Washington Street and Beyond

Beating the winter blues...

2012-01-27T21:50:00.002-05:00

One way to beat the January blahs? Playdates! And lots of 'em. Nora and I, especially, have been quite the social butterflies this winter...meeting up with new friends a few times a week while Eamon is in school. Work can always wait...and after all, it's about time she had her own set of buddies in Hoboken! Here we are at a puppet show today with our new friends L & B.

Merry Christmas.

2011-12-26T21:58:00.000-05:00

Happy Hanukkah.

2011-12-26T21:57:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday, Dear Nora!

2011-11-20T20:12:00.001-05:00

Our little girl turned one on Friday. We celebrated on Thursday night with Pops and Pies--that's cake pop and pizza--with some close friends and family--we'll party again with more friends and family next week in Maryland. Nora loved every bite of her caterpillar head cake pop (I made a "Very Hungry Caterpillar" arrangement) and was as cute as ever as the center of attention. She is such a gem, I hope every year to come is as amazing as this one!

2011-11-09T22:07:00.001-05:00

Some shots of our almost one-year-old, just hanging around the house...

Better Late Than Never...

2011-11-09T14:25:00.002-05:00

We had a really fun Halloween this year! Parties, playing, parades, trick-or-treating...what more could we ask for? Eamon and Nora LOVED wearing their costumes and E's already thinking about what he will be next year...

Carving Pumpkins

2011-11-02T22:22:00.000-04:00

Eamon was extra helpful with making Jack-o-Lanterns this year! Here he is checking things out, sampling the goods, and our finished products.

Halloween Munchies

2011-11-02T22:17:00.001-04:00

Nora at 11 months

2011-10-26T12:08:00.000-04:00

Fallin' for Fall

2011-10-19T15:12:00.001-04:00

Today may be dark and gloomy, but we've had some really great weather this month. Last weekend, we spent an hour at the park where Eamon practiced his soccer skills and Nora served as a cheerleader. Pretty soon, she'll be out there kicking along with him!

Pops!

2011-10-19T15:10:00.000-04:00

I've discovered the joys of making cake pops. My first attempt was ill-fated (footballs for E's birthday), but the second go-round was much better. Here's a centerpiece I did for a friend's baby shower. They're a bit time consuming to put together, but look so much better than anything I could do with an actual cake--and they taste ahhhmazing.

En-tah-tainment by Eamon

2011-10-13T11:17:00.005-04:00

As you know, Eamon is quite the singer. He loves belting songs out, especially in the bath tub. The other day, I heard him singing his own version of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," which I guess he picked up from seeing the "Lion King" (I took him on a date last Friday to the movies). I grabbed my camera to catch him, but he then decided to burst into another song from the movie. He now loves being filmed and has choreographed his own dance moves for it. :-)

Here are some clips from the other night.

2011-10-12T11:49:00.000-04:00

Who are these big kids and what happened to my babies?!

Hitting the Patch

2011-10-12T11:45:00.000-04:00

Despite the fact that the temps loomed in the mid-80's, we made our traditional trek to the Pumpkin Patch on Monday with our good friends A,C, A & O. We ventured out to Demarest Farm, a great spot with a ton of fun stuff--hay rides, corn maze, great food, and of course, lots of pumpkins. Getting excited for Halloween!

Just around the corner...

2011-10-10T21:24:00.003-04:00

Photo Card

View the entire collection of cards.

Hard to believe that Nora's first birthday is just a bit over one month away! We'll have a few celebrations, I'm sure, but the big par-tay will be in Maryland this year after Thanksgiving. With so many cousins and friends around, we figured it's best to have it where we can maximize our guest list. Here's a peek at what's to come!

Buddies!

2011-10-04T00:06:00.000-04:00

I love watching the relationship between Nora and Eamon develop and grow. They make eachother giggle constantly and are getting better at playing together--I can only imagine in a few years what I'll be up against when the two of them truly join forces!

Eamon Originals

2011-09-25T21:23:00.005-04:00

One time not too long ago, Eamon and I started this little game where we make up and perform original songs to each other. We introduce ourselves, the song, and then belt it out. Some of his classics include, "Put the Pictures Back," "Dip my Waffles," and "Make a Worm." It's really silly, but Eamon loves it. He even created his own stage name he uses during these performances, Eamon James. (Don't ask).

Anyway, I happened to have my camera with me this morning to capture one of Eamon's original tunes. Especially love the dramatic finish and how he oh-so-graciously accepts the applause at the end!

Boys & their Trains

2011-09-20T12:45:00.000-04:00

On Sunday, we rode out to the Whippany Railway Museum to celebrate Sam's birthday in grand style: A ride on an authentic caboose! Ours was a 1930's-era caboose--bare bones but very exciting for the boys. The ride was 45-minutes along the railroad, including a 40-feet-high crossing over the Passaic River. Afterwards, Eamon and Sam watched a model train circle the tracks for over an hour straight! They are beyond obsessed. Happy birthday to Sam, can't believe you are FOUR!

