New Jersey Trip to Visit Our Favorites

Last weekend, Marino and I took a little road trip to New Jersey to visit Sonia, Wil and the girls: Catalina and Siena. I didn't get to see Siena when we were in New York in March (she was sick) and she has changed so much since I last saw her in January. She can really keep up with Cat and Marino now and Marino had a good time playing with both girls.

When I told Catalina I wanted to take a picture, she busted out this fabulous flamenco pose!

We were lucky to have a gorgeous day on Saturday, so we took a walk to feed the geese/ducks and hit up all the neighborhood playgrounds.

Back at Sonia's, the kids had a little dance party...it took Marino a little while to catch on, but the girls are dancing queens!

The kids took turns blowing and stomping on bubbles...isn't spring time the best?

This girl is always smiling!

Two cuties!

Sunday we had some cloudy skies and colder weather (it went from the 80s the day before to the 60s on Sunday) but we went over to Grounds for a Sculpture in Hamilton, NJ and the kids had a wonderful time. They had new sculptures since we went last year and I love how this place makes art less of a static concept and more of a dynamic, interactive one that kids can appreciate.

And, of course, the peacocks are always a big hit!

Uncle Wil gave the kids these gigantic lollipops and they were in heaven. It took them a good 45 minutes to eat them!

I blew out the color on this one (my camera was acting up) so I made it black and white. I love how Marino has made himself part of this scene here...

And here...this sculpture was so clever! You go around a corner and it really looks like you've caught this couple in an intimate, secret moment.

This one was a little house, representative of the inside of the artist's mind. Loved it!

Catalina called this "the Playdoh man"

As always, we had a great time visiting - we love our friends! Saturday morning, Marino and I got in the car and he asked "Are we going to see Catalina?" Can't wait to see them in July for Marino's birthday!

Road Trip to NJ

Saturday, Marino and I went on a road trip to visit Sonia, Cat & Siena. Marino was amazing on this trip. He only slept an hour of the 3 hour trip, but he was perfectly happy the entire time. We had given him steroids the night before and it made an instant difference in his itchiness, thankfully.

We drove straight to Grounds for a Sculpture, a sculpture garden in Hamilton, NJ, where we met Sonia and the girls, and also my friend Karen and her miracle preemie, Brandon. The sculpture garden was beautiful and, in spite of weather reports to the contrary, it was a beautiful day. It was cool to see the kids playing on these art pieces...it's cool to see art as something that can be enjoyed in many ways. There are also a lot of peacocks that live there, and given that this is mating season, there were lots of tail feathers shaking and "caroooing" going on.

I really love this picture. I love how you almost miss that there is a grand peacock in it and that Marino is looking at the camera like, "do you see this?!!"

This sculpture you could "play" like an instrument...it was really cool (although here Cat and Marino are playing with rocks instead)

I asked Marino what this was and he said "a monkey."

Siena is a total ham! Whenever I point the camera at her, this is what I get. She is a girl after my own heart!

Cat teaching Marino and Brandon something.

Marino pushing Brandon and Cat on the swing.

This is the best shot I could get of the 3 of them...they never stop moving!!

Peek a boo!!

A Cat in a cage...

Sonia and Siena

Marino climbed in this golf cart and pretended to drive...

Back at Sonia's we had lots of fun! Marino finally started calling Catalina something. For the longest time, he wouldn't say her name (he was confused why we were calling her "cat" I think). He finally started calling her "Keena" which is "Catalina" shortened, I guess. He calls Sonia "Sona", Wil "Wheel" and Siena "Nena."

I can't even stand how cute this picture is! Is this a gorgeous baby or what?!

What could be in this box?

A Cat!
A Mino!
Friends!!

Feeding ducks

Sonia and I with our children:)

It was a great day and we were so glad to get a chance to visit with Sonia and the girls and Karen and Brandon. Can't wait to see everyone again this summer!!