NYC PART 2: BATTERY PARK

After lunch in Washington Square Park and Dominique Ansel Bakery, we took an Uber down to Battery Park. I have been there before but it didn't woo me like it did on this particular day. It almost felt like we had been transplanted to another planet - something about the warm and muggy air, splashes of the waves, bright green foliage contrasted against the old and new buildings in concert together, made the experience feel dreamlike.

You can't see it at all in these photos, but from where we stood, we could see the Statue of Liberty off in the distance. When I saw it, hazy underneath the bright sun, I felt incredibly moved. The part of me that had pretty much laid down in exhaustion and discouragement because of the recent events in the news and election, was moved to sit up. IS America great? I had found myself wondering over and over again.  But that glimpse of the statue of Liberty fortified something in me. The statue that symbolized hope for so many of the weary and heavy-hearted: this is the sort of thing that makes America great.

I wanted a photo with Sloane here to remember how peaceful I felt in this moment.

Also, Logan's sleeping face.

The main reason I wanted to come down to Battery Park was to check out the Sea Glass Carousel there with Sloane. It was as ethereal and lovely as I had hoped. Sloane and I rode one together in happy awe and appreciation.

Afterwards, we had a little snack on the bench. Grilled cheese for Sloane, butternut squash packet for Logan and a shandy for me.

We were right next to the Pier A Harbor House, the restaurant where we were meeting family for dinner that night and realized that it was also in full view of the Freedom Tower, or the One World Trade Center. The last time I was here it wasn't completed yet, so it was my first time beholding it all in its finished state.

We had a truly lovely evening with dinner and drinks here that night, celebrating Sharon and Paul, meeting family members and friends, and marveling at the joy of togetherness.

NYC PART 1: OUR AIRBNB AND SOHO

It will surprise no one that knows me even a little bit  that I love New York City. You guys, I really love New York. I love New York with two little kids, I love New York in the rain, I love New York in the sweaty heat - all of which happened this past weekend. I don't love New York as much when I am in an subway elevator, which should more accurately be called the pee box because it smells so aggressively of urine, with my babies, drowning in smothering heat while the elevator moves at an incredibly slow speed. But, I still love New York.

It was wonderful to visit with husband and kids, and it was worth it all to be able to cart them around everywhere and observe them take it all in. Sloane loved romping around the city and Logan took stroller naps and happily toddled about wherever we would let her.

I'm breaking up photos from the weekend into several posts because there are a lot of photos, so be on the look out for a lot of posts about the trip.

I found an Airbnb close to the wedding venue, and close to the places that my parents and sister were staying, in the West Village. The location was amazing - 5 min walk to Washington Square Park, the apartment was spacious and lovely, and the location was amazing. Did I say that already? Location is EVERYTHING. Especially with little kids. This building also had an elevator, which isn't always the case in the city, and I did a happy dance as we rode the elevator (with our giant stroller) to the fourth floor, instead of walking it up the stairs. Hey, the little things.

Sloane was so excited for the trip in the weeks and days leading up.  While Ken and I were packing, she decided to pack her own bag of things she considered essential.  I wasn't quite sure what she had put in there, but as soon as we got to the apartment, she went to work, unpacking and setting up everything on the nightstand next to our bed. Out of bag came: a framed photo of Rusty, our dog, a brush, chopsticks, owl night light, bunny ears, a book, a pen, a birthday invitation to a birthday party long past, and her favorite book, which is a journal that she draws pictures in. 

This whole entire trip felt justified in this moment of watching her unpack with great satisfaction. 

Sloane took this photo of the flowers in the apartment, at her request.

