New York City bound are we

R1's mom has invited us to meet her in Manhattan for the Thanksgiving holiday. So, Tuesday morning we are packing up the car and heading down to the Big Apple.


Our packing list includes:

Lots of baby food for L1, because we don't even want to think about how much food costs in Manhattan.
Camera (don't forget it...)
W1's teddy bear, who he can't live without.
R1's aggressive driving skills.
Snacks, snacks, and more snacks to keep little boys happy.
A good book (to keep K1 happy on the drive).
A large dose of cynicism.

Oh, maybe I should add a map to the list...

We have been to NYC three times, but never before with kids.

So, if any of you NYC travel veterans have words of wisdom to impart, please don't hesitate!

Another new trick

W1 recently debuted a new noise-I-can-make-to-get-a-reaction-out-of-mom.

It reminds me of:

This was cute the first time...

But by the third time every item was emptied out of that drawer...

I do have to admit, W1 and L1 played quite happily together in the mess they had made while I cooked dinner. Hmm, maybe it was worth it?

Buttermilk Pie

On Saturday, I made a buttermilk pie. Because, well, it is delicious, R1 loves pie, and it is pie season.

R1 also loves to take pictures.

What to do when two things you love collide? Ah.

Indulge them both at the same time.

You can find the recipe here.

John Adams

I just finished watching this amazing miniseries based on John Adams by David McCullough. It aired on HBO earlier this year, but I had to wait for the release of the DVD. I read and thoroughly enjoyed the book a couple of years ago and so it was with a little impatience that I waited to see this. And, I am glad that I was not let down. The acting was excellent and I think the script stayed true to the book, and history (as much as it is possible to, with the book running more than 700 pages).

Abigail Adams was played by Laura Linney. Every time I see her in a movie, I am impressed. Why isn't she in more stuff? Or maybe I just don't happen to catch the movies she appears in...

So, if you enjoy American history (this miniseries is quite long), I would recommend this to you!

We'd like to thank fall for this happy reprieve

Last week the weather here in Rochester was unseasonably delightful. We tried to take advantage and get our fill of outdoor activities. We were glad we could:

Ride bikes.

Play ball.

Slide.

Eat dirt.

Get muddy.

And get locked out of the house. Unfortunately, I don't have a picture for this one. It was just me, barefoot, locked out of both storm doors, with W1 and L1 living it up inside. Yep, that extra house key we have hidden outside is was useless on the storm doors. I eventually had to destroy the screen on the kitchen window and climb in. I used to think our house would be really easy to break into. Not anymore.

a lion and a bandito/cowboy/lion tamer/Pancho Villa

I guess W1's Halloween costume was a little ambiguous. It's just that we didn't want to let him loose among the general public carrying a whip. Which we do have, by the way. 3 of them. Lion tamer is what we were going for, but this is how he ended up:

And L1 was just as cute as all get out in his lion costume. For the 4.5 seconds before he ripped the hat off.

And getting a picture of the two of them together? I'm sorry, this is the best we could do:

W1, after a shy start, really warmed up to trick or treating and came home with a bag filled to the brim with candy for K1 and R1 to eat. Good boy! So, here's to sugar induced comas and not having to come up with Halloween costumes for a whole year!