A Real County Fair in NYC!!!

Fall is my favorite time of the year!! Growing up in Florida we never got to experience a true Autumn season, sure we had pumpkins and cooler temperatures but nothing compares to Fall in the North. Apple orchards, pumpkin picking, hay rides, apple cider, tweed jackets, knee high boots, leaves changing colors and good hair days - these are a few of my favorite things.

A couple of weekends ago there was a county fair in Queens, New York. It was at the Farm Museum on all this open land which I never knew existed. We had a great time looking at all the animals, going on rides and watching various shows. There was a bunch of Irish dancers there putting on a show and I wish I had taken a picture, they were adorable and Ava was mesmerized by them.

City boy on a farm, not too sure about this.

Looking at the chickens.



That was the face I got when I told him to pick out his dinner.

Daddy took Ava to get her face painted, she sat so still.

My beauty.

Happy girl.

Merry-go-round

Tea cups with Daddy.

Summer Wrap-up

The Rodriguez's had the most eventful summer to date.  It was packed with tons of outdoor activities near and far.  We enjoyed the outdoors whenever possible.  Many of our summer days either started or ended at our local playground.  On the days I long for the burbs I am quickly reminded of the great city we live in.  There is always things happening at our local park and other kids to play with, Ava always bumps into a buddy from school. 

When I was a child, long before I knew what New York was, I used to watch Sesame Street and think how great it would be to live in a building with all my friends and be able to just go downstairs and play.  Now my kids are able to do just that.  Believe me, living next to numerous people has it's downside too but I've grown to love it.  I was not a fan of NYC my first five years here, it's a hard place to live but after the first five years many things changed in our life that made me see the city I once loved in a whole new light and these past five years, I've been here for ten, have been the best ever.  I can't imagine raising our kids anywhere else!

78th Street Playstreet



One morning they had a drum circle.

Ava teaching Daddy how to fly a kite.



Labor Day Weekend

The weekend before Labor Day hurricane Irene hit the Northeast, while she was downgraded to a tropical storm she left lots of flooding, down trees and power outages across the tri-state area. Our plans for the long weekend got washed away (literally) due to Irene. We had plans to go to a family resort in New Jersey but that didn't happen because the grounds were completely saturated and the roads to get there were under water and some had been washed away. Plan B...

We had plans to get the last bit of summer in by going to the beach. The morning of our departure I got a text from a friend who invited us to her beach club...YES, we were there!!

The kids had the best time, enjoying the beach, kiddie pool and the other kids. I couldn't believe we were in New York, it was so beautiful. The people that belong to the beach club are old-school NY'ers, born and raised and having been coming to the Club since they were kids, such a neat tradition to pass on to your kids.  Guess who will be new members at the Beach Club in 2012?

Ava and Emme

Ava actually thought she was Josh's prisoner and kept telling me to come save her.

Perfect ending to a great day!!



Across the Hudson

Last month we headed to West New York, which is actually in New Jersey and spent some time with our dear friends Enid and Dee.  We started the day at their pool, walked along the boardwalk, had P.F. Chang's and Ben 'n Jerry's!!  Most of the pictures I took are unfortunately blurry but here are the ones that were salvageable.  Lookin' forward to hanging out with them in their new pad.

Random Summer Cuteness

Recently I found a ton of pictures from this summer on my phone that I forgot were there. Here are a few of them:

Our boy in the drivers seat.

 

This picture was taken in Florida at The Flour Pot.  Ava and Daddy having breakfast.

Ava's loves goofing off with her Daddy, especially when he's trying to watch the Yanks play.

Our Bailey, he's a good boy.

The girls at work got me a red velvet cake that was D-LISH!!  I'm still workin' this cake off from June!

In the Bronx at a Yankee's Game, Let's go Yanks!!!