Hooray! G-ma came to town, which gives us the perfect excuse to play and eat yummy food and see New York. I brought our new favorite donuts when I picked her up from the airport – DOUGH. I think she was pretty pleased. She flew in on the red eye, so rather than let her sleep. We convinced her there was no better place to relax than on the beach!
Suzie and Amber joined us too and Suzie bravely brought 3 week old Quincy!
And most importantly the threesome could be together.
Chillaxing in the sand.
The long ride home. Always feels longer when you get on the bus going the wrong way…oops.
Needless to say, we all went to bed really early and slept really well that night.
The next day we had a pretty chill day. We went to the grocery store (in the pouring rain) made sure Laila took a good nap and can’t remember what else we did.
On Saturday, we got to meet up with our dear friends from Utah. The Jenkins! We used to be in the same ward at church growing up. They could NOT be more cute or more fun!
I LOVED catching up with them.
They agreed to meet up with us at the Brooklyn Flea.
Laila touching a deer head.
And testing out some chairs that I think would look great in our living room.
and then we convinced them to come back to my ‘hood for some yummy pizza.
Laila was entranced with Janaan.
Sunday we basically relaxed after church. Well I relaxed while g-ma bounced Laila up and down on her knee and sang the same song that Laila requested to be sung over and over and over.
On Monday we took Laila to the library and to the park, so she’d be nice and tired while Suzie came over and watched her while my mom and I went to a David Letterman taping!
And here we are!
It was really fun being in the audience. Dave was really charismatic and funny. We were on I think the 2nd or 3rd row. The guests were Adam Sanburg and the Olympic Decathalon Winner.
It was actually a work “fun activity” so here are some of my work peeps. Nice that it worked out timing-wise for my mom to come along! It was a lot more fun than I would have anticipated. I’m glad we got to go!
After Dave, my mom and I stopped and got Laila’s birthday present – see separate post – and then just got to go home and hang out.
The next day, Tuesday, was Laila’s birthday! I still can’t believe she is two! I’ll post separately about that.
On Wednesday, I had to go to work, so my mom and Laila got to hang out.
She took her to a music class down the street and to the playground. Laila loves her g-ma.
On Thursday, we went out into the city!
my mom did some shopping. Mostly Laila wasn’t in a shopping mood. So, she had a snack
On the way home we stopped at Dutch Boy and ate some burgers. They really do have the best onion rings.
She loves putting g-ma’s glasses on. They looked too cute!
G-ma snuggles are the best!
That night, we decided to throw caution to the wind and head to Brooklyn Bridge Park. This park really is one of my favorites. They have a great playground, a merry-go-round, and the views are spectacular. We couldn’t have asked for a better night. The weather was just dreamy.
We stopped for pad thai and just brought it with us.
The hardest part was trying to get Laila to stop playing and actually eat something. She was having so much fun!
The final day before we had to take mom back to the airport, we went to a little street fair down the street, then we headed to the redhook ball fields for some authentic latin food. Oh, my mouth is watering just thinking about it!
And then to Ample Hills for some ice cream of course.
And then she was gone! I guess the good thing is that because she was flying stand-by we didn’t know for sure which day she was leaving, therefore, less time to be sad. The bad thing is that I thought we had a day or two more!
Anyway, we are always so grateful when she comes and helps and it’s especially great that she has been here the last three years this time of year because of Laila. So, a wonderful tradition indeed!
colesathome
Dereck, Kamilah, Laila and Marley 