Big Boy Bed!

2011-09-13T22:12:00.001-04:00

First preschool, now a big boy bed--things are progressing rather quickly on Washington Street! We set up Eamon's very cool loft bed over the weekend and he loves it! He only takes up about an eighth of the twin-size mattress, so it's roomy enough for me to crawl in for story time (and, uh, to take a brief snooze after a particularly long day...). Underneath is a fun little nook for E--and N, too--to read and play.

Off to school!

2011-09-07T10:57:00.000-04:00

Where does time go? Only three years ago, we were in a sleep-deprived, awe-struck haze both overjoyed and overwhelmed with our new little baby boy. Today, that baby boy walked right into his new classroom and began playing with blocks and rocks like it was no big deal. But it is a big deal to me. As happy as I am to have him in an environment where he will learn, thrive, and make new friends, it's also bittersweet to see the years slip by so fast. Although I will say that I'm looking forward to having more time to get work done and actually be productive during the days.

2011-08-22T20:15:00.002-04:00

I took TONS of pictures at the beach, so I'm still editing them into an album...however, here's a sneak preview, via this little slideshow. Enjoy!

This photo album created with Smilebox

Happy birthday, Eamon!

2011-08-21T19:41:00.001-04:00

Create a scrapbooking design

Eamon had his usual variety of birthday celebrations this year: At the beach, at home, and at the park alongside some of his best buddies (Sam, Jack, Aiden, Owen, Sadie, and respective parents). He was treated to some of the best cakes grocery stores have to offer (my only homemade contribution were the baked ziti and football-shaped cake pops which didn't turn out as pretty as I wanted them to be, so I wrapped them in cellphane and gave them out as favors). I tried to keep things low-key this year, and Eamon seemed OK with that. He did get a very cool bike (a Craigslist find courtesy of Uncle Speed) and some fun new toys from all of his many admirers. Thanks to everyone who sent gifts--he was delighted with each and every one.

Hard to believe my baby is 3. He starts full day preschool on September 7 and my heart is already in my throat thinking about it. I know he'll be fine and will thrive in the classroom, but I'm going to have a little bit of trouble letting go! And Nora will miss her playmate/entertainment throughout the days. We'll get by, I'm sure.

Just a note at what Eamon is up to at 3 (for my own records): He is really grown up in that he will carry on a conversation with just about anyone. He is incredibly enthusiastic about everything, has no trouble serving up his opinion and correcting others with what he believes to be the right answer (cute now, let's hope he learns to curtail that trait eventually, hah hah). He always plays shy with new people but eventually opens right up and cottons to adults and kids alike. He is definitely all boy--active, aggressive, physical, dramatic and always on the go. He is engaging and loves to entertain; just last night, we had a crazy dance party where he was busting out some wild moves (need to get video of that!) But underneath that tightly-wound bundle of energy is a cuddly, sweet, gentle sweetheart. And most importantly, an excellent, caring, and protective big brother.

He makes me smile. He makes me laugh. And yes, more often than not, he makes me want to jump off a bridge. In a nutshell, Eamon drives me crazy and melts my heart every single day.

Happy third birthday, Eamon! Click on the picture above to see a slideshow of b-day pics.

Back from the Beach

2011-08-14T22:52:00.000-04:00

Always hard to come back from vacation...especially a lengthy one! But at least I have a ton of fun pictures to remind us of all of the good times. Will post more later; but here are a couple of our beach babes!

Moving and Grooving.

2011-07-24T15:18:00.000-04:00

Nora is *almost* officially a crawler! Via a scooch, shuffle, peg-leg slide, and an actual crawl, she manages to reach a destination entirely on her own. We've just begun to encourage her to crawl and she loves hearing us cheer, "Go, Nora, Go!". Here are some pictures of her making her way around the other day. And, oh yes, standing! She's not quite pulling herself up on furniture yet, but once she's up, she can hold herself up for a while!

Beach Day

2011-07-17T10:28:00.002-04:00

We traveled "down the shore" to Avon-by-the-Sea yesterday. It was Nora's first time at the beach, and she absolutely loved it (and only ate one handful of sand!). The weather was perfect--not too hot, no humidity, and a bit of clouds and breeze to keep things pleasant. We played in the sand and in the water a bit, then had a great beachside dinner before finishing the evening with big scoops of ice cream. Home by 8:30 with snoozing kids (who proceeded to snooze until 8am this morning!); think we're going to have to do this again soon!

