I know her face by heart

To my dear niece Elizabeth Mae, on the occasion of your 7th birthday.

Ellie
(or "Elly" if you are old school)

 7 years have come and gone like they were a dream.

You went from being our red headed baby to our crazy Ellie girl.

It's hard to believe that you have grown up so quickly.

You are an incredible 7 year old.

You are brave.

 Any girl who can dance on a subway packed with people and teach herself to ice skate in one day has to be absolutely fearless.

You are strong.

You forgive easily and are never afraid to show others love.

 You are not afraid to try new things or learn new ideas.

 You try harder than anyone I've ever met.  

You are beautiful.

From your sparkling blue eyes to your always moving feet, you are a true one of a kind beauty of the Steel Magnolia variety.
 (you were born in the south, after all)

There aren't enough words for me to say.

 I want to you to know that are you

  smart, unique, lovable, fierce, hard working, friendly, kind, driven, fabulous

and a million other things as well.

If I started writing, I might never stop.

You are everything, Ellie.

Everything sweet and sparkly in the whole world and I could not imagine my life without you.

Thanks for being the most amazing niece ever!!

Love always,

Aunt Lori

Our Ellie Belly at age 3!

Some have gone and some remain

*Press play and move to 20 second mark as you read. It's the song playing in my mind as I write!*

(If you want to)

Top 5 Reasons I am SO GLAD that I went to NYC last week

5. I am glad because it reminded me that there is more to life than the same old 9-5 and that adventure is not just for the wealthy or privileged.

 Anyone can have adventure if they really want it.

4. I am glad because it reminded me that; as much as I push my clients, its hard for me to get out of my comfort zone.

 I hated not knowing where I was or how to get around.

I hated not having control over every aspect of my day.

 I really hated that I had become so rigid without knowing it.

3.  I am glad because it reminded me of why I love being an aunt.

 This is the age I have been waiting for.

 Through the baby years and the crazy toddler years and all the other stages.

 Now; they are at the age of exploration and there is something magical about showing them things and places they've never seen before.

 If I could, I would show them the whole world.

My aunt's ring!
 (with their first name initials)

2. I am glad because it reminded me of why I love living on the East Coast.

 I think you all know that I love where I come from.

NYC is 90 minutes away,

 DC is 2 1/2 hours,

 and Philadelphia is one 45 minute drive from my front door.

 I love it here.

I love it, love it, love it.

1. I am glad because it reminded me that I don't want to get to the end of my life and discover that I have not lived.

I haven't gotten out of my comfort zone enough in last 10 years.

 I haven't been adventurous and I regret that.

 But I don't want to live with that kind of regret anymore.

So, I plan to go back to NYC.

Maybe sometime later this month or next.

 As soon as my burning feet and legs recover from this trip.

 As God as my witness, I will never go to NYC this out of shape again!

Lori Ann

Yea I'm out that Brooklyn

Not all of our NYC stories have pictures.

Thinking ahead to my eventual political career, that's probably a good thing.

 Anyway..here are a few of our New York stories.

(Beware: this post is extremely and self indulgently long and detailed)

Danielle and kids in front of the bottom half of the Freedom Tower.

The first thing we did when we got to NYC was tour the WTC memorial.

 It was beautiful and sad. 

The kind of sad that leaves you feeling a little numb.

 I think that every American should see it at least once.

Then we were off for for some steaming cups of hot chocolate at a fancy, two level, wait to be seated Burger King in uptown Manhattan.

 This was the location of the infamous Hot Chocolate Debacle.

In summary, by the time we left, tears had been shed, hot chocolate had been spilled, and Jack-Jack was left with one glove. 
(a la Michael Jackson).

 On a strange side note, I also kept hearing the employees saying "there's a troll by the bathroom".

Perhaps "troll" is NYC code for hot British guy having a minor disagreement with his girlfriend. 

Because that's what I encountered by the bathroom.

Anyway.. 

The next thing that happened was the Staten Island Ferry. 

Which brings us to Katy's shocking announcement.

 As several hundred of us crowded together to board the Ferry, Katy made the shouted announcement that Danielle was not her "real mom" but was babysitting her until her real mom
 (someone named "Chelly") 

came for her. 

As I frantically scanned the crowd to see who might be dialing 911,  Danielle  stated in a loud voice 
"Well, it's been four and a half years, and she hasn't come yet". 

 Completely epic!! 

After that Lifetime Television "Someone stole my baby" moment we had about ten minutes of peering at NYC through the salt encrusted windows of a lower deck, before we ventured up to the top "hurricane" deck.

Aren't they so cute? 

Elly and Jack ran right out the door but James was scared and stood in the doorway for at least a full minute.

 I think I will always remember the sight of him there, trying to overcome his fear.

 He finally got the nerve and stepped out onto the deck. 

He loved it so much that I just know one day he'll be a pirate.

