Happy Autumn!

Creative Hatch Studio in the borough of Chelsea in NYC sure knows how to bring out the seasons in the city and this year it is the most simple fall-ish peace sign I have ever seen. I love it and it's such a perfect sign to welcome Fall. Every season we come here just to see how the peace sign is decorated and this year they nailed it with simplicity, elegance, and vibrant colorful fall colors. The fact that it's my birthday weekend made it even more special. Oh how I love the city and this neighborhood. Someday I would love to live here but that's a dream thought. 

Pumpkin Season!

 

With Noah in year 8 it's going to be a bit hard to get him to venture out to places with me especially after school. Surely I can go out by myself and explore and I will have those opportunities late in the season but time with him is so important and so much fun! So this past Monday we drove out to Bucks county to one of our favorite little pumpkin patches to not only pick a pumpkin but to grab some kettle corn and candy corn. Yes, Noah loves candy corn and until he gets his braces off he can only eat the candy corn cause it's soft. We have been coming here for the past three years (excluding 2020) and on this day the weather was perfect. I love cloudy days and the setup was so perfect for photos. I only get this time once with him and 2023 is just flying by so I captured a few pics with Noah in the mix. I will have to get used to not having the girls come with us but I'm grateful for the first time we discovered this place with Chelsea. I love, love this season and maybe I'm biased because it's my birthday month but man are we lucky to both be born in the most vibrant season called autumn!  

DeVotchKa In Philly!

On the evening of the first day of school Jon and I went out to see DeVotchKa for the first time! I have been listening to this great band for over a decade and can't believe I finally saw them in person! We had front row seats and it was a quaint and intimate venue where we just sat back and relaxed to listen to their amazing songs and phenomenal playing. They have not lost their touch and Nicks vocals sounds the same and oh my gosh is it the most unique voice I've ever heard! Such a wonderful evening and I hope they never stop touring. I can hear them sing and play their instruments all day long! I recorded so many videos of their performance and wish I can share them with you on here, but I hope that you can one day see them in person! 

Year 8!

A full week has passed since Noah began grade 8 and so far so good. I still can't believe our only boy is in his last year of middle school. This is insane and I can't seem to wrap my head around it. Just yesterday he was graduating kindergarten and next fall he will be in high school! I need to stop blinking!! I hope that he will make this year count and that he will enjoy and have fun with it. So far he enjoys his classes. French has become his favorite language and is happy to have had the same teacher for three years. He has gym last period which he loves because when winter hits at least the temps will somewhat go down in the middle of the day. He is taking advantage of recess because once your in high school they are gone! He has gotten better at packing lunches and appreciates the little things in life. All I want for this kid is to have a great school year. To do his best in his classes. To be a good influence. To To be kind to others and respect his teachers. The world is changing every second and its up to him to make the world better. With our help in being good examples he has an excellent chance of being one happy kid in spite of any obstacles that will come his way! 

9/11 Tribute Lights & The Empty Sky Memorial.

I always find it incredibly moving every time we go to Jersey city and stand on the Hudson waterfront to watch the tribute lights light up on 9/11. We normally go to the city and stay in the financial district to go to the freedom tower but for the past couple of years we have been going to the Empty sky memorial where they honor those from NY/NY who lost their lives in the towers. Such a beautiful tribute and memorial and coming here never gets old. NYC on September 11th or any other given day never gets old. We are so grateful to live in a place where we are so close to drive to the city and pay our respects to those whose lives were lost. Such a special place to go and feel their spirit. It's truly amazing and the feeling I felt while standing against the rail overlooking the Hudson River staring at the lights pretending the twin towers were still standing brings back so many memories. Happy ones. Even when it rains that doesn't stop anyone from going to pay their respects to remember. 

This is the second year in a row where it has rained and the rain this year formed two lovely rainbows earlier that evening. I know that those twin rainbows were a sign from the souls letting us know that they are at peace and thankful that for the last 22 years, we have not forgotten them. 

Flight 93 Memorial.

Today marks the 22nd anniversary of the September 11th attacks and every year on this day it never gets old and I never forget. I will always remember that dreadful day waking up to the sound of a loud tube tv at my husbands grandfathers house in Washington hearing him shout out, "a plane just crashed into the twin towers!" I woke up and couldn't believe what I was seeing. Here I was across the country from one of the cities I have always loved and it was in distress! Living near the city for the past 16 years has really made me appreciate NYC even more which is why I love going there so much. I love the energy and the strength that this city gives when a catastrophe happens. New York is a strong city and we will never forget what happened there. We will also never forget what happened in the outskirts of Stoystown Pennsylvania where flight 93 crashed. On our way home from our cross country trip to Utah we decided to stop by the memorial. It was our first time visiting here. Another trip we should have made a long time ago because it's only a five hour drive from Jersey.

Chicago!

Road trip to Utah has come and gone and for the past ten days we have been catching up on some sleep! Even though school has started we are still adjusting to our back to school schedule so I finally found some time to hop on here and write about our first trip to Chicago! We've never been and I don't know why we never made a trip here sooner. It's only a 13 hour drive and having family living here should have been a good excuse as ever to come more often and should have done this trip a long time ago! We spent an entire day here before heading toward Utah and I'm so glad we stopped by. It is a magical, clean, beautiful city and it truly gives off a cozy and homey vibe. As much as I love NYC I totally fell in love with Chicago and we will definitely be back to visit Kenzie, have more deep dish pizza, ride the "L" and see the bean when it opens up again in 2024! Can you believe we missed it by two weeks and now it's gated and being worked on! Still, it was a fabulous trip and look forward to visiting again soon! 

Now for some photos.....