus, it's dark, I feel unsure of where I am.

8) fall down while crossing street.  I fall on umbrella and break it  So now I get to walk the rest of the way home in the rain.  Lovely.

9) Get home at long last...tired, hungry and sick of the city.

I'm excited to come home and see you and Micah and dad and hug you and hear all about what you've been up to.  See you tonight.

xo Mom

Day 4: Walking

A grey day

 Cool. cool park called Highline....that's literally high above the park where an old El track used to be.

Oh what a cutie this Evan is

6 oz of gooey cookie goodness at Levain

The temple

Cops at Central Park

Dylan's Candy Bar....every candy under the sun

Tub o' gumballs

Two pros playing the piano at FAO Schwartz (Sage I triesd to get a video but it didn't work!!)-- it costs $250,000

Holy wreath! (please note the token menorahs)

Serendipity for dinner with Kassie's homey, Karley....long wait but well worth it for the potato skins

Frozen hot chocolate...good but not sure what all the hype is about.

We walked from 8 AM until 5 PM.  Phew.  In 9 hours we hit up 15 spots:  school to drop the kiddos off, Trader Joes for groceries (they deliver!), Union Square Farmer's Market, Highline Park, Chelsea Market, Jacques Torres for hot cocoa, Murray's for a WW Everything bagel with a schmear,  Grey's Papaya for a delicious dog, Levain for gigantic cookies, the temple, Central Park, back to school to pick up kiddos, Dylan's Candy Bar, FAO Schwartz and then finally the Plaza Hotel (swanky!). My feet were sore but Miss Elyse provided me with a lovely foot rub and Kass insisted I take a nap before we headed out to eat tonight (I didn't protest one bit).  Good times and I can't remember the last time I've been so pooped.  Tomorrow is Ellis Island and the Met....and plenty more eatin' I hope.

Sunday in NY was a nice quiet day.  It felt funny taking a cab to church but it was that or the bus.  Boys took the bus and the girls the cab.  The cab drivers are nutso...weaving in and out of traffic, almost grazing pedestrians and other cabs.  One cabbie had a book and would pick it up each time we stopped.

Kassie has a wonderful ward...so friendly.  I think every person I met commented on how much Evan and Miss Have look alike.  I spent most of the three hours in the Mother's lounge trying to cheer Haven up.  I got to talk to lots of Kassie's friends about natural birth (one mom had just used Kass as a doula at her home birth).

We came home, rested then Kass and the babes and I went for a walk to whet our appetites for dinner.  We saw beautiful churches and Rockefeller Center.

I love spending time with Kass and chatting and just beign around her.  Her kids are so funny...Elyse has a dramtic flair that cracks me up, Levi is darling and so is Evan.  

Can't wait for more sights and eating tomorrow.  It's great having a NYC pro to show me all the best places to see and eat.

Off to church

Inside St. Patrick's Cathedral

Atlas at Rockefeller Center

The crowds at Rockefeller Center

The giant tree at Rockefeller Center

Inside Saks (Schmancy!)

Inisde St. Bart's

NYC: Dia de Craziness (Day 2)

The beauty of vacation is being able to take a nap any time I feel like it. This morning that meant 9 AM when Haven napped. Following my morning snooze and a lovely breakfast of eggs and fried potatoes, we left for the Gershwin Theater. Every day at the theater they pick names and 12 people win two $26 front row seats to the Wicked matinee. We won!! Kass has already been so Elyse and I planned to go together. We had 2 hours to kill so we all headed down the street to Times Square. That place is everything wrong with the modern world contained in a few short blocks...nice. Let's just say I have no need ever to go there again in my life. Christmas in NYC equals hordes of people. First we thought we'd stop by Hershey's...too crowded. Next stop M&M store...too crowded. Next stop Toys'r'us...too crowded. Noticing a pattern here? Our two hours were up so back to the Gershwin we went and spent two blissful hours at Wicked. Great show and yes, I am the very last person in America to see the show.

On our walk home Elyse and I ran in to massive crowds..it was kind of fun pushing our way through the throngs of people. She and I stopped at the delicious pizza place, Krunch. Wowee, amazing pizza made all crispy crunchy by a second journey into a wood fired oven. Then home to put the chilluns to bed and then back out again just us mamas for more grub a dub dub. Including 3 desserts.

The lovely Elyse

Love this little lady

Da cousins...bit of a family resemblance eh?

Yay for Wicked!

Times Square

The NY Salvation Army workers don't just ring those little bells, the sing and dance too

Dark haired cuties

Pre dinner dessert at Buttercup Cupcakes

Finally some subway music!!

Spell check please

Kass and I LOVE Ethiopian food.  It was worth the long wait and seats in front of the door

Dessert #2....delicious.

Dessert #3 at Rice to Riches....Hazelnut Chocolate with toasty pund cake on top....mmmmgood

Miss you Sagie!!!  And Shane I know you're not reading this but since miracles do happen  and you could be reading this blog I miss you too.

Day 1 NYC part deux

Day 1 in NYC!!