Good Reads Library
Home Again, Home Again
posted Wed, 12/29/04
We got home late Tuesday night, but we had brought our computer up to New York with us so my wonderful brother in law the computer technician could fix its power supply problem. Hopefully, it's not going to suddenly stop mid-session, leaving the Man cussing in a way I'm glad the little angels can't hear.
By "we", I mean myself, the Man and JR. SC is back in NYC enjoying a few days of spoiling by her paternal grandparents. She has never quite gotten over not being an only child. Considering JR's been around for 5 1/2 years, you'd think by now she was resigned to her fate, but it's not so.
She does miss her though. And JR does NOT like being an only child, ever. She is happy this week though because she is getting to play with her best friend/almost twin sister, who she has known since they were both babies in daycare together.....
HIGHTLIGHTS OF THE TRIP:
My parents giving us dinner at the wonderful Italian restaurant in Yonkers where we got married (11 years ago next January 30 !) and babysitting the girls so we could go.
It was NOT a highlight when, while we were out, JR got ticked at SC for not paying attention to her and BIT her! At 5 1/2 she is old enough to know better, and we were pretty shocked at her doing so. But my mother took it pretty well--after all, she used to be a kindergarten teacher!
Going to Brooklyn to see my brother, his wife and their sons at their gorgeous house near the Brooklyn Promenade.
Though please explain them to me. I mean, I know my sister-in-law CAN, but doesn't cook. But how come she had TONS of food prepared (probably takeout) for their Xmas party the next day, but nothing but bagels and muffins for us. Did they think we wouldn't be there for lunch? We could have gone out, after all--that's what they mostly do!!
Giving my parents a DVD player and a subscription to Netflix, something they really can use and will enjoy.
They protested we spent too much--my dad even checked the cost of Netflix! But we really can afford to do it--we don't have credit cards and we budget for Xmas--and I knew they'd love it. And they do.
Playing Santa for the girls, and seeing SC's face on Christmas morning when she got her much coveted "Samantha" doll, courtesy of Santa and Ebay.
A noisy, crowded, chaotic Xmas day with my in-laws. We had 15 at the table, with tons of good things to eat, including embutido, a Filipino sausage blend I love.
A highlight of the day was my niece's boyfriend actually getting down on one knee to propose to her in front of the whole family! I hope it works well--they're both so YOUNG! But she has a 2 year old daughter he loves like she was his own, and he's a great guy--we all like him.
Speaking of such things, another highlight was talking about the Man to his mother, my mother in law, and having her say "I'm so glad you're the one who married him". So am I, Nanay, so am I, and , as I said to her, I'm also lucky to have married into her family-- I love them all!
Driving back to my parents Christmas night along Riverside Drive in New York. The moon was out, the George Washington Bridge gleamed, as my dad always says "like a string of pearls", and the girls were behaving and singing Christmas songs.
Tucking them both in bed, Christmas night, SC and her Samantha doll in matching nightgowns, JR decked out in a new "Princess" nightgown that was just her style!
Spending some quiet time, talking with my dad while my mom was out shopping. Something I don't get to do very often......
Going back to stay for another day or two with my in-laws. Talking politics with my father-in-law, exchanging recipes and gossip with my mother in law. Going out with them all to eat at a wonderful Chinese buffet--LOTS of seafood and other good stuff!
Best of all, standing by the window late at night with the Man, just the two of us, looking out from the 21st floor at the Hudson River, at the bridge, at the city all around us. Talking, and remembering and feeling connected to him in a way we sometimes lose in the hectic day to day realities of our life.......
And coming home. Home to my messy (but just cleaned by the wonderful cleaning lady)house. Home to my howling, purring, piling on the bed to get close to me cats. Home to my own kitchen and my own bed where I can curl up with the Man and the cats and sleep late because I don't have to go back to work till after New Year's.
I love our family--all of them. I love New York--no matter if I never live there again, it will always be home to me.
But our home here is the best place of all...............
By "we", I mean myself, the Man and JR. SC is back in NYC enjoying a few days of spoiling by her paternal grandparents. She has never quite gotten over not being an only child. Considering JR's been around for 5 1/2 years, you'd think by now she was resigned to her fate, but it's not so.
She does miss her though. And JR does NOT like being an only child, ever. She is happy this week though because she is getting to play with her best friend/almost twin sister, who she has known since they were both babies in daycare together.....
HIGHTLIGHTS OF THE TRIP:
My parents giving us dinner at the wonderful Italian restaurant in Yonkers where we got married (11 years ago next January 30 !) and babysitting the girls so we could go.
It was NOT a highlight when, while we were out, JR got ticked at SC for not paying attention to her and BIT her! At 5 1/2 she is old enough to know better, and we were pretty shocked at her doing so. But my mother took it pretty well--after all, she used to be a kindergarten teacher!
Going to Brooklyn to see my brother, his wife and their sons at their gorgeous house near the Brooklyn Promenade.
Though please explain them to me. I mean, I know my sister-in-law CAN, but doesn't cook. But how come she had TONS of food prepared (probably takeout) for their Xmas party the next day, but nothing but bagels and muffins for us. Did they think we wouldn't be there for lunch? We could have gone out, after all--that's what they mostly do!!
Giving my parents a DVD player and a subscription to Netflix, something they really can use and will enjoy.
They protested we spent too much--my dad even checked the cost of Netflix! But we really can afford to do it--we don't have credit cards and we budget for Xmas--and I knew they'd love it. And they do.
Playing Santa for the girls, and seeing SC's face on Christmas morning when she got her much coveted "Samantha" doll, courtesy of Santa and Ebay.
A noisy, crowded, chaotic Xmas day with my in-laws. We had 15 at the table, with tons of good things to eat, including embutido, a Filipino sausage blend I love.
A highlight of the day was my niece's boyfriend actually getting down on one knee to propose to her in front of the whole family! I hope it works well--they're both so YOUNG! But she has a 2 year old daughter he loves like she was his own, and he's a great guy--we all like him.
Speaking of such things, another highlight was talking about the Man to his mother, my mother in law, and having her say "I'm so glad you're the one who married him". So am I, Nanay, so am I, and , as I said to her, I'm also lucky to have married into her family-- I love them all!
Driving back to my parents Christmas night along Riverside Drive in New York. The moon was out, the George Washington Bridge gleamed, as my dad always says "like a string of pearls", and the girls were behaving and singing Christmas songs.
Tucking them both in bed, Christmas night, SC and her Samantha doll in matching nightgowns, JR decked out in a new "Princess" nightgown that was just her style!
Spending some quiet time, talking with my dad while my mom was out shopping. Something I don't get to do very often......
Going back to stay for another day or two with my in-laws. Talking politics with my father-in-law, exchanging recipes and gossip with my mother in law. Going out with them all to eat at a wonderful Chinese buffet--LOTS of seafood and other good stuff!
Best of all, standing by the window late at night with the Man, just the two of us, looking out from the 21st floor at the Hudson River, at the bridge, at the city all around us. Talking, and remembering and feeling connected to him in a way we sometimes lose in the hectic day to day realities of our life.......
And coming home. Home to my messy (but just cleaned by the wonderful cleaning lady)house. Home to my howling, purring, piling on the bed to get close to me cats. Home to my own kitchen and my own bed where I can curl up with the Man and the cats and sleep late because I don't have to go back to work till after New Year's.
I love our family--all of them. I love New York--no matter if I never live there again, it will always be home to me.
But our home here is the best place of all...............
Your turn to kibbitz: (1)