I couldn't resist doing a little photo shoot with Nora in her various beach gear...even got a few cute shots of camera-shy E. Here's the album:

Avon Beach

Happy Camper

2011-07-14T12:08:00.000-04:00

E started summer camp last week. He and Sam go twice a week from 8:30am-3:00pm and, so far, love it. Like typical boys, they don't talk much about their day as we pepper them with questions at pick-up, but we do know that they are having fun. They paint, play, go to the park, and (sometimes) sleep during nap time. Their teachers are very complimentary so we assume they are behaving!

Baby, You're a Firework...

2011-07-14T12:02:00.000-04:00

We had a fab fourth! Spent a couple of days in New Paltz then headed home to Hoboken to see the amazing Macy's display over the Hudson...just a few blocks from our place!

2011-07-14T11:59:00.000-04:00

2011-07-14T11:16:00.000-04:00

Caught this moment a few weeks ago as Mark and Eamon were horsing around...love the light and the happy look on E's face.

Berry Fun

2011-06-30T20:58:00.000-04:00

In what's become a seasonal ritual for my friends and I, we traveled to Chester, NJ, to Alstede Farm to go berry picking early this week. This is the same farm we've been to for apples and pumpkins for the past couple of falls, and berries last summer, and it's a great spot that the kids love. As soon as we got to the berry patches, Eamon got busy "sampling" everything he picked, so we wound up with hardly a berry in the basket. (I was busy feeding Nora, so I was useless). Oh well, at least I got some great photos of Eamon, Owen, and Aiden (and Nora, too!).

Here's a link to all of the photos from the day:

Berry Picking

Nora's first barette!

2011-06-11T12:45:00.000-04:00

Nora's little tuft of hair that runs down the center of her head is finally long enough for a little barette! I've been a big fan of headbands lately, but they're a little ridiculous (in an adorable baby kinda way) so these little bow clips are a nice, subtle statement for my girly girl! Of course I ran out and bought a pack of them...so now Nora will have a clip AND a headband to match every one of her many, many outfits.

Summer!

2011-06-07T14:28:00.000-04:00

It's been a while! The days continue to fly by with no time to post pictures or write anything other than the words I'm paid to write, but I just wanted to share some pics of the past week. We had a great impromptu summer kickoff at my parents last week. Pool, ice cream, picnics, playground...E and N did it all and loved every second. More photos (and stories) to come, I hope! Happy Summer!

Happy Birthday, Diz!

2011-05-26T17:30:00.001-04:00

Here's Eamon last night, sharing a special message for Diz (that's my mom, for anyone who doesn't know).

Dancing In the Streets!

2011-05-23T13:19:00.002-04:00

Here's Eamon's extended version of the pee-pee dance. :-)

2011-05-23T00:30:00.000-04:00

Helping me with the laundry...the clothes serve as a perfect cushion for any falls!

2011-05-23T00:23:00.000-04:00

Someone's way too big for her bassinet!

Nora goes for a ride

2011-05-18T22:26:00.001-04:00

Catching Up...

2011-05-07T22:51:00.000-04:00

It's been a busy spring! As much as I'd love to sit down and blog about all of the comings and goings of our days, that task is usually replaced by other, more important things, like work and sleep (less of the latter and far more of the former!). To make up for lost time, here are plenty of pictures from the past few weeks. Lots of activity and lots of fun. So glad the warmer weather seems like it's here to stay.

Easter

2011-05-07T22:40:00.001-04:00

We had a fabulous Easter! Went down to MD/VA for a lovely four-day stint. First, a couple of days with my parents (where Eamon and Nora met the Easter bunny at White Flint) then a couple more at the Flynn's. It was so nice to see everyone, run an 8K, eat some delicious food, and enjoy the HOT weather (perfect for an outdoor egg hunt). Of course, Eamon and Nora loved the attention from all our of family and friends. The hardest part (as always) was packing up and pointing the car north.

Unite 13.1 (well, make that 9.5)

2011-05-07T22:33:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago, we got together with Chuck, Kristen, and Mikaela in beautiful New Brunswick, NJ, for the Unite 13.1. Kristen and I decided we'd do it back before the babies were even born (or maybe they were newborn; can't remember--the past few months are all fuzzy), and suddenly race day had quickly approached. So we made an overnighter out of it, meeting up at a hotel on a very wet Saturday. On very little sleep (thanks to our night owl children), K and I woke up early on Sunday ready to race the half-marathon. Only the prior day's rain washed away almost 4 miles of the course and the 13.1 miles we were set to do got chopped down to 9.5. We both had decent races but decided we still needed to knock a half-marathon out sometime soon...that may happen at the end of the month.

Just Swinging

2011-05-07T22:24:00.001-04:00

First attempt at rice cereal

2011-05-04T08:49:00.001-04:00

Piggy, Piggy

2011-04-13T16:52:00.001-04:00

I love my piggies!

