brother + sister

Milo started sleeping in his "big boy bed" a few days before we left for our trip. The transition was so painless and exciting and made me feel like the best mother in the world. So then we had a vacant crib and I knew a little girl who might like it. I've been putting Pearl down for her naps in the crib and she's done well.

Tonight, we put them both to bed at the same time, in the same room. Never happened before. We put our ears to the door to listen for what might ensue:

Pearl: Maaaaaaaah!

Milo: (in his sweetest voice) Be quiet Pearl!

And now, minutes later, they are sound asleep. Once again feeling like the best mom in the world. It doesn't take much.

yes, I do take this crispy salmon with edamame puree to be in my belly forever and always

The wedding dinner on Friday night was at Opia. It was a fun night with singing, toasts, a video of the bride and groom, and course after course of deliciousness. Below are my mom, dad, Milo, and Matt. (Matt is responsible for the marriage of Neil and Diana and is also maybe the nicest person every born. Matt, you rule.) Minutes after this photo was taken Milo literally fell asleep eating a piece of bread. I know the term "literally" is thrown around way too freely and incorrectly, but really- he was asleep and also eating bread.

The wedding was Saturday evening at Water's Edge. On the water, looking out at the Manhattan skyline. Wow. What else can I say except that this wedding was utterly and completely gorgeous. It was a really lovely Jewish ceremony, followed by about 5 hours of eating.

Hanging out pre-ceremony.

The complete family. Parents Paul + Geri, Jon + Eliza, Sister Diana + Neil. (FYI: Eliza and I were best friends growing up and her sister also just happened to marry my brother.)

My bouquet.

Neil + Diana, too hot to trot.

The bride was stunning.

The wedding was adults-only, so we left our kids on the 36th floor of a Manhattan skyscraper with a nanny we'd never met before. Yikes! Jamie left the festivities early to be with the kids and luckily everything turned out fine. She was really great with the two of them and Milo was even trying to call Rosa up after she left. Jamie and my Mom were also nice enough to shuttle back and forth from the hotel to the wedding site with Pearl since I had to be there early for pictures and my daughter refuses to take a bottle. I left to feed her once during the reception, too.

I didn't get a ton of pictures of the wedding because I was too busy having fun. Eliza and I even put our church dance training to use with some Cotton-Eyed Joe. At the end of the night I was trying to say goodbye to her but then "Since You Been Gone" came on and we had to bust out to that too. I adore that song, just ask Jamie. Eliza and Jon's first dance was to Judy Collins' version of "In My Life." It was lovely. They are such great people and so in love. I'm so glad they asked me to be a part of their big day. Now they are in Paris eating crepes and wearing berets. Felicitations, Eliza and Jon!

Tan Wong, thanks for everything.

We survived the Chinatown bus! But we happened to sit right below the roof emergency exit, which was mysteriously dripping water on us the entire time.

This was our first view of glorious New York City. (You can maybe make out the Statue of Liberty on the far right.)

So, we got plopped down right in the middle of Chinatown, which was absolutely swirling with people, speaking various languages of the non-English variety. It was chaotic. Add to that the fact that we each were carrying about 4 pieces of luggage and managing two children. And we were starving. Jamie used his Mandarin skills to scout out a restaurant that would actually let us come in with all of our luggage. Thanks, Tan Wong Restaurant. Your food was delicious.

After lunch we eventually managed to hail a cab and all squeeze in. Let me take a moment to say that New York taxi drivers deserve their reputation. They drive nuts! And of course Milo was never in a car seat. I am glad we all survived. Let me add that although the cab drivers need to go back to driver's ed, they were all very nice. Many of them were working to bring their families over from Egypt, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, etc. So hard, that would be.


We stayed at the Millennium UN Plaza Hotel. It was deluxe. The views from our room on the 36th floor were spectacular. To the left was the United Nations and to the right were the Empire State Building and the Chrysler building.



Jamie and I got confused as to whether the Chrysler Building was really the Empire State Building, which tells me that a) we're not true Americans and b) I need to watch Sleepless in Seattle again soon.

Thursday night was spent at trendy restaurant Elmo for Eliza's bachelorette night. We saw Times Square that night too. The lights! The crowds! The bitter cold! It was fun.


"Look to the cookie!" (Delicious, by the way.)

