Easing back into things...

 Well, I make no secret that it's never easy getting back into the routine after 2 wonderful weeks off.  But we are doing the best we can.  Here's a few pics from yesterday and today. It is my new goal for the year to try to get to bed earlier...lack of sleep does a doozy on my mood I have discovered.  We will see how my new goal works out.  Blogging might need to find a new time and place.  It seems to keep my brain too active at night.  Anyway...we are figuring things out.  But lazy days at home with my Lo are just what my tired mind needs.  Yesterday we stayed in pj's til school-pick-up time. The highlight of our morning was our chips n cheese snack.  Though I must say Lo is starting to be a cheese hog...he eats all the cheese off my chips.  I consider myself a sharing person, but when it comes to cheese I get a little possessive!

 We got a fun surprise in the mail while we were in NYC...a bday card and stickers from Auntie Ann  and fam. in MI!  YAY!

 Mommy got a bday card too...Auntie Ann is the best!

 We got right to it...sticking stickers everywhere!!

 We got lots of fun toys for Christmas, but the tried and true magnatiles still win out!  All Lo wanted to do was race cars on them...not easy to do since they are bumpy, but he was persistent...

 Mounds of laundry to do...he helped!  One of the best purchases for our new home was this washer.  So glad we got it over the front loader. This thing rocks...I can do a week's worth of laundry in a few hours.

 I will never tired of the peacefulness of sleeping babies...I heart this snoozin' kid! We are trying to get back in the routine of naps.  I even took one yesterday.

 Back at gymnastics and pretty happy about it! She got a new winter leo and gym shorts too!

 They added hulu hoops to the balance beam act. Fancy!  Can you spot her?

 Truly...the girl loves gymnastics.  I know I was not super excited when she started this sport, but how can I not support a girl who loves something this much!

 Today, we tried to not be as lazy.  We headed to the library....we have missed this place.  We tried to find Jake books, but they didn't have any...so we settled for Star Wars!

  I think story time is wasted on him...he won't even sit up where you can see the story, but he cowers in my lap in the back row. I thought this might magically change when he turned 3, but not really...

 Oh, sweet train table, we have missed you!  He didn't even fight with anyone today...but he did give this girl the evil eye and kept his distance!

 We made something for Hayeee at craft time.  He wanted it to be all pink...I hope she likes pink!

 For Hayeee...a funny face...covered in cinnamon and sugar.

 More magnatile fun.  The kid is good with shapes...and he has his own way of doing things.  My ideas were not good enough...

 My one peace of the day...waiting in the pick-up line at school...

 She loves this desk, especially now that she has desk supplies that she got with an old gift card to Hobby  Lobby.  Maybe this will make homework time easier?

 Someone shot a ball into our tree...guess who?  And below is Shelb actually doing her violin flash cards. She has not done the best job of working on violin over break.  I hope she makes up for it this next week before violin starts back up.  Ash was nice enough to help her.

Lazy days are nice...but I miss the kids being home...and Kev being off work...and Hays here.  My heart is a little lonely this week....

Daddy's boy

Yep, that's our boy...the maturing 3 year old.  Totally his idea.  Totally the spawn of his father.  Who is very proud, I am sure.  Yes, we laugh a lot at this kid.  I am quite certain that is one reason God gave him to us. We need the smiles he brings us! :)  Crazy Pretzel boy.

Bye Bye, Hays...and almost home...

                                                                     

 Adding a few pics to this post today...bc you know me and picture-less-posts...cannot have that! :)  Here is our day yesterday....our early morning getting ready to take our girl to her 2nd home.  She was trying to help Ash here...we have some long-hair issues that need a good brushing...poor Ash.

 Seriously...this has to be one of the best views in the hotel...very cool!

 Our room...wish I had gotten it with more light...it was really a nice one.  We love this hotel and feel very blessed to have stayed here so often thanks to Nina and Poppy Stegs and their hotel points.  This was a room upgrade thanks to their points!

 Looks like the subway, but it was just the basement of our hotel...waiting for our van to come out of the parking garage.  Hailey and I were the only ones that took the subway this time (to the ballet).

 Our fancy bfast before droppin' Hays off...Dunkin' Donuts!  I actually think this is a highlight for the kids...they love DD's and we don't have them in Bloomy.  I personally think Krispy Kreme is better.

 Of course, I made her get out in the cold and take some pics....this is the road she lives on...her dorm is down the street there on the right (tall building) next to Juilliard.

 Love this fountain...and the love the girl sitting in front of it even more! (behind is the opera building)           

This is where we saw Nutcracker the night before...beautiful Koch theater...just perfect for NYCB

 Goodbye hugs in the van...not easy to do!

 Poor Lo looks squished!