New toy!

2011-04-12T16:27:00.002-04:00

Nora has an exersaucer and LOVES it! I can plop her in there and she'll stay occupied for 30 minutes or so--playing with the do-dads around her or just watching Eamon from her perch. Got it for a steal from a local mom...best $35 I've ever spent!

Bro & Sis

2011-04-04T23:14:00.002-04:00

Springing into Spring (and the Supermoon!)

2011-03-26T22:22:00.000-04:00

Last week, we got a peek at spring...two days in the 60s and one reaching 74! We maximized our time outdoors and Eamon and Nora (and me, too!) loved every second. While I've enjoyed the winter for the most part, I will not miss the bitter cold (and all of the coughing, sneezing, and snot that seems to go hand-in-hand with the season). Although the temps dropped this week and winter stuck its tongue out at us with two morning snowfalls, those lovely warm days made me even more excited for the next two seasons.

Here are some shots from our time out in the park...Nora's first little ride in the swing and the amazing Supermoon that hung over the Manhattan skyline as though it was painted there.

2011-03-26T22:17:00.000-04:00

Jack is TWO!

2011-03-26T22:16:00.001-04:00

We celebrated Jack's birthday last Sunday with a yummy pizza dinner and, of course, CAKE! at Leezie and Speed's. The birthday boy was as happy as can be--as were his cousin and big brother who were more than happy to help Jack blow out the candle. As you can see, all three boys were sporting their green in honor of Jack's St. Paddy's Day birthday...even though we were celebrating a few days later. BTW, Leezie and I didn't plan that at all. What can I say--great minds (and sisters!) think alike!

Getting So Big!

2011-03-21T15:27:00.000-04:00

What happened to my babies? On Friday, Eamon got his hair cut and emerged from the barber's chair looking like a five year old.

Later on that day, we went to the playground and he tried mightily to play tag with a bunch of five- and six-year-olds (he couldn't really keep up). When I saw him in the mix with the "older" kids, I did get a little emotional...all of a sudden, he transitioned from toddler to big boy.

Today, I registered him for preschool. He'll attend a program that goes five days a week, five hours a day. Glad to have the opportunity to send him to this program, but I know I'll have a hard time letting him go.

Nora, meanwhile, is changing and growing every day...she loves being on her stomach and checking out the world around her, as you can see in these pictures.

2011-03-13T17:08:00.000-04:00

After our hike up Mt. Tammany, we checked into the Pocono HoJo (yep, we're high-rollers) and went straight for the indoor pool. Eamon and Mark splashed around while Nora and I hung on the deck, though she did take a little dip in herself. It was a bit too cold for her, but I couldn't resist the chance to put her in her very fuuuurst bathing suit!

Almost Spring!

2011-03-13T17:02:00.000-04:00

See ya, snow! We're really ready for winter to be over around here. Cabin fever got the best of us, and we decided to take a little weekend trip to hike the Deleware Water Gap. It's something Mark and I have been wanting to do forever, and when he saw the weather was going to hit the 50's this weekend, Mark made the executive decision to just do it already. So off we went Saturday morning and made it to the trails mid-day. We found a trail that seemed suitable for both big and little people (Nora was in the Bjorn, but Eamon, of course, wanted to walk on his own) and wound up spending 2.5 hours in the woods! We made it almost the entire way up to Mt. Tammany before we decided that scaling steep, slippery rocks to make it to the top would probably not earn us any points in the parenting department. So down, down, down we went. The trees may have been bare and the trails extremely soggy from the recent rain, but we loved being out there and hope to do it again once spring finally, well, springs!

Around the house...

2011-02-26T12:15:00.000-05:00

Just some pics from the past week...things are busy, but I'll try to post some videos and other pictures soon!

Books go Pop!

2011-02-16T00:12:00.001-05:00

Nothing brings more meaning to my role as a writer than to see the finished product in print. Especially when the final version is a beautifully colorful, engaging, and fun book for that Eamon can enjoy! Baby Animal Pop! is the first of five books I've written for National Geographic Children's Publishing. It is a 12" x 10", 96-page book exploring--what else?--baby animals. I provided the text for each animal, though I will say that the photos are what makes this books so special. Each animal appears in life-size form --right down to the pony and goat--courtesy of clever and fancy folding. You have to see it to believe it.

As excited as I was to share this with Eamon, I could not predict the reaction I received when he first held the book in his pudgy little hands. As he stared at the fuzzy white lamb on the cover, he said, "Oooh, beautiful!" Gotta love that kid.

My Valentines

2011-02-14T23:31:00.001-05:00

Valentine's Day is here and although we didn't have any major plans today, I couldn't help but get Nora (and Eamon) dressed up in thee appropriate gear. And I couldn't help taking tons of pictures of them in said outfits. Well, more of Nora, who these days is a much more willing model than her brother (more about him later). She really loves the camera and lights up when I bring it out, and, as you can see, offers up many different "poses" as I snap away.

