Seeing SoHo Sights

We decided to head down to SoHo on Dad's day off from work for MLK day. We had heard rumors about a few places down there to check out. We started off with the Scholastic store/world headquarters. The kids got a kick out of seeing lots of "Clifford" and the Magic School bus. Also, there was a big dinosaur with a long plush tail to sit on and peruse books-which we took advantage of. There were plenty of books to examine and toys to check out. Owen was quite attached to the plush animals found everywhere- as evidenced by the picture. We then headed to a highly acclaimed rice pudding restaurant- where all they sell is rice pudding- called "Rice to Riches." The pudding was pretty good but you realize you are paying for the trendiness factor and there was plenty of that. Then we were off to check out a few shops- one being Kate's Paperie (a glorified Papyrus) and Uniqlo. Uniqlo is kind of like a Gap import from Japan- it has reasonable prices- with a little more style/flair than Gap. It did however have loud unbearable techno music (we are old, aren't we?) so we did not stay there too long. Maybe worth the trip back sans children. We then packed back on the Subway to head back home, and get ready for a birthday party for one of the girls friends from church.

Part IV- Pizza, Cake and Presents

After ice skating we returned home to eat some pizza, cake and open presents. Madeline designed and created a "mosaic" cake with skittles and M&M's. She has been taking a mosaic class after school and has really been into mosaic everything lately. One of the presents she received from Mom and Dad was a "Dr. Costume"- she got her own pair of scrubs. She and Eva love taking turns being Dr. and patient. It is fun to watch the treatments and the diagnosis :).

Part III- Madeline's Birthday at the Ice Rink

We headed over to Chelsea Piers to ice skate for Madeline's b-day activity. Marc was able to get off of work early and we headed over there before the crowds came. It was fun for the girls to have a chance to ice skate on an almost empty rink. Madeline got to bring a friend from school- Laura- and they all had a good time.

Part II- Madeline's Birthday- at the candy store

We promised Madeline that on her birthday we would go to this candy store that is on the East side of manhattan that we pass longingly every time we board the tram. It is called "Dylan's Candy Bar" and it is a child's dream come true. Two, and soon to be three floors of candy, candy and more candy. As we were entering Madeline said, "oh mom, I bet there are rides in there." She was sure it was some sort of "Chuck-E-Cheese" meets "Candy Land" store. However there were no "rides" to be found inside except for the sugar rush experienced after consumption :).

There was a giant chocolate bunny wrapped in foil and stairs with candy inlayed that the kids got a kick out of. They both got to sample 2 kids of specialty candy- (Madeline chose Fruit shaped Marzipan and a chocolate covered Oreo, and Eva chose chocolate covered pretzles) mom was happy to leave with a chocolate covered candied orange peel- a favorite:)- Dad had a little bit of everyone's :).

Part I- Madelines party at school

Here are some pictures from Madeline's B-day "party" at school.

As you can see, she has started doing her own hair in the morning- ponytail and all. I am glad for this AM initiative- but I never really know what to say on some mornings :)

Piano Recital

Madeline's Piano Recital was today. She did a great job, and looked so tiny playing on the big grand piano. We were proud of her- she was the youngest of the kids who played, but still managed to do very well on her six songs. She played the "Russian Lullaby," the "Sparrow," the "Chinese Song," "Etude in C major," and two studies (107&108). In some of the pictures you can see that see that she took a spill yesterday. She was running home with dad after a baptism and she did a face-plant on the cement. It was sad. She had scratches all over her face, and hands and skinned up her knee pretty well. We go through tights like crazy around here. She was pretty proud of her bloody tights with ripped out knees.

Countdown to Recital

We added a link to Madeline Playing the Piano. She is getting ready for her recital that will be next Sunday......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TV3lGtGFz6M

New Years Day

So to celebrate the New Year we decided to get up early and head into the city to ride the Staten Island Ferry, and get a look at Lady Liberty. We were joined by some friends of ours (JT and Lizzie Davis) and we had a good time. Eva was very excited to be able to ride in a "big boat" for the first time. It was kind of spooky walking around Manhattan in the early hours of the morning following the big Times Square party. NYC was the most barren it has ever been. The girls had a good time being the "only ones on the tram." It was a pretty foggy and rainy day but still fun. After the boat ride we had a yummy brunch at the Davis' apartment down in the Financial District. It was a fun morning.

New Years Eve

To celebrate New Years Eve, and Dad's day off work we headed over to Chelsea Market- an indoor market filled with all sorts of wonders enclosed in the former Nabisco Cookie Factory famous for creating the Oreo Cookie. It is places like this market that make you love living in NYC. Some highlights were the italian specialty grocery store (where you can buy Nutella Jars the size of your head), the Fat Witch Bakery (that makes world famous brownies), the arches lit with Christmas Lights, seeing the Food Network Studios (which house the production studios for their TV shows), and seeing the world famous cake and cookie bakeries with wonderful window displays. As we were trying to narrow down our choices for a mid-trip snack we realized that we had left our wallet at home :(. Hard on our stomachs, but easy on the checkbook.....So we will have to try these delicacies another day.

Owen's First Big Boo-Boo

Okay, so last night Owen decided to ring in the New Year by doing a "face-plant" into the closet door and getting his first big major bump. It was an impressive one- at first we were quite concerned- but it was back to all smiles in less than a minute so we knew he would be okay- he would just look like Quasimodo for a few days.

Owen's First Word

Owen says Mamma, Mamma when he is sad or hungry and sometimes mutters Da Da da da when he is excited but still nothing we could count as officially person/object specific until the last few weeks. Once he spots anything spherical it is "Ball...Ball....Ball" here is a video to display his new found talent.....