Laura's Visit

Our dear friend from Switzerland came to visit us this month. She is a senior in high school and we were so glad her parents shipped her out for a week. It was her first time to NYC so we walked around and saw a lot of sites, shopped and ate (ate, ate). It is normal to me to walk by some places every day (like the NY Stock Exchange above).

We went to Crif Dogs for dinner one night. After that we got macaroons at Macaron Parlour. You have go to try their maple bacon one. Wow!

We had outings with June and also got a bunch of "American" things and treats (note the Cheetos puffs specifically requested by Laura). I remember our trips back to the states and satisfying all of our American cravings. Luckily we can satisfy most Swiss cravings here in NYC.

Did the Brooklyn Bridge-Grimaldis thing

Made Valentine cookies and took them to Curt at work

Did the Times Square thing

The Empire State Bldg celebrating Valentine's Day. Does anyone know if they've ever really done the heart thing like on Sleepless in Seattle? I've decided it must have been digital.

Cupcakes at Molly's

Mmmmm. Banana pudding at Magnolia Bakery

Natural History Museum. I had to include this because this is June's favorite place in the museum. She always runs to the ramp behind "Dum Dum" and plays as long as mommy lets her. Pretty sure she's appeared in hundreds of tourist's photos this way.

Took the tram to Roosevelt Island for fun to check out the new FDR monument that opened up in October.

Randomly happened upon a Chinese New Year Lion dance in Chinatown. It was really neat to watch and learn about. Not sure what June was thinking the entire time.

Manhattan Temple

Hanging out at home

And our very special treat imported directly from COOP in Switzerland. YAY!!!

Elmo Party

My friend Amanda always has fun ideas. I'm lucky because I get to ride along with them (gingerbread house party). We threw an Elmo party earlier this month because Sesame Street celebrates Elmo's birthday on the 3rd.

We made Elmo puppets, played, sang

and had yummy snacks.

(the marshmallows always went first)

Close up of the cupcakes I made. I had so much fun I decided I need to make more time for fun baking. 

June's contribution to today's blog:

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 m,a m mb mbbm bb m mb  rt r,m    v./   ./[

  ,. ,.,. m , ,,,,,   ,m,m. m,..........................................     ,. .... uj       v       , ,b  v                   l;;/';                                                                                                                               

Happy Birthday to Me!

I had a great birthday on Monday. Curt knows just how to make me feel special.

Breakfast favorite (inspired by Balzac in Morges, Switzerland)

Went to Georgetown Cupcake with some friends

Boots from Curt to help with my many walks in the frigid winter (they look a lot cuter in person--not a great photo)

Made my favorite dish, clam chowder

Beautiful roses (that's the vase he gave me the day we got engaged so it makes me think of that whenever we use it.

Chocolate ganache cake with Ben & Jerry's

 

June is so smart

On Sunday I asked June (after she did something silly),

"Are you my monkey?"

Without missing a beat she said, "Ooh, ooh, aah, aah!"

Yesterday I was on a call for work and she brought me her little sneakers. She has a shoe fettish. I couldn't put them on then so she wandered off. A couple minutes later I saw her with one shoe on--on the proper foot, I might add.

One of Curt's co-workers, a friend from Geneva, came to NYC for meetings. He surprised us with a box of Rohr chocolates. WOAH! I was SO happy. Got them on Friday and they couldn't have come at a better time. Thursday night June and I went Visiting Teaching. We took the subway home and it was completely empty. Sort of felt eerie. Crowds are good in Manhattan if you ask me.

Grandma's Visit!

We were lucky to have Grandma Venita visit us for 10 days. It's always fun when she comes. We generally walk and walk, but we got hit with a pretty nasty cold front (think 20F that feel like 5F with wind). We still walked a lot, but we definitely enjoyed time inside (museums, food places, shops etc.) When I say enjoyed food...this post shows you we really did. Is that all we did?? Ha ha ha.

Ed's Lobster Bar for their famous lobster roll. They were delicious--I also loved the lobster bisque. Full of flavor. I'll go back for that.

June's favorite part (they were really good fries). June also liked the pickles. She ate the soup, bread and lobster as well.

Exhausted Daddy

At the special music exhibit at the Museum of the American Indian. She loved listening to the music and was sad to leave the headphones.

Carnitas (and corn on the cob) from La Esquina

Doughnuts from Doughnut Plant

Eileen's Special Cheesecake (well we got the special chocolate mousse)

The cashier was very sweet and gave June a cookie, which she clearly enjoyed.

Georgetown Cupcake We went there 3 times? 2 of the times we also got the free flavor of the day. Bonus!

Waffles and Dinges

Our church building. People often wonder what our building in Manhattan is like. It is 4 floors. Chapel is on top floor and everything else spread throughout. It's a lovely building and was remodeled inside less than 10 yrs ago.

We went on a trip to the Natural History Museum. There was a special exhibit on food. They had smelling booths. June has learned how to sniff in and blow out. She was in love with this one: cinnamon. She just kept smelling and smelling and smelling. It was hilarious.

She loved the animals and called most things we saw "dog." I'd say her favorite to see was maybe the elephant? Notice the favorite pink flowered skirt she insisted on wearing for 2 days.

Reading stories with Daddy