As for Eamon, well, we are going through the oh-so-frustrating stage of potty training. Yes, I brought this on myself. He is on the younger side (for boys, at least) at 2 1/2, but I decided he was ready given the fact that he gets every other concept under the sun. But this task is a particulary tough one for him to grasp, though we are making some strides four days in. I orginially subscribed to the "3 Day" theory
(supposedly "any" toddler can be trained in a matter of days...hah hah) and now we're thinking it's more like 3 weeks. Oh well. We were on lockdown more or less for the past four days but tomorrow with the weather being as nice as it is, we're heading out. Accidents be damned!

Hope everyone had a great Valentine's Day! I am eating some delicious red velvet cake made by Leezie to mark the occasion.

2011-02-14T23:21:00.000-05:00

2011-02-14T23:20:00.000-05:00

Nora Nor

2011-02-10T16:45:00.000-05:00

Had some fun taking pictures of Nora on her 12-week birthday. She is getting so big! I need to post some more recent pictures and updates...as soon as I have a chance!

Tutu Cute

2011-01-24T23:38:00.000-05:00

Can't get enough of Nora in this little tutu! I need to take a better picture to do it justice...but this'll do for now. I think she's bound for ballet!

Little Darlings

2011-01-24T23:14:00.001-05:00

Let's hope Eamon & Nora will always be this close!

Nora at 9 weeks

2011-01-21T22:32:00.001-05:00

Not too much going on in this video, but I wanted to get a bit of Nora in action. I'll try to get her smiling next time!

Crazy Hair

2011-01-17T10:58:00.000-05:00

Almost every morning, Eamon wakes up with a nice bout of bedhead. But this morning, he had an especially good 'do...it was standing straight up on either side of his head resulting in a mini Flock of Seagulls look. When he got up, I took him to the mirror in our living room to show him and he said (while giggling...), "My hair is crazy!". No arguing that point!

Cheeeeeese!

2011-01-13T13:49:00.001-05:00

A rare moment where we got Eamon to stay still long enough to take a picture! You can almost hear him saying, "cheeeeeese" just by looking at this shot. Love it!

Little Bookworm

2011-01-09T21:35:00.000-05:00

Must admit, it's pretty cool having a dad who is a docent at the Library of Congress! Though I've yet to take his tour, I will one day...soon...and I do plan to heckle him and ask him all sorts of ridiculous questions to stump him. Hah! Anyway, Papa has already started to share his passion for books and learning with the boys, and gave Eamon this very cute t-shirt for Christmas. The "Little Bookworm" title is quite true...E does love his books! I am slowly starting to teach him how to "read", too (well, he recognizes some letters, but it's a start)...

Pink Lady

2011-01-09T21:26:00.001-05:00

One of the best things about having a little girl is all of the pink! I haven't let myself buy Nora too much...yet...but she has received a bunch of adorably girly outfits from family and friends. Here's a little romper one of my editors sent, plus booties from Grandma Flynn, Can't wait to get her in the little tutu/legging ensemble I just had to get today at Gap...and I'm on the hunt for cute headbands with flowers, because it's never too early to accessorize, right? (Woah, who am I?!)

SO Big!

2011-01-08T14:03:00.000-05:00

No more fragile little flower...Nora is growing like a weed! Just a little over seven weeks, she is up to about 11 pounds now and seems to gain an inch every day. As much as I want her to stay tiny forever, it's great seeing her change so much. Her eyes are definitely getting lighter, too...no big brown eyes like Eamon!

2011-01-06T15:59:00.000-05:00

Just some pics from the week...fun times with Daddy, resting while we can, and first smiles!! For more about Nora's latest milestones, check out our baby blog!

Holiday Visitors!

2011-01-06T15:52:00.000-05:00

The best part about staying home for the holidays? People come to you! Not that we don't enjoy visiting people, but with all of the back-and-forth we've done for the past many months, it was nice to just kick back, cook, and enjoy friends and family in our own place. We had a string of visitors from a few days after Christmas on, starting with Grandma and Granddad Flynn and Aunt Mo on Tuesday morning. It was great to see them...we didn't do much but just relax, eat, and let Eamon entertain us.

On Thursday morning, Keren and Landis stopped by. They were on a whirlwind tour of NYC but made time for us. It was so great to see them! I tried out some new breakfast recipes (goat cheese and spianch quiche with a hashbrown crust and banana maple walnut French toast) and we got to catch up a bit.

