NYC and Carnegie Hall

We all went into the city on Saturday with my dad and had a really fun day. I love having an excuse to spend a day in the city!

Dad and me

Shannon, Dad, and Daniel - protected from the elements behind his plastic shield.

Since we were in the vicinity we had to take Daniel into the Toy's R Us store in Times Square.

Then we headed up to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to spend a few hours. I had actually never been there before so it was a lot of fun.

This is the Temple of Dendur - an Egyptian temple dating back to 15 B.C. The temple was removed from its original site and brought here to prevent it from being submerged by the construction of the Aswan Dam. It's pretty amazing to see something like this up close.

When we let Daniel out of the stroller while we were looking at paintings - this is where he ended up.

After dinner Shannon and Daniel took the train home and my dad and I stayed in the city to go to a concert at Carnegie Hall. The Juilliard Orchestra played along with a young pianist who my dad is getting to do some tours in China. It was a fun treat!

SNOW

Here are some pictures from the snow storm that hit our area a few days ago. It's been kind of nice to have some snow around.

Of course Shannon and Daniel had to build a snowman. Daniel wanted to hold the snowman's hand for the picture.

It looks like he could practically sled down our back steps.

Our backyard

Snow Cream

My dad is in town for a few days and the day he got in town we got hit with a huge snow storm! When I was little we always made snow cream when it snowed - so we couldn't pass up this opportunity. It was fun to have dad here to make it with us. Daniel thought it was such a treat.

First Step in making snow cream: collect CLEAN snow - the optimal word here being - CLEAN. A metal bowl helps keep it cold.

Second Step: Add heavy cream (or half and half), sugar, and vanilla.

Third Step: Enjoy!

Shopping Is Hard Work!

Daniel and I went to the grocery store this morning and it must have really worn him out because when I went to get him out of his carseat this is what I found. Apparently the sun was a little too bright for him.

Valentine's Day

Shannon did not disappoint this year. The night before Valentine's Shannon took Daniel with him to the grocery store to get everything for the dinner he would be making the next day and came home with these beautiful flowers! On Valentine's evening Shannon went to work in the kitchen and made a delicious dinner. He made marinated steak, stir-fried asparagus with cashews, and an avacado and tomato salad. Everything was wonderful! I feel very loved.

The flowers that Daniel and Shannon brought me.

The dinner that Shannon made: It was so yummy!

The chef himself!

Good Morning Valentine

Daniel was such a cutie this morning. I love this picture of him - he still looks sleepy. I made him some eggs and heart shaped toast. Shannon gets up at 5:30 and catches the 6:30 train so we didn't have breakfast with him - he got stuck with cold cereal (sorry hon), but we can't wait to see him when he gets home! Daniel put a Valentines' card in Shannon's lunch though, so he will have a little surprise at work.
Yesterday Daniel put his arms around my neck - out of the blue -and said "Wuv You." He can pretty much get away with anything he wants after that! What a sweet little boy I have!

Daniel's Valentine's Breakfast

My Little Accountant

Daniel loves playing with the coins from our coin jar. This will keep him busy forever! Luckily he doesn't put them in his mouth - he just sifts through them with his hands and puts them in and out of different bowls, and he loves dropping them in his play mailbox. As he drops them in his mailbox he counts - and it ususally goes something like this - "five, eight, ten!" He calls coins - "eyes" for some reason - I have no idea why. Maybe he'll be an accountant like his dady someday.

Counting Down the Days...

I am counting down the days until Valentine's Day! It has been tradition since we have been married that Shannon always cooks a fabulous dinner for us on Valentine's Day. I look forward to it all year - seriously! Shannon helps me in the kitchen a lot but he rarely does an entire meal all on his own - where he thought it up, planned it out, and got all of the ingredients etc. -which makes this an extra special treat. He keeps his menu top secret and shuts himself in the kitchen until the big reveal! He is a great cook - and it's always wonderful. Now if I can only get him to do it more than once a year...but hey, I'll take what I can get! These are a few pictures from previous years.

2007

I contributed a dessert one year- that's about all I've ever done. This is a Baked Alaska.

2005 -The roasted asparagus with balsamic vinegar and fresh parmesean was quite a winner!

2004 -This was our first Valentine's Day and he made mandrain chicken with rice and a yummy salad with fruity drinks. He set the bar pretty high at the start.

Growing Up

The first picture was taken of Daniel this Christmas. The second is one we had taken of him when he was about 6 months old. Look how much he has grown! I love that you can see his two bottom teeth in the first picture.