Day 81 - Walking through Encinitas

After hanging out at my brother's home we decided to go for a walk and see the Pacific Ocean.  It was beautiful!!!  (I will omit the story of me losing the car keys and us running back to try to locate them.... thankfully a good Samaritan found them and put them on our car windshield.  Also, thankfully, my brilliant sister thought to look on the car windshield). 

Day 81 - Uncle, Aunt and Cousins!

The first morning in San Diego was spent with my brother and his family.  It was so great to see them again.  I loved seeing the girls with their cousins.  Elizabeth had a blast banging on Noah's drums! 

Interruption - First Day of School

We interrupt these vacation posts to announce a big day in our household.  Today was the first day of school.  Katie is entering 2nd grade and Elizabeth will be starting Pre-K. I am having a hard time wrapping my brain around the fact that these two are growing up so fast. Katie informed me that "second grade is a really big deal and very important." Elizabeth was excited to "meet new friends." I am excited to see where this year takes us!   

When asked how the first day of school went:

Katie:  "Perfect!  I love my class.  I love my teacher.  It was perfect!!!"

Elizabeth: "Great!  I made a lot of new friends.  Everyone was nice,  I cannot remember all their names but I will see them again tomorrow and ask them all again." 

Day 80 - Milkshakes

Milkshakes were a hit on this trip!  Katie enjoyed a Strawberry Milkshake our first night in San Diego.  I believe Elizabeth had chocolate pudding. 

Day 79 - Traveling...

Yes.  I know I missed a week.  We went on vacation and I didn't really have internet so I thought I would just wait till we arrived home.  It was a great vacation visiting family and friends in San Diego and Southern California.  It is kind of crazy to show the girls the places we grew up!

Here is a picture of Katie on the airplane.  It was a long day!  It began at 3:30 in the morning NYC time.  We had just under 3 hour layover in Nashville and arrived in San Diego in the early afternoon. We have been home since Sunday and the girls have still not adjusted to East Coast time.   School tomorrow morning should be fun....

I have always wanted to go to Nashville.  Husband seems to think that a 3 hour layover in their airport should suffice... I am not so sure I had the full Nashville experience. 

Day 78 - Vacation Begins...

And vacation starts now!

Day 77 - Daddy's girls!

Day 76 - Momma with the birthday girl

Day 75 - Elizabeth's First Haircut!

Today was Elizabeth's turn for a haircut. Not only was it her first professional cut, but it was the first time scissors have ever touched her hair. She had such a great time. Since Katie had her hair straightened last week, she thought it was only fair she had hers done too.

Day 74 - More Birthday

On Katie's birthday we  went to a family owned Italian restaurant and ordered Sicilian pizza.  It was such a great experience.  The customer service was amazing.  They ended the meal by bringing out a cupcake with a candle.  The entire restaurant sang Happy Birthday to Katie.  She thought it was amazing.  It was the perfect experience for our little girl.  I still cannot believe she is 7!

Day 73 - More of Katie's Birthday

Day 72 - Katie is 7!!!

Happy Birthday to our amazing, sweet, loving, intelligent and beautiful baby girl.  We love you so much and are proud of the person you are becoming.  

Happy Birthday, Katie!

Today is Katie's 7th birthday.  It's absolutely amazing how time flies.

As we are out and about this morning, Elizabeth begins incessantly begging, pleading and insisting that we go to McDonald's for Katie's birthday.  I was doing my best to ignore it, but 4 year old Elizabeth doesn't react well to non-responsiveness.

Finally, after about a hundred repetitions of "Daddy, can we go to McDonald's for Katie's birthday???" I responded, "We'll talk about it Elizabeth."

Without missing a beat, she immediately responded, "Great, that's a good idea, Daddy.  Let's talk about it. Can we go to McDonald's for Katie's birthday?  You said we could talk about it."

"Elizabeth, we'll talk about it LATER."

"Oh, okay.  Can we take Katie to McDonald's for her birthday???  You said we'd talk about it later, and it's later than it was when you said that, so can we all go to McDonald's?  I'm really hungry, and Katie likes McDonald's, and you said we could talk about it later and this is later."

