Marin got slaughtered at Monopoly, as usual (in spite of landing all four railroads).
But she rose triumphant in Round 2 of Yahtzee.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Utah: Part VI
Marin got slaughtered at Monopoly, as usual (in spite of landing all four railroads).
But she rose triumphant in Round 2 of Yahtzee.
Utah: Timpanogos
Marin, her sister, her mom, and her sister-in-law hiked Mount Timpanogos on Wednesday.
The Turley ladies.
Rie, Marin's sister-in-law, was a total champ, and she was the only one in the group who managed to finished the whole hike without whining (and somehow Marin managed to convince her to carry the backpack basically the whole time).
It was Marin's first time on the Timpanokee trail (she hiked the Aspen Grove trail nine years ago). She's pretty sure she prefers this one for its shaded trails and it gentler elevation gain.
Scout Falls is fun to see, but, if you happen to hike this trail, check it out on the way up because you probably won't feel like a side trip on the way down.
About half of the trail was woodsy like this.
Um, Marin can't remember why she was clonking two rocks together in this picture. The altitude may have been getting to her.
The second half of the trail was mostly fields of wildflowers.
Some people call this section The Flower Garden.
Marin's mom hikes up mountains for fun. And she thinks heights are awesome.
Marin's mom and Rie waited at The Saddle (between two peaks) while Marin and Lisa continued on to the summit. The last mile of the hike, along the ridge of the mountain, is rocky and windy.
This section of the trail is called The Staircase. It was actually much creepier going up than it was coming down.
If you look closely, you can see Marin's dad waving from his office window on BYU campus.
Marin on the summit, looking down over Emerald Lake. The perfect day; the perfect mountain.
The Turley ladies.
Rie, Marin's sister-in-law, was a total champ, and she was the only one in the group who managed to finished the whole hike without whining (and somehow Marin managed to convince her to carry the backpack basically the whole time).
It was Marin's first time on the Timpanokee trail (she hiked the Aspen Grove trail nine years ago). She's pretty sure she prefers this one for its shaded trails and it gentler elevation gain.
Scout Falls is fun to see, but, if you happen to hike this trail, check it out on the way up because you probably won't feel like a side trip on the way down.
About half of the trail was woodsy like this.
Um, Marin can't remember why she was clonking two rocks together in this picture. The altitude may have been getting to her.
The second half of the trail was mostly fields of wildflowers.
Some people call this section The Flower Garden.
Marin's mom hikes up mountains for fun. And she thinks heights are awesome.
Marin's mom and Rie waited at The Saddle (between two peaks) while Marin and Lisa continued on to the summit. The last mile of the hike, along the ridge of the mountain, is rocky and windy.
This section of the trail is called The Staircase. It was actually much creepier going up than it was coming down.
If you look closely, you can see Marin's dad waving from his office window on BYU campus.
Marin on the summit, looking down over Emerald Lake. The perfect day; the perfect mountain.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Utah: Part V
Marin took Charlie and two of his cousins to the dinosaur museum at Thanksgiving Point on Tuesday (aka "Two Dollar Tuesday" aka "The Most Crowded Day Ever at the Dinosaur Museum.") Luckily, if there's one thing Marin and Charlie have learned in New York, it's how to cope with a crowded museum.
Charlie was a little spooked by this mural while we waited in line, but it grew on him after a few minutes.
Dinosaurs hunting their unsuspecting prey (who is a leetle wet from playing in the "erosion table.")
Charlie was a little spooked by this mural while we waited in line, but it grew on him after a few minutes.
Dinosaurs hunting their unsuspecting prey (who is a leetle wet from playing in the "erosion table.")
Utah: Part III
Marin worried that Charlie would be bored in Utah without his nursery friends, but she had forgotten how AWESOME Charlie's cousins were. They have been amazing to Charlie during the entire trip, and he adores them.
Gavin was the only reader in this group, so he took the lead on reading Charlie's sea creatures activity book. Pierce directed whose turn it would be to adhere the next sticker. Charlie played it cool by repeating every word they said.
Gavin was the only reader in this group, so he took the lead on reading Charlie's sea creatures activity book. Pierce directed whose turn it would be to adhere the next sticker. Charlie played it cool by repeating every word they said.
Utah: Part II
Marin and Gil celebrated their ten-year high school reunion last weekend. It was an all-day event, with a picnic during the day and a dinner in the evening.
The lunch was right during Charlie's nap time. He whined his way through the picnic while everyone oohed and aahed about how much he looked like Gil. And he was wearing the colors of our rival high school. We won't let him wear that particular shirt to our next reunion.
Had they dated in high school, they would have been a hottest couple of 1999.
