Just Like That

...our month-long trip to Utah has come to an end and we are back home in NYC. We filled our days with sprinklers, sidewalk chalk, parks, animals, softball, walks, and family. It was the perfect amount of time to see and do everything we wanted and get refreshed and ready for the new school year.

Anna came back a different girl than when we left: she's now walking, talking, and letting us know her opinion about things. Matthew was a good sport to be carted around to new places and new beds all the time. Joseph took his dental boards test and got a few days to relax and not think about school.

We had a fabulous time and are now looking forward to a beautiful fall in New York, and a handful of visitors coming in the next few weeks.

On The Farm

Soon after we arrived at my parent's house Matthew asked if it was a farm. I guess to a city boy a white fence wrapped around the porch, a wooden gate to the backyard, lots of grass, and a big garden equals a farm. We have been doing lots of digging, riding ponies, playing in tents, and watering the garden, so I can see why he might be confused. :)

It has been great to get together with family and friends and be able to relax just a little bit. Anna has been taking a few steps on her own and will be walking all over the place pretty soon.

We can't wait for Joseph to join us out here next week. He's been studying hard and we've been missing him!

Golden Birthday

Anna turned 1 on August 1. This last year has been wonderful with her as a part of our family. Ever since his birthday, Matthew thinks that everyone turns three and gets a duck cake on their birthday. So we indulged him and Anna ended up with a pink duck cake, which she loved.

Anna is such a happy little girl and we just love her to pieces. She and Matthew are best friends, and she is my little sidekick and shadow.

We think it is about time that all of her uncles, aunts, cousins, and great-grandparents in Utah finally meet her, so that is what we are heading out to do this month. I think they'll all love her just as much as we do. Happiest birthday to our best girl!

Red

I love this picture that a friend took of us at the beach a couple of months ago because it shows off just how red our kids' hair is.

I get asked where their red hair came from almost every time I go out. I believe it is thanks to my great grandma, Ethel Elizabeth, who I hear had beautiful red hair. My mom just sent me this picture of Ethel and my grandmother, Barbara. Lovely. Can't you just imagine how pretty she was with her red hair?

I never thought I'd have two redheads, but we sure love them!

Our Home: Bedroom

It has been a year since we moved here, but I just barely finished getting our home put together the way I want it! Slow and steady, I guess.

Joseph spent hours turning this $20 Craigslist desk and free chair from the side of the road into this beautiful new sewing desk and chair! It is my favorite thing in the whole house!

My other favorite things are the black & white family pictures throughout the room, my striped sewing machine cover, the beach picture Robin took in California hanging over our bed, and my guitar hanging on the wall (hopefully tempting me enough to actually play it more often...).

I don't claim to be any type of interior decorator or designer, but I do love decorating my own house. Since I'm home everyday, almost all day, I enjoy filling it with things that I think are pretty!

J&S

Joseph's brother, James, and his wife, Sarah, came to visit us last week! We hadn't seen them in over a year, and they had never met Anna, so it was a great visit.

They went to the Met, walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, ate pizza at Grimaldi's, and saw Wicked on Broadway.

We all went to a Staten Island Yankees Game, had a BBQ, went to Coney Island beach, went on walks, and played and played with the kids.

It was really fun to have them here and to be able to spend some down time just relaxing and chatting with them. They were wonderful visitors and we are so glad they could come!