We Thought We Had Two Weeks To Go

Turned out to be the last check-up before the big day.


Nana T & Pop were watching all the kids, so we had a chance to get a drink down the road together and enjoy some quiet time.

Dirt Bike Racing Date with Mom

Owen & TF got to go on a date with Bobbins to watch dirt bike racing.

Owen's 2nd Soccer Season

Owen played a second season of soccer up at PV Park, in the City League, this time coached by me. He moved up an age bracket and was consequently the smallest kid on the team, but also the best, which tells you a lot about the team....  We lost every game. Clearly, the coaching wasn't at fault. I think for a lot of the kids it was their first time playing. Owen had fun, though. He got a couple goals throughout the season. The only ones for the team. These pic's were from out last game.

Names We Were Considering

No, we didn't know it was a boy. We just already had a girl's name picked out, which we still really like, and will maybe get to use one day, God willing.


It was some serious negotiating over these boy names.

Easter at the Compound

Per tradition, we were out at Bobbins' parents' house for Easter dinner, preceded by an egg hunt, along with Paul, Clare, and JT, as well as Nana T & Poppy. Margaret got another birthday celebration. She milked the double day (for her) for all it was worth!

Happy Easter

Margaret Breaking into 10

Take note of that old room, which we called the Rosary Room, because it would be gone within a few months.

Dirt Bike Ride

Margaret also took a "motorcycle" ride with Edward on her big day

MM's Birthday Celebrations

The big 10 for our oldest daughter

Her main present was to go to a Francesca Battistelli concert with her mom. It was a great time for the two of them. Margaret loves her as a singer.

Gifts for Kids

Bobbins was good about getting gifts for the kids (and for Aunt KK and Swamper, whom the girls stayed with during the week so they could go to school). The girls got Statue of Liberty pencils and playing cards, while the boys got these infamous hats.





Big thanks to Katie and my Dad & Jay for watching the kids so we could go on the trip. Couldn't have done it without you!

Thursday in NY

Bobbins really wanted to see the spot where John Lennon was shot, so she checked that out, as well as Central Park.

We had dinner with my colleague Katie from the NY office and my Phoenix co-worker Mary, who was working with me. Katie picked the restaurant, Eataly, and it was fantastic. We had a delightful bottle of red wine to go with dinner.

Overall, it was a great trip. Thanks to work for making it happen! We watched the documentary Free Solo on the plane ride home. What a remarkable guy that climber is. Amazing.

Wednesday in NY

Bobbins took a bus tour Wednesday. She tried to visit the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Shrine, but it was closed.

That night we ate at a delicious taco joint called Los Tacos No. 1, then went to see Aladdin on Broadway. We were in the cheap seats up at the very top, the nosebleed section, packed in tight. Bobbins left for a bit, I thought to go to the bathroom. A female usher (from Brazil originally) came over to get me, and I thought something bad had happened, like Bobbins went into labor. Turns out, she had talked the gal into giving us handicap seats since Bobbins looked 49 weeks pregnant. Score! The show was good. Top notch acting and singing.

We then walked around Times Square to see it at night and feel the energy. I must be getting old because I was more tired than invigorated by it. Bobbins, of course, got me into a street performance. These guys were doing jumps and other semi-acrobatics and needed victims to jump over. It took a long time and wasn't really that cool. Here's a slow-mo video. I'm in the front, or the far left, or the first guy being jumped.

Tuesday in NY

Bobbins went up to the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) and was most impressed by Andy Warhol's Double Elvis and Vincent van Gogh's Starry Night. I have no idea what painting is behind her in this photo.


It was cold & rainy this day, but still not bad. We didn't really have any bad weather the whole trip.









In the late afternoon we met up at St. Patrick's Cathedral to attend Mass and walk around that magnificent, beautiful structure.

We then walked over to Rockefeller Plaza. No, no money for skating, but it looked like fun.

My colleague had enjoyed Tom's Diner, made famous by Seinfeld, so we took the subway up to the neighborhood. It's actually pretty small and the food wasn't that great, but it was an experience nonetheless. No Big Salad. We bought Coach a mug from there for Christmas.