Good News...I found out last night that I got a raise at work! Yippee! I am now making $10/hr cash to just hostess. They even back dated the raise to when I worked last week. Good news for the Elliott household.

Sneaky Pete...my husband is planning some big surprise for me and it is driving me crazy wondering what it is. But I am trying to be patient since I don't want to ruin the surprise. I got my first two clues this morning so I am getting excited that I'll find out soon. Yea! Will keep you posted!

The Ice Cream Kids...

Parade Pictures...

The "REAL" Memorial Day...The kids and I have had a big weekend. John got in last night. The kids and I got up to go walk in the parade this morning. However, half-way through the parade Jacob said he didn't feel good and he was shivering. Sure enough, by the time I got home, Jacob had a temperature of 101. So, we've had a quiet day. Just as well since I am exhausted. However, late this afternoon I walked to the corner grocer for a few items. While there I got a "real" reminder of what Memorial Day means. I had finished shopping and was in the check out line. The teenage girl who was checking me out got an unexpected guest. Her brother showed up in his naval uniform for one last hug as he was shipping out today. They didn't have a chance to talk since she was working so it was just one more hug. But her eyes spoke volumes when she turned around and looked at me. She was trying to hold it together and keep doing her job. But her eyes wanted to take a break and just go cry. My eyes teared up and we just looked at each other. She knew I sympathized and I felt so much for that girl I had never seen before. I choked back tears all the way home for what that family is feeling today. I thank God (frequently) that when my brother was in the navy, we weren't in the middle of a major conflict or war. But our family could easily have been in their shoes as were many families in the generations before mine. God bless them!

P.S. Yankees cannot make potato salad. Had to do some MAJOR doctoring...ha!

Just Another Day at the Beach...The kids and I headed down to the beach again today. It was just a gorgeous day and a little cooler than yesterday so it was very pleasant. It is so nice to have Julia a year older because I have actually gotten to sit in a beach chair by the water's edge both days we have been at the beach just watching the kids and just guiding them from time to time. It is a fun day for them and a relaxing environment for me...yea! Both days the only melt down from Julia is when it is time to go home. She cries but at least she doesn't throw herself down in the sand like last year. And she is done crying before we are half way down the block. Oh what a difference a year makes! Yippee! This ought to be a great summer!

First Beach Day...It was a beautiful 85 degrees today so the kids and I went down to the beach for the first day of summer beach time. They met a new friend, Megan, and had a great time playing in the sand and waves. The water is still VERY chilly but that didn't stop all the kids on the beach...ha!

Good bye Training Wheels...After much practice, Jacob has said goodbye to his training wheels on his bicycle. He and his dad went to the park the other night and made it official. Jacob did GREAT! He had a couple of crashes but he was determined and just got right back up. Now we just have to work on technique and slowing down on the curves/corners. Yea Jacob!

First Cookout...Yesterday John and Jacob went and bought a small charcoal grill so we had our first cookout since we moved here. Our neighbor, John, came over and joined us for some tasty hamburgers, Nathan's franks, and brats. All super tasty! And Jacob, our smart shopper, saved us money by suggesting to go to Ace Hardware instead of Lowe's. Not only did it save gas and time, but the same grill was on sale $20 cheaper. So, Jacob got the umbrella tic-tac-toe table he has been wanting. Everyone was a winner!

Jacob on the merry-go-round...Cowgirl Julia

Gearing Up for Summer...Well the whole town is abuzz as we head into Memorial Weekend. The pace has definitely picked up around town since this will be the opening weekend of the summer season. Jacob will be out of school for 4 days so we are trying to figure out fun things to do. There is a parade on Saturday morning that we may participate in.

I worked last night at Sutton Place. We are opening up the outdoor patio this weekend and I trained a new hostess last night. John and the kids had a big time in my absence by going on a bikeride in the rickshaw and stopping off at the ice cream parlour for ice cream and kiddie rides. I am glad it is warming up for us to take our night time bike rides. It is one of our favorite summer activities with the kids.