The following day, Chuck, Kristen and Mikaela arrived for the big New Year's Eve weekend. We also didn't do much but play with the babies and veg out (though we did take a nice walk through Hoboken, at ate Grimaldi's pizza, and took respective turns going to the movies, with K and I seeing Black Swan and Mark and Chuck seeing The Fighter). We managed to stay up to watch the Ball Drop and then some...that night, Nora did NOT want to go to sleep, so I was up until at least 3:30 a.m. laughing to myself about what I was doing in years past at the same time on NYE...

Finally, Rachel came over on Sunday night for pizza and a little football (well, we talked, but football was on...). I hadn't seen her since before Nora was born so we had much to catch up on!

2011-01-06T15:43:00.000-05:00

2011-01-06T15:42:00.000-05:00

Buried in Snow!

2011-01-06T15:38:00.001-05:00

The day after Christmas, we were walloped by about 20 inches of snow! Fortunately, we had nowhere to go, so we could enjoy the winter wonderland without having to worry about canceled flights, backed up roads, or even digging out car out (it remained buried until the snow melted later on in the week). Once the snow stopped and the sun came out on Monday morning, we all bundled up for a walk. It was COLD so Nora and I didn't last very long, but Eamon and Mark could've stayed out forever. We gave Eamon his beach shovel and he got to clearing the sidewalk with Mark--he took the job super-seriously. He was also very concerned about all of the cars getting stuck as they tried to turn the corner in front of our building...he is still talking about them more than a week later!

2011-01-06T15:36:00.001-05:00

Christmas Night

2010-12-28T23:50:00.000-05:00

It was a very Jersey Christmas...but in the most classiest way possible! We drove up the viaduct to Union City to spend the evening at the Wassner-Smith abode, which was festooned with live swags of garland and packed with piles of new toys including a play kitchen stocked with food. Leave it to Speed to whip up a gourmet Christmas dinner including a goose (yes, he roasted it himself), cauliflour au gratin, roasted veggies, and a pork loin. Might I add that he's been working long hours and enduring a long commute to and from the city every day...but that's just Speed for you.

The boys played their hearts out while we ate, relaxed and exchanged gifts. Though it was an intimate affair and we missed our usual extended family, it really was all about the kids this year. The fact that they were together and able to enjoy their new loot while staying comfortable in their own homes made them so happy...and made the day even more priceless.

2010-12-28T23:40:00.001-05:00

2010-12-28T23:40:00.000-05:00

2010-12-28T23:39:00.000-05:00

Christmas Morning

2010-12-28T23:38:00.000-05:00

Santa Claus was very good to us all this year. On Christmas morning, as we sipped from mugs full of eggnog flavored coffee, we watched Eamon spill over with joy at the sight of all of his presents. He leaped with excitement for each and every item--from the mini Matchbox car to the concrete mixer he had been musing about for weeks. Meanwhile, Nora--still decked out in her Christmas Eve finest--snoozed away like a little angel. My parents stayed with us for an hour or so before moving up the hill to Leezie's to watch Sam and Jack tear open their haul.

But the fun was just beginning...after a hearty brunch prepared by Mark and a nice nap for Eamon, we got ready for more merriment at the Wassner-Smith's.

2010-12-28T23:29:00.000-05:00

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

2010-12-28T23:25:00.000-05:00

Given the recent events, we decided it would be best to stay put for Christmas. This would be my first-ever Christmas away from Maryland--and Mark's away from his family--but we didn't want to risk Nora's health by traveling and being away from her doctor in case something happened (knock on wood, she's doing very well). I was so happy when Leezie & Speed decided to stay in town, too, and then Ula and my parents decided to grace us with their presence as well. We were only missing Bec, who was up in Canada with John's family.

We hosted everyone for Christmas eve, and Mark made a delicious lasagna that I hope he incorporates into his repertoire. We sat around the table under candlelight, drank wine, enjoyed eachother's company, and watched the boys play with their new toys and the train set for hours. The joy they exuded warmed the heart and set the tone for a very Merry Christmas.

2010-12-28T23:18:00.001-05:00

2010-12-28T23:18:00.000-05:00

The Days of Christmas

2010-12-28T23:16:00.000-05:00

In the build-up to Christmas, we got to enjoy a few new holiday traditions. Now that Eamon is aware of the season, it was extra fun getting him excited for the big day--and all that it means (beyond Santa). He participated in decorating the tree, stringing the lights, and even wrapping presents (well, pulling off pieces of tape and sticking them random places). One night, we decorated sugar cookies with buttercream frosting I colored red and green (with DIY colored sugar, too). Eamon had a blast "painting" his cookies--and sampling the goods.

Mark also took E to see Santa Claus at the mall...unlike last year when he was scared to death of the big guy, he walked right up to him, sat on his lap, and announced he wanted a "concrete pouring truck" for Christmas. And, of course, Santa delivered!

