September Shake Up

Something about this fall hasn't felt right. Maybe it was the earlier than usual beach week, followed by the evacuation and recovery to some semblance of a routine. Or the fact that we decided to rev up our house hunting in New Jersey to see what our options are elsewhere. It's felt very unsettled. And not entirely in a bad way, but still the idea that we aren't rooted is strong and yet I'm trying hard to make it feel like just another school year with all the surrounding norms. Just keep things moving. Of course taking the girls for another round of open houses in Glen Ridge, New Jersey over the weekend was definitely a step in the right direction even if it's all very vague at the moment. We opted for an easy lunch at the popular Tick Tock Diner and then off to see a few homes in Bloomfield near Brookdale park before visiting a gem in Glen Ridge. The girls were mostly game for the exercise and kept trying to figure out which bedroom they would have. The conversation turned to fictional pet dogs with names like Mango and Jupiter and tears were shed by Carolina who REALLY REALLY needs her own dog apparently. Oy. These kids are going to drive me crazy no matter where we live.

Sunset in Sunnyside is hard to beat

Ballet besties who can't help but strike a funny pose

Baking therapy to deal with the atrocious Kavanaugh hearings

Jessie reunion on Friday night was just what I needed

Skillman Oktoberfest was decidedly low-key

Look who turned up at Sunnyside Gardens Park! We made an Ann(e) sandwich out of Lisa

Former Astoria residents and friends Rafa and Kathleen visited us from Barcelona. Next time at their place!

The week ended with a few fun meet ups with friends from near and far. It really solidified my belief that true friendship spans distance and time and all that other stuff. I am fortunate that we've stayed in the same area for over a decade and our lives with kids have blossomed with so many good friendships. But we also know that there is more around the corner and the tough years of middle school and high school are still ahead. Where do we want to be for that and who is waiting to make new friendships that we can't even imagine yet? The girls are happy to talk in the hypothetical for now and so we are trying to navigate the what ifs. In the meantime, Sunnyside is still home and we are trying to soak it all up. September may be almost over but my favorite season is just beginning. 

College Reunion

It's not very often these days that I get to hang out with friends I've had since college. Most of us are pretty far flung across the country, and with families growing (yay, Betsy!), it's not always easy to make the time.  But still I count my college buddies as some of my closest friends even when I don't get to put in the face time I would like. They are funny people who knew me in some very formative years. So I was happy to get invited to the double birthday party for Jason and his daughter Flora this past weekend in Hoboken, NJ. Jason and I have had intersecting lives for the last 15 years or so since graduating. There was a perfect, snowy holiday weekend in Brooklyn Heights back in 2000 which helped me fall in love with this city forever.  And while Nacho and I were living in Madrid, he and his wife Veronica took their honeymoon in Spain and dropped in to pay us a quite memorable visit (Nacho lost a wallet on a night out in the city, and we took them on a boiling hot day trip to Toledo).  Fast forward a year and we were moving back to the U.S. without a place to call home base. Jason and Veronica were moving West and offered up their brownstone in South Philly if we were interested. We were and it gave us a great new start back in the States. Two years later, we were on our way to New York City to live this time, and Jason was selling his place in Philly to follow his career around the globe living in France, Japan and even Mexico for a bit. A few years later, he and the family would make their way to New Jersey just a stone's throw from us in Queens. 

In our nearly 10 years living here, we've only managed to meet up a handful of times, but I've enjoyed each occasion and thought we should do it more often. It's not always easy to juggle busy lives and schedules but sometimes you make time and I'm glad I packed up the girls on Sunday for the drive over and under two rivers. Nacho was off working and I got to channel my inner explorer. Navigating the city alone in a car isn't something I do that often, so it was another good reminder that I'm up for the challenge (though I much prefer subways).  Elisa and Carolina had a great time jamming out to Flora's karaoke machine and playing with her massive LEGO table. Meanwhile I devoured their pork lettuce wrap creations with all the fixins and by the time we sang happy birthday I managed to shove a little more dessert in to top off a great afternoon. I brought my camera and new lens along for a little fun and I'm glad I did. Grabbing the birthday honorees and Veronica before I left, I snapped a quick family photo. It's the perfect embodiment of what they are as a family. Relaxed, fun, and quirky in all the best ways. Glad I made the trek and I hope we'll see them again (in Queens!) soon.