I tried for 6 months to get tickets home using miles. It's always how I get home...
no luck. Until, of course... it was getting late in the game and I booked this monkey and my tickets!
First Class baby! It ate every stinkin' mile I had but it sure was fun!!
This picture CRACKED ME UP!!!
Aunt Jeanne and Uncle John came and picked us up at the airport and it was SO great seeing them!!
(oh how I love his hair in this picture!!)
Uncle John's computer blew up so he brought his flying game to us!!
Then, my mom got me my favorite ice cream cake for my birthday!!!
Sunday, we got up and headed to the zoo in Syracuse. It's a small zoo but very fun and very manageable for the mom's bum knee!
Aunt Jeanne's favorite - penguins!
and my favorite - a tiger!!
My 'Lil cub
Then my dad came over for sauce and was so excited to see T! T looooves Bumpa!
Monday we ran a few errands and even snapped a cute picture or two!
Fell in love with some neighborhood kitties...
this is Shadow (we gave her this name)
and this is Smoky
and we (of course) fed them
and every day thereafter, they would run to us
then we chatted it up with some guys selling Verizon. Man this guy was tall! 6' 4" just like Daddy!
Then we decided to go surprise Bumpa and take him to Tom Thumb for ice cream!!
Then, on the way back we went to visit Uncle Jack...
and Gram and Gramps
T was a tad freaked out but after asking a lot of questions... he was fine.
There was a huge deal going on in SYR for old cars so we took this shot and I told everyone I called Uber and this is what showed up. LOL
Tues we grabbed Aunt Jeanne and met up with Aunt Trisha and the kids to head to Sea Breeze
Had to start things off in the arcade for sure!
Tristan warmed back up to Sophia ('Phia) and Nicholas (Nick) rather quickly
We all had so much fun! Thanks for the tickets Aunt Trisha!!
T followed Nick around and wanted to spend every second with the "big" kids
they were troopers and hung out with him the whole time
My mom was awesome, she rode almost every ride - I was so impressed.
She had the biggest grin on her face and it made me so happy. T said "I have the coolest mom and Grammy!" so that was awesome too!!
Auntie T and Uncle Mike prepared a feast and it was so great to see Christine and LaMont too. I just love them and it's been way too long!
T passed out and gladly so because we had to be up early to get to Buffalo and Niagara Falls!!!
We picked Pooslie up in Buffalo and headed to Panos for lunch. I cannot express to you my love for this restaurant. We ate there EVERY week for years and they have grown so much. YUMMY!
Poolsie then drove us over to Canada and we arrived to this awesomeness. T was in love from the start!
We hit the Sky Wheel and then played a very long and hot round of miniature golf. I MIGHT have "won" because I got a hole-in-one... but that was a self proclaimed win for sure!
Riding the Sky Wheel
Then we cashed in our tickets for tokens and Poolsie and T had a shoot out. I'm not sure who is more competitive! Poolsie wins and T takes it like a champ!
Proof we golfed...
Then we headed to the cheesiest wax museum ever. It was terrible!!
But, we goofed off for sure.
Mom and Tom Hanks (Forrest) are chatting it up...
and Poolsie is trying not to be eaten!
At the end of the day it was time to head over for our trek on the Hornblower.
T checking out the "American side"
and us locked and loaded and ready to go!
Someone is VERY excited!!
Our view... LOVE the rainbows!!
And WE.GOT. WET
Poolsie!!
So pretty!!!
After we headed to dinner.. and what a hoot that was. We were exhausted and could have cared less!!
Upon our exit, I made him climb up here. LOL
And I cannot tell you how priceless this is. My mom has seen both of those butts!!! That story from high school will NEVER get old!
Thanks for the fun YA YA Tracy!!
On Thursday we headed back home to see Bumpa and I'm kicking myself for not taking more pictures!!
After, we took a break for ice cream!
We got home and then saw this awesome article on Timmy!! Ya Ya Tracy is so proud!!
Next stop... Ya Ya Jenny's house to play with Reese! Those two goofballs were fast friends. They were on the trampoline for a long time, then played Minecraft together. I so love that my friends kids and mine can hang out. It's a blessing!!
On Friday we were up and at 'em but I felt sick so we took it easy. I'm (again) kicking myself for not taking more pictures but I'm thankful when I'm just relaxing and in the moment.
We went to see Ice Age 5... just chilled.. it was nice.
But before that we popped in to see Alleyne for a cut! Before fun summer haircut...
And after...
My boy is getting so big. Sheesh!
My time at home is always so fun and busy. I actually had a few moments where I just let it all sink in. I thought back on old memories, laughed, teared up a few times and then celebrated coming form such a small world. Some days I just miss it SO much.
Once T and I boarded the plane, I asked him if he was excited to get back to Texas and see his friends. He said "Not really mommy. I have friends in NY too, I really like my friends here."
Made my heart full. We DO have family and friends there. Fun memories to be made in both places.
As we took off, my stress level went up, up and awaaaaay. Thinking of all I needed to do, to face. Hard decisions that needed to be made, do I have a job to come home to, time to get T ready for school, end of summer rush, etc. - I just felt thankful that for one week - I didn't focus on any of it. Instead, I allowed myself to be in the moment and really enjoy being with friends and family. I'm thankful for many, many things in my life and that trip home, is one of them.
We'll miss you NY. See you Christmas 2017!
