Back from Connecticut

So, just back from A Wicked Tea in Texas and Doug and I headed off to Connecticut. We had alot to squeeze in on this trip - It was Joao's first birthday which we celebrated by going to The Rainforest Cafe.

Both of my nephews just loved it. It was so cute to see their reactions when the lightening and thunderstorms would come and the monkeys in the trees would start shaking - the boys would get all wide eyed. So cute! And how cute is it that they love each other so much?

Jess & Joao:

Doug had read in one of his Golf magazines that the Yale Golf Course was rated the number one collegiate course. We took a drive and went to see what the fuss was all about. The people we met at the golf course were so friendly and accommodating. They let us take a cart and drive around to see just how beautiful this place really is. Here is a picture of Doug standing at a hole that has a two story drop. Some friendly golfers invited him to tee off just to experience it but he declined. Maybe next time. ;)

Last Friday, Doug and I took the train into NYC. We ate pizza at the famous Lombardi's then went on to shop at our usual places: Kate's Paperie, Tinsel Trading, Fred Perry, Kid Robot, Supreme Skateboard Shop, Ben Sherman, and the various bead and trim shops around 38th street. I wanted to go to Mood (the fabric shop shown on Project Runway) but we were too tired and simply ran out of time.
Here I'm looking at ribbon at Kate's Paperie. I didn't end up buying any ribbon there just a few sheets of gorgeous paper.

We zipped around the city on the Subway - here's Doug waiting to board at the Prince Street stop.

Some people are scared of the subway but I love it. To me, it is so much a part of the NYC experience. If it is not freezing out I would rather take the subway than a cab. Cabs are so expensive - the second that meter is turned on and starts ticking it makes me anxious. I think of all the money I'm wasting and could be spending on something fun! Plus, they are so dirty - I know the subway can be dirty too but for some reason I feel that cabs are worse.
We went down to the area around Ground Zero but we couldn't get to the area where the memorial is. It was frightening to think of all that chaos there ten years ago, but amazing to see all the regrowth.

Saturday night, my cousin Nicole got married. It was a huge, beautiful affair and it was nice to see some of my family I haven't seen in years.

Bobby (my brother) & Jess; Ray & January (my sister):

Me & Jess:

Me and my sweet Gram. Today is her birthday. Happy Birthday Gram!!

My cousin Tammy, Me and Gram:

Me with my honey:

So, in addition to all that we also squeezed in Pizza at Pepe's, Pastries at Libby's, Pizza at Modern, lots of Dunkin Donuts, eating at Educated Burgher on the Yale Campus, driving around to see the beautiful foliage (which we were lucky was in full color while we were home!) and just hanging out and catching up. Another whirlwind trip.