New York Trip- Family Dinner

Sunday we left church, ran home for a quick change of clothes and headed off to Grandma's for a very nostalgic dinner with family.  While the entire extended family wasn't there, it was wonderful that we were able to be be there together and laugh as a family.

Growing up, we would always meet at Grandma's for holidays, and, during the summer, utilize her very wonderful screen house.  We would all squeeze in there and share familiar food and laugh and just have such a good time together.  

So...here we go!

Ok, is there a cuter baby boy picture out there?  Oh...my...goodness.  My cousin Trevor sat Owen on his lap and flopped his hat onto his head.  *sigh*.

 My cousin Trevor's little girl, Capri who was almost 6 months, and our little Owen who just turned 7 months.  Saying hello!

 And the little girls with crazy uncle Bob.  We love Uncle Bob (story later)!  So, here we started with Marin and my sister's little girl, Lydia.

 Aaaand then we added in the babies.

 Take 3.

 Take 4.  We seem to be losing focus here.

 Take 5.

 Take 6.  Success!!  Bob asked how got roped into this, haha!

 Me, Grandma and Owen.

 a FOUR generation photo!  Virginia Owens, David Owens, Samantha Lyman, Marin and Owen Lyman.

 My cousin Trevor, his wife Megan and their 6 month old baby girl Capri.

 

Marin and Mama in the leaves.

 The house where I lived for a little over 3 years while I was in nursing school.  My grandfather Merlin Owens built this house, accompanying screen house, barn, tool shed and toy shed with his own two hands.

 The lovely little screen house that has housed our summer family get-togethers for years.

 And a family photo!  

Back Row:  (red hat) Uncle Brian, Jacob, cousin Carter, Matthew, cousin Trevor with Capri, Uncle Bob and Aunt Brenda.

Middle Row: Tabitha with Lydia, cousin Janelle, cousin Hunter

Bottom Row:  Samantha with Owen, Grandma Virgina, David with Marin, Alison.

So...Uncle Bob....growing up, we went camping every year in the Adirondacks, all together as a family.  Uncle Bob did my hair one year...to resemble Pippi Longstocking.  Um, yeah.  I had shellacked braids in my hair that curved for the sky.  

When I was in nursing school and almost done, he called and pretended he was from the state penitentiary stating he was reviewing my application and that they would love to hire me on to work with the inmates.  Oh that silly Uncle Bob, always looking for laugh.  Our family wouldn't be right without Bob!

And, in case you were wondering about the Owens family name and Owen my son, let me explain.  My maiden name is Owens.  When I was younger, and I read the Anne of Green Gables book series, the main character Anne named her son after her maiden name...a very common and traditional way to pay homage to the wife's maiden name and family back then.  I loved the idea and Kris and I both loved the name Owen anyway.  I love that I can give a wonderful, strong name to my son that carries so much meaning and gratitude.  I was very happy and proud to take my husband's last name when we were married and I wouldn't want it any other way, but I also loved that I could pass on a strong family name from my side of the family.  Hence, our little boy, Owen!

New York Trip-Girls Day Out

Usually anytime my sister Tabitha or I are in town, we always go to Skaneateles, an absolutely lovely and well kept town located on one of the finger lakes.  AND...we always eat at the Sherwood Inn, at this point, it's tradition.  A sea blue Inn and Restaurant with a view of the lake, they have rustic American fare and SUPER yummy french fries.  And, what about the children, you ask?  Haha...NOT included!  My dad was brave and spent ALL day with them at home, yes, an entire 8 hours with my three year old, Tabitha's 18 month old, and my 7 month old.  Thanks daddy!

 A picture of the front of The Sherwood Inn.

 And, we NEVER get dessert at The Sherwood Inn....we simply swing out the back door and walk over to La Patisserie.  The name should tell you it's good, no?  Breads and pastries and cakes, oh YES! 

 Here we all are in front of La Patisserie.

 Yes, that's the dessert I chose, soooo Samantha, I know ;)

 One of their cases of confections.

 *ahem*....right, so uhhhh, who put this in here?!  This is uh, well, I don't know who these crazy people are, nor why we took a picture of them with my camera....*ahem*......

 After dessert, we drove over to the gallery and farm of MacKenzie Childs.  If you have never heard of them, they are kind of like a Pottery Barn, but their items are *crazy* decorated and almost fantastical in design...think of Alice in Wonderland.  Really.  If you like their stuff, be prepared to spend a pretty penny!  One goblet?  $78.  Yeah.

 Their grounds were absolutely breathtaking.

 So serene.

 You can see the lake in the distance.