On Friday we met up with my old college roomie, JIll, for lunch at Grand Central Station. She is nearly finished with dental hygiene school in Connecticut. It was wonderful to see her and I am so impressed with her being a brave little west coast girl in a big east coast city. Grand Central Station was maybe even crazier than Chinatown. Maybe.

This is what Ground Zero looks like right now. I was overwhelmed with the vastness of the space and how absolutely terrifying it must have been to have witnessed it.
Us in front of The Bull. As in, "It's a bull market." But isn't it really a bear market right now? I have no idea. I will remain ignorant of the stock market for my whole life and I don't even care.

Ok, I'm done. This post is too long. I'll post wedding stuff later. I'm sorry I'm so OCD about posting every little detail. My blog is kind of my journal, so I feel obligated to write about the trip. And you all got suckered in to it. :)

In South Philadelphia, born and raised...

We flew into Philly Monday night. Tuesday and Wednesday were mainly spent exploring Reading Terminal Market, Amish Country, and the Franklin Institute. Let me just say right off that I think the East Coast is awesome. Let me also add that we might as well have climbed that one big mountain in Nepal rather than endure a four hour plane ride with our kids. (It was that bad. Especially coming home.)

Milo was obsessed with Papa on this trip. Obsessed. He would basically hiss if anyone else touched him.


Pearly and Nana are BFF. No one else could get her to sleep. (Pearl had a horrible horrible rash as well as a cold on this trip. She wasn't at her happiest. Yesterday we found out she has strep in her bum-bum, eczema, and a yeast infection. Yikes!)

Reading Terminal was really fun. Tons and tons of food. Jamie and I each gained about 3 pounds on this trip, but boy was it worth it.

The Franklin Institute was a really fun, kid-centered, interactive science museum. They currently have a Star Wars exhibit with original costumes, etc. A few of us rode the "sky bike." I was definitely the most nervous about it, but that is only because Mom refused to do it. Neil is on it in this picture.

We ate at Viet Huang one night. Vietnamese food. My first time with Pho (above), which I love love. They had those bubble drinks too, so of course I got one and made Jamie get one too. You can tell Milo is my son because he wanted them all to himself. Jamie and I came back after NYC and ate here again. Ryan also took us the first morning to John's, home of the best cheesesteak in Philly. So good and authentic and big. I only managed half of it.

Keeping it real at Ryan + Jessica's. They live very near the Italian Market (below). Actually, they live very near everything. They were such lovely hosts, especially considering Milo threatened the lives of their cats on a regular basis.

Amish country was gorgeous:

We sampled Shoo Fly Pie and got excited every time we saw a buggy on the road.

Thursday, around noon, we set off on the infamous Chinatown bus for NYC! But not before we ate some authentic cannoli from Isgro's. (Side note: Ryan + Jessica have a shower curtain with words and their definitions on it. While conditioning my hair I learned that you should only use "infamous" if something has a bad reputation. I think I thought it meant "really really famous." In the case of the Chinatown bus, "infamous" still applies.)

Come back tomorrow to see if we survive the Chinatown bus!

(I'm sorry for the barrage of pictures. I'm my mother's child in that I enjoy a good, comprehensive trip rehash. Also, I took no less than 400 pictures, so you better believe I'm posting some more.)

either i fell asleep last night watching seinfeld, or we just got back from the east coast.

a Big Apple a day keeps the doctor away

i'm leaving you with a video. i think thom is getting handsomer.

Milo is extremely afraid of the Winger's bird. Extremely.

ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

We buzzed Milo's hair Sunday morning. I'm really a fan of longer hair on boys, but it was just too unruly. It looked like we never brushed it, when really we were brushing it five times a day. We were pretty emotional after Jamie buzzed it, because suddenly Milo didn't look like a baby anymore! It was shocking how different he looked. He donated his hair to a good cause:

Also, Ray did my hair on Saturday. I am tired of being a slave to peroxide. I went in Phoebe Buffay and came out Monica Gellar. The ultimate goal is more of a Rachel Green (my natural color) but I'm loving being so dark for awhile. (I think this is the first time someone has asked their stylist for Jennifer Aniston's hair...) Everyone at church was wondering why Brother Sharp was hanging out with that mysterious brunette.

Ray documented the whole scientific hair coloring process. It really was quite the ordeal! She did a great job. Check out the pictures on her blog, but don't be shocked at how hot I look, especially with orange hair. (Yes, that was supposed to happen.)