NYC

We went to NYC this weekend. Kat stayed with her cousins and had a great time. We also had a great time. I hadn't been in NYC since 2002, before we left town. I took Kat's xmas present with us- her new camera. Instead of buying her a kid's camera, for just a few bucks more, I bought her a tiny, pink Vivitar camera. 12.1 megapixels! And it weighs about 6 oz, so it was perfect to have in my pocket. Plus I should get to know it a little bit. I'm pretty happy with her new toy, as I suspect she will be as well. I do have to figure out how to remove the date line. That's just annoying.





Apparently 2 weeks before xmas, Santas are coming out of the woodwork.....and by afternoon they were all drunk. Kat would have loved to see and hug each and every one of them!
We walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, which was amazing. I like these pics. Excepting the date line.....

Statue of liberty

From the Staten Island ferry

NYC

From the Brooklyn bridge

Ice Skating and rock vs windshield

Driving home from DT this AM, going about 50, merging into heavy traffic on the 33 and WHAM apparently a monster rock gets launched into my windshield. It was SO LOUD. I lost hearing in my left ear for a few minutes. I never flinched or swerved, but I think I stopped breathing for a minute. I don't know if I've ever been so grateful for the strength of a windshield before. But I am now. That almost-hole is directly in front of me. And it's 2" in diameter! I have no idea what hit me or how fast it was going, but I cannot wait to get my new windshield tomorrow AM. I think the strength of the windshield MAY have been compromised.



Now to the ice skating adventure....


We found an ice skating class and signed Kat up. Tonight was her first class and she did awesome! And she loved it! She was so proud of being able to walk in her little hockey skates on the rubber mats. Then when she got out on the ice, she kept it up and did great. She fell several times, but was always laughing and by the end was able to get back up all by herself without help or the use of the boards.

Apparently, I have to get some skates also, as all the parents get to go out on the ice and skate with their kids after class, which is pretty cool. She will be showing me up in no time. Note the kid is wearing hockey skates-- could have gone either way. I also have a pair of ice skates, but they were too big and the ice skates fit her perfectly. As far as we can tell, anyway!

Kat's new gig as a dog walker

Leaves

Tunneling through the leaves

More Halloween pics..... I thought of the gloves (my idea) were a nice touch.

sorting thru her loot with our little neighbor (and her future bus/schoolmate) Robbie.


This is how one walks our guest dog. With an ace bandage as a leash. And don't forget the crown!

Halloween fun, fun, fun

I had been told that Halloween was a month-long activity. It is quite close. We have had many activities already, starting with our an outing to the Zoo last Saturday, followed by our annual Halloween party last Sunday (no pics). Thursday night all of the Buffalo cousins went trick or treating at the mall. Though we didn't manage to stay together and never even saw Ch., I'm pretty sure she was there. Yesterday, Kat trick or treated at school and came home with a boatload of candy (I had NO IDEA there were that many people at her school).

Last night was a fun-filled Halloween party at the Y. Today, since Dan is sick (well, we all are, but he's the sickest), I got her out of the house to go trick or treating at the local community college. That place was jam packed and we had to stand outside in the cold for a long time before we made it in. At least it wasn't yet raining and we're not further east and don't have actual snow to worry about yet. So far she has been tinkerbell, a kitty cat, a butterfly and a dragon (which is an unbelievably cute costume). We still have a neighbor's Halloween party tomorrow and actual trick-or-treating (a very little bit) on Monday evening. Since she goes to bed so early and needs to be well rested for school, instead of going out with the cousins, we are going to do some early trick or treating in the neighborhood before Daddy has to go to class. we might meet some of our neighbors......finally!

Trick or treating

some videos

Here are a few videos of some of Kat's recent activities.

Future roller derby queen!!

Wedding pics...finally!!!

When Kat dragged us over to look at this caterpillar, we thought it was a plastic toy. Or some kind of joke being played. But we moved it to safety in the bushes and concluded that it was a very real, very freaky caterpillar. It will become a spicebush swallowtail if it survives larvahood (my very own Palinism??). It was really cool- even the bride saw it and marveled at it.


This is the flower girl's new 'do. It could be hard to see it with the temper tantrum and all....She did really well all day, with only 2 fits (and she was tired after the first week of school and the rehearsal party). She danced 'till 10! And told Cheryl that she looked like a princess!
Twirling all the while..
A better look at her hair. She insisted on standing up there with the ladies instead of sitting with us! They were her peeps. Not us!


Out of order, but this is how the FG left the wedding (long ride home you know....). That is her cousin Andrew, who changed out of his Army uniform and into a tux for the party.
Cutting the cake.



I missed the bridal dance, but got Tom & Cheryl.
She has that little self-satisfied smirk on her face. She did great. A little hesitation at the top of the aisle, but then Adam started and she tried to keep up with him.

How time flies...she's driving!!!