Surprising Lyd!

24 years of friendship is something to celebrate!  So is turning 40.  Lydia told her husband that her dream birthday would be dinner with her closest friends.  So, when Kyle asked if he could fly me to Kansas to surprise her, that was an easy yes.

Beth picked me up from the airport and recorded the surprise.  I was so nervous...I have no idea why I did any of the things I did...but she was also so shocked that she just froze.  Video

We have said many times that we wish we were together, sipping wine and chatting on her back patio.  So we did!

The next day, I treated us to pedicures.  

And we sat by the pool while her kids swam.

Then we met up with these lovely ladies for a dinner at Silo.  Jess drove down from Nebraska that day to join us.  Lyd is one loved lady.

Dinner was amazing and one of the most fun evenings I've had.  We had a good laugh when the waiter brought out her birthday treat.  This was a nice restaurant and lots of dessert was ordered, but Lyd just got a scoop of vanilla ice cream with a candle melted right on the plate.

I'm so glad I got to be there to celebrate a wonderful friend.

Trip to the MoMA

Rachel came to visit and we took her into the city.  Remember last summer when we went to the MET and Starry Night was at the MoMA?  We've planned all year to go to the MoMA this summer to see it and guess what.  It's back at the MET!!!

We were very disappointed and bought a Starry Night puzzle to make do.  

We also walked through Central Park, got coffee in Rockefeller Center and the boys went in the Lego Store.

 

Porch Pickers Gigs

The Porch Pickers have been busy this summer! 

Playing at the Farmer's Market:

At Jone's Beach!

And at the Sea Cliff Sunset Serenade:

(sorry it's so far away...pretend you are sitting at our picnic dinner with us, listening to them play)

NYC birthday trip

While the kids slept, Ben and I ran up the Hudson River to the Little Island.

Then we divided and conquered lunch.  Colin and I got tacos,

and the rest got empanadas.

Then we stood in a very large crowd, were corralled like cattle and rode the ferry to Liberty Island to see the Statue of Liberty.

We went up the observers deck and then got a lemonade.

Alison's sweet sixteen!

                                                     Can you believe it?!?!  Baby girl is 16!

We started the morning off with a little walk to get a fancy drink from Starbucks.  

Then we opened presents.

Then we drove to the city, parked the car, left our stuff at the hotel and took the subway for the first time to the 9-11 museum.  You haven't lived until you've walked through NYC carrying a birthday cake :)

The museum was wonderfully done.  It was somber and impactful.  Not the most happiest of places for a birthday celebration, but a great life experience.

Then the best pizza was found.

The boys went back to the hotel and the girls found Sephora to spend a little birthday money.

We went to Bubby's for dinner.  I'm told the mac n' cheese bites were a highlight of the trip.

Lovin' on our very own bubby.

The ghostbusters firehouse was right by the restaurant.

Ben took Alison out to look at knock off designer bags.

Then it was time for cake!

We ended the night with a little spa time, HGTV and another slice of pizza.  It was a great day of celebrating a wonderful girl!