Happy Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year! We went to NY and spent the holiday with family. Karen made a delicious feast, and we all ate way too much! But it was "mmm mmm good Clark". 

Leah watching the Macy's parade before guests arrived. I'm not sure she could see it from there...

Rita and Aine

Eric and the girls...Leah looks so thrilled!

Karen and Aine:

Cali, Michelle and Rita:

Nikki and Steve:

Eric and Frank:

Karen, Aine and Maureen:

Leah hugging cousin Nikki:

Misc WPB Pictures

Here are some miscellaneous pictures from the West Palm visit.

With Great Aunt Sharon...

With Bill and Cynthia. Bill such a kid himself...Leah had a blast playing with him. "I like Uncle Bill"

Fortunately the pool was heated, although perhaps not enough for Leah. She only stayed in about 5 minutes...

nice glasses...

Leah was very excited to see Eric when we got home...in fact Eric grew a third leg.

Long Overdo Visits

This has been a busy couple of weeks. With all the miles we've logged, we were able to catch up with some friends and family that we haven't seen in a looooonnnngg time! Although I'm currently exhausted and longing for routine, I  wouldn't have traded these reunions for anything!

On our way back from West Palm, the girls and I stopped in Ormond Beach to see my Aunt Pat, Uncle Joe, cousin Noelle and her daughters Greer and Charlotte. It was so great to see them again...and to meet the girls! Leah loved them both...in fact the first words out of her mouth the next morning were, "I go see Charlotte."

Aunt Pat and Aine:

Noelle, Aine and Greer

Leah and Charlotte:

Charlotte and Aine:

Greer and Leah:

Greer playing with Aine:

Joe and Pat with me and the girls:

I got to see Debbie and her mom. Unfortunately I forgot the camera and had to rely on my phone...hence the blur:

I stopped off in Greenacres to see Eric's cousins Sue, Cory, Colin and Baby_____. Leah and Colin are only a month apart. She had a great time playing with him in his toy room!

I went down to Pembroke Pines to catch up with one of my very best college buddies, Tim. I was able to meet his beautiful family: wife Renee and children Julia and Jackson. Although it had been almost 10 years since I'd last seen him, it felt like college all over again :) They're expecting number 3 in April...can't wait to find out what they're having!

While in NY, Eric was able to reunite with the "crew" he worked with at the Marriott almost 15 years ago when he was a bellman. The hotel is now a Hyatt and has apparently changed quite a bit, but Eric really enjoyed seeing everyone again and hearing what they were up to.

Happy Birthday Mom!

My mom's 60th birthday was on November 17th, so we had a surprise party for her. I have such a great family who offered up homes, brought food, and helped contribute photos and stories for a scrapbook gift. It really made me miss being in WPB....well made me miss my family, not the city itself :) Mom was truly surprised and (as far as I know) had a great day! Unfortunately, time passed too quickly, and the next thing you know it was time to go...but overall it was an overwhelming success and a wonderful day. Thank you so much to Al and Janice for hosting, Aunt Linda for helping get mom there, and everyone else for their food and contribution. Happy birthday Mom! I love you!

Leah wouldn't be slowed down by taking pictures...she had cake to eat!

Thick as thieves...Leah and Jillian eating ice (even though they were told not to):

OBVIOUSLY she doesn't enjoy eating cupcakes...

Al was prepared to light the candles with a torch if needed...

Too cute! I started snapping pictures of Aine and her (month older) cousin Kristen, and Kristen grabbed and held her hand :)

Aine with Uncle Rob:

Dreher Park Zoo

While we were in West Palm, my dad, Kate, Aunt Sharon, Heather, Jillian, Kristen, Leah, Aine and I went to the Dreher Park Zoo. (Wow..when I write it like that, I realize how out-estrogened he was!) It was a great time, but the big hits for Leah and Jillian were the carousel and the tractor...oh well, maybe the animals will be more alluring next time. They both really enjoyed helping the staff feed the birds and then feeding the ducks on their own. I forgot that they have a fountain area at the entrance and neglected to bring Leah's bathing suit. But Jillian being the go-getter she is, got her clothes all wet...leaving her bathing suit for Leah. Bonus: it was a Nemo bathing suit :) 

Feeding the ducks:

playing Ring-Around-the-Rosie with Jillian:

and then with Pop-Pop:

enjoying some mouth-watering (and greening) popsicles:

sitting like the little lady she is:

Baby Kristen attempting to eat her foot:

sitting on "Tommy Turtle":

with Jillian, Heather and Aunt Sharon looking at the tiger:

helping to feed the birds: