Enjoy and be thankful

I’m embarrassed to say… or maybe a little pleased to say.. that I have nearly nothing to post about this week. For the first time in awhile we stayed at home. Our new home. And enjoyed doing a lot of nothing.

Although it’s been a bit of a sad start to the year with my dad passing, I also have many things to be thankful for – like our health, and our new comfy home, and new friends. Oh and that big amazing pile of food that we are about to indulge in (thanks grandma and grandpa!) I hope you have lots to be thankful for too. Happy Thanksgiving!

this pretty photo from theoutlawmom.com

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Annie the movie

We got tickets to see the Annie movie – and saw it in Times Square (which really made us feel as if we were going to see the musical). We loved the movie, and the totally new take on a “contemporary Annie” living as a foster child in the Bronx. The kids enjoyed identifying with Annie’s romps through the city and its boroughs, especially in the opening of the movie where she rides a Citi Bike home after school! And who wouldn’t enjoy a cozy movie theater and popcorn when it’s so cold outside?

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Autumn in New York

We’ve been so sidetracked by packing and moving and unpacking, we nearly forgot to enjoy the season and the changing leaves. Thankfully Central Park never disappoints, and is only a quick 20 minute subway ride away. I can’t believe the skating rink is already open, and we even spotted our Astoria neighbor Big Bird hanging in the park ..
(By the way that last photo is of our new street and house under some red leaves!)

these were really pink and yellow…!

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New York Festival of Light

We got to see an amazing light exhibit in DUMBO last weekend… a nice last weekend of balmy weather topped off by projected light art on Manhattan Bridge. Can’t beat it! Check the video here: http://online.wsj.com/articles/new-york-festival-of-light-in-brooklyn-rivals-times-square-1415299739

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A meet and greet in our new alley

The neighbors in our ‘alley’ had a round up over the weekend… to discuss living-together things (like upcoming snow removal) and just meeting each other in general. We are one of 3 families that moved in between September and October so – lots of new kids abound! Mostly girls, but they have a giant pink battery operated car so Ezra is definitely still intrigued. And the older girls decided to break out a magic show for the crowd. I think E and Z are gonna like it here!

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Life in our new home..

Still a few things to be finished, still quite a few boxes unpacked. But we are settling in nicely and it’s feeling like home. And what a cozy lovely home it’s gonna be.

I have to say – some people have asked me why I haven’t blogged about the renovation, with before and after photos and all – but this has all been such hard work and more stressful than I anticipated. I have a renewed appreciation for anyone who can enjoy revamping an hold home. Not for the feint of heart!

So for now here are some sunny, cheery, semi-finished, semi-moved in and lived in shots:

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and some more scenes of Halloween

Our friends in Astoria did up their house, with a movie projected on a nearby building and everything! I guess we have to step up our game next year, now that we have a home to decorate:

… and there was a giant spider web on our block!

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Halloween at the new house ..

Well it was a can of crazy here late last week, but somehow miraculously (with the help of grandparents) we managed to get kids in costumes and out to parties. Four parties in our ‘alley’ alone! By the way, the ‘alley’ is our back drive, filled with children and great neighbors, and described by others in the hood as the equivalent of moving ‘into Sesame Street’. You will hear a lot about it on the blog I’m sure. What a great, warm receptive group of neighbors we have. Ezra was a Dinobot and Zoe was one of the thousands of Elsas on the street… but I still think she was the prettiest. Who needs candy when all this other fun is going on?

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