Stone Barn Farms

While my sister was here we spent an afternoon at Stone Barn Farms in Tarrytown, New York. It's a beautiful working farm with acres and acres of pastures, orchards, a greenhouse, livestock, not to mention a fancy restaurant that features food grown on the farm and a cafe. The kids liked running around exploring all there was to offer. It's a wonderful place to visit for a day. Thanks to Lizzy for recommending it to me!

Julius and Daniel watching the pigs.

Inside the greenhouse: I have loved greenhouses ever since I was little. My Grandma Anderson had one and it just brings back great memories.

A little larger than Grandma's greenhouse...

Daniel took this picture of himself - so funny!

The sheep were my favorite. We were out of town for their sheep shearing day which is too bad. I was really looking forward to that!

Oblivious

Somehow we missed the memo that there was a huge storm headed our way a few weeks ago. Man did we feel dumb.

We knew it was supposed to be raining - but we figured that would be a good day to do something inside. So we all went to the Museum of Natural History in the city. We were somewhat prepared - we had rain covers for the strollers etc. as we walked the several blocks to the museum from where we parked. However, it became evident shortly after we started walking that this wasn't your normal rainy day.

It seemed like no one was out on the street (which doesn't really happen in NYC) and the few people we did pass had umbrellas inverting and blowing away. Kathryn and I had to stop several times just because the wind was so strong that it was hard to push the strollers! Needless to say that we were completely soaked by the time we got there. The babies however, stayed nice and dry under their rain covers. Once we got there we had a great time wandering around the museum even though it seemed like everyone in NYC who wasn't on the street had decided to come to the museum too.

The 60 mph wind and rain continued after we got home knocking down HUGE trees, taking out power lines, flooding etc. ending with our power going out and staying out for 24 hours (and we were lucky - some people were without power for days). The power company had to pull their workers off the street because it was too dangerous for them. Trees were down everywhere, church was cancelled, schools were cancelled for days, - we were so surprised and grateful that none of the big trees around our house came down. Let's just say the Nor'Easter of 2010 was not part of the Connecticut charm I was hoping for while my sister was here.

A view out of one of the windows at the Museum.

Julius is in there somewhere all bundled up and warm.

Entertaining themselves while the power was out.

Shannon watched a movie with the kids on the computer while the battery lasted.

Our next door neighbors had a little damage.

Our neighbors on the other side had their fence blow down.

Dad

My dad was in NY for business while Kathryn was here and we were able to spend a couple days with him.

Video taping Grandpa telling Daniel stories. He's a great story teller!

Kathryn, Dad, and me: After Kat and I went to the Rachael Ray Show we met up with dad in lower Manhattan for dinner.

Random NY picture: we thought the clock on the side of this building was neat.

South Street Seaport: Fulton Market

South Street Seaport with the Brooklyn Bridge in the background.

Rachael Ray Show

Kathryn and I went to the Rachael Ray Show while she was here. It was so much fun. I went to her show a couple of years ago but it's always fun go to a show and see how they do everything behind the scenes. Shannon stayed home with the three kids so we could take the whole day and have fun in the city! It was great! We were on the second row and we really lucked out that day-they were taping parts of three different shows while we were there so we got to see lots of people. We saw Catherine Zeta-Jones, Forest Whitaker, and Bret Michael's the lead singer from Poison! She also did a few cooking segments as well. My dad was in the city on business so after the show we met up with him in Lower Manhattan for dinner. It was a fun day!

Catherine Zeta-Jones was there promoting something for Elizabeth Arden and so everyone in the audience got a gift certificate for a free manicure which was pretty cool.

Forest Whitaker was coming over from The View so they had some time to kill while they waited for him. They played some games with the audience etc. Kathryn got pulled up to play a name that song game and won a book and Rachael talked to Kat for a second about living in Utah.

Bret Michael's was the Mystery Taster. He sang one of his new songs and talked about Celebrity Apprentice.

Fun with Kathryn

We had pretty good weather while Kat was here so we went to the parks often.

Stew Leonard's is always a hit.

Daniel and Julius making homemade play dough.

Play Dough Time!

Cute Julius

Nora and Julius playing with the swords.

Julius loves Daniel and wanted to be right there with him where ever he was but Daniel was always a little annoyed by this. It caused more than a few arguments to say the least. Someday they'll be good friends....someday! This picture was particularly funny because Julius started out sitting in the middle of the sofa and then every few seconds he would inch closer to Daniel until he was right next to him. I think he was hoping Daniel wouldn't notice.

Nora smothering Julius in kisses: Nora treated Julius like her baby doll half the time.

Gilmore Girls Anyone?

My sister and I love Gilmore Girls. There is a little town in Connecticut called Washington Depot which is supposedly the town that Stars Hallow was sort of patterned after. We knew we had to check it out! It's such a darling little town. I mean there's not much going on there other than just general cuteness but it was worth going just for that.

Town Hall

We liked the poster for the local theater production that was right outside the grocery store. I mean can't you just see Ms. Patty putting it all together... :)

Where's Gypsy?

We passed this house heading out of town and thought it could be a Loreali type house... :)

We also drove through New Milford which was right near Washington Depot and thought was equally as cute. It had a little gazebo in the middle of the town and everything.

Sister Time...Yeah For Me!

I never have agreed with the saying "fish are like house guests... after three days they both begin to stink..." I take visitors whenever I can and for however long I can convince them to stay!

My sister Kathryn and her little boy came to visit me for three weeks in March....yes, I said three weeks. Three whole fabulous weeks. I was in heaven! Her hubby was able to come the last week too which made it even better. Kathryn and I are both in that great stage where we don't have kids in school yet and so we don't have school schedules to work around etc. We decided we should be taking advantage of it while we can!

Nora giving Aunt Kat a hug.

Julius and Nora sharing breakfast.

Cupcakes!

Walking on the beach.