....hurry up, it's over....

......there is nothing like a soak in the bath after a long day......or after a long, extended five day weekend wrapped in family, adventure, laughter and togetherness.....

......when cool August days bring family from afar and the sun shines it's rays of warmth on three little cousins who want to explore all that NYC has to offer......it was a sight to see......

.....and with each minute, hour and day's arrival was the realization that it always slips by so fast.....so much anticipation, so many hours of planning, so many things to put on the list of to dos when the time of togetherness finally arrives........so we relished all of the prized time.....

.....the classic moments of our baby boy cousin playing dress up with two sisters....

.....the shared acts of love and kindness.....

.....the rough housing that is unique only to an uncle, a Daddy or a grandfather......the kind that makes you laugh until tears roll and your belly aches.....an exhausting act of jollity....

......the increasing acts of nurturing.....my innate care givers and Mommy's helpers.....

.....and as much as the littles kept us moving, kept us laughing, and kept it real; we certainly looked forward to an escapade that involved lights, music and action.....so, after the arrival of an amazing babysitter, who happened to have three kids under 2.5 asleep by 8pm, we began our festivities....and we can't bear to think of a night of festivities without including Rathbones in the equation.......

.....and so it began.....

......and continued.....

.....until we had our New York moment at the end of Rock of Ages when I insisted on sneaking just one photo.....after many warnings of no photography whatsoever, we did get our group shot.....and a blaring,  screaming, angry voice abruptly shouted, WE SAID NO PHOTOS.....ok, dude....sorry....

......pretty good shot from our stranger friend......at least we had already seen the show.....it's not like the angry man could take my camera from me.....

.....and the show was amazing.....actually, amazing might even be an understatement....imagine an evening filled with the best 80s music you thought possible.....it was better than that....absolutely incredible.....we danced our way out the venue.....away from the angry employee.....and as I looked over my shoulder as we bopped towards the exit, I think I may have even seen Kirk and Stefan bouncing to their own beat.......

......and reality hits early the next morning when the babes are ready for another day of play.....nothing a hot and steamy cup of brew can't chase away......

.....one last lunch together.....so we worked up an appetite.....again, the ever so excitement of anticipation.....

.....added with a twist of history and tradition.....

......and you get happy, full bellied loved ones.....all of whom headed home for a well deserved nap......

.....and it was over as fast as it arrived.....

.....it was action packed, love infested, humor infused, squeezed together with some great meals, topped with 5 pizza joints we stack ranked and sprinkled with memories we will always recall in a New York minute....I am fat and happy....

.....Kirk, Erica, and Chase......thank you for making the trip to spend such precious time with us....we love you guys.....xxoo

.....this is how it's done.....

.....when rain prevails for three days straight, we need to get a little creative around here....constant rain can initially bring comfort and coziness, but after 72 hours of it in our snug and intimate apartment, we have to find some activities to do besides the indoor ones that can get a little boring on day three.....

.....so here is how it's done in our home when we are on the third day of rain....

....1. I don't think twice about taking Elsie out of the house when she has creatively concocted her own wardrobe choice....we need to get out of the house ASAP while the rain has let up...... it's hard enough pushing a 35 pound stroller with 58 pounds of littles tightly strapped in while holding an umbrella and distributing snacks through the rain cover.....Great, you look like a fashionista.......you are so creative putting your outfits together......get in, let's roll!....

....2. We feed the ducks while ignoring the sprinkling mist of an impending rain shower......

.......and my Callie was more interested in blowing kisses to the ducks than feeding them graham crackers....she's such a little lover of all people, animals and life in general....she is fearfully and wonderfully made in her own uniqueness and I love her individuality.....

......and when I told her it was time to go, she gave me this face.....for a moment, I almost considered hanging out in the thunderstorm that was two wind gusts away just to brighten her distressed face....

....3. In between thunderstorms that bring in cold fronts, we saunter over to the zoo because the animals are always frisky when the weather changes.....

....the seals zipped by us so fast that the girls laughed hysterically at the crashing waves of water caused by their speedy laps.....

.....but they took a few breaks to show their gratitude that fall is in the air......it won't be long....it's coming....

....4. We are the only three people watching the monkey's mark the hour at the infamous Central Park Zoo watch clock.....

.....usually a crowd stopper, Elsie had full range to watch, laugh, ask questions, count the other animal friends that join the monkey duo for this 5 minute celebration of a new hour......

.....she even had full range to shimmey, shake and do her little hip sway that I love so much......

.....5. We have pasta, ice cream and bubble bath parties with our neighbors because they need a change of scenery too......

......a full house of toddlers is crazy, hectic, hysterical, exhausting and I love it......especially observing the excitement of trying a new dessert like chocolate covered ice cream bites.....

.....or watching the critical moment of panic because one of the 6 ice cream bites you are hoarding for yourself was taken by another little pudgy, chocolate smeared toddler hand.....

.....pure delight in the little things.....

.....and messy, chocolate and pasta covered babes are the best ones to clean....it's an extra surge of accomplishment when they come out sparkling clean and smelling yummy of lotion and chamomile body wash.....

....although it's taking me longer after each bath to stand up after being bent over for 20 minutes.....agh, to feel the effects of motherhood in my bones and joints.....a sweet reminder that I am in the throws of the physical demands of children.....

.....I wouldn't have it any other way.....

.....6. We talk of the sunny days that must lie ahead after 3 days of rain when we can relish in blue sky, billowing white clouds and a simple activity like finding the Central Park bubble man.....

......however, we realize that without the rainy days that keep us tucked away for bouts at a time is what continue to keep us appreciating the beautiful days that captivate us.......

.....7. We are anticipate and are thankful for a soon to be full house of family that we will welcome into our cozy home for five days......anticipation always gives us something good to talk about.....

.....and although I am thrilled that my brother and his wife will be here in less than 8 hours, I can hardly contain my excitement to get my hands on my nephew, Chase.....

....he's delicious....

.....so rain or shine, it doesn't matter.....we will have a full home of laughter, good food, plentiful wine, three blessed babes and family.....

.....it doesn't get any better than that.....

......Have a great weekend.....ours starts today.....