What a Weekend!

This long Thanksgiving weekend has been so fun. The days were filled with cooking, eating, laughing, lots of football, the board game Ticket to Ride, snuggling, naps, bike rides, hikes, good movies, more food, crafts, healing, coughing and soup just to name a few. The Eyres left last night, and two more leave tomorrow. To end I am going to take a quote from Scott's Thanksgiving Rap that he wrote...

"Happy Thanksgiving, we're so blessed to be together,
Making memories this day that will surely last Forever!"

Virginia Fun FUn

Stin 80's Night Birthday Lovin
Left to Right: Andy, Gina, Stin, ME, Scotters

I've turn into a little make up artist in the Hansen home. Now when I walk into their home,
I get asked for makeovers before I get a hello. I love it. =)

Noah, Kristi and I went to see this movie after Thanksgiving Dinner.
Despite the critics reviews, I really enjoyed it. I give it a B +

Just a random bit of Thanksgiving Weekend Fun Fun. I can't get enough of these guys! =)

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am sitting on the couch watching the Dallas COWBOYS game with Kristi on my right and Scott on my left. What a wonderful day we had! I ate more than I should have...but isn't that a must on Thanksgiving day?? Stin and her mother cooked an amazing meal and I contributed a bit with some of my own family traditions with the ever so famous 7 layer Jello Salad and home made rolls. Thank you Grandma Ellsworth for the recipes! I love my cook book! My stomach still hurts from all the eating and laughing. After an amazing meal, we went to the movies and half of us went to August Rush and the other half went to Enchanted. After Movie Fun Fun we came home and stuffed ourselves some more with slices of banana cream pie, pumpkin pie, cherry cheesecake, apple pie, pecan pie...seriously! I have to have gained at least 10 pounds today!

As I sit and think of all the things I am thankful for my list keeps growing every year. No matter where I am in the world or where I am in my life I always find myself surrounded by a loving family, wonderful friends, and countless blessings.

Today I am thankful for Andy, Gina and sweet little Kaede Ashby for letting me stay with them in Maryland this past week and for all of Gina's Culinary Fun Fun.

I am thankful for the Hansen's...my home away from home...and all they do for me. I'm thankful for Noah, Kristi and McKay Eyre for traveling the lovely 4 hours on a bus to be here with us for Thanksgiving. What great friends they are and how blessed I am to have them in my life!

The list could go on and on but I hope everyone had a wonderful day spent with friends and family and Football. GO COWBOYS!!! =)

We were lucky enough to receive some pictures from the lady Krissy spent Thanksgiving dinner with. I thought I'd post a few pictures for all to see a little Turkey Love from all the way in Germany!!

The New SHREK

Look Familiar Anyone???

SURPRISE

Everything went better than perfect for Stin's Surprise Birthday Party. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect night. I was a little bit nervous because it was so last minute...surprise, surprise...but with all of Gina's help and Scott's sneaky sneakiness...we pulled it off and Stin was totally surprised. The whole 80's theme was a perfect excuse for people to dust off the old leg warmers and poof up their hair! We had about 30 people show up and had 80's music playing on the ghetto blaster and we served tator tots and other yummy goodies. It was a TOTALLY AWESOME night...everyone looked RAD. Happy Birthday Stinny Poo!
I Totally LOVE YOU!!!

NY 2 DC

What a long night!  After a mad dash with Kristi and McKay in a taxi during rush hour...I made it to the bus with just enough time for a hug and a tearful goodbye to my Noah, Kristi and little McKay!  I had gotten so use to my little life with them and I am already missing it.  

The bus dropped me off four very long hours later at 14th street and I walked to the nearest METRO entrance I could find looking like a tired worn down bag lady!  I had my huge backpack fully loaded strapped to my back, a small rolling suitcase with two purses and a bag hanging off of it, and a pillow with a blanket and my lap top stuffed in it!  I must have looked pretty helpless because three different people offered me help.  I was very thankful for my newly acquired subway skills from trying to navigate my way through New York City (it is a zoo down there) because the DC Metro system was a piece of cake in comparison!  My sweet Gina Ashby was patiently waiting for

me at midnight, bless her heart, just outside the Metro door and now I am comfortably laying

in bed waiting for some sleepy sleepy to hit me quick.

  My late night blogging entry is due to the fact that Kristi Eyre and I made a little bet/pact that we would blog at least every other day or else the other person gets to post whatever they want on the other's page.  So...it looks like this is the first out of the two blog entries I will be making tonight.  He he he....

Sushi and Candles

What a perfect ending to a perfect day. A big thanks to everyone for all the fun birthday wishes and for all the beautiful letters I received via my sneaky mother. Thank you New York for the fabulous weather. Thanks Noah and Kristi for all the Birthday festivities and Noah thank you for my 2 Birthday cakes! Thank you Mom for orchestrating all the mail that was overflowing out of the Eyres mailbox...thank you Ashlee and Ellie for my Birthday cards. Thanks for the beautiful Pink Roses! Thank you everyone for the many many texts and the Midnight Birthday calls. The list could seriously go on and on! How wonderful it is to have such wonderful friends and family. I am a really lucky girl. I'm excited for another year of fun and adventures...and as for getting older...Bring it on! =)

Noah came home with SUSHI!! My FAVORITE!
Birthday Cake # 1
and Birthday Cake # 2 the next day!!

Birthday Adventure Part 3: THE ZEPHYR

The adventure continued! Next stop, I had no clue but on our way there...I got a little Birthday
Serenade Mexican Style.