 The girl and her bags...not as bad as when we drop her off for summer and fall!

 Shelb ended up helping us carry stuff up...I think she wanted some extra time with Hailey :)  This is Hailey's suite area of her dorm.

 One last goodbye...in her dorm room.

 Love this girl...gonna miss her, especially on her 16th bday...but she will be home a week later at least and for Easter!

 Bye Bye NYC....I always take a pic as we leave...it's my way of feeling a little closer to Hays.  Sometimes I still cannot believe she calls this place her home.

 Sheetz...we love this place...it was our lunch stop again!

 Lo telling Hayeee that he is eating some her chocolates (which really were not hers, but he was convinced they were!)

 Seriously...such a goofball!

 A SB stop for Shelb to use her gift card.  She drank it it honor of Hays who loves SB and frequents the one in Lincoln Center!

 The rowdy gang is minus one again :(  D was ecstatic he finally got his pretzel.  He had been begging since NYC.

 After the traumatic poop incident. We had to stop at some random place in PA and help him...after the trauma, he fell fast asleep in my arms and slept almost the whole way home...almost....he woke up in rare and rowdy form....haha :)

Well, it's been a long day. This drive is no fun and less fun doing it on little sleep. But we'll make it. Never fun going home and getting back to reality. But it's a necessary evil I guess. I think Hays was glad to be back "home". She and one of her friends were one of the only people there at the dorms at 9am. They went to lunch together and hopefully Hailey got her hw done. We've had a non-eventful drive home aside from a traumatic poop incident. :). Reflecting on the last two weeks:  It's been wonderful having our Hays home  a wonderful mix of relaxation and busyness of friend time and family time. It was a good winter break? But never long enough.  Now it's on to a new year and a few months of no-Hailey. Next time we see her it'll be Easter and she'll sweet 16!  Sigh. I'm feeling old!

A lovely NYC bday for me!

                                                                      

Adding a few pics....of us in Times Square on my bday morning after dropping off our bags early at our hotel (we love the Crown Plaza...just a step away from the TS action!)...there was still confetti  in the street from NYE...cool!

A bday ice-skate in Central Park at Trump Wollman Rink.  A beautiful, sunny, but cold day!  Lo didn't love it, but he amused his mama :)

A yummy lunch at Stardust Diner...we have been before after Hailey's first summer at SAB, but this was the first time we took all the kids.  The waiters sing to you...fun!

The Rockefeller tree...gorgeous!  We took night pics too, but they are on Kev's phone.  Awesome at night!

Magnolia Bakery bday cupcakes.  We also celebrated Lo's bday and D's...since Hailey will not be here for D's 10th in a few weeks.  Yay for cupcakes...and we had the best hotel room...a handicapped room with more space...and right on the corner with wrap around windows to look down on Times Square.  And below is my beautiful ballerina overlooking Lincoln Center (where she lives)...you can see the fountain below.  We just love watching NYCB's Nutcracker...the best Nutcracker in the world hands down.

Well, what a fun 39th for me!  Loved the day. It was exhausting and chaotic but I got to spend it with 6 of my fav people in one of my must fav places. We ice skated in Central Park, ate lunch at a musical diner, had bday cupcakes from magnolia bakery, saw the Rockefeller tree in day and night and ended the evening on the highest note of all--seeing NYCB's Nutcracker in Lincoln Center with my fav ballerina!  A great day with my great family and a wonderful way to spend my last bday in my 30's!  I feel blessed. Thanks to all for the bday wishes. I feel very loved. Pics to come on Monday once we are home!

A traveling New Year's Day!

 Adding a few pics now that we are home....of our New Year's Day...up early and all packed and ready to go.  Bittersweet to be taking her back to her home-away-from-home....

 they were slightly wiped out....lol at Shelb...she forever wins the crazy sleeping face award!

 Awake and rearing to go!

 This gas station (Sheetz) became our new fav. place to eat...you can order on a computer and they make it hot and fresh.  Shelb loved their Italian sub!

 I can't remember what state this was in (PA?)....but the frost-line on the trees was so cool!

 He was in rare form on this trip...crazy 3 year old!

 We finally figured out it was cheaper to get this EZ pass for tolls...saves us a lot of $$ if we are traveling back and forth to the Apple!

 Sleepy boy after swimming...Kev has the pool pics on his phone...I'll have to add those later...they had fun in the pool...and watching Disney channel....and here is how we sleep....like 7 sardines in a small hotel room. Fun!

Greetings from Bethlehem...PA that is. Our lil fam is nested in a humble inn tonight an hour and a half from NYC. Tomorrow morn we will be rockin the new year in Manhattan. It's been a long day of driving, but the little Stegs are happy with a pool and Disney channel. It doesn't take much. Will post pics later...happy January 1!