Needless to say, we did NOT end up at McDonald's.  We went out to a little family owned Italian restaurant, where we had a Sicilian pizza the size of a football field, and the entire restaurant sang happy birthday to Katie.  Both girls had the time of their lives.  I'm sure Mommy will post pictures.

Day 71 - Morning Shave with Dad...

Saturday morning traditional wet shave with the girls.

Day 70 - Puppies!

The girls won't mind me dragging them to Trader Joes any day as long as it means we get to stop and watch the puppies in the window...  How much is the puppy in the window? ....   (and then you find out the cost and quickly walk away!). 

Day 69 - Elizabeth's turn

Elizabeth gets her haircut next Wednesday but we needed a before picture of her too!

Day 68 - Katie's Haircut?

Katie had her first professional haircut today.  I took her to the same wonderful lady that cut my hair a few weeks ago.  The hairstylist did something new for Katie.  She straightened Katie's hair.  I have asked if Katie wanted me to straighten her hair in the past and she always refused.  Today she said yes.  So thanks to getting her hair straightened after her cut, Katie left her haircut having a longer hair!   On a side note, how did this little girl grow up so fast? 

Day 67 -Stuck

Mom, I have a little problem here...  I think I'm stuck!

Day 66 - Practicing to be the next Olympian!

Have I mentioned that the girls are really into the Olympics?    The love this little park because all they do is climb!  They are pretty good climbers!  Much to my dismay there is no fear of heights!  I am going to be sad when Hudson Yards opens and other people discover this little park.

Day 65 - Riding the Rabbit?

Elizabeth's teacher sent me this picture that was taken earlier last week.  On one of their last days the class went down to Chelsea to play at park with awesome sprinklers.  The day was made even better by stopping by Chelsea Piers and riding the carousel (twice!).  Elizabeth thought it was the "best day ever!" 

Day 64 - Gold Medalists!

Husband's colleague had some extra "gold" medals and the girls inherited them.  These may be Elizabeth's favorite type of gold (since there is chocolate inside). 

Day 63 - Looking up to Katie

I love this picture.

62- Broadway in Bryant Park

Today was our final Broadway in Bryant Park for the summer.  IT WAS HOT!!!!!  I mean really hot.  Real feel was over 100.  The humidity reminded me of Texas.... yeah.   It was pretty bad.  That wasn't going to stop us.  Today we saw Phantom, Cagney and Something Rotten.  Cagney was great.  So good that I actually want to go see it now.  Something Rotten is always entertaining. 

Day 61- Finding Neverland

A little late but a couple weeks ago Katie was blessed with an early birthday present.  Her Great Aunt and Great Uncle took her to see Finding Neverland for an early 7th birthday present.  It was a complete surprise.  She knew they were coming into the City because they were going to go see the show.  They came over to our place where we chatted and played Chutes and Ladders.  Then they told her that she was going to go with them to the show.  She was completely shocked and so excited.  She LOVED it!  She is slowly becoming quite the theater expert.   Thank you so much, Bob and Debbie for giving Katie such a great experience!

Day 60 - Olympic Exhaustion

Watching the Olympics is exhausting!  

Day 59 - Brazilian coxinhas

Continuing our Olympics-inspired weekend cuisine, today, we made our interpretation of Brazilian coxinhas, which are savory fried dough balls stuffed with a cheesy chicken salad mixture. Once again, they took much longer to make than anticipated. They were a big hit with the girls, but Katie is hoping the Olympics come to New York so we can have "New York City food." As Katie explained, New York City food includes burritos, rice and beans and Chinese food.

Day 58 - Brazilian Feijoada

In honor of the Olympics, husband made his interpretation of Brazilian feijoada, which is, according to Wikipedia, the national dish of Brazil. Katie couldn't get enough, and Elizabeth tolerated it (eventually). When he started it first thing morning, he didn't realize it would be an all-day activity. At least we have an extra 20 pounds of the stuff to keep us in the Olympic spirit.

Day 57 - Brick Walls

I love brick walls.  NYC is full of amazing brick walls.  It isn't uncommon for me to have the girls stop so I can take a quick picture in front of them. 

Day 56 - Go Team USA!!!

Day 55 - Goodbye my best sister ever!

Every day we drop Elizabeth off at school and the girls have to hug a million times and say how much they are going to miss one another.  Please don't let this ever end!