Hilly's Home

It has been a year and half but it seems no time has passed as we are making the most of our few short days with Hilary Rose. It is so weird to me that not only do I have a little sister that went on a mission, but now a little sis that is an RM. It is amazing how much I have learned from her in her hours back home. What a strength she is to me. Hearing her experiences from Costa Rica and her sweet testimony has prompted me to take an inventory of my own life and recommit to the simple truths of service and love.
I may be the oldest, but you are definitely an example to me.

Thank you sis, I love you.

On the Blog again!

This has been such an amazing summer. I feel like a little kid because I am so bummed that it's over. I didn't anticipate going blog MIA but when the vacations got started I was just soaking it all in and decided to post pone recording. The two summers before this we weren't able to skip town very often as we were working so much trying to get our feet under us at work. We could barely take off and had to rush right back. Even though we were so busy we defiantly have had all wonderful summers since we have been married. Every summer stands out to me for it's own distinct simple memories.

6 Trying everything we wanted to do with a new baby, and it working perfectly! Spending so much time with distant family.
5 Barbecuing and eating outside always.
4 Taking long walks nightly, going to farmers markets and eating Pesto, home grown tomatoes, fresh Mozzarella and crusty bread -constantly.
3 Renovating our apartment in the city, always driving to Home Depot in either Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, NJ (it all depended on traffic)and finally when we were practically finished, Manhattan.
2 Road trips through Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts & Rhode Island - we got our first car this summer!
1 Walking up and down the Hudson River through Riverside Park, going to every free public event NY had to offer.

I will be posting about this summer into fall but there is so much I don't want to forget!

4th of July Drama

Every year on the fourth of July we head to a park near by. The fireworks are awesome. There is plenty of room to sprawl out with blankets, picnics and games. You are almost directly under the show, the closet I have ever been to big fireworks. This year I was especially excited. I was really looking forward to being there with my little family and watching Samuel's reaction. He loves bright flashing lights.

My little brother tagged along in our car with us on the way over to the park. While Matt and I were gathering all the gear we looked over to see my little brother, all eighty-five pounds of him, running off with Samuel. We thought, he shouldn't have done that, but we will meet up in a few minutes.

Thirty-five minutes before the show was scheduled to start, due to rain, we started hearing the loud pops in the air. Everyone started running around trying to get situated for the show that wasn't anticpated to start for over a half hour. It then got dark very quickly and my brother with my baby was no where to be found. The fireworks, being so close, were much louder than I remember and I really began to worry Samuel would be terrified - and it would hurt his little ears. This show is the longest firework display I have ever seen, and this year it felt like an eternity. I was racing around trying to make out faces in the darkness and best I could looking for my baby. Among the thousands of people on the grass it was impossible. I was miserable. I wanted to be with my baby on this night, not my brother lost with him. I don't think I saw one firework I was so worried. When my little bro finally found us near the end of the show Samuel was screaming, histarically crying, completely terrified. He has never held onto me so tight. He borrowed his little face against me and would not let go.

Poor thing some nutty kid runs off with him, he gets lots in a crowd of thousands of people bustling to find a seat, enormous explosions take over the sky and Mommy is no where to be found. It was my first experience of being separated from my baby when I knew he really needed me. After the show someone gave him this glow neclace and it cheered him up. He was so wiped out from all the drama.

Luckily Matt and I went to the beach and saw fireworks the night before with some friends, it is one of my favorite holidays.


Earlier that day with Auntie Hannah.

Happy Birthday, My Love

My Dear MC is the kindest, most loving, forgiving person I have ever known. He has taught me so much and continues to teach me through the way he treats me every day.

On Matt's birthday we went to the city to see the New York Philharmonic on the Great Lawn in Central Park. It was packed as usual, but that is part of the fun. We picked up some of our favorite food and had dinner while listening to the music. It is always great people watching at these events and you always make friends while you're there. These people near us set up a mini table fully set with flowers, candles, china, wine and every other comfort. I am just grateful I wasn't carrying all those provisions in and out of the park.

Messy Baby

So much of my parenting experience go like this... What used to make no sense to me what so ever now seems like second nature. For example, I always used to wonder why parents let their babies make a total mess why they were eating. I couldn't figure out why on earth would someone condone such a disaster. My perspective has changed...I love watching Samuel have at his food. I think it is hilarious and he is so interested in the entire experience. It is so worth the mess.

Garden Girl

I am so excited my long awaited vegetable garden is finally in. After much plotting and scheming on what I wanted and how to keep the many critters out I'm all ready to go. I set my sights upon a raised bed garden to get more vegetation in a smaller area, less weeds, less animal problems and easier to work on. Matt is so good to go along with all my many projects I become obsessed with randomly. This is probably the last thing he thought the city girl he married would be dying for. I said to him, as we were shoveling in the huge mound of organic soil I had delivered right on top of our front lawn Saturday, "I am turning into such a granola aren't I?" he replied, "no your just a poser (granola)" I guess through all my fashion and beauty desires I will never achieve true granola status with him, and that's OK by me.


Matt trying to multi task by talking on the phone at the same time

I bought the bed through this great place Natural Yards, so helpful & free shipping!

All the netting and arched tubing is to keep intruders out

Herbs are going in pots, closer to the kitchen door and they'll take less space.
I am going to add blueberry and strawberry plants in pots too.


Can't what for all the yummy fresh food.

be cool, go green

Gone are the days people would often raise an eyebrow when referring to tree huggers, energy conservers and so on. It is so not granola these days but rather even chic to be socially responsible. I admit growing up I would often tune a deaf year to "saving the planet", ignorantly thinking, what can I do that will really matter. I am so ashamed, what can I not do that will really matter. It is impossible to ignore the devasting effects that are occuring by our out of control energy consumption when it hits the wallet. There is so much more to it than keeping lights off and using less water at home. Search out how much energy and water go into producing our everday products that we are too lazy to recycle. Anyway you look at it 99% of people are, or will soon be, affected by the price of oil. If it doesn't put a strain on your own budget you probably are at a company that it does. And if your business doesn't depend on oil enough to make a difference, your customers do, there is no getting around it.
Yes it's true my initial focus to go green was to cut my own costs. But the more I look into how I can save myself money I am devestated by how huge the problem is on a much higher level. EVERYONE has to do there part, ignore it and just keep watching those prices go up, that is one fact we can not ignore.

How are you going green?