Spring Has Sprung...Spring has sprung at the Elliott's. The kids and I went down to a plant sale yesterday that is a fundraiser for Julia's school. They had a wonderful selection and it was fun to pick out such pretty flowers. So, yesterday afternoon before it rained AGAIN, I got my flower pots planted along the porch wall. The only thing left to do is get my geraniums for the steps. Geraniums do so well here. Last year they lasted all the way to Thanksgiving. Anyway, it is so nice to look out the window and see all the pretty, happy flowers outside. Plus, our gardener (Julia) loves to water the plants.

4th Lost Tooth...After several days of trying, Jacob lost his left top front tooth this morning. He bit into his vitamin and out it came. Yea! Another visit from the tooth fairy!

Happy Mother's Day...To all the mother's in our life, Happy Mother's Day!!! The kids and I went to church this morning and then spent a nice quiet afternoon at home. Jacob's allergies have kicked off again so we didn't spend much time outside. But it was a beautiful day to have the windows open.

More Carnival Pics...

Plus, one more pic of the kids when Jacob lost his tooth. Good times!

Church Carnival...Our church, Point Lookout Community Church, is celebrating it's 75th anniversary so it is having all kinds of different activities to celebrate. Today was the church carnival for the whole community. It was a really fun day and a wonderful turnout. The had 3 different bouncy activities, pony rides, games, arts and crafts, and hamburgers and hotdogs. Everything was free except the food. And it was a sunny 65 degree day. Just perfect weather. As we were leaving, they were even setting up for the band. It'll be a day not forgotten any time soon. The kids and adults all had a blast!

In the pigs standing out on the right in pink and gray, Jacob is the one on the far left. They are taking a bow.

Wackadoo Zoo...Jacob had his first play today at school. He was a pig in the Wackadoo Zoo. He was a pig that neighed like a horse. There were also goats, lions, monkeys, and cows. A doctor came in and tried them how to make the right noises but after much hullabaloo, the animals decided they liked themselves the way they were. My camera batteries ran out so I only got 2 faraway pictures with my cell phone and of course, I recorded the whole program. It was very cute! And the kids all did a great job! Their principal was the doctor. It was very funny! And Jacob wasn't nervous at all and he remembered all of his lines.

Fun Fact...Want an interesting fun fact? Do you know that rap singer "Busta Rhyme" was arrested again recently? Our next door neighbor, who is a policeman, is the one who got the bust. Yea! The good guys do win!

Another Milestone...Last night while I was at work, Jacob lost his right front tooth! It was on the verge for about a week now. This is his third tooth to lose since he started school. He was very excited last night that the tooth fairy was coming.

Cute pictures of Jacob and Julia...

Odd Sighting in Washington Square Park...Ever seen grown men selling lemonade in their underwear in public? Now you have...

Fleming House (which is the original Wise House of the potato chip company. It even has owl statues on the roof), the Tarot shop where we got a clue, getting a clue in Washington Sq Park, La Lanterne restaurant, A.O.C. french restaurant




Accomplice NY: Various sites along the tour

Cafe Reggio, MacDougal St., Cappucino machine in Cafe Reggio built in 1902, Louisa May Alcott home, John and Nikki at Bamboleo for dinner




Accomplice NY: The Village...I surprised John on Saturday with a murder mystery/scenic tour of The Village called Accomplice NY(www.accompliceny.com). I had heard about it twice on Regis and Kelly. We had a babysitter all day and it was a cloudless 72 degree day. It couldn't have been a better day to be out and about in Manhattan. Plus, it was Cinco de Mayo so the city was in a very festive mood anyway. John and I were teamed up with two other couples from Indiana. We all had a great time going from site to site looking for new clues. A lot of laughter! After the tour, we did a little window shopping and then a really good mexican dinner at Bamboleo and tea/coffee and cheesecake at one of the oldest coffeehouses in the city which is Cafe Reggio (www.cafereggio.com) . And located across from Cafe Reggio was the home of Louisa May Alcott (writer of book Little Women). It is now an apartment building and not in great shape but the ironwork by the front door is still beautiful.