A Father's Day Win: A New Toy for Dad

James said this was the best father's day he's ever had. THE BEST! I had kind of hoped that his declaration was based on my phenomenal performance in the kitchen (because just look at that fresh fruit tart) but turns out the real reason this was the best one yet was because we bought him a toy instead of socks! Yes, James is now the proud owner, or should I say father, of a white quadcopter drone and let me tell you that baby has totally consumed every one of his thoughts and daydreams since Sunday morning at 7 am when he opened the big box wrapped in jazzy paper. The shock and excitement on his face let me know that I had done good, reeeaaaal good. It's Tuesday night and the only reason he's not flying it right now is because there's a serious thunderstorm happening right outside our window. Otherwise you know where he'd be (the same place he spent most of Sunday and our Monday FHE!)

Sheep Meadow, that city view, and those boys who were so delighted I can't even begin to tell you. I think we have a new Father's tradition--toys for Dad. I'm guilty of buying need gifts over want gifts, especially for adults, but seeing him revert to an 11-year-old has been so much fun I want to do it again and again and again! I did promise him so many years ago that I would be the spice in his serious life, and this drone was just what all of us needed!

 Quinn and her big city. 

QUINN!!! Oh, you mean this post is supposed to be about the drone? Right, right. But how cute is Quinn?

Come visit and fly with us, I mean him...I wouldn't touch that thing for fear of breaking it if my life depended on it.

Future Yailees?

A few weekends ago we took the train to New Haven to see Yale campus. Our friends Gladriel and Jared both went there for law school, so they were the perfect tour guides showing us all around this gorgeous and historic campus. We were all impressed! Talmage even mentioned that behind BYU and Stanford, Yale was his #1 choice!

Future Yailees?

Future Yailee!!!

We ate our way right around this place, which happens to be the Wiggy's favorite way to get to know a town. The ice cream at Ashley's is shipped in fresh from a farm close to New Haven and holy hannah is it creamy and perfect.

 Our awesome friends and their cutie-pie kids.

Sally's Pizza gets two thumbs up for deliciousness and service! I was so excited about their ovens and before I knew it they had invited me back to {pretend} shovel coal into the flames. It made my day!

This cuddle muffin hung close to me on the train ride home, and I don't think it was only because I am the keeper of watermelon bubblegum. 

Oakley 10K in Central Park

I've decided that 10K's are my jam--long and hard enough to feel accomplished but not so long that you want to die afterwards and regret it for the rest of the month (mm-hm, my half marathon feelings exactly thank you very much). A girlfriend invited us to run the women's only Oakley 10K with her and I'm so, super glad that I jumped on this bandwagon because it was so much fun! We trained for about 7 weeks and called ourselves the BRC--Bad Runners Club. I would say we lived up to our name, but to be honest on race day I was just so proud of us for jogging the whole race and finishing it. WE DID IT!!!  

Pre-race jitters for all!

These cuties (and their Dad and baby sister) were waiting for me on the corner of 70th and Central Park West to cheer and pump me up. It worked! Seeing those littles I love so dearly made me feel like I could win the whole race!

And I did win the race! Ha, just kidding obviously! But I was super proud of myself for finishing and shockingly I can't wait to do another one. The race gave us each a medal and pink carnation and James and the kids brought me gatorade and red roses. It's so fun to accomplish something! 

Me and my babies at the finish line!

I loved seeing all the dads along the race course with babies and strollers in tow, mine included! I love women working together and I love the men that support them--especially this one.

How's that for a family picture!

I'd be lying if I said that running was the best part of the experience because clearly it was our congrats/happy birthday brunch at The Smith! Good girls and good food after a good run, now that is how to have a good Saturday!

Field Day

Another day another activity for my favorite kindergartener. This time it was field day, a production consisting of silly relay races, a massive game of duck duck goose, a picnic lunch and communal dessert--and lots of it! Everett became the 26th member of the class for the day so that all the kids had a partner and he didn't mind at all; he doesn't understand why he can't just go to school with his big brother every day. I can't believe this school year is coming to a close, it seems like just yesterday I was sobbing through parents night the week before T started school! 

3-legged race!

T and Jaime--they've arranged their own marriage which will be happening asap if Jaime has anything to say about it! She's a spicy little doll!

That dress-up relay gets me every time, how funny is that?! 

Speaking of crazy, Quinn was still in my belly when the school year started and she was ALL OVER THE PLACE at this picnic--crawling, standing, stealing food and eating grass. That baby is the best!

On our way home we say "Seymour" parked on our street and my Cars-crazy boys went wild. Obviously we had to grab a picture! 

After our awesome time at T's event, a few hours working in T's classroom and then a couple of hours after school playing in the fountains we came home exhausted and filthy. There is nothing I love more than a dirty baby at the end of the day who has played hard and experienced childhood to the fullest (and by baby, I mean all three of my babies) so today felt like a total success! 

GNO: The Whitney

My friend Elise invited some friends out on a girls date (including baby Maia, swoon) to the new Whitney Museum in Chelsea. The art is modern and fresh and the galleries are white-walled, spacious and clean. Some of the art I loved and some of the art I didn't but the greatest part about an art museum for a non-artist like myself is figuring out what art speaks to me and what it says. Of course the best part of the GNO was the view from the rooftop gallery, the conversations both silly and serious, and my first ever black and white cookie (it's about time I tried one of those!)    

The view!!! I wish I could (would) carry my big camera around with me more often (ever) but I'm so grateful that I have this silly phone that can take pictures on the fly. On the bottom right of this picture is a rooftop restaurant with gorgeous twinkle lights and warm music playing. I cannot even express how much I want to eat at that restaurant--I stared at it for ages.

These were some of my favorites. I guess I'm a patriot or something!

Another successful GNO logged into my NYC memory bank!

Fox & Friends: The Wiglets' Morning Show Debut

A friend of a friend is a producer for Fox & Friends and needed some kids to come try out this summer's hottest toys on their morning show. I've missed a few morning show opportunities because of doctors appointments and other commitments so this time I was raising both hands high in the air to volunteer before I even knew what my kids would have to do! Talmage cried for a solid 20 minutes after I pitched the program to him. "I'm not meant for TV Mom, I don't want to do it!" I ain't no stage-mom ya'll, so I told him he could make his own decision and then explained to him that his job would simply be to play with toys--no talking, no questions, no in-your-face cameras....and donuts at the end. With that it was sealed, he was going to be a movie star (but so help them ask a single question in his direction!)   

Everett and Hudson are best little buds and were partners in crime on that water slide. Soaked is just about an understatement when describing what they looked like when the segment finished, but no doubt their smiles made morning show history!

The boys did great and had so much fun! They jumped on this bad boy (all you backyard people, get one of these pronto!), raced down water slides and shot arrows at the Fox News windows with awesome glow-in-the-dark bows. After it was all said and done Talmage said, "Being on TV is actually not as hard as I thought it'd be!" 

They really wanted the boys for the taping, but I'm sure there is no question about who stole the show! Our little Miss Quinn was immediately swooped up by these two pretty Eliz(s)abeth's after the segment. She smiled and cooed and wanted to be held and loved (and admired) by everyone. I don't know guys, maybe this girl has a future in show business!