When we got off the subway, Noah had to leave for a meeting so it was just us girls for this next part. I was a little sad our 3rd Musketeer couldn't join us but I knew we would be meeting up with him later.

Kristi had arranged for us to go on a Sunset New York City Harbor Cruise aboard the ZEPHYR: a Yacht to experience a one hour narrated harbor cruise. It departed from Pier 16 at the South Street Seaport and sailed up the Hudson and East Rivers in Manhattan, and past the historic sites such as the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, the Brooklyn Bridge and the Colgate Clock. The most amazing part of the harbor cruise was the up-close view of Statue of Liberty National Monument. I couldn't get enough pictures and even the ones I did manage to get didn't do it justice! We got a few though and the time of day made the early evening on the harbor almost even magical.

BROOKLYN BRIDGE

It was a very COLD day!

Such a Beautiful Night.

Thank you Noah and Kristi for an unforgettable evening!

Birthday Adventure Part 2: Little Italy

After we left the Top of the World, we got back on the subway and headed to destination number two. Just before we got there, Noah told me we were going to LITTLE ITALY!
Being that I just returned from Italy not to long ago, they thought it would be fun to take me there where we could eat dinner at the first pizza place in NYC! The name of the restaurant is LOMBARDI'S and the pizza was absolutely amazing! Noah also wanted to give me the opportunity to practice my broken Italian and order the meal for us. The wait time to be seated was ridiculous so we ordered one large pizza da porta via (to take away) and left the restaurant drooling...ready and waiting for a SLICE! I felt like I was back in Bella Italia!

On top of the World

The first part of the Sherry Birthday Adventure started out with a stop at an office building on 5th Avenue in Manhattan. Noah and Kristi were in charge of the festivities for the day and all I was told was to bring a coat and wear some comfortable shoes. We got on the subway to what was going to be our first stop when I heard Noah speak up loudly to the crowded subway car announcing that it was my birthday and if everyone would please join in singing Happy Birthday to me. I was so embarrassed! By the time I got over that little shocker, we were 60 floors up in the sky looking at the most breathtaking view of the city I'd ever seen.

Next stop...I had no clue but I sure was excited to find out!

Stay tuned for more Sherry Birthday Adventure Fun....

Adventures in Babysitting and Brooklyn

So today Kristi and I decided to bundle McKay up, pack the stroller and diaper bag, and venture down to Brooklyn where there was a TARGET. Groceries and basically just about everything are so very expensive here in Manhattan that even with the time you spend and Subway fare out there...you still save money! A few of Kristi's friends with their babies went as well and it was crazy madness but still fun.

Tonight I gave Noah and Kristi the "Night Off"and took their shift as parents to little McKay so they could have an evening to themselves. I had a blast reading book after book...growling like a bear until my voice was hoarse, giving horsey rides (I was the Horsey), flipping McKay like a pancake on the bed at least a dozen times, and trying not to give in when he didn't want to go to bed. He is fast asleep now and I kinda wish he were still up because he sure is fun to play with. =) It is times like this when I sure do wish I had little ones to snuggle up with and chase around and around. Someday??

Today I'm Thankful For a Strong and Healthy Body.

I am so thankful for the body I have that today allowed me to run through the rain, go up and down flights of stairs to and from the subway holding a toddler in my right arm and the end of a stroller in my left, to have an incredibly fun night with my favorite almost 2 year old rolling on the ground doing "airplane" and Mr Turkey impressions, and being able to get on plane after plane traveling thousands of miles to be with family and loved ones. It is to often I get stuck on what I am not rather than all that I am NOW that I miss out on life's most precious moments.

NOVEMBER: A Month of Giving Thanks

November is a month filled with Giving Thanks. Throughout this month I would like to make some posts expressing what I am thankful for that day. I will call them TITFs "Today I'm Thankful For" This may be a little tough for me though, because there is so much I am incredibly thankful for!

Today I am Thankful For the Eyres. Without them, life would be so BORING!! I am thankful for them letting me crash in their cool apartment in NYC, for sweet little McKay who always makes me smile, for the time they take out of their busy lives to make everyday so much fun, for ALWAYS being there for me through all the Highs and all the LOWS, for the countless memories we've made together and for all the many adventures soon to come. They've blessed my lives in so many ways and I will eternally be grateful for their love and sincere friendship. I LOVE you Noah, Kristi and McKay!

Girls Out on the TOWN!

Yesterday we had a very full day running around New York City trying to see as much as possible and also taking advantage of the beautiful weather. We hit H&M super hard finding amazing details and not to mention really cute clothes! We walked around busy busy 34th Street Herald Square area and then worked our way to Fifth Avenue to the famous and fun FAO SCHWARTZ! They make the most delicious food including our traditional Banana Split. We ordered one with 5 spoons and enjoyed every bite!




We played around the toy store a bit designing our own BARBIE doll, dancing on the Giant Piano, and hanging out with the Ugly Dolls!




After FAO we just had to pose for a little APPLE STORE love because we are all MAC users and just love everything APPLE! Ipods, laptops, and IPHONES oh my!!




On our way to Times Square I found my name!



Our last stop was at Times Square which was hustling and bustling as usual with all the lights and show ticket scalpers!



We ended the night with makeover fun at SEPHORA where there is more makeup then I could ever dream about and all available to play with and try on. As you can see...some of us went a little TOO bold but when you're in New York...just about anything goes!