Valentine's Day Activities

Happy Valentine's Day to all! I hope you have had a great day with the ones you love. Here are a few things around my house to keep us in the Valentine spirit....

After a yummy breakfast of chocolate chip pancakes, we piled in the car and headed to a trail I discovered one day with the kids. The only thing is that it starts in a cemetery that dates back to the 1700's. Is it weird to have your kids run around a cemetery? I don't know, but they sure had fun on the trail!

The afternoon included a trip to the library for the Valentine's cupcake decorating festivities and Valentine's Day story time. Ava had so much fun decorating her cupcake, and we certainly enjoyed eating it after dinner tonight.

To My Valentine

I'm sure Wade won't be happy about me posting this picture of him, because this is his professional, office, corporate (and well, everyday) look. I did some corporate headshots for his firm a while ago, and this was the first pic of him I found on my computer.

Wade, I love you, I love you, I love you. You still make my heart twitter, just like your first day when we met at work. You are my rock, you keep be grounded, and I would follow you anywhere. Thank you for my life and your provision, our children, and the many adventures we have shared. I love that you change diapers, I love your popcorn and chocolate chip cookies. I love your green eyes and sexy legs. I love you always.

So Wade and I have had a Valentine's Day tradition for the past 7 or so years. Because his track record at planning dates was not the best as something always tended to go wrong, we decided many years ago to forego the commercial pressures of Valentine's Day and we go out for fast food. We've done Arby's, KFC, Sonic, DQ, among others. The great thing about fast food on Valentine's Day?? You don't need reservations!! And it's cheap.

I guess this year we broke the tradition, sadly, but we did eat at our local deli down the street and had the most amazing Philly Cheesesteak sandwhich. Ahhh, I could dream about that sandwich. Let's just say that Rye has NO fast food joints in town. It must be against city code or something.

Martha, Martha, Martha

Well today was the big day. Martha!!

We started the morning by escorting Wade on the morning train to Grand Central while Grandpa stayed behind and had a fun day with the kids.

Sharon and I took a cab down to Union Square and then wandered over to the City Bakery ( www.thecitybakery.com ) for what I was hoping to be brunch. Brunch is only served on the weekends, so we settled for a yummy pretzel croissant and a baker's muffin. A couple of amazing substitutes. We also sampled some of their famous hot chocolate, but it was so good that it wasn't good. You know? It was so thick and so rich, that I could only drink 1/3 of it. It really is more like dessert, and I think it should be served with fruit to dip in it!!

The hot chocolate is served from a soup terrine, so that will tell you something of it's consistency. It's more like chocolate stew!

We wandered up 5th, which was quite reminiscent of a wind tunnel, not that I've ever been in one, but if I had, I think this would be the same feeling. Sharon literally had to hold on to a light pole at one point while we were checking out the Flatiron Building. I'm surprised I wasn't blown away taking her picture!



And then onto Martha. We saw her outside while we were waiting in line to get in, and it's always weird to see someone famous. They just look normal!! Go figure, eh? So the show we were a part of will air this coming Monday, Feb 16th...the President's Day episode. Check us out on Monday.

And who was the featured guest?? President Clinton!! Again, weird to see someone famous up close and personal, but he looks just like he does on TV, but his face is much redder in person. It was a great interview. I'm not the hugest fan of his....OK, I really don't like him at all, but it was a good interview.

To see when Martha airs in your area, go to www.marthastewart.com. Sharon and I actually did make it on TV. When she does "Ask Martha", the lady in front of us was selected for a question, and Sharon and I are perfectly framed just behind her in the camera shot. Check us out!!!!

The audience was required to wear red, white or blue, and we were in all red. As they pan the audience, we were on the far left in the red part of the audience, in the second row.

Martha looked great in person. She really is a beautiful lady, but oh my is she intense. Her demeanor definitely changed at commercial break. Not too bad, but we did witness her getting pretty upset at someone that worked for her. I certainly wouldn't want to have her for a boss.

Lady Liberty

Wow, Lady Liberty was beautiful today! It was the most gorgeous day, and I can't believe that it's February. We didn't even need jackets once we got out there. What a change from the last few months. I don't think it will last, but I'm sure going to enjoy it while it's around.

The H's saw Wicked lastnight on Broadway and stayed in Manhattan. The kids and I drove in this morning and picked them up at their hotel, then we drove down towards Battery Park and parked for the day. We enjoyed a beautiful walk along part of the Hudson River (very near to where flight 1549 landed a few weeks ago) down to Battery Park.

We were able to get Monument passes with our tour which meant we got to inside Lady Liberty. Pretty amazing experience. I hope the kids will remember this when they get older. They had a life size replica of her face (not the most attractive lady) and her foot in the museum (in the base of Lady Liberty), and the kids got a kick out of it.

They even tried to pick her nose and tickle her toes....

New Jersey on the left, Manhattan in the middle, Brooklyn and Queens on the right. Pretty amazing view!

"Mom, it's toooo bright!!!!" We had the front of her all to ourselves for quite a while. I tell you what, February is the time to visit her. There is nobody around!!

And this view of Battery Park and Lower Manhattan greeted us on our return. Pretty incredible, huh? I know I keep saying that, but it was such an incredible day!!

A Day at Home

No pics today. Sorry! We walked the H's to the train this morning and they had a day in the City, and are on Broadway seeing Wicked (right now). I know they are loving it. Wade and I saw it in September when we were here house hunting. It is an incredible show. They are staying in the City tonight, and the kids and I are driving to pick them up in the morning. Then we'll head down to Battery Park and take a boat ride to Liberty Island to see Lady Liberty and to Ellis Island. The kids are super excited.....but sleeping soundly downstairs.

Another day in the 50's tomorrow....PTL!