Susannah and Spring

Guess who cannot figure out how to upload the photos from her fancy phone onto this blog? Sigh. Until Ben gets home I will use what I have.

In addition to technical challenges and school, my excuses for not blogging now extend to awesome weather. We kicked off spring in mid-March down in Chattanooga. A one-week stay extended to two so we could attend the funeral and celebrate the life of Carol Aplin, Susannah's great-grandmother. I did not know Carol very well, but I sure am grateful to her. I now have so many wonderful people in my life because of the family she and her husband started many decades ago.

Here's Susannah in a pretty dress the day of the funeral, and chowing down on the porch afterward. She was happy all the time she was in Chattanooga, and one of her favorite places at Papa (formerly Grandpa Paintbrush) and Jill's was the front door. She'd put her hands and face on the glass and watch the birds and the squirrels while trying to pet Alice. The tutu was optional.
































































Since we got back we've been going to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden a couple of times a week. Something new is blooming all the time. First the magnolia trees and now the cherry blossoms and lilacs, and soon to follow will be azaleas and wistera and bluebells and roses and other things that I don't know the names of, so get ready for the requisite photos.

Susannah loves the fish and the ducks in the pond. Here's a sample from Saturday.














Here fishy fishy













Making a duck face














Mommy gets a kiss














Headed for some spaghetti!

New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx

Susannah's first Easter when she can eat a peep

Moonpie came in town for Easter, the weather was beautiful and Susannah was happy. Highlights of the weekend: the big playground in DUMBO, the new park south of the Brooklyn Bridge, and the blooms at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Oh yeah, and Susannah ate her first Peep, or rather the head of a Peep.

Here we are Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. There's a pretty primo playground down there that resembles a huge pirate ship.


















Ben teaches Susannah how to throw rocks in the river.



















Susannah biting the head off her very first Peep; it took her a while to recognize it as food.













The best family portrait we could muster before we gave up.

While Beth toiled away on her masterpiece in the library, Susan, Ben and Anne-Louise toured the BBG. Susannah admired the new blooms and mastered the hedge-maze at the childrens' garden with a little help from Moonpie.

Grandpa Jim and Great Uncle Jock Come to Visit

Gramps and S reading Goodnight Moon - post-bath and pre-bed. Yes those are flannel PJs.





Susannah gets to meet her great uncle for the first time. S was impressed that he came all the way from Iowa.

You recognize this place - Underhill Playground Swing Set. Finally snow-free!!

Winter and other matters

Past few weeks have been about snow, snow, snow. There was a little stomach bug in there too -- Susannah was down for the count for a day and I missed school to keep watch, but she was much better within 48 hours. What else . . . turning 31 was nice and mellow. I had homework, and some family time, and a play date, and a nice dinner with Ben. I am also now the (somewhat embarrassed) owner of an iPhone. I used to be embarrassed because I always used to have the crappiest, cheapest cell phone, which never bothered me until I moved to New York. Now I am somewhat embarrassed because my phone is so fancy and pretty and I barely know how to use it. I do, however, know how to take photos and videos with it, so here are some of those.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Thawing

Two days in the 40s! On Saturday we emerged from hibernation in the apartment and went to Coney Island to see the NY aquarium. Below, Susannah strolls the boardwalk.



S and mom take a break after checking out the shark tank (which we must say is not nearly as spectacular as the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga).


Snowy beach.


Snowy Cyclone.


Sea Lion show! (I think he was dancing to Marky Mark here).


Aplins & Thomases


Susannah puts on her shades for a better look.


S & dad watching the penguins being fed. Dad's head makes a great coaster.


Sunday - The Underhill Playground starts to thaw out! S was psyched, and only fell in one huge snow puddle.






Auntie Anne Louise came to visit - good times and pirate faces.