Mommy Turns 4Q!

After looking at the candles, Patrick declared that Mommy is "four and Q." Sounds a lot better than forty, doesn't it?

Baseball Player

Birthday Get-away

We left Patrick with Gran-D and Auntie B, and headed to NYC for our first weekend away in over 2 years. We took the train from Irvington Saturday morning, checked into the hotel, and had a big lunch at Sarge's Deli. We found some comfortable walking shoes for Robin, then went to the Met so Robin could meet George. George was a medieval statue bequeathed by Michael's grandfather. Unfortunately, the Medieval wing was being renovated, and George was in storage.

To avoid walking in the high-80s sun, we took a pedicab through Central Park to Times Square. The driver was an older fellow from Queens, and with the accent, constant commentary and opinion, all that was missing was an old Checker! What a wonderful New York City cab experience.

At TKTS we stood in line and tried to decide which Broadway show we wanted to see that night. When our first three choices were unavailable, we went with 39 Steps, which turned out to be an excellent decision. We had gelato for dinner, then thoroughly enjoyed the show. Hitchock mixed with Monty Python... we didn't understand that description until we saw it, but it was accurate.

We then opted for a late pizza at Lombardi's, the oldest pizzeria in the US, and enjoyed a wonderful clam pie, as well as a traditional margarita for leftovers. The old coal ovens add a spectacular flavor to the fine crust. After dinner, we wandered across the street to Rice to Riches, drawn by a sign, "Finally Rice Pudding that Doesn't Suck". They were right.

The next morning, Robin was spoiled with an in-room massage, then we headed to B&H to pick out Robin's birthday present, the camera lens she's been drooling over.

We gathered bread, cheese, salami, and gelato for the train ride home, then eagerly headed back for a reunion with our boy. Gran-D and Patrick were waiting for us at the train station, and Patrick was very excited to see Mommy and Daddy get off the train.

By all reports he had a wonderful time in Irvington, so we may just have to try it again sometime...

Easter at Gigi & GrandBob's

The Park on Park Street

Patrick Perfects the Cheesy Smile

Mr. Red Riding Hood

With the cousins in Wells.

Another 40th Birthday Celebration

Carolyn and Sue's birthdays this time, at Walter's in the Old Port.

Hanging Out in the Big Boy Room

The linens arrived today, and Patrick was so excited to have "Daddy's covers!" (His new quilt is similar to one Michael had growing up.) The flowers come down soon, and the purple floor will have to go...

CoLorAdo

Patrick has recently become fascinated with the U.S. map hanging on the wall in his room. He loves pointing out New York, Maine, Virginia, and Colorado, and naming who lives where. Today he pointed to Colorado, then mentioned that it had A for Alex, C for Carol, and L for Luca. (No H for Hopscotch, though...)

Easter Egg Hunt

The second of four this year...

Then and Now

Jack, Buzzy, Abbott, Patrick, and Vaughn, April 2007.

Abbott, Vaughn, Jack, Patrick, and Buzzy two years later...

Blue Hands

The Yoga Boys gathered together at Vaughn's house to color Easter eggs. Patrick managed to find the one cup that had highly concentrated blue dye, and spent the rest of the evening with smurf hands. Most of it came out in a long soak, but the rest will just take time...