It Was All So Very Exciting

So only 3 weeks after Christmas my 5th child (Lizzy) has a birthday. Two weeks later, my 6th child (Caleigh) has a birthday. And then, two weeks after that my 2nd child (Nate) has one also. So, where most people get a lull in their schedules over the winter months, ours is full... and somewhat stressful.

Lizzy turned 16 this past week. She's a child who doesn't ever demand anything, really, but... ASKS for everything. I told her she has a gift! Its become apparent that people WANT to give her the things she asks for. I don't know why. The night before she turned 16, her two besties "surprise decorated" her bedroom while her sister took her out shopping as a distraction.

Then they gave her a Michael Kor watch $$$ and brought her over to a friends to make sure they all celebrated her birth, once it was midnight.

The next day she had her besties hanging with her all day long and later, got to have her birthday dinner at her favorite restaurant together with them (and me).

This was a good plan, because while we were eating out, her other friends were gathering at our house to surprise her when we got home. Poor Terry was sicker than a dog, so he stayed in the bedroom mostly.

She was very surprised and delighted to be loved and cheered. The friends stuck around for a while, had ice cream cake, gave her the big time spanking machine and then went home because it was a school night.

The next day I was picking Lizzy and Caleigh up early from school to go into the city to see Wicked for their birthdays... only... a BIG snowstorm was forecast (8-12" with blizzard conditions). I went through all the scenarios for several hours throughout the morning as the snow began to fall about 2 hours earlier than predicted. Ayi yi yi. Here's how it went on FB. (Idea stolen from Just Mom's blog).

January 20 Karen Taking the birthday girls to see Wicked tomorrow. Hoping the "impending doom" won't ruin our plans. 

January 21 Karen First I will take emergenC to to boost the immune system. Then some quiet time and reading. Next a shower and off to work before lunch. (And snow). Then it's kids pickup and heading to NYC to see Wicked. Maybe we will make it home tonight or maybe not.   

January 21 Karen So far I've already vered greatly from the said plan.

January 21 at 2:41pm Karen It went more like this... drank cup of water, took down bday decorations downstairs, took down decorations upstairs, switched over laundry, gather 4 more loads of laundry from Lizzy's room, vacuumed all the confetti from the entire house (confetti is of the devil!!), had a cup of emergenC, bowl of cereal, cup of coffee, quiet time and reading, more laundry, walked the dogs, did a little office work (very little), post office, school pick up, and then decided to take the train and get a hotel. Will we arrive to the Gershwin theater in time??? Ayi yi yi.

January 21 Karen It's snowing.

                 

January 21 at 1:58pm Karen I think we've added another person to our count. She wants the adventure.
January 21 at 2:21pm · Karen Jennah is coming too. woohoo
January 21 Karen New plan. We're taking the train and staying overnight in a hotel. Say a prayer. This had better be the best performance evah!             

January 21 at 2:33pm Joan Great idea, I was thinking about you driving to NYC today on my treacherous drive to Springs.January 21 at 2:36pm Karen I hope we make it in time. 

January 21 Karen We are on the train. 

January 21 Karen The conductor just announced a delay due to equipment trouble. Agh

January 21 Karen Oh Jesus please. We don't have time for delays. 

Karen Moving again. This is stressful. 
Paula You have 3hours ...right? Curtain at8.
January 21 at 5:01pm · Like
Karen  Curtain at 7 waaaahhhh
January 21 at 5:02pm · Like
Karen This happened to us before when going to see Miranda. Her show was only an hour and we missed the first 20 minutes because of train delaysJanuary 21 at 5:03pm · Like
Paula You are still in okay shape....it will be great...and you'll have a fun story!
January 21 at 5:04pm · Unlike · 1
Paula I wrote that before I knew you missed 20min...
January 21 at 5:04pm · Like
Karen At least wicked is 2hr20m!!
January 21 at 5:09pm · Like · 1
Melanie  Hopefully they still show it.
January 21 at 5:15pm · Like
Karen  The show must go on but I wouldn't mind if they held the curtain for us.
January 21 at 5:22pm · Like 

Paula Are uou there yet???
January 21 at 6:46pm · Like
Todd There will be singing, dancing, jazz hands...you'll catch up. Have fun!
January 21 at 6:47pm · Unlike · 2

Karen  We are late. Only at Jamaica
January 21 at 7:01pm · Like
Sohailah Oh Karen. Blech.
January 21 at 7:05pm · Like
Paula  Oh dear...

January 21 at 7:10pm · Like 

Karen  Not even at penn station yet
January 21 at 7:02pm · Like
PatriciaOh man!
January 21 at 7:39pm · Like  

January 22  Karen So we had a lovely 4 hour train ride to the city. Many mechanical problems took place to get us to Penn station an hour late. Missed the show but our tix will be honored for another date. We ate dinner at Rice and Beans on 9th Ave and 51st. It was amazing!!! Staying the night in a pricey hotel.

January 22 Karen So this is what ended up doing. Cake Boss!

January 22 Karen This about sums it up. We are catching the train home. Watch video

January 22 Karen These two beauties and Mr Buttcrack photo bombing in the background.

So Lizzy enjoyed the whole thing. SHE LOVES NYC and wants to live there. Caleigh is only happy to hear that we can see Wicked only a few short daze after her Super Bowl birthday. So there you go. The Karenkool adventures.

This Weekend in Photos

Its been a very warm weekend (hot and humid).

BJ and I had a great time in NYC Friday and Saturday celebrating our 23rd anniversary.

We went with some friends who were also celebrating their anniversary.

 I loved the sail around Manhattan.

 You get a view of the city that you wouldn't normally get unless you were in the water.

It was Fleet Week and I thought... somehow, I thought... we were going to be sailing ON a Tall Ship. Everyone laughed at me.

We actually were sailing around to SEE the tall ships. Everyone else seemed to know this but me. Furthermore,  the tall ships were no where to be found. They were all hiding, docked somewhere out of sight. HAH!

The weather was iffy all day. But it was perfect. We didn't get rained on at all. The clouds were cool to see, blowing in and around the skyline. We even got a sunset. Yay.

The night sky was beautiful too and just for the record, its very difficult to take pictures on a sailboat especially at night. My hand has gotten steadier through practice.



On Saturday we met up with Mitch for a while. He let us hang at his apartment in the heat of the day.

We found this at Central Park.

We also found a hideaway spot with a rock to sit on for our little picnic.

Yup. That's me in braids, fixing some cheese and crackers.



On Sunday the girls had a performance for a street festival. I played the piano for them. Jennah is there on the right. Isn't she the cutest?

They performed a few numbers from Anything Goes. 

Anika is in the middle with the reddish wig. They did a great job. I was a little disappointed with my performance, as usual. Its never perfect. Why can't I get my stuff perfect?

Caleigh. Hahaha. This cracked me up.

She got her face painted. I'm trying to be sure and help make memories with her. The youngest can get a little overshadowed--especially when the older ones just never leave. HAHA.

Jennah made a quick change out of her costumed and performed with a vocal jazz group. They had two very difficult pieces with really tight harmonies and I was proud of them. I wish she could be part of a vocal jazz group all year long. I wish I COULD BE A PART OF A VOCAL JAZZ GROUP all year long.

Sunday evening was our memorial day party at Cristina and Raul's house. Crazy, as usual.

Woot woot.

Photo bomb!! haha

Yay Melli moo.

I was originally going to write some complaints that need venting, because that always helps me move on. None of them having to do with the weekend, but they are just the general "getting ready for the summer" stress factors. But I remembered the great weekend and thought that it would be nice to recap that instead.

Saved by the lens. (camera lens).