Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Only in NYC!

Since I'm on a bit of a blogging spree today, I figured I'd share yet another "only in NYC" moment with all of you....

Even though we have a lot more space in our new apt, we still have a bit of a storage issue....

Hey, we may have lost a shower, but we gained a closet!!  2 bathrooms in NYC is way overrated anyway. ;-)

Just a normal Saturday afternoon with the Hendricks'

Saturday afternoon Matt and I went to a rockclimbing birthday party for my Marathon Buddy Nancy, she always picks a fun activity to do to celebrate her special day.  It was so much fun!!!  


The birthday girl leading the pack.

Gettin' ready to head up!


A successful first climb!

Matt making it look easy...

Checking out this much harder wall...doesn't my butt look awesome in that harness?!? ;-)


Matt showing off his skills!

I have a feeling we'll be spending some extra time in Chatham, NJ working on our rockclimbing technique!  

First Road trip of 2010!

Last weekend (well I guess it's 2 weekends ago now), Matt and I made our annual trip to Columbus. This year we decided to give ourselves a little break and took 2 whole days off from work so that we could A) not have to drive through the night and be dead for 2 days (ie most of the weekend) and B) so we could first make a stop in Dover, Ohio to visit the Klopfers!  

So, early Thursday morning, we loaded up the car (Jenny D included, "she" partook in the weekend festivities as well, of course!) and headed out. 


 We made great timing, and 480 miles later, we were in Dover!!  It was so much fun hanging out with Brian and Jenn, and of course little Bex!  We spent the rest of the afternoon catching up and snuggling with Bexleigh.  And of course Jenn and I had to get in a 3 1/2 mile run...because why wouldn't you want to go for a run after sitting in a car for 8 hours! ;-)
Say "hi" to your Uncle Matt, Bex! :)

"Where are you Auntie Jen?"

Friday afternoon we all piled into our cars and headed to Columbus!  The 2 hour drive felt like nothing compared to what we had done the day before.  Jenn and I spent the first 45 minutes of the trip texting back and forth since we didn't get to ride together and couldn't bear the thought of spending 2 hours without contact.  Once we got into town, Matt headed off to the office to be the over-acheiver that he is, and Briko (Jenn's hubby Brian), Jenn, Bex and I checked into our "uber-cool" hotel....The Lofts!  

Jen wanted to take a load off on our comfy bed too!



After relaxing in the room for a bit, we decided to head on over to Easton to meet up with Matt and do some shopping and grab a bite to eat.  We made it to DSW, got our shoe fix taken care of and then realized we were all starving.  Well, a trip to Columbus definitely wouldn't be complete without a visit to Champps (notice the 2 P's, we like to pronounce it Champ-p's).  This was a good pick since the boys could watch the game and we could watch Bex!

Briko's brother, Billy, and new girlfriend, Morgan, also met up with us at Champ-p's.  She works for the Limited as well and we soon found out that she and Matt knew all of the same people!  Small world, I tell ya!

Later that night, we decided just to take it easy and hang out at the hotel so that Brian and Matt could watch more basketball and us girls could relax. Erica (my roomie and BFF all 4 years at OSU) came by for a visit and we had a blast catching up with her.

Bex's fabulous new skirt from her fashionable Auntie Er Pear!

The Gamma Gallo Girls (just missing 1)


Bex, ready for some shopping in her adorable outfit from us!

The next day we headed back to Easton to do some real shopping!  Matt's parents drove in to town and we met up with them there to walk around the outdoor mall and eat at our fave, PF Changs.  After lunch, we parted ways with Jenn and Brian for a bit to go on a little driving tour of Hilliard, the town Matt grew up in.  It was so much fun (for me, but especially all of them) seeing all of their old houses and hang outs.  Matt pointed out all the places he used to rollerblade and play roller hockey as a kid.  It was a great trip down memory lane.

That night, we went out to dinner with Matt's high school friends, James and Mike, and their girlfriends, Jen and Jessica, and Erica and her new (well, new to us :)) boyfriend, Tony.  It was so much fun! We went to this great new sushi restaurant in the Short North where the sushi was good but all the other stuff was AMAZING!!!  Rock shrimp, calamari, filet mignon, truffle mac-n-cheese...we tried it all!  After dinner we met up with some of Matt's work friends that moved to Columbus from NYC this summer.  It was a great night and we got a chance to see everyone on our "list."
Matt's Limited friends Ramit and Amy

Me and James 

Mr. and Mrs. Hendricks

Sunday morning we had one of the BEST brunches ever with Brian, Jenn, Bex, Billy, Morgan, James, Jen and Mike.  It was a great meal to set us off on our long journey home. :)

When we got home, we picked up our little Maggie Lu from her Auntie Jen's and saw a little project Jen had been working on over the weekend...


It's the Bexleigh/Puppy Sandwich!!!



Wednesday, March 10, 2010

28!

Hi Everyone!!

Long time no blog!  Sorry I have been extremely MIA lately, but life is crazy as usual and unfortunately blogging has been put on the backburner.  But I am back now and ready to fill you in!!  I will try and sum up the last month soon, but for now I just thought it would be fun to share some pictures....28 pictures to be precise....for the number of years I have been on this lovely planet (as of March 5th...only a few days behind).  So here goes, my birthday WEEK in photos...


The week started off with a package from my in-laws that contained these 2 lovely, antique perfume bottles that go quite nicely with the set Matt gave me for a wedding gift!  Thank you Mom and Dad #2...I absolutely LOVE them!

I got my birthday package from my parents Thursday night and of course could not bare the thought of waiting until my actual birthday to open it.  Among many other goodies, this fab dress was nestled among hundreds of pieces of confetti.  Oh spring, you can't come soon enough!  I can't wait to wear my new dress!

My mom even made a special birthday album on facebook that was all about me! :)
This one was taken March 5, 1982!

And take a look at this chubber!

Aw, I remember going to Olan Mills to get this one done!

And of course she had to include an old recital pic!

My birthday day started off with a beautiful bouquet from my hubby! :)

And lot's of morning kisses from my Maggie Lu!

Once I got to work, I had a rousing game of chess with my little buddy Patrick!

And then MORE flowers!! Yay!

Later in the day, I went for a b-day run...

And treated myself to a mani/pedi!

That night, Matt and I went to go see the show Fuerzabruta!!
(Thanks for the tix Ev and Ant!)

And then we went to have dinner at the restaurant where my friend Susan works.

Saturday morning I was greeted with another package from my mom!  Gotta love Cheryl & Co cookie boxes!!

That night I celebrated with a bunch of friends at the Auction House Bar near my apt. (Or as Jen and I like to call it...Super Secret Bar)
Marcey and Jen were there!

And my Vissi boys! Ariel, Courtney and Brett.

And of course some Vissi girls too!  Tonika, Jalila and Danni!

And can't forget my pisces buddy Loy! (and Tonika too)

Our UES/Michigan pals Melannie and Gary joined in for some late night fun as well!

And Jer...my brother-in-law! :)

And obviously....My Matt!!

The night (or should I say early Sunday morning) wouldn't have been complete without a birthday cake!

I even made Matt sing to me all by himself so that I could blow out my candles! :)

Sunday afternoon Jen and I took advantage of the early spring weather and took Brutus and Maggie to the park.

Maggie, as usual, wasn't too impressed with the grass.

Sunday night Matt and I went to our 2nd show of the weekend and saw Next to Normal on Broadway! It was amazing!!

And last but not least....all of my beautiful birthday cards!  I had such a wonderful birthday week/weekend!!  Thank you to everyone who made it soooo special!!! xooxo