NY Visit

I feel like a blog post is almost unnecessary since we saw almost everyone who reads it in the past couple weeks. But here it goes.

As previously mentioned, we went up to NY for the last week of November. Our ride up was great. The new car gave us lots of room and it was fun to drive. We made it in a little over 8 hours and it was still light when we got there. We spent some time with Mom & Ed and Greg & Danielle (we had to get our taste of NY pizza right away of course). Sunday morning we met with Truck and Babci for some diner breakfast - it's just better in Jersey for some reason!

The rest of Sunday and Monday were both long days with Uncle Tommy's wake then funeral. As sad as it as to gather for this particular occasion, it really was nice to see so many faces. So many cousins, aunts, uncles and even faces from the past appeared. We were able to enjoy each other and visit for long periods of time which usually doesn't happen for us. The services were very nice and Tommy now has a perfect view of Nyack and the River from his spot in Oak Hill next to Grandpa.

Tuesday we recovered a bit from all the visiting. I'm guessing we slept a bunch because I don't recall the details! Wednesday was filled with plans. We went to lunch with old work/ high school friends at the River Club in Nyack. It was fun to recreate what ended up being a Nyack Drama Club reunion. So much time passes - there is so much to catch up on! Our lunch ran a bit long and I ran out of time to shop like I had planned at the good 'ol Palisades. Although once I got there I was overwhelmed by the choices I didn't have much direction in terms of actually doing any shopping. I hung out with Greg and Danielle briefly before returning to Dads for dinner.

Joanne was great at keeping us well fed the entire week. There was turkey and pot roast and chili oh my! Egg nog and pies and muffins. I still have not weighed myself since coming home - I don't want to know!

Wednesday evening we all decided we didn't want to do the going-out-the-night-before-Thanksgiving-thing. I had the pregnancy excuse and everyone else was free to use the same one too. So Leo, Greg, Danielle, Tim and Jen and I went to Danielle's parents house to hang out. We played a fun game that I got for Tim's b-day, "Who, What, Where?" It was a silly drawing game that we played for a few hours then watched a little TV.

Thursday we took our time getting ready since the day was going to be pretty leisurly anyway. Around 2pm we went to The Martin's for some Thanksgiving Goodness. It was really nice of Danielle's parents to have our whole family over to celebrate with them. We really enjoy spending time together. And it showed - we were there for hours, eating, drinking and passing out on the couch. Baby Trend was pretty excited about shrimp, turkey and choice of seven desserts - mom finally felt the litle booger kicking around in there as did Danielle. It was fun sharing that with everyone.

Friday was another catch up day before we finished out the week. We relaxed a bit before going to Pearl River to have lunch with friends. Afterwards, more hanging out. I went to visit Geraldine later on in the evening who I was lucky to visit with again - a nice treat after not seeing her for YEARS since she has been away in Nepal teaching and getting married. I left after a short time since I had to get my "beauty rest" before our long Saturday.

In the morning Leo and I were ready to go by 8am. We had a long drive to Long Island to make! The drive was not as long as we anticipated and we got to the church for our friends wedding pretty early. As we sat in the parking lot I attempted to clean my windshiled with everything but windex and paper towels thinking I could fake it and clean it somehow. Don't do that. It doesn't work. In the meantime I was looking at the church thinking "we've been here before." Leo wasn't so sure until we got inside. I was pretty positive we had been there for another wedding . . . when I got home I confirmed it. We had been there, about 4 years ago for our freind from work. Of all the churches . . . !

The wedding was very nice. Amy was so beautiful and Dan was pretty cute too all dressed up as the groom. Afterwards we made our way to the reception. By then, some of the familiar back pain that has been coming and going came back. I tried to walk around the very nice hotel/ reception lobby (all done up for Christmas) but I was having trouble enjoying it because of this awful discomfort! We made it through a dance to our song during the festivities (and I didn't let the pain keep me from the amazing cocktail hour spread!)but otherwise I stayed immobile. We sat next to a nice couple who live near Amy and Dan here in NC and got to know them better. We look forward to seeing them again down here.

We made good time getting home and were back in town by 8pm. Although I really wanted a long bath and bed, we went to Rick's to visit yet another group of my freinds. I swear we hit every part of my life with all these visits! The old flower shop crew were enjoying their cocktails when we got there but their laughter and jokes made the evening fun, despite the fact that I had to sip on water instead of a nice glass of wine! No matter, we had fun reminicing and catching up. How lucky I am to have such life-long freinds!

Sunday morning I was able to take my time before getting ready for Baby Trend's Shower. But I got up just in time for SNOW! It was snowing and sticking and it was perfect. It changed to rain shortly after but still - it made me happy. Joey went to get us some fresh bagels, then soon Joanne and I were on our way to Stony Point where mom, Aunt Kate, Jess, Megan, Danielle and Liz were alerady there setting up.

It was so wonderful. In the corner was a clothesline with little clothes already pinned up, a table with gifts had been started, and a diaper cake was sitting on another table with bibs and booties and books all around it. Mom had stayed up making this clever diaper cake - wrapping 85 little diapers to make it!

Soon everyone was there and I was opening gifts for this little boy. He sure is spoiled already! He has more clothes than I know what to do with - and no repeats! Nanni made one of her wonderful quilts, there were diaper bags and toys a-plenty and, one of my personal favorites, Greg and Danielle got us some "Rock A Bye Baby" CD's where they take well-known music and turn it baby-friendly with instrumentals. They got us Metallica and The Beatles. They so know us. Also Baby Trend is all set for game day - he has a jets T shirt, onsie and booties ready for him!

There were so many gifts. So many people who came to celebrate with us. It was touching, especially since the weather wasn't great and some traveled pretty far to get there. Thank you ladies!!!

Sunday night we packed (or rather stuffed) the car with all the gifts and lots of other things we barely had room for. How did we run out of space so fast? Sunday night I didn't sleep so well and so Monday was a bit if a challenge. We were very ready to get back home even though we really enjoyed being in NY for so long. The drive seemed long and home was more cozy than I remembered.

This week was a whirlwind as usual trying to catch up. The best part was when Leo made sure he saw all the things Baby Trend got at the shower. He enjoyed looking at all the little clothes and socks and bibs and toys. We managed to put things away - for now. How does such a little thing take up so much space?! We can't wait to put up the crib next!

And so it is December. Thank you's and Christmas cards are on the to-do. And thankfully a majority of the shopping is complete. Soon I will get to putting up some holiday decorations (or at least puting away the pumpkins) and we will settle into the rest of the year - the last holiday just US!