2021 :: week 39

September 19

Sunday we did a lot of walking. We successfully made our way to church in the morning, which was more difficult than we anticipated with various lines not running on Sunday. We left plenty early though, so made it with time to spare. Afterwards we headed back to our room to change into walking clothes. Anthony heard about Big Onion Walking Tours from a co-worker and signed us up for the Immigrant New York tour that took us through the Five Points area, Little Italy and Chinatown. The tours are run by graduate students so they are primarily available on the weekend. We learned about the tenements the immigrants lived in, and the various ways they were exploited. The Feast of San Gennero was being celebrated in Little Italy and we happened upon the parade and festival during and after the tour. We wandered through the festival and then headed to the Brooklyn Bridge. We made a pit stop at our apartment and then headed out to explore. We walked through SoHo and Greenwich Village, stopped at Washington Square Park, then continued on toward the Highline through Chelsea. We picked up some cookies along the way and ate them on the Highline while we facetimed our kids. Technology is pretty amazing. According to my phone we walked 9.8 miles! I sure felt it when we got in bed that night. 

 

September 20

Monday was our final day in NYC. The main item on our agenda was visiting the Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Plaza. Back in 2008 we went to the top of the Empire State Building, so we decided to pay a different skyscraper for the pleasure of ascending to the top on this trip. The view was magnificent and I was struck by all we could see. Afterwards we walked to Central Park and picked up a pretzel and knish on the way (thumbs down for both). Of all the many movies and events that have taken place in Central Park, I was most excited to see the sites of Home Alone 2. After we walked through Columbus Circle, across the Gapstow Bridge and took a picture with the Plaza Hotel ("New York's most exciting hotel experience!") we stopped for lunch. We took the metro to the Upper East Side and walked along 5th Avenue and through the center of the park. At this point we were feeling pretty tired, collected our bags and headed to the airport. Our flight home was uneventful and we were happy to see all of our kids--ready for bed, but not asleep--when we arrived at home.

September 21

Happy Fall! We were greeted with beautiful weather when we returned home. Apparently it rained for about 20 minutes in the evening before we arrived home and the storm left cooler temperatures in its wake. At the park after school Miles and Gabriel were hanging out next to the monkey bars, watching the older kids swing. Miles likes to put his shoes on by himself, more often than not on the wrong foot.

September 22

I made tomato basil soup and grilled cheese for dinner Wednesday night. My dad shared tomatoes with us and combined with our harvest I was able to make a decent batch of soup. I roasted the tomatoes, then added some basil (also grown in our garden), onion, garlic, salt, pepper, chicken broth and cream. A few of the kids tried to tell me that tomato soup and grilled cheese was a weird combination, but they just don't know what they don't know. 

September 23

A breakfast scene. Some mornings go more smoothly than others, but a month into the school year and we are doing pretty well. Thursday Anthony left for a conference in Nashville. 

September 24

Will and Curran decided to harvest some of their pumpkins Friday. Will put his on the porch with our other pumpkins. I put cayenne pepper around them because the squirrels have been eating the pumpkin Lauren got at the Cider Mill. 

September 25

I finally got to see one of Will's baseball games! Will and Elliott's games and practices this year have had a lot of overlap. Usually we divide and conquer and I take Elliott to his baseball stuff and Tony takes Will since he helps coach the team. With Anthony being out of town I got to take him and I had a lot of fun watching him play. I know I am biased, but I thought he did a really good job. His team was playing with only eight players, but they held their own. It was their best offensive showing of the season. After walking in the first inning, Will roped a line drive into right field and stole a base in the second. He struck out in the third, but the final pitch looked like a ball to me. It is rewarding to see your kids stick with something, work hard and excel.