2010-12-19T13:18:00.000-05:00

Bubba made Eamon this quilt when he was first born, and we got great use out of it. Now, Nora's loving the bright colors and fun print. I lay her down on it by the Christmas tree and she seems to enjoy just staring at the lights and checking out her world.

Brother & Sister

2010-12-19T13:16:00.001-05:00

Eamon really is over the moon with Nora. It's so cute to see. The other day I was taking some pictures of her and he just grabs her hand, quietly and unprompted. Then he offered her his prized Percy the train. You know it must be love!

Happy!

2010-12-12T18:34:00.000-05:00

Sweet smiles! That's what we like to see around here :-)

Getting in the spirit...

2010-12-12T18:05:00.000-05:00

We decorated for Christmas this weekend. Nothing too major, but it's always nice to have some festive decor!

2010-12-01T12:25:00.001-05:00

There's nothing more fun than taking pictures of newborn babies! I didn't have access to such a nice camera with Eamon, so I'm making up for lost technology by taking tons of snaps of Nora! We had a little photo session the other night...Eamon wanted to get in on the action and very eagerly (and gently, I might add) gave Nora some sweet kisses as she lay curled up in a deep sleep. He really loves his sister and has been very good around her. It's really cute to see how excited he gets during the rare moments that Nora's awake. He'll say, "Mommy, her eyes are OPEN!"

Our new addition

2010-11-27T13:44:00.003-05:00

As most of you know, we welcomed Nora Clare Flynn on Thursday, November 18. I can now say that I am ELATED to have a little girl!! Although another boy would have been just as great, I am so excited with the possibilities of all things girly--clothes, dolls, shopping, movies...and having Mark and Eamon to keep us all in check!

We've been enjoying our "babycation" which ends Monday as Mark goes back to work (and I'll try to pick things up on my end as best as I can). Lots of time playing, eating good food, seeing friends, and relaxing. I'm trying to soak in every second.

For more pics and details about NC, check out our baby blog!

Jack

2010-11-11T22:01:00.000-05:00

Jack is the perfect little model--he always looks at the camera with his adorable smile unlike his cousin and his brother who are impossible to capture! Here he is swinging on a big-kid swing for the first time--you can tell how proud he is of himself for such an accomplishment!

A perfect fall day

2010-11-11T21:50:00.003-05:00

The days may be shorter, but the weather remains beautiful around here. Today, we took advantage of the bright sunshine and warmer temps to let the boys run wild after their music class at our local park. I took a ton of pictures, just because the lighting was so nice and they were having so much fun. I know in a couple of months when we're hibernating indoors, I'll look back on these days and wish for weather like this all the time!

2010-11-09T15:38:00.002-05:00

I'm loving the professional photos from Eileen and Derrick's wedding! The photographer did a great job capturing priceless moments and capitalizing on the amazing weather, scenery, and emotions from the day. Here are just a few (of thousands, I'm sure) that were shared on Facebook...

Halloween

2010-10-31T22:18:00.010-04:00

Halloween is no joke in this town. Every store starts decorating their window displays at the start of October, houses are draped in cottony cobwebs from the roofs to the sidewalks, and the pop of orange from pumpkins is everywhere. There's even a huge parade that brings out hundreds babies, toddlers, kids, and parents to Washington Street--each in one creative costume after the next.

So I knew if we were in town this year for Halloween, we had to do it up. Or at least dress up. But with an opinionated two-year-old (and a husband who is just not the costume kind of guy), there was no point in creating elaborate get-ups. Knowing that Eamon would not wear a hat, makeup, or anything involving something other than his regular clothes, we decided to go with the athletic route. Eamon would be a basketball player (easy enough with a Knicks jersey from Marshalls and his adidas track suit), Mark would be a ref (a quick purchase of a black-and-white striped shirt plus black running pants), and I, along with #2, would be a basketball and hoop.

Yep, a family of ballers.

My costume was one of those simple, made-from-items-you-have-at-home kind of things: An orange shirt with lines drawn on it for the ball (having a basketball-size baby bump definitely helps!), a cardboard box painted white with a red box made of duct tape for the backboard, and a basketball net. We happened to not have all of those items at home, but all told, it cost $10. The best part? I wore running shoes and yoga pants with it, so I was super comfortable walking around.

We went out to trick-or-treat with Eamon's buddies, and it was really fun to see and hear other people's reactions. And Eamon had the time of his life gathering candy in his little bag from all of the neighbors. I thought he'd be too young to get it, but he was not shy about marching right up to those candy bowls!

Eamon was moving so fast, it was hard to catch the front of him, but here are some shots of him in action. The little girl is his friend Victoria, who was dressed as Abby Cadabby from Sesame Street.