Ok, their vegetable garden?  Gorgeous!!!  My sister and I were drooling over all of the amazing vegetables that were proliferating there.  They had everything...cabbage, peppers, swiss chard, kale, beets, carrots, onions, tomatoes, lettuce.  I was so tempted to find a vintage wicker basket, load it up with veggies and make a run for it!

 Ummm, gorgeous (insert arm waving head shaking).

 Yes, I'd like to nap riiiight....here.

 Our little visitor in the garden.  He was VERY friendly and loved the attention.

 It was a VERY relaxing day with my mom and sister, I always love going when I come home.  And my dad DID survive the day, although he was a little tuckered out that evening!

New York Trip-The Zoo

"We're goin' to the zoo, zoo, zoo...how about you, you, you...you can come too, too, too, we're goin' to the zoo, zoo, zoo....."-for any fellow Raffi listeners out there.

So, as you can guess, we went to the zoo!  A zoo is a great option for kids, and let me tell you why.  Your children can run run run, the animals are all in cages, snacking is allowed anywhere, the kids get so excited over looking at animals, you get great pictures...not to mention great kudos for doing something so          super-tastic with your children, and then, they fall asleep in the car on the way home...oh yeah!

So, a picture is worth a thousand words, so I guess I will let these pictures do most of the talking then!

Owen and grandpa

 Hey smiley guy!

 Marin and cousin Lydia, my sister Tabitha's little girl.

 Feeding those greedy little goats.

 Classic Marin face.

 Marin was pretty sure she didn't want goats eating out of her hand, so she generously offered the entire cup of goat food and tried to get down.

 And what did one goat desire for lunch?  MY SHIRT!  Uh, yeah!  I felt a little tugging on my shirt and noticed a goat was starting to chow down on my attire!  Luckily I caught it in time, so no harm done.  He would have been one sad goat......

 Happy little lemurs.

 I just thought this snake was cool.

 Lovely leopard.

 You may not be able to see, but there is a baby joey hanging out of mama wallaby's pouch there, he was nibbling on some grass, so cute!

 Get a load of this finely whiskered creature, he has quite the moustache!

 Owen complaining about his sleeping quarters.

 Aaaaand five minutes later....

 Marin and Lydia going down the slide together.  Lydia is about the cutest little thing, she is just so sweet.  They had a great time going down the slide together numerous times.

I have many more pictures to showcase, but I figured the smart way would be to break them all up into separate blog posts...I get a little bored when there are too many pictures all in one post myself, so there is more to come!  I also uncovered some childhood photos of myself this afternoon, and I'll be able to use my parent's scanner to add them to my photo archive and post them for you all to see!  I'm really kind of excited about that!

We are having lots of fun here in NY, my sister already went home today, so I'm super bummed about that.  BUT, we still have lots more to do!

Gearing Up!!

I am super excited!  My mom is flying the kids and me out to New York for two weeks, wohooo!  Plus, my sister will be there with her little girl, so I am really stoked!  

We leave on Thursday and come back on the 28th.  It is slightly daunting to think of traveling ALONE with two children on a tight airplane for 6 hours...considering I've had to leave church early for the last two weeks because Owen can't sleep anywhere beside's his bed and becomes a loud boy-siren.  Hmmmm.  I'm hoping I can rely on a little Benadryl for help with that one.  However, I will not let that stop me from a wonderful 2 weeks with my family.  I know I have many willing hands to cuddle my little ones, so that will be nice.  Plus, it's nice to have my mommy around, it takes some pressure off of ME having to be a mommy.  I don't have to make dinner every night, sa-weeet!  

So wish me luck in my preparation, and if you have any good flight/travel tips, please share them by leaving them in the comments, I can always use the help!  And then wish me luck with the flight too, I'm bracing myself!

Jump!

We were looking for a good Saturday activity for Marin to burn off some energy, so we went to a place called Jump On It.  It's filled with trampolines and bouncy houses, it's really a great place and we had a lot of fun.  They have separate areas for kids 4 and under and then for the adults...and then a small spot for the super ambitious teenagers.  It wasn't that crowded...only because I think it's really confusing to find! 

Marin had a ton of fun, but next time we'll need to go with friends, I think she would have had a better time with a playmate.  And, Kris and I would have been able to jump around together too...we could only jump one at a time with the kids.

 She was so tiny jumping around....but they calibrate the kids trampolines just for little one's!

 The little guy.

 Hey little fella!

 Marin heading into the bouncy house.

 Jumping with daddy!

 Jumping with mommy!

 Kris doing some flips, such a stud ;)

We will definitely go back, it was very reasonable pricewise, and next time...I'm going to get some jump time in too!