I have said this before and I'll probably say it a few more times: having my whole family, Ken and the girls, and also my parents, my sisters,  and cousins all together in the city of New York was like a dream come true. When we got into the city and settled into our Airbnb, we met up with my parents for lunch at a place down the street.  We then headed off to meet some friends that who also happen to be in the city. We picked up sushi burritos and poke bowls and ate our lunch in the park on a park bench -people watching, pigeon watching. Sloane pranced about and begged to be allowed into the fountain, which is probably gross, but I had already decided that I wasn't going to freak out about it and resolved to just give them a thorough bath later, so in she went. She was thrilled even when she slipped and got her entire lower body soaking wet. It was so warm that she tried off within 30 minutes of walking around.

Photo by my dad. The OG of documenting everything. I learned from the best!

Dominique Ansel's bakery was not too far away from the park so we walked there afterwards for dessert and I do not regret it one tiny bit. I had a hard time deciding in there but I ended up getting pink pig puff pastry for Sloane, which brought her immense joy, and this amazing grapefruit and thyme panna cotta, which brought me immense joy. 

We walked over to Soho to stroll the streets and visit Nike lab with our friends. It's funny because I used to come to SoHo so much B.C. ("before children"), but being there with the girls now, my mindset didn't feel all that different. It was still exciting and inspiring, and I was thrilled for them to meander through the city with me. 

SHARON'S WEDDING

I am still recovering from this past weekend in New York which means it still feels a little painful being back at work and I'm playing catch up all this week for both work and life in general, but you guys it was totally worth it. We were up there for my sister Sharon's wedding, and it was all so fabulous. My favorite part was that our family could be all together, and also that I was able to have Ken and our girls with me on this trip.

The wedding happened at The Jane Hotel, near the West Village. It was incredibly planned by my sister and her husband, Paul - simple, intentional, meaningful, beautiful and fun. My sister deigned and made her entire attire, the speeches were heartfelt and moving, both sets of parents were involved in marrying them, the food was amazing, the decor was stunning, and all of the wine was from Paul's dad personal collection (incredible). 

Sloane has been looking forward to this wedding for weeks, so it was funny how she passed out right after the ceremony, and slept for the remainder of the party, while Logan partied as hard as she could for the next three hours until we left. The next day though, Sloane exclaimed "the wedding was so fun!" so I guess she got out exactly what she needed from it. I didn't have my big camera with me but I snapped a few on my phone that I want to store here. 

MY 33RD BIRTHDAY

I'm 33 ! And it feels good. I feel glad to be this age, wizened and lulled into liking myself and where I am in life.

I decided I wanted to celebrate my birthday by taking the day off work and spending time with my girls and my parents.

These were the things on my agenda -

-Breakfast at Perly's
-Make a tomato pie
-Drink the wine that my sister and brother in law got me last year
-Get sushi with family and Ken when he gets home from work

Ken left early before I woke up so I had a few minutes of quiet to myself before the girls were up. I sat up in bed, sleepy, but unable to go back to sleep and took in the quiet. I reveled in those few moments to squeeze out gratitude out of all my pores for the year past. 

Then I went to the bathroom and discovered a present and card from Ken on top of the closed toilet. If you've never walked into a bathroom, with your eyes half shut from sleep, about to go relieve yourself...whereupon you discover a present for you on the toilet! You're missing out. The front of the card said, "I love the adventure of us."

I really love Perly's, a Jewish delicatessen here in town, so I took my birthday as an excuse to get breakfast there. Look at my adorable parents! They are looking at my girls with heart eyes while I'm looking at them with my own heart eyes. Anything good about me is because of them.

It's hard to ask for much more than your 60 year old father and one year old daughter celebrating your birthday together.

Yum yum yum. Eggs Benedict with smoke salmon on latkes!

I also finally made a tomato pie that I've been wanting to make and eat. Sloane helped and my parents helped me drink this great bottle of wine while we cooked and waited for it to bake.

When Ken got off work, we met him for dinner at Sushi Box, Ken recounted the tale of the moment we first met to my parents, and then we came home and sang happy birthday over tomato pie. 

And this is a few days later (after my aunt came in from Korea and right before we were all about to leave for NYC for my sister's wedding) but I'm including it here because all of us! Together!