After gathering all of the sweets they could stuff in their bags, popping some chocolate bars in their mouths, and running around like crazy, we walked back to the "Big Trains" (AKA the light rail station)to see Leezie, Sam, and Jack off. Then Eamon slipped into a sugar-induced coma...after a long bath and a solid tooth brushing, he's sacked out dreaming sweet, sweet dreams, I'm sure.

Sarah gets crafty

2010-10-31T21:29:00.016-04:00

For most major holidays, my friends here in Hoboken and I try to get together for a themed get-together. I soon learned that with such creative folks, one simply can't have a small gathering with some run-of-the-mill food thrown on the table--there is much thought that goes into the planning, preparation, and presenting of everything. This year, I took on Halloween and let my imagination run wild (I also spent a bit too much time on DIY and party blogs getting ideas) and before I knew it, I was up to my eyeballs in orange and black. But because I only had to cater to a small crowd, the projects were totally doable--especially the food and desserts. Plus, Mark took on the main course--his famous chili--so all I had to do was make a few things look pretty (also helped to have my mom's fabulous eye assisting with the set up).

Here are some shots from the evening:

The food set-up and my banner--so easy to do with scrapbooking paper, foam board, and string! And a great "reading" tool for Eamon...I think I'll make one for every holiday!

I channeled Martha Stewart with glittery DIY pumpkins, while Mark went for the tradition Jack-o-Lantern.

At the bar, we served "Chilling Cider Cocktail" (which was the speciality drink at our wedding five years ago, then named "Stand BeCider"; a mix of mulled cider, vodka, brandy, cinnamon and sugar. While tasty, not much of a hit with the beer-drinking crowd.) The non-alcoholic option was "Ghoulish Goblin Punch", a blend of apple, cranberry, and grape juices and seltzer. And yes, that's an icy ghoulish green hand floating in the bowl...spoooooky.

A platter of Devil's food cupcakes with orange buttercream frosting. Botched the frosting job, so they tasted better than they looked!

Borrowed this idea from a blog...white chocolate-dipped pretzel rods made to look like ghosts. So easy, tasty, and cute!

And because every kid party has to have goodie bags, I opted to do homemade honey popcorn balls and caramel apples as our to-go treat. I wrapped them up in cellophane bags and made a tag for each kiddie. Making caramel from scratch is NOT easy, my friends, but it wound up tasting scrumptious. And I mixed whatever I had left over with peanut butter for a delicious dip.

Another shot of the dining room. Soon, the table was filled with many more savory dishes brought by the girls...steak-cut french fries, bean dip, jalopeno poppers, panko-friend chicken tenders, and more...all homemade, of course!

A party shot of the happy hosts...although we couldn't get Eamon to wear a costume for the life of us and my actual costume didn't come together in time (I saved it for Sunday), we still had to be a little festive! The mask is courtesy of Erin's semester abroad in Italy.

From bumps to babies!

2010-10-22T19:21:00.008-04:00

Not too long ago, Kristen, Mary and I (and Eileen!) posed for this picture...

...And now 2/3 of those bumps are babies!

Mikaela Namakula was born on September 4...and is already the best-dressed baby out there!

And Brendan Thomas was born on October 5...I couldn't help but "borrow" this adorable pic from Mary's FB page. He is so sweet!

Finally, Flynn Baby #2 should be pulling up the caboose on November 18. Looking forward to seeing these little peanuts play together!

Some wedding photos...

2010-10-21T10:39:00.001-04:00

Free scrapbooking design created with Smilebox

Here's a little slideshow I put together from photos of Eileen & Derrick's wedding reception. It was a beautiful night!

They're hitched!

2010-10-17T22:42:00.000-04:00

We had a GREAT time at Eileen and Derrick's wedding! Such a fun weekend--too much fun to write much more at this point on a Sunday night, but will post more pics and details soon. Meanwhile, congrats to Eileen and Derrick; enjoy Costa Rica!

Hamilton Farm

2010-10-13T15:09:00.000-04:00

Last Sunday, we ventured out to Hamilton Farms in Boonton, NJ, with our little pumpkins (Leezie met us there with Sam and Jack). It was a beautiful fall day and the boys had so much fun running around, playing on the wooden train playset, taking a hayride to the pumpkin "patch" (I use that term loosely, as it was actually just a bunch of pumpkins set out on a field), and sampling apple cider donuts. We brought home a bunch of pumpkins to carve and decorate and now all we need is to finalize our costume plans!

2010-10-13T15:02:00.001-04:00

2010-10-13T15:02:00.000-04:00

Posing.

2010-10-08T22:20:00.000-04:00

When Eamon feels like it, he really knows how to work the camera! Usually he's too busy playing to stop and pose, but today I got him at just the right moment. Doesn't he look like he's ready to head to kindegarten in this outfit? Where's my baby?!

Happy.

2010-10-08T22:17:00.001-04:00

Someone was very happy to stay up late AND get cake for Daddy's birthday!