Cupcake Class at Butter Lane

CUPCAKES GALORE!!!

 Larissa, Kathy and I bought a Groupon for Butter Lane's cupcake making class. It was a lot of fun and we came home with a bazillion cupcakes.

The chef teaching the class cracked us up. She would give instructions and we would try to follow them, but she would jump in that she didn't say 'yet.' We learned some great cupcake recipes and delicious icing recipes and tricks for yummy cupcakes.

I think I ate most of cupcakes-good thing I am eating for 2!

School and Sweetness

 Andrew is SUPER excited every afternoon when I pick him up to show me things around his classroom. I personally LOVE this self portrait:) He is doing well now and we can't wait to see what the year holds!

 Ryan and Quinn playing at the playground-burying our tootsies as Ryan says.

 Ryan wants to be a big kid so bad

 We have these rare moments when they are both so sweet you can hardly stand it.  This picture was one day when they wouldn't stay in childcare at the gym but would play on the treadmill beside me.

 At dinner every night we talk about our favorite part of the day, least favorite, etc..  Andrew told me his least favorite this particular day was that Ryan couldn't go to school with him. I told him that after we move home when he is in third grade Ryan would be in Kindergarten and they would ride the bus together.  Then when he is a senior in high school Ryan would be a freshman and they could either ride together or maybe even just walk together if they went down the street. Ryan was listening at that point and he chimed in "I hold Annews hand." So sweet. All he heard was the walking part and he knew he wanted to hold his big bro's hand. Andrew tried to correct him-Ryan, we will be big then (like, duh, I wouldn't be caught dead…)

This is how they fall asleep every night after some arguing. Then we move Ryan to his own bottom bunk. Yes, that is sweat on Andrew.

Ryan's First Day of Preschool

Ryan started school! Well, kind of:) He goes two days a week for two hours. The first day was super successful. He didn't see me sneak out and didn't even cry! The next few days weren't quite as successful, but once he was pulled away he settled quickly and seems to enjoy it when I pick him up. He is exhausted but super high energy when I pick him up and now I just need to figure out when he can nap! 

MADONNA!!

Okay, so all these pictures are really horrible. 

But, Larissa and I saw MADONNA at Yankee Stadium! It was so cool!

It basically rained ALL day and we were a bit worried that we were going to be soaking wet. But, we got lucky and are seats were under an overhang! Thanks Rob! 

She put on an amazing show. She mainly sang stuff off of her new album which kind of sucks, but did manage a few oldies but goodies. It was very showy and VERY loud (maybe I am just getting old?!) but was a once in a lifetime experience. So glad I got to go!

1 And I was up waaaay past my bedtime. She didn't even come onstage until 1030! 

Chocolate Tour of NY

I think in April, five of us bought a Groupon for the Chocolate Tour of New York.  It took us 5 months to find a date that worked for 4 of us (Cady went alone before she moved :(. 

This tour took us to 7 or 8 different chocolate hot spots around Chelsea, Greenwich and Soho.  We sampled lots of delicious and different chocolates and had a fun night. 

                                         Me, Larissa, Mary and Brooke

 My first time trying Magnolia Bakery! This cupcake was delicious-yet suuuuuuper sweet.

 This place had some very unusual and cool chocolate. Mango and chipotle or something.  Very good.

 We had a little girls night out dinner afterwards. Stuffed and stuffed! Love doing cool NY Adventure things while we are here!

1st Day of WHA?!?!??

I don't know how, but we are the parents of a KINDERGARTENER!!

                        Yummy chocolate chip waffles for a power breakfast for the first day!

                                        Ryan had to be a part of first day pictures!

 

                            Our big boy rockin' out in his MNS P.S. 290 shirt!

                                                      Family shot with Fasbee

 No bus for this boy. Just a short little walk

 Looking happy, looking tired, and screaming crying all within 20 minutes.

The first day was a half day. Chris got to work from home in the morning and go pick him up with us and we all went to Big Daddy's for lunch.
 The next day was his first full day and he wasn't too happy at drop off again (hysterical to be exact), but told me he had a fun day it was just too long. The next few days have been exhausting, but I think we are heading in the right direction.  Cheers to a successful first year of ALL DAY kindergarten!

KPMG Labor Day Picnic

Last year we got together with three other families on the Great Lawn for a Labor Day picnic. This year I sent out an email to the wives I had met and holy smokes, it snowballed. I think we had 50+ people! It was crazy to try and meet everyone and semi-watch your children!

Braxton       Katie

                                                   Wrestling in the grass

                                                Celebrating Henry's 6th Birthday

                                            One of the few adult pictures I took Jess, me , Larissa and Mary

                                                      Baby Alex

                                                  Mikey, Ashley, tired Ryan, Andrew and Henry

                                                             Mikey cheesing

                                               Quinn attacking Andrew

                                                           Quinn

                                                          Family shot