......Uncle Chad......

.....I said it last time my younger brother, Kirk, was here.....there is something about uncles.....and now, I am saying it again, as my girls are still talking about their Uncle Chad, my youngest brother, who spent a great weekend in the city with us......

.....and there is an energy that comes over the girls when they are around the brothers of their parents......I saw it in Dallas with Uncle Markus, I saw it when Uncle Kirk came to visit.....and we watched it transform and overcome them again this weekend.....it's a giddiness, a free ticket to be even sillier than normal.....and there is a lot of rough housing, indoor screaming, and belly aching, can't catch your breath kind of laughing.....

.....but the rough housing ceased during the times that Uncle Chad promised to play with the hamburger playdoh maker that he brought his nieces.....he was already a hit before he entered our home, but after he came bearing playdoh toys.....whoa boy....

......and the girls are starting to learn that part of the fun of having visitors is the preparation for them.....too young to be tasked with chores, such as emptying all of the bathroom trash cans, adding fresh linens to the guest room or wiping down the furniture to remove any trace of dust, they only know preparation through the kitchen......and they love assisting me in ensuring there is enough food in the house to keep everyone happy and full...... 

.....and while Elsie ensured each potato for our homemade soup was washed and scrubbed clean, Callie, of course, was attempting to taste the potatoes....I often wonder when the putting everything in the mouth phase will end with her.....she is my sweet, little live in goat.....

.....and boy does it feel good when a task is accomplished......

......the soup was perfect for a crisp, fall night and the heirloom tomato salad was a perfect accompaniment with the our sliders.....lots of wine and good conversation made for a perfect first night inside to brace ourselves for our upcoming weekend......

......and morning arrived with more requests for playdoh play......not only for Chad to join, but for his girlfriend Shelby to enroll for fun.....she is just as much of a hit with the girls as Uncle Chad is.....

.....and we were blessed with the perfect weekend.....cloudless skies, 60+ degree weather.....colors of fall sprinkling central park with their glory.....and I am reminded why Central Park is one of my top 10 favorite places in the world.....it's home.....

......and Elsie's favorite fall activity when she is in the park is to collect pinecones.....so I packed her a little black bag, promising that later this week we would paint them........another new indoor activity she is loving to do right now......and of all people, she wanted her uncle to help her search for them......

......and I'd say she was pretty happy to be spending her Saturday with her uncle......

......and Callie loves her uncle too, but in this phase of her little life; no one holds a candle to her Daddy......

......and weekends with him make her pretty happy too.......

......and we always try to find the perfect balance when visitors come between family time and adult, quality time; most specifically at night.....so we venture out into the bright city lights, blessed that we have loving and sweet babysitters that watch over our children with meticulous care.....and the first pitstop is always Rathbones......because pregnant or not, it's the best watering hole in the upper east side....

.....and we hit a Broadway show because it's a treat in our backyard that we want to take advantage of while we live here......

......and we cheer on the Miami Dolphins, reminding all of these northeasterners that there are Floridians who also reside in NYC.....

......as always, weekends with family are gone in the blink of an eye.....and before we know it, we are explaining to Elsie why she can't get on a plane and go to Ohio with Chad and Shelby......and we are dragging suitcases out of the guest room, through our corridor and out to the corner of our block so we can hail a cab.....and it's always the sad goodbye, followed by the walk back inside to a quiet, empty apartment.....

....but with each visit comes a new memory, new things to talk about that took place with our loved ones....and the quiet apartment soon is bustling with the routine of our busy lives.....and the girls are renewed with their next upcoming adventure......whether that be a day at the playground with their friends, library day at school, the anticipation of Halloween and dressing up as cowgirls or a quick visit from their Bambi and Poopop in just a few short days......we keep it adventurous around here and the door is always open for the ones we love.....near and far....

.....savoring every minute......