New York Part 2

You saw my first post, about NY as a girl's trip and all the touristy stuff. But there was a whole other side to the trip too!!! Ann Marie and I stayed with one of my college friends, Melissa, who lives on the upper west side in the most PRECIOUS apartment. In fact, the lobby of her place was used in a Sex and the City shoot as Miranda's place. She has the sweetest elevator men who know all the scoop in the building which provided great entertainment on our way up to the 8th floor. Below her apartment is a Victoria Secret and across the street is an adorable little grocery store with fresh flowers along the outside. It's just adorable! Melissa was a wonderful hostess and met up with us in between shopping sprees and our day of touring. We helped Melissa celebrate her birthday with a fun night of dancing...in fact it was all night. We were up till 4am, can't remember the last time I did that. I'm usually up at 4am, but for a different reason, Davis! Speaking of Davis, I missed him terribly. This was my first big trip away from him. Forrest and him got to have guy time and really bond. I think it was good for both of them to know they can survive without mommy. I made it through with multiple phone conversations and even a video chat!

On our way to the play!

After a wonderful dinner at Extra Virgin!

The way to hail a cab!

Melissa Dancing on stage!

The band gave Melissa a shirt!

My cousin-in-laws, Blaine and Eva, both live in New York, so they met up with us!

Empire State of Mind

Thank you Alicia and Jay-Z, that song has been in my head all weekend!

I just got back from a fabulous girls trip to New York. Annie had NEVER been so my Mom surprised her with a trip for her birthday. We felt like we did it all, but of course there is so much to do in NY, I don't think any amount of time there is enough. The first day we spent shopping, went to the top of the Rock for a view of the city, ate delicious Italian cuisine, and saw West Side Story. The second day we took a 5 hour bus tour through the city, seeing John Lennon's home, the Statue of Liberty, Wall Street, plans for Freedom Tower, and so much more. I think one of my favorite spots on the tour was the Soup Kitchen restaurant from Seinfeld. No soup for you!

Brooklyn Bridge

The 4th most photographed building in NY, the Apple Store

Annie and Mom and Miss Liberty

American Girl Doll Hair Salon...Crazy...I know!

Top of the Rock, view of the Empire State Building

Shopping!

Resting on a stoop in the West Side

Most amazing tulips!

Plane Ride

I just got back from New York! It was a wonderful trip with family and I got to spend some much needed time with my best friend Melissa. More posts and pictures about that to come...

But first...the plane ride. Mom and Annie came from Houston, Ann Marie from Austin, and me from San Antonio. We all met in Dallas so we could fly together into the big apple. It was such a fun flight too, we were enjoying our bloody mary's, reading the gossip magazines, and taking plenty of pictures. As we started our decent into the city, out of nowhere, a bolt of lightening hit our plane!!!!! Has anyone experienced that before? I hadn't, so at first I wasn't even sure what it was. There was a huge flash, a spark, and a big popping sound like a firework. My first thought was that a bird had hit our engine, somehow igniting it, and we were headed for the Hudson. I didn't even know there was a storm outside. Ann Marie and I were instantly holding hands and I look over and can tell my Mom is saying the Hail Mary. I have never been so scared in my life. Everyone on the plane was silent and I think we were all waiting for the pilot to say something over the intercom, but he was silent too. Thankfully, we were safely on the ground in 30 minutes.

Google is lovely. When you type in "lightening strikes plane" you will find all sorts of scary pictures of HOLES and burn marks.

Go Tough Cookies!

The MS150 riders crossed the finish line a week ago Sunday after 195 miles trekking it from Houston to Austin. Come rain or shine they rode and they rode and we were there to cheer them on at the finish. Way to go Mom, Aunt Robin, and the many other riders who helped raise $18 million for MS. I'm tempted to sign up for next year, but don't hold me to that just yet. I was just so inspired!

My Mom is a member of a training group called Tough Cookies. They have been training for months to get ready for this race. At about three miles from the finish line they met up so that they could ride into Austin all together, all dressed head to toe in pink. The outfits and gear are pretty impressive. We were ready and waiting with our signs!

Davis wore his Mellow Johnny's onesie!

Playtime Pictures

Crazy Eggs

We have an Easter tradition...it all started when Ann Marie and I were kids. Our Uncle John would come over and decorate eggs with us while our parents went out on a date. The normal dyes and stickers just weren't exciting enough for us. Instead, we would go out into the yard and collect sticks, berries, grass, feathers, etc. Basically, anything out of the norm was considered fabulous for egg decor! We would even borrow hair from our dogs and cats. Now we were in business! We have continued this tradition with John's girls, Camille and Catherine. And this year, Davis joined in!

My egg is in the top right corner. He's in camo -- so you probably can't see him!

Remember the Alamo!

We had a Francese cousin weekend and spent it in San Antonio! Forrest grilled up some super delicious steaks Saturday night, we played our favorite catchphrase, and we celebrated Michael's birthday. Sunday we headed to Mi Tierras for lunch, shopped the market, and went to the Alamo. It was Davis' first visit to the Alamo and it was also Nick's (our visitor from England!!). I have to say, I was really excited about going to see the Alamo. The last time I went was a field-trip in 4th grade. I can't believe I hadn't been back, especially after living in SA for the past 2 years. I even rented the classic John Wayne Alamo movie to help us all reconnect and remember the story, haha! By the way, that movie is more than 3 hours long, we had to fast-forward to key parts.

Lunch at Mi Tierra's! This place is delicious and I highly recommend it if you're downtown SA. There was so much going on, Davis was well entertained. They have a mariachi band playing favorites like La Bamba. Colorful flowers, lights, and banners hang from the ceiling, providing a ton of distractions for kiddos!