Coney Island!!!!!

This past Saturday, we loaded up the girls and a stroller and took the 1 hr subway ride to Coney Island.  Best. Saturday. Ever.  Well, maybe not ever, but certainly the best Saturday in a long time.  We started off at the Aquarium, where we enjoyed the animals and a sea lion show.  But Delilah had seen the beach on our way in, and would not be deterred from swimming.  So after our short jaunt to the aquarium, we headed for the boardwalk.  Hot dogs, ice cream, draft beers, french fries, what's not to love?  Noelle took the world's shortest nap while Chris & Red played in the ocean.  When Noelle woke up, the girls played in a little splash pad that's right on the beach.  A giant palm tree sprays water on the sand, which was perfect for the non-swimming Ellie Bug.  We did lose Delilah for two minutes, and I have never been so scared in my life.  Ever.  The beach is huge and looking out in to that sea of people while trying to find such a tiny being just took my breath away.  Fortunately, she was actually right where we had left her, just blocked by some people who had moved in front of her. 
We played in the sand and surf all afternoon, then rinsed off, changed, and headed home.

Noelle is ready to take on the boardwalk!

In the aquarium

Playing with Daddy before the sea lion show

"I see you"

She LOVES sunglasses!!

Deciding which ice cream flavor to get

Sharing a cone



Coming in from the ocean.  Delilah could not get enough of the waves.

I adore this picture

The girls got so cold when the clouds rolled in.  Here I am trying to warm them up!

There are no words that adequately express how much I love this picture. 

Like Chris said, it felt like we were on vacation!!! We can't wait to do it again.

Sullivan Visit

For the love of Pete, where does the time go?  How am I just now blogging about a visit that was a month ago?!?!
Allison's husband, Seth, had a bachelor party in NYC, so she called to see if I would want her to come, too...YES!!!  So they left their oldest son with grandparents in Houston, and came up with their daughter, Millie.  Seth spent most of the trip with his friends, of course, but I was pleasantly surprised that we got to see him a lot more than I expected.  LOVED hanging out with Ali & Millie.  She's been to NYC a bunch, so she told me that she didn't want to do the touristy stuff; she just wanted to hang out and see what my life is like in NY.  Which was great, b/c most of the touristy stuff is hard to do with 3 kids under 4 in tow!
So I went about life as usual (ballet lessons, trips to the bookstore, park visits, etc.), but all of it was so much brighter with Ali around.  She's kind of like that in general: she always makes everything brighter and more fun.
I've already posted some pics on the Strawberry Shortcake post, and here are the rest.  I think they're pretty self explanatory.  Except maybe one of Millie with crazy hair holding a teal pancake:  let's just say she enjoyed her pancake to the fullest, she may or may not have been covered in syrup, and pancakes in our house are never beige.

I love this last picture in Central Park so very much.  Missed you the moment you left, Ali.  And thank you so much for coming to visit when you were 14 months pregnant!!!! :)

First Year: Done!

I took my last final and turned in my last paper of the year yesterday.  Which means I am officially through with my first year of seminary!!!  I am EXHAUSTED.  As in, eye twitching and stomach cramping from being so tired.  I am trying so very hard to not let my schooling take me away from my family too much, so I try to fit all my work in to naptimes and after Chris has gone to bed, but there are definitely the occasional Sat/Sun afternoons when I have to slip away for a few hours to the library.  I've also taken advantage of the babysitting at my gym: I go four days a week and I work out 3 of those days, and study the other day.
I am loving it.  I actually get a runner's high from studying and my papers are usually too long instead of too short (they were always too short in college!).  I think I'm discerning the specific path I'm supposed to take, but I don't know that I'm quite ready to write about it.
I have been exposed to so much this year.  Whites are in the minority at my seminary, with the predominant races being African-American and Asian (specifically Korean).  I absolutely love the diversity.  I love that I never know what language I will hear in the halls, and I love learning about all the different traditions that people grew up with.  I am so inspired by the obstacles that some have had to overcome to attend graduate school, and I love how much everyone truly wants to be there.
I have a few weeks off, then I will begin summer school.  I have come to cherish my classes on Tuesday and Thursday nights, and the idea of waiting 3 months for the fall seems ludicrous.  But I will definitely cherish my 3 week break. :)

Mother's Day: Always Bittersweet

Dear Mom,
I still miss you. Every day. My life is turning out pretty wonderfully, but there would be a lot more laughter and fun if I could still share it with you. I love you.
P.S.- Thank you for your still-present, if unseen, guidance in raising my girls. They can't be shaped by your presence, so I am doing my best to watch over the shape they take in your absence. I think they are going to be pretty incredible.

4 Years Old-Strawberry Shortcake Style!

A fews after we celebrated Red's birthday as a family, we had a little party at our home for her friends in the building.  We were also blessed to be joined by Ali & Millie all the way from Texas (that post is coming soon!).
I had asked Delilah what she wanted as the theme, and after some serious competition from SpiderMan & My Little Pony, Strawberry Shortcake won out.  The only thematically appropriate decorations to be found were at Party City, in mid-town.  So the morning of the party, Ali, Millie, Delilah, Noelle, and myself took a cab down there.  I loaded up my cart and then made the brilliant decision to buy a dozen helium-filled balloons.  These are the times that I miss the ease of a car:  trying to find one of the mini-van cabs with 3 girls under 4, two moms (one of whom is 8 months pregnant), while carrying two shopping bags and a dozen balloons.  Did I mention we had no strollers so Ali & I were both holding wriggling toddlers as well? :)  I think it might have even been sprinkling, but I could be making that up for effect.  Suffice to say, it was actually really funny and we did manage to make it home in one piece!
   We set up for the party, and around 5pm we were joined by 6 adults and ten kids, making it 9 adults and 13 kids in all...how could we not have had a good time?

    The kids went crazy and the parents sipped wine and it was all over around 7 or 7:30.  I have NEVER seen the girls' rooms destroyed so thoroughly, so I know there was a ton of playing going on.  Delilah loved having everyone sing to her, and the dessert was a hit.  I decided to forego the usual cupcakes and embrace the theme by making individual strawberry shortcake push-up pops...they weren't ready for their magazine close-up or anything, but I think they came out pretty well.

Lots of fun and Delilah slept until 8:30 the next morning...unheard of in this house!!

And here's the update on 4 year old Delilah:
Height: 39.25" (75th%)
Weight: 37.5 lbs (10th%)
BMI: 16.9 (50th%)

So physically she's tall and skinny and perfectly healthy.  This is what else I know about you at 4, Delilah:
-you live for Saturdays when you make pancakes with Daddy
-you live for Friday mornings when you get to take ballet "clessons" (you've combine classes and lessons into your own hybrid word)
-you live for undressing your sister out of her normal clothes and then dressing her back up in princess dresses. With heels and a crown and jewelry and anything else she'll let you put on her.
-you live for Mommy.  You are still my little sidekick.
-you live for chasing birds.  You promise me you will catch one someday.
-you live for puzzles (you can do 100 pieces now!!) and art and cooking.
-you live for cooking shows.  When you get overstimulated, you will ask me or Daddy if you can watch a cooking show to relax.
-you live. period.  you embrace life more than just about anyone I know.  In a group of kids you are always the one laughing the hardest, smiling the biggest, and just trying to embrace every moment to the fullest.

Sweet Red, you are so funny and interesting and smart and kind.  There is no one like you...your daddy, your sister, and I can't believe we get to spend every day with you.  Love you, sweetheart.

Wordless Wednesdays: "Coloring is our Favorite Thing to do Together!!"