16 Months Old- Cora Larkin

Long Island Visit

When a few months go by and I haven't been home to West Babylon, I start to get the homesick feeling that I need to see my parents and grandparents. My Mom and Dad always make a point to come see us in CT, but sometimes you need to sit in your childhood bedroom or stand in your old backyard in order to get that peace of mind that makes you feel yourself again. That seems to never go away, no matter how old I get. Only now, when I make the trip to Long Island, I have the benefit of bringing two little girls in the backseat behind me who wake up at the toll booth before the bridge religiously, and jump and squeal under their seat belts in South State Parkway traffic, even more excited than I am to soon arrive at "Nanny and Papa's house."

 Stories with Nanny on the couch

 Raking leaves with Papa

A swing ride at Belmont Lake

Four generations :) So happy that my grandparents moved in next door to my Mom and Dad. Everyone who makes the traffic bearable just got a lot closer together. And that makes it easier than ever to share a cup of tea with Grammy and Grandpa Fitz and snag some cookies and funny lines from the New Yorkers I love most.

Sister shots -Fall 2014

Being a sister is a  love/ she's driving me crazy relationship. Here are some moments of the love.

Family Trip to Boston

Emmet and I are in love with Boston. There are a million reasons that people love this town, but for me, it is a sentimental one (and as you all know, it is NOT THE RED SOX). After college, I had lived a year away from home in Russia, followed by a year away from the east coast in California, so moving back to Boston with Emmet back in 2007 was like coming home- to family, to college friends, to my old time zone... basically to everything that was familiar and fun. We had an incredible two years there full of happy hours with friends at local bars, great regional hikes and day trips in New England, and countless afternoons relaxing and loving life on our old couch in Brookline. Ahh... the good old days.

Since kids have come along, it is much less frequently that we get to visit, so when we had a free few days over Emmet's October vacation, this family trip was a no brainer. Poor Auntie Mary had to put us up in her half renovated two bedroom apartment in the West End for "Five days and four nights... but whose counting?!!!!) as she says.

As always, when traveling anywhere, Emmet had a jam-packed, yet perfect itinerary. We drove straight from my cousin's house in Braintree Thursday morning to the Children's Museum, which was ideal for a rainy day. Then we settled in at Mary's, took a family nap, and headed out for dim sum in China town.

Friday morning, we headed with the double stroller all the way to the North End, where Emmet had researched a great, gated playground with lots of 1-5 year old push toys and a nice playscape. A cup of coffee for us and an hour for Keeley to ride her scooter and Cora to run in circles was perfect. We walked home to the West End taking our time, looking at the brick buildings, enjoying the stoops decorated with mums and pumpkins, stopping at the waterfront, and weaving through Quincy Market.

After nap time, we decided to walk some more, with the Boston Commons/ Public Gardens and the duck statues from McClosky's "Make Way for Ducklings" as our destination. The parks were full of tourists, families and young kids in love, all taking advantage of the fall sunshine.

Obviously, a walk though Beacon Hill is not complete for the kids ( or for Mommy) without an ice cream cone at JP Licks! 

And now for a huge shout out to the "Aunties," Auntie K and Auntie Mae-Mae who watched our children so that we could go up to a wedding in Maine. The girls adore them both, and so do we. Keeley is still running around repeating Mae-Mae's "only rule:"  "NO CHOKING CHILDREN."

The playgrounds on the Charles River up the block from Mary's place were our home away from home for the time we spent on Hawthorne Place. You always need a go to place to wear out the munchkins when you're staying in a city, and it doesn't hurt to have a sister-in-law full of energy and giggles to help you take care of your kids.

PS - Let it be known that Katherine even had the guts to take the two girls to the Aquarium while we were away= AUNT OF THE YEAR! 

Bunking up with the cousins

Our first stop on our Massachusetts adventure was my cousin Kevin and his wife, Jen's house in Braintree. ALthough we don't get to see them as much as we like, Keeley absolutely idolizes their oldest daughter, Shea, and is the same age as their son, Gavin. Cora and their youngest are were born a day apart :) Needless to say, the kids were happy to see their second cousins and we were happy to have a kid-friendly location to camp out in with two pretty cool parents.

Keeley will never forget "waiting for Shea to get off the bus" and having a "sleepover" with her cousins in Boston. Pizza for all, and wine and beer for the grown ups after bedtime always makes for a happy time. Above in this photo, breakfast for five munchkins and lots of coffee for the adults as we get the day started and head off to the Children's Museum!

Benny's Wedding

The only thing better for parents of young children than a wedding where you can go out and let loose, is a wedding where you get to sleepover in a different city that night and wake up the next day on your own! Thanks to Katherine and Mary, we got to do just that up in Portsmouth, New Hampshire for Ben and Katie's wedding. The weather was beautiful and we always love a good Holy Cross reunion.

This picture is a bit blurry, which is fitting for this time of night when two old college buddies get together:)

My Ring is 6 years old

6 years ago today on an island off the coast of Thailand called Ko Samet, after a long ride on a dirt bike, this guy asked me to marry him. Who would have thought we would have two little girls by now and be living in Bethel, CT, having finished med school and one and a half years of residency. Still feeling like the luckiest girl in the world. Cheesy, but true.

Birthday Party at Castle Hill Farm

Last year, when we went pumpkin picking at Castle Hill Farm in Newtown, Emmet and I were in love with this farm. It is absolutely beautiful. When we found out it was reasonable, we had to have a kids' birthday party there. Being that Keeley loves farms and fall, it was meant to be.

Lots of friendly faces from the playgroup to celebrate the occasion :)

Keeley said, when asked what her favorite part of the day was, "Playing with my cousin Maddie." This picture pretty much sums it up. Cousins are the best! AUnt Kerin even came with James for his first outing.

Highlights included the hayride, where we got to feed the humongous cows out in the field, a petting zoo of farm animals to look at, and of course, an art project, which I cannot live without. Painting pumpkins with three year olds is always messy, but I couldn't resist!

Thank God for AUnt Bri who came up early to help me set up the tent area, the appetizers, the cold October beers, and the balloons!