As much as we love our child, we appreciated the all caps, highlighted, "NO CHILDREN" on the invitation to the dinner. It was nice to get dressed up and drive Gil's parents car to a nice date, just like high school.
Gil was one of the emcees, and he loved seeing all of his high school buddies. These are friends from the PHS Bulldog football team.
Naturally, we were the last to leave.
The lunch was right during Charlie's nap time. He whined his way through the picnic while everyone oohed and aahed about how much he looked like Gil. And he was wearing the colors of our rival high school. We won't let him wear that particular shirt to our next reunion.
Had they dated in high school, they would have been a hottest couple of 1999.
As much as we love our child, we appreciated the all caps, highlighted, "NO CHILDREN" on the invitation to the dinner. It was nice to get dressed up and drive Gil's parents car to a nice date, just like high school.
Gil was one of the emcees, and he loved seeing all of his high school buddies. These are friends from the PHS Bulldog football team.Naturally, we were the last to leave.
Utah: Part I
This was our first family vacation since we've lived in NYC where we've all been able to travel together. Here, Charlie and Gil both enjoy some light reading in the airport: Gil with NY Magazine, Charlie with the Thomas catalog.
Breakfast on our first day had to be at Guru's on Center Street. We could have eaten here three meals a day for the whole trip (just like we did during certain periods of bar exam study).
Charlie helping Grandpa harvest tomatoes. The trick is to get them away from Charlie before he hucks them across the yard.
A good son.
Charlie has been missing an important part of summertime toddlerhood: playing with the hose. We've been trying to make up for lost time.
This is how Gil feels at his parents' house.
Manning the barbecue (another thing he can't do in NYC).
Gil's sister-in-law got her nursing degree while we were gone, and we were glad to have the chance to celebrate with her during our stay.
And check out the wheels she had when she left the party . . .
Friday, August 7, 2009
Saturday on Governor's Island
We had a free Saturday last week, and we decided to check out Governor's Island. We highly recommend it for an easy and almost totally free day trip to a place that is utterly un-New York.
This is the ferry we boarded to get to the island. We got on the Goats side. The ferry was free and it took about five minutes. There are no cars allowed on the island, but there are tons of bicycling paths with gorgeous views of Manhattan, Liberty Island, and Brooklyn, so the ferry was packed with bikes. And strollers.
Charlie loved having some open space to run around. Many of the buildings in the background were open for visitors, but they were usually empty. Still, what New Yorker doesn't like to poke around someone else's house?
There were all kinds of cool activities going on. Here, Charlie and Gil try out the "drums." Our other favorites were abstract art and photography exhibits, painting and sculpture classes, kayak lessons (which we decided to try another time), lectures and concerts on folk music, kite flying, a creepy indie movie theater playing a creepy indie zombie movie, and a nifty miniature golf course. All free! We sort of got the feeling that whoever was running this place was still figuring out what they wanted to do with it.
Saying goodbye to Governor's Island.
This is the ferry we boarded to get to the island. We got on the Goats side. The ferry was free and it took about five minutes. There are no cars allowed on the island, but there are tons of bicycling paths with gorgeous views of Manhattan, Liberty Island, and Brooklyn, so the ferry was packed with bikes. And strollers.
Charlie loved having some open space to run around. Many of the buildings in the background were open for visitors, but they were usually empty. Still, what New Yorker doesn't like to poke around someone else's house?
There were all kinds of cool activities going on. Here, Charlie and Gil try out the "drums." Our other favorites were abstract art and photography exhibits, painting and sculpture classes, kayak lessons (which we decided to try another time), lectures and concerts on folk music, kite flying, a creepy indie movie theater playing a creepy indie zombie movie, and a nifty miniature golf course. All free! We sort of got the feeling that whoever was running this place was still figuring out what they wanted to do with it.
Saying goodbye to Governor's Island.
Manhattan-henge
Every year on July 19th, the sun sets directly between the buildings on 57th street in Manhattan. We wouldn't necessarily say you should make a special trip to see it, but if you happen to be in town, it makes for a pretty cool photo opp.
Charlie's birthday
Hoo boy, a little late on this post, but better late than never.
We spent most of Charlie's birthday in Brooklyn at Prospect Park. We started at the Prospect Park Zoo. It was a fun little zoo. Most notable were the volunteers who would walk around the zoo doing interpretations of different animals. We were all a little weirded out at first, but we got used to it after a while, and by the end, Charlie was having a ton of fun, running around with the "eagles."
Carole flew in for the weekend to celebrate with us. Here she is with Charlie in the Prairie Dog Village portion of the Children's Zoo.
Afterwards we went to a They Might Be Giants family concert at the band shell. Charlie adores his Uncle Patrick.