 (Not today's weird, kidnapping, drug running pirates. But the romantic, ladies man, swashbuckling pirates of old. James is going to bring that back, I am sure of it.)

 Hot dogs and diet coke on the floor of the ferry terminal on Staten Island. 

Our NYC picnic.  

 Oh, I think this picture speaks for itself.

 As does the fact that I have at least 20 just like it.

 Ellie owned the pole.

 It's kind a weight off my mind that we probably won't have to start a college fund for her.

 I think she'll find a way to pay for medical school. 
(This blog is really walking the line of bad, bad taste right now)

 The dinosaur floor of The Museum of Natural History. 

On the first floor (the Earth and Space floor) we were lured into this little theater with the idea that we would be learning about black holes.

 But instead we watched strange, geeky scientists talk about polarization, inflation, and something called "the cosmic microwave background". 

I kept waiting for the black hole tie in, but it never came.

 Sadly, this would not be the only time NYC stabbed me in the back that day
 (I'm talking about you, 2 dollar laffy taffies!) 

The last story of today's post

 (because, oh yes, there are many more stories to come)

 brings us to the one and only Time Square picture we have.

 Of James and Elly with Elmo and cookie monster.

We shook them down.

 Or rather, Danielle did.

I knew they would want money, but Danielle felt that they were standing on the street corner, just for the sheer joy of taking pictures with kids.

And she didn't give them any money.

Another epic move by my crazy sister.

Anyway, I've rambled so much during this post. 

And most of the stories are those "you had to be there" type. 

But it makes me happy to know that the kids will be able to look back and remember even the little details.

My parents took us to a few cities when we were young and I have almost no memories.

 What I wouldn't give to have had a blog for my mom to write in back then.

Anyway, there will be a few more stories tomorrow and then back to my usual schedule of posts about mental health and my cat.

In lieu of a closing "see ya" or some such,  I am right now throwing you some upper East side gang signs.

Because New York gave me street cred like that.

Lori Ann

There are places I remember

Danielle and the kids looking at the distant Statue of Liberty

I don't think there is any experience in life that can prepare you for ten hours in New York City with four children.

War, maybe.

There is so much I want to say. So many stories to tell. 

The hot chocolate debacle.

 Jerome and the dodge ball discussion.

 Ellie's proclivity for pole dancing.

 Katy's shocking Staten Island Ferry announcement. 

Picnicking like true New Yorkers. 

Finding Alexander Hamilton by accident.

The Time Square Elmo shakedown.

Three words: Cosmic Microwave Background. 

James's first big step toward his future as a pirate. 

And so many more.

 I pledge to tell each and every story, not just for my beloved readers, but for the kids. So they'll always remember the craziness that was their first trip to NYC. 

The subway--- Monroe style. 

Lori Ann

No place that I'd rather be

Elly's New York City To Do List

The last item on the list says 

"Go inside something, Look at what's in the buildings"

We may or may not be going for a day trip to NYC on Friday.

It's ok to be jealous:)

Lori Ann

Though I've tried

The German pancake I made for lunch!!

Things that are making me happy during this chilly, bright, first week of January:

1 James " Snorky" Monroe telling me that gypsy themed tulle skirts are translucent and never opaque. 

2. You tubing " Mormon mission calls" and sorting by upload date and finding that 90% of them are teenage girls!!!

Girl power!! 

3. Revenge is back on.

 Hallelujah. 

4. Every time I watch "house hunters" it features cute gay boys and they make me so happy.

 I want them to find a cute home. 

That is all. 

Lori Ann

Customers appreciate a bon-viveur

I bet you thought that I was going to break my new years resolution to blog every day... but people, come on.

 It's only the 5th.

 I try to keep a year long resolution for at least a week:)

Anyway, here are my Random Saturday Updates!

1. I have spent most of the day crafting.

It's been as intensely awesome as almost any life experience can be.

 Giving birth to a child, skydiving, a leisurely Saturday spent crafting.. all things you have to experience to appreciate the rush.

Actually the crafting started Friday night with Elly's tulle skirt/headdress

2. I did go to see Les Mis tonight.

What I failed to realize is that it would be ALL singing.

 I thought it would be like Glee..mostly dialogue, with a few spontaneous outbursts of song.

 It was good though.

I am man enough to admit that I cried a few times.

 I; of course, related to the character of Eponine.

 My parents are kind of nuts and Danielle stole the man of my dreams :)

3. Today has been really rejuvenating for me.

 I took a weirdly long nap, spent less than quality time with the Sugar shaker, went to the movies, and crafted.

 All stuff that makes me feel better about myself and about life.

Behold..the Sugar cookie!

4. Brace yourselves. I may be featuring my finished craft projects on this blog tomorrow.

Then they will probably get repinned all over Pinterest and I am going to be famous, baby. 

Don't hate the player, hate the game. 

I am not exactly sure what that means but it sounds legit.

 And when you become Pinterest famous, your street cred goes way up.

 So, yeah.

Lori Ann