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Archive for the ‘Kiddos’ Category

Las Vegas, Day One

Posted in Kiddos, Oh on March 26, 2011| 4 Comments »

Friday:

1. Taking a first glimpse at the lions at the MGM Grand (which is larger than some towns in Nevada, I’m pretty sure).

2. Getting nostalgic for my peeps in NYC whilst traipsing through NY NY. Seeing huge grins on the faces of Lou and Ty as they came off the roller coaster for the second time in twenty minutes.

3. Marveling over the fact that there are FOUR FLOORS of M&Ms crap to be consumed, including a NASCAR race car and a cheesy 3D movie complete with abominably bad live acting.

4. Winning 500 tickets at Gameworks at the Wheel of Fortune game. Elementary schools spelling bee prowess pays off. Sucking at the driving games, which the 15 year old rocked. Playing pool on the crappiest tables ever, having to substitute a spare cue ball for a missing stripe.

5. Splitting ribs and chicken in the Rainforest Cafe back at the MGM Grand, then arriving at the lion habitat just in time for dinner! I can’t figure out how to download the video from my phone, but here’s a not-so-good photo I took when we were standing below them.

6. Making plans for a future stop at the Oxygen bar at Ex Caliber.

7. Walking waaaaay down the strip (it didn’t look that far on the map!) to Paris to ride to the top of the Eiffel Tower just in time for the first Bellagio fountain show of the evening. Watched the sun set spectacularly over the mountains.

8. Hoofing ALL THE WAY back to NY NY for the kiddos to experience the roller coaster at night, which was apparently the best way to do it.

9. Trekking for miles through the MGM Grand to the Garden Arena (no garden in sight) to arrive “just in time” for an 8 PM show at which the opening act, Scissor Sisters (two thumbs down from the niece and nephew), started at 8:45.

10. OMFGaga. Stunning. Brilliant. We danced and screamed and clapped and raised our paws and had our ever-loving minds blown. I spent twenty bucks on a “Born This Way” tote bag (yay green-team Gaga!), she was that good. BEST. CONCERT. EVER. I will see her again and again. The two 50-something couples in front of us seemed to enjoy it as well.

Can’t wait to see what day two brings!

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The Faces that Make me Thankful (in no particular order)

Posted in Kiddos, My Spectacular Friends on November 25, 2009| 6 Comments »

Aaron and I at La Alhambra in Granada, Spain a few days before Thanksgiving in 2006. He was my first and fastest friend at work. He's in NYC now, and I miss him.

Ang and Sam, my very fun, very gracious, very big-hearted friends who live just up the stairs. I learn from them every day.
Sean, Brian, Dave and Matt (sorry Beej, you should be in this shot as well!). Extraordinary musicians and men.
Elena, who lives upstairs and wrinkles up her nose every time she says “please?”.
Me and Paul in Bordeaux, France, a few days after Thanksgiving 2007. We met online (it was hell). He lives in DC now. I miss him. Apparently, after traveling abroad with me, people move far, far away.
Glory, who is Elena’s twin. Equally talented at kissing, singing and pinching.
The glamorous Jenny and Aaron, whom I’ve loved since college. They are kick-ass hosts, among other things.
Manny, who is big brother to the twins, far more coordinated than I’ve ever dreamed of being, and very tolerant of my singing. His hugs get my morning started right.

Me, Kristin, Christine, Jen, Jen, Jenny, Julie and Marilyn soaking up the sun at Hood Canal. The collective talent, wisdom, compassion and wit of these women makes me all warm and fuzzy inside.

Ty, Izzy, Linds, and Sam. My sisters’ fabulous kids. More on them in the August 18, 2009 post.

My friends are making new friends for me to love! Here are two of them: Clark and Liam. C-U-T-E.

Colby and Beth, Megan and Alex, me, Brian and Jill on a roasting hot August day in DC. On this trip there was crab killing, skinny dipping, and nonsense in the National Gallery. I loved it!

And there are others, but I don’t have photos of them! I am blessed. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

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A Few of my Favorite Things

Posted in Kiddos on August 18, 2009| Leave a Comment »

Who would’ve thunk, when I was stuck in the middle of the backseat of the Lemon Woody station wagon (I had – have – the shortest legs) as my family careened across no-man’s-land toward Idaho or went up and down the roller coaster hills on 104th on the way to church, that those two mostly-annoying sisters on either side of me would produce such delectable children?

Ty, Izzy, Lou and Sammy

Ty, Izzy, Lou and Sam

I have three nieces and a nephew, and each one of them is a unique delight. They’re the only people who actually like my singing, and I get excited each time I get to see them.

Lindsey – the oldest – is tall and pretty, athletic and shy. I find myself doing the goofiest things to coax a smile out of her, and when it happens, it makes me a little giddy.

Tyler is Lindsey’s younger brother. He’s easy to be around and game for almost anything. He’s a great audience – quick to laugh – and my favorite person to play cards with.

Isabella is Erin’s oldest, blondy-blonde, smart and self-confident. She loves to perform, and expresses herself in big ways. She wore her Alice in Wonderland costume for a year straight.

Samantha is the youngest – three and a half. She’s got huge blue eyes and dimples, and enough energy to power a small town. She’s really chatty, really headstrong, and really cute.

wickedErin and Izzy are going to see “Wicked” next week, and I can’t WAIT to hear all about it. It’s Izz’s first musical, and I expect that she’ll be totally entranced. I was hooked from the get-go. I was eight (or nine or ten) when my parents took us to see “Annie” at the Fifth Avenue Theatre. Were I a different kid, I’d be able to tell you about the cute dress I was wearing or the Shirley Temple I drank in the lobby or the experience of being surrounded by giant buildings in the “big city.” I don’t remember any such things, or much at all. Only the all-encompassing feeling of wonder and the certainty that I WANTED TO DO THAT SOMEDAY as I watched the sets changing after the chorus sang “We’d Like to Thank You, Herbert Hoover.” In the words of the WWotW, “What a world, what a world.”

I hope hope hope that Izzy, many years from now, will also re-experience the wonder each time she thinks about seeing “Wicked” as a six year old. I’m thinking I need to get the soundtrack for both of us, so that the next time we’re together we can sing.

A moment of silence during our Fourth of July "concert" of patriotic songs.

A moment of silence during our Fourth of July "concert" of patriotic songs.

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