Trip to Branford, Connecticut

Well the first thing is I can't believe is that I made it in one piece...there and back. My first trip with the two kids, entirely by MYSELF. Which first made me realize my double stroller is not meant for just one person to be able to open and close by themselves, especially not a person with two young kids hanging on to them who's also trying to take off her shoes to check through the security line.

Anyway, the weekend was so jammed packed with activities (and somehow relaxing at the same time which seems impossible) that I just had to recap everything we did:

- Thursday: arrived at 10:30 am in LGA, made it to the house by about 1 pm, waited for Jake to arrive from the school bus around 4 pm and then we hung out at the beach until Geraldine arrived from work. Then we went to a great little pizza place by the water.


- Friday: my sister made me walk 3 miles at 5:45 am. I then sent Jake off to school at 8 am, went crazy with the two kids until Jake got back from the bus around 4 pm. Geraldine arrived from work around 5:30 pm and Mara arrived about an hour later (approximately 4.5 hours after her original ETA). That night we hung out at the beach while Tom grilled wonderful food for us. We watched the news of Tim Russert's death practically til bedtime.



- Saturday: We had breakfast at Tom's hotel (Omni New Haven) and then did a looong walking tour of Yale. Tom's mom and dad came for a visit later and we went to the Branford festival where we stuffed ourselves with strawberry shortcake. We walked at sunset while looking at some of the beautiful houses of Branford and tried to avoid food at dinner time.

- Sunday (Father's Day): We walked 3 miles around the beautiful town. Then got everybody ready and in the car to go to Pawling, NY to Tom's parents for Father's Day lunch. Stopped at Jimbo's farm on the way there to meet the "teenage" cow. Stayed at Tom's parents until about 4:30 pm which means we made it back to Branford around 6 pm, just in time to go to watch Sex and the City (see other blog entry). When we got home Tom thankfully had put Jake and Gabi to bed, and they were of course darlings with him while they are little monsters with us.


- Monday: Mara left early for work and Geraldine stayed at home working while Jake went to school. Somehow she was able to put Gabi down for a nap (notice how my life revolves around whether the kids sleep or not, whether they poop or not, the joys of motherhood). That night we went to the beach again but it was FREEZING cold, and we could literally SMELL the rain. Nice thunderstorm which made sleeping arrangements very painful.

- Tuesday: Saw Jake off to school (sad goodbye between him and Gabi) and then waited for Tom to come pick us up to go the airport. Flight was super delayed which made the whole trip back rather painful, but despite painful travel experiences, the trip was still worth every bit. Can't wait to see my sister and family again for 4th of July in DC!

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