Charlie's birthday cake: assorted cupcakes from Crumbs Bakery. Charlie's favorite was the M and M cupcake. Other flavors included Cherry Cheesecake, Red Velvet, Mint Oreo, Chocolate Chip Cookie, Strawberry, and Coconut.
Um, Marin forgot the birthday candles, so Charlie had to make do with the tea candles from the piano that he is not usually allowed to touch. Charlie, of course, was thrilled.
This was Charlie's main present and the newest member of our family: a betta fish named "Happy."
Thanks to Carole and Patrick for making this a special day!
We spent most of Charlie's birthday in Brooklyn at Prospect Park. We started at the Prospect Park Zoo. It was a fun little zoo. Most notable were the volunteers who would walk around the zoo doing interpretations of different animals. We were all a little weirded out at first, but we got used to it after a while, and by the end, Charlie was having a ton of fun, running around with the "eagles."
Carole flew in for the weekend to celebrate with us. Here she is with Charlie in the Prairie Dog Village portion of the Children's Zoo.
Afterwards we went to a They Might Be Giants family concert at the band shell. Charlie adores his Uncle Patrick.
Charlie's birthday cake: assorted cupcakes from Crumbs Bakery. Charlie's favorite was the M and M cupcake. Other flavors included Cherry Cheesecake, Red Velvet, Mint Oreo, Chocolate Chip Cookie, Strawberry, and Coconut.
Um, Marin forgot the birthday candles, so Charlie had to make do with the tea candles from the piano that he is not usually allowed to touch. Charlie, of course, was thrilled.
This was Charlie's main present and the newest member of our family: a betta fish named "Happy."Thanks to Carole and Patrick for making this a special day!
Shakespeare in the Park
Marin got up before dawn to go to Central Park to wait in line for free Shakespeare in the Park tickets. So did the rest of the borough of Manhattan and most of Brooklyn. Here is what New Yorkers look like after they have been waiting in line for eight hours and fifteen minutes:
None of these people got tickets. Marin didn't either.
None of these people got tickets. Marin didn't either.
Waiting for the Perfect Serve
Charlie joined in the badminton game at the barbecue we went to a few weekends ago. He took it very seriously and did wonders for the team's morale by cheering every time anyone did anything.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Day 364
On Saturday night we decided to go on a Really Long Walk. We started at Rockefeller Plaza where we picked up Gil from work. Then we walked through a street fair on Broadway where we had a dinner of lamb gyro, pad thai, and Twizzlers. Then we walked all the way up Central Park, from the southwest corner to the northeast corner. Then we walked across Central Park and up to 125th street to see our friends who had just moved to Harlem. Then we rode the A train home.
Ok, ok we took a taxi for twelve blocks because we wanted to get to the Conservatory Garden before it closed, but we walked everything else.
The Conservatory Garden in CP was lovely: peaceful and quiet even on one of the most crowded days we've ever seen in the park. We will hit our one full year mark in New York City tomorrow (hooray!) and we had never visited it before (or any of the other sites along Central Park North).
Charlie had to splash in the fountain, of course, as well as every pond, mud puddle, or drainage ditch we passed on the walk. This fountain was a little scary because it was about four feet deep. Luckily, Charlie managed to keep from toppling in.
If you bribe Charlie with popcorn to show you his happy face, this is the face he will give you. Even if a split second before he was writhing on the ground in tantrum-induced agony. He got the wrist watch for his birthday. Marin loves that he wears a watch and a diaper at the same time.
What? Charlie is distracted by the prospect of throwing sticks into a body of water? Weird.
Marin spends long periods of every weekend talking to family members over the phone. This is also a good shot of her new awesome-surprise-gift-from-Gil purse. Call it a one-year in New York anniversary present.
Ok, ok we took a taxi for twelve blocks because we wanted to get to the Conservatory Garden before it closed, but we walked everything else.
The Conservatory Garden in CP was lovely: peaceful and quiet even on one of the most crowded days we've ever seen in the park. We will hit our one full year mark in New York City tomorrow (hooray!) and we had never visited it before (or any of the other sites along Central Park North).
Charlie had to splash in the fountain, of course, as well as every pond, mud puddle, or drainage ditch we passed on the walk. This fountain was a little scary because it was about four feet deep. Luckily, Charlie managed to keep from toppling in.
If you bribe Charlie with popcorn to show you his happy face, this is the face he will give you. Even if a split second before he was writhing on the ground in tantrum-induced agony. He got the wrist watch for his birthday. Marin loves that he wears a watch and a diaper at the same time.
What? Charlie is distracted by the prospect of throwing sticks into a body of water? Weird.
Marin spends long periods of every weekend talking to family members over the phone. This is also a good shot of her new awesome-surprise-gift-from-Gil purse. Call it a one-year in New York anniversary present.
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