Jean and Marie experienced a true New York subway ride last night. We are on the subway heading to the Port Authority and there is this gentleman playing a saxophone and he has this dog on a leash. He is blasting the saxophone right by the ears of the dog, poor thing was wincing. After the song he announced that he was an alien from another planet. With this proclamation I now understood why he had aluminum foil rings coming out of his baseball cap. I seriously cannot make this stuff up ~ I laughed out loud and smiled at Jean and Marie.

After dinner we headed over to Veniero's - best cheese cake and pastries!!!


We enjoyed unbelievable Italian at La Casalinga in the East Village.

Marie, Jean, Jennifer, Kristin and Lara


Marie and Jean in Battery Park

Happy Birthday to ME! I am meeting up with some friends and family for dinner in the East Village. I am also continuing the celebration on Wednesday night.

Jean and Marie are off to do some more sight seeing (World Trade Center, Chinatown and Little Italy). Today is their last full day. They are headed back to Minnesota tomorrow early afternoon.

Today: Statue of Liberty

Unfortunately the rain could not hold off - before we had the stylish green Statue of Liberty ponchos


We made reservations online therefore were able to get into the platform of lady liberty

We went on the Uptown bus tour on Saturday late morning. We hopped off at Central Park and walked around. We enjoyed lunch at Rockefeller Center Cafe. Then it was onto Macys. I enjoyed the Starbucks as Jean and Marie went shopping. Jean and Marie were then off to the Empire State Building. They were very impressed with themselves to make it back to the Port Authority and then onto Weehawken without me.

Rob, Jess and the girls are in town for a family reunion. I met up with the entire gang in Jersey City. The cousins were having a blast!!
Abby, Ysabel and Grace


Jess and Jordan ~ this was my first time meeting Jordan.

Jean and Marie arrived on Thursday afternoon.

Friday ~ We hopped on the red double decker tourist bus and went around the downtown area of Manhattan. It was a beautiful sunny day (80 degrees and a bit humid).

We departed the bus to eat lunch at The Burger Joint (LeParker Meridien Hotel) . It was my first experience at this well known establishment. I had heard stories from my friends but I can now say that it does deserve the 9.9 out of 10 stars!!

We then walked down to Rockefeller Center and then onto Bryant Park. By this time we were rather exhausted so went back to my place and got ready to go to the play, Hairspray.

We really enjoyed the play at the Neil Simon Theatre.





At Rockefeller Center


On the double decker bus by the South Seaport

Happy Birthday to my big brother Tom!! Tom is getting ready to take the boys to the Boundary Waters (Friday through Monday) as Jean and Marie are coming to NYC!! Boundary Waters vs. New York ~ talk about opposite ends of the spectrum!

Congratulations to Marie (baldy) ~ She is now a licensed driver!! I also congratulate her for breaking the curse that plagued her father, TOM. What was the count? Was it three????

I love having my own web site for days like today!!!! I went over to Brooklyn to hang out with Kristin and Joe. I helped them move items around to prepare for the nanny that is coming in a week from Brazil. I came across the following photo and figured it was perfect material for my blog!!!!

Kristin's Prom PHOTO circa . . . . .take a guess - check out the hottie! Please verify, is that a mullet???? OMG!!!


Evan just celebrated his 7th birthday!


Kora ~ most will be surprised to see her in pink


Kate has grown up since I saw her last.
(Kristin ~ this hair do is starting to look mullet-ish)

Met up with Annie Thursday night. She makes me laugh so hard. She just finished writing a play (comedy) and was telling me all about it.




We thought that my site needed a picture of our feet. Comments? Feedback??


Have a great weekend!!

Carol

Happy Birthday to my brother Greg!

I am also late on updating my web site for other birthday wishes (but better late than never)
July 18th - Happy Sweet Sixteen to my niece Marie (aka to some as Baldy)
July 2nd - Happy 14th Birthday to my nephew David
June 25th - Happy 9th Birthday to my nephew Ben

Jennifer's mom, Cheryl, will be staying at my house this weekend. She is coming into town to help Jen and Shane. Rhys is doing really well.

I cannot believe how fast time flies. The calendar is filling up with visitors. Next week my sister-in-law Jean and my niece Marie (celebrating her SWEET 16 - some people reading this blog may know her as Baldy) will be arriving in town. We have Broadway tickets to Hairspray. In mid-August Andrea, a high school friend, is arriving. Jennifer and I are excited to spend time with Andrea. Labor Day weekend Astrid and Jeff are coming into NYC to visit.

Let me know if you are ever visiting NYC ~ Would love to see you!!

Thanks for visiting!!
Carol

Shane, Jennifer, Ysabel and I visited Rhys (pronounced Reese) Oliver at the hospital. He is almost back to his birth weight. He is always such a mover and a kicker. They definitely have a perfect name for him since Rhys means enthusiastic.

Met up at the Corner Shop Cafe with Annie for her birthday celebration. I had such a fun night with Annie, Amanda and Kate. I am so bummed that Amanda and Kate are both moving in the near future. It was a great night with a lot of lively conversation.

Amanda, Kate, Annie and myself

Ysabel is holding her little brother's hand. She is so good in the neo-natal area. Jen is getting out of the hospital tomorrow.



Ysabel absolutely loves getting her picture taken.

Hello

Update on Shane, Jen and family. Ysabel is being a great 'Big Sister'. She is so cute when she goes to the neo-natal unit to see her little brother (name still in the works). Jen is looking fabulous. She is in a lot of pain due to the c-section.

Spike and I have started walking down to a dog park in Hoboken daily. I found out that this walk is 4 miles round trip. I then researched our other walk ~ going to Hamilton Park to see the beautiful view of Manhattan. This walk is 3 miles. Spike and I are walking 7 miles a day!!

Shane and Jen welcomed in a little boy late last night! The baby boy is a 2 pounds 14 ounces. He arrived 12 weeks early. I spent Tuesday and Wednesday with Jen, Shane and Ysabel at the hospital.

Happy 4th of July!! I am hoping that the rain holds off until after the fireworks. Have a great day.

Carol

I attended Lara and Dana's wedding ceremony.


Carol and Jen - Jen and Lara went to college in Germany


Shane and Jen


Jen and Lara