meanwhile, back at the ranch

So a lot was accomplished while we were on vacation and the week following.  The scaffolding went up for the facade work and they started taking off top layer if brownstone before we left. We came back to the grey scratch coat which provides a sound base for the new brownstone. You can see the peel away on the caps of the balustrade. 

Hard to see the work in this photo behind the tree! Cool thing is that we will get a good before and after pic as I have a picture from last winter and the leaves are falling now as they take this scaffolding down today! 

I'm so excited to see the facade sans netting and scaffolding tonight!

We also made a necessary, but perhaps less visible update to the building. We installed a new boiler and new hot water heater. Our old hot water heater was 25+ years old (they typically have a 15 year life span) and was leaking like a sieve. The boiler was 35 years old and it was time. Although these might not be the most attractive photos, they represent heat and hot water, something that I am thankful for daily. 

Peace of mind that neither will break down in the dead of winter = priceless.

snovember

We interrupt this update for a little peek into the here and more recent. 

This morning we had flurries on our way to school. Hudson was trying to catch the snowflakes in the blurry pic below.

It's amazing that I got him still enough for a couple other shots.

See the snow on his hat? Below he is trying to catch it on his tongue. 

On Saturday, I took the boys and met up with Megan & EB. Before we headed out, Hudson "helped" EB open his birthday present. He then "shared" with EB, showing him how to work the toys and books...

Sterling is in love with EB's birthday present..a really cool push car.

We survived brunch pretty successfully and then hit the playground. The boys had so much fun and took great naps after.

Such a cutie!

leaving on a jet plane...

Don't know when I'll be back again! The flight was short and sweet. The midday flight made it easy to get home without too much trouble. They boys had fun fooling around in the terminal

 Sterling loved the airplane. He was an easy passenger...

Such a natural! It was good to be home!

Sunday we decided to do brunch before church and Hudson had fun making mustaches out of paper straw wrappers.

And of course he was thrilled to see Violet after the hiatus! I love this picture of them:

Final beach morning

Even though our flight was at noon, we wanted to get in one last sunrise at the beach. And I am so glad we did! We had the beach to ourselves and it was amazing...

It was a beautiful morning and both boys had so much fun. It still surprises me how much Sterling loves the water. He doesn't care if he gets splashed in a wave, or falls into the water. He loves the way water and sand feel.

It was hard to get pictures of Hudson as he was always on the move.

And we got a few family shots as well.

So hard to get everyone smiling and looking the same direction. I will have to say that this was one of our most fun trips as a family. It was relaxing and enjoyable. Something. About the beach and the ocean just is renewing.

And it was so nice to have Mom & Dad there too!

It was a nice way to say 'goodbye' to Ponte Vedra. We hope to be back soon!

Florida part trios

Aunt Vicki and Uncle Bob headed back home and we got some quality time with Oma and Opa. We had one rainy day, but that gave us an excuse to enjoy the local library. 

Most of our time was spent at the pool or the beach. Hudson often got upset when we ended up at one when he expected the other. I can relate - I remember getting Shoney's and Arby's mixed up as a kid and being infinitely upset that we weren't where I was expecting to go. After we survived the two-year-old tantrum and ended on the beach or at the pool, it took about 1 millisecond for his mood to turn and he was back to his usual self. How could you not with this view? 

On the access boardwalk to the beach we found a banana spider in a beautiful web. We waved hello and goodbye each time we passed him. We even got to see him catch a bug!

The beach is just so amazing...

As was the saltwater pool. It was so refreshing and your eyes didn't burn. I wish the pools in the city were saltwater rather than chlorine!

We also went out to dinner as a whole family which was fun! It was a good thing we brought food for Sterling - no shirt, no shoes, no service!

We also fed the fish off the inter coastal waterway. It was such a lovely evening.

Look how long that kid is! Overalls are tasty!

Florida part deux

Every one really enjoyed time at the beach. Oma & Opa were really fun to play with. Hudson was a busy-body not stopping even for the obligatory father/sons pic.

We also enjoyed hanging out at the house. Aunt Vicki and Uncle Bob. Such amazing hosts!

We had fun hanging out in the grass. So many lizards, so little time!

I love these pics, the first is from March when Sterling was 2 months old and the second from this trip when he was 8 months old.

Funny thing is that Sterling is not a big fan of the paci - he muh prefers his thumb. I guess that explains his expressions!

Florida part one

In mid September, we had the pleasure of visiting my Aunt and Uncle in Ponte Vedra-it was so fun!

We flew JetBlue which was so easy. We got breakfast at our favorite Bistro in the terminal and reached out plane just in time (key when traveling with toddlers and infants as the last thing you want to do is sit on the plane longer than you have to).

It was Sterling's first plane ride and he did so well. Hudson did much better than previous flights as he had his own seat. The personal TV for Hudson was great.

The flight was just over two hours and we got to Florida around lunchtime. A passenger mistakenly took our bag (if you saw both bags together, you would laugh), but thankfully realized it and brought it back before we finished renting the car. It was a short drive to the house and Aunt Vicki had an amazing spread of chicken tacos with mango salsa. Delicious! My mom and dad also 

Hudson loved the lizards! He even caught one (with some help from Oma!)!

The beach was amazing. We are used to the chilly waters of Long Island. So much so, that Hudson commented that "we are going to the beach to swim and Sterling will say, 'brrrr!'" Hudson was pleasantly surprised that the water was so warm. It was a beautiful first morning at the beach.

Sterling loved the water and the sand. Hudson had fun building castles, riding the boogie board and jumping in the water.

Back at the ranch. I mean the house...Hudson had fun with some tom-foolery with Opa. Having the extra help on vacation when you have young kids is invaluable. As much as kids are fun and an amazing blessing, they are exhausting :)! It was important to have a 3:1 adult to kid ratio. It was an opportunity to share the joy and the work.

Much more to come...