Umm....can I get an update?

Alright, alright, it's been a while since I've posted and I've been meaning to sit down and do thankful thursday (no, really, I have!) but then suddenly, oh, whoops, is it friday? And then, on friday afternoon, my mom called and asked if I wouldn't mind coming a little sooner than planned (I had planned on heading up there in the evening) and oh what a difference a few hours make! The traffic was heavy but not bad, but I95 was completely clogged the entire way. It added a solid hour to my trip. It was clogged like it always is in the evening from all the New York traffic, but *sigh* what we will do for our loved ones. I arrived in a none-too-pleasant mood. Luckily the next day I had shook off my bad mood enough for mom and I to do a little bikeriding/yard-saling.
I'm going to backtrack a little here (for memory's sake) and talk about Mother's Day Weekend. Mom's present this year was (drumroll please) ME! I decided to spend that weekend up in New Haven just hanging out and doing nothing in particular. Mom suggested bringing my bike so that we could mosey around town. This turned out to be an excellent suggestion. We first went to the Peabody Museum, but only to shop at their gift shop. They have an amazing one! We got little dinosaur heads that chomp for Rees and Nicolette. Then, once outside, we bought hot dogs from a street vendor and then sat on the lovely grass and had a little picnic. These pics are from that:



We spent the entire day on our bikes seeing New Haven. Seriously, if you haven't gone on a bikeride for a while (like myself) try it out! It's exhilerating!
Anyway, back to this past weekend. Mom and I spent the next day chilling out and yardsaling (like I said before) and then the whole family arrived in the evening. We went out to dinner at a Mexican restaurant and then to Baskin Robbins for dessert. YUMMY!
The next day, mom and I rode our bikes a bit more, but were called by the family asking us to come swimming at their hotel. After running quickly to a thrift store (I got a bathing suit for three dollars! And yes, it fits!) we joined them at the pool!


The next day, DEVAN GRADUATED!!! He has a Master of Arts in Religion from Yale University! The big graduation was really amazing. Someone said "That's 300 years of tradition right there" and that phrase kind of stuck throughout the day. We then went back to the divinity school where Dev actually got his diploma. What a wonderful way to spend Memorial Weekend!

A Love Letter To My Mom

These pictures are some of my favorites and I think they stand for themselves without words. HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY MAMA! I LOVE YOU!

Thankful Thursday

I'm sitting here at Carol's computer (because I accidently left mine at Dev's when I was up there last weekend) and I'm thinking, "Hmmmm, what am I thankful for today? I mean, REALLY thankful for? Well, what am I thankful for that I haven't discussed already in Thankful Thursday." It's spring and I look around me and how could I NOT be thankful just for what I see? There's gorgeous trees blooming in bright pinks and purples (yes, for those of you who live out west, there is such a thing as blooming trees and they're just the most beautiful color). I could be generic and say that I'm grateful for this earth that we live on and how miraculous it is, but somehow, I feel like that just goes without say. I'm extremely grateful for family and friends even when I feel like I'd rather not be bothered, they draw me out of myself and make me a better person. I'm also thankful for those silent and alone moments where I can sit and read a book for hours on end (like I did these past couple of days- as a sidenote, the book I was reading, City of Bones by Cassandra Clare, was very interesting) or I can go out for a walk with my neighbor and friend Luther (Don't get any ideas, he's a dog. I'm not dating a neighbor. Unfortunately). All of this makes for a very delightful Thursday which isn't all that exciting, but certainly something to be thankful for. Oh, and PS-Gray's Anatomy is on and gossip on the inside is someone's getting married soon....this is the stuff I look forward to.

New York in the Springtime

On Friday, Carol (Melissa, my client's, mom) and I went up to New Haven and met up with mom. We did a little shopping.
Yes yes, I'm a Yale Sis. That's about as close to Yale as I'm gonna get.

We enjoyed the loud music playing around campus (something fun was going on, I'm not sure what it was, but we enjoyed being in the midst of it all). That night we settled in and watched "An Ideal Husband". The next morning, we dragged our tired hineys (okay, well, I was tired) and drove to Dev's. We snapped a few pics before heading into the city.

When we got there, I split up (mom and Carol weren't interested in the show, so they went their own way over to the Dakota) and went over to Times Square where I met up with Tracy and Sherma for a show called "In the Heights". Excellent dancing and singing! The reason for our visit is that someone from my dad and aunt's high school was in the show, but unfortunately, for that performance, he was injured and wasn't in it. We still thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

Tracy and I then went to an outdoor Bazaar and bought some delicious bbq chicken on a stick and corn on the cob (along with a new purse, but that goes without saying, doesn't it?)

I then said goodbye to her and went up to Macy's to meet back up with Carol and Mom. We took a few pics in Herald Square.


We had dinner at a yummy Mexican restaurant in the Upper West Side then headed back to Dev's. The next day (mommy had to leave early) we had brunch with Dev, then shopped a little. A skirt and a Mother's Day gift later, we headed home. Now I'm out of money so I need to take a break. Otherwise I would've stayed.

Thankful Thursday

This week, I've decided to do something a little different. And I wish that I could say that I came up with the idea all on my own, but I kind of stole it from a magazine. But the result is the same, so who really cares? I decided that it would be fun to show what some of my favorite things are around my house. My apartment is my little haven, and in it, collections of things that make me happy. Here are some ones that really strike a cord:
This is a painting done by my great grandmother, who is ninety-seven and although she has Alzheimer's, she's still dancing. Back in the day, Nana was a fantastic artist. I think this piece speaks for itself.

These little friends are all from Build-A-Bear. Hello, my name is Heather, and I'm an addict. The great thing about these guys is that each of them holds a story and a memory for me. I make them when I go to Phoenix with my niece and nephew. A few of them even have a recording inside them of their voices (which I press from time to time when I'm really missing them).

This is my favorite book. I try to read it every couple of years just to make sure Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy still end up together.

This little froggie is a coin bank from my mom, which she bought for me when she was traveling. It makes me happy just to look at it. I try and stash all my coins in here and then when she comes to visit, we cash in the money and go see a movie.

My favorite family photo.

These movies I could watch every night as I go to sleep and never get sick of them. They are classics that don't get old. At least, not to me.

So that's my version of "Whiskers on Kittens" and "Warm wollen mittens". Just a few mind you.

I HAD to share this-

VISITING TEACHING 101

A very typical Hite Easter

Okay, so Tracy and I got our Easter bunny on and made these very cute baskets for everyone- Then we went out into the beautiful (but slightly chilly) day and hunted for eggs that Tracy had dyed this morning. Typical Hite brothers (with the help of our cousin Vasilica) to turn it into a game of egg catch.

Yes, yes, typical Hite Easter.