NYC here I come!

One week from today I'm going to step slightly outside of my box of comfort.

Oh... who am I kidding?  I'm going to leap WAY the heck out of my tiny box.  I'm going to pack my bags, get on a train with the lovely Miss Banshee, and walk myself right on into the Hilton NYC to be surrounded by a thousand or 2 other bloggers.  I AM GOING TO BLOGHER!!!!!

This is big for me in many ways.  Extreme.  HUGE.

1.  I am excited to get away by myself.  I have not been anywhere by myself in ages.  Not since before Zoe was born... and she's 5.  Before Zoe was born I traveled quite a bit, (England, Scotland, Italy, Baltic Sea Cruise, St. Lucia...) but, that was traveling with Nick.  When I really think about going somewhere BY MY SELF... I think I actually have to go back to 1999 when I got on a plane and flew to Miami to take a cruise with my college friend Amanda.  Let's just say...I am ready to get away on a trip just for me.

2. I am going to get to actually meet some bloggers that I have come to think of as friends... and some bloggers who I sort of think of as "celebrities".  A lot of people don't quite understand the thrill of this.  They don't get that I have this whole real world inside my computer.  My blogger friends... they will understand.  I am excited about bringing together the virtual worth with the real world... and anxious.  I am an introvert by nature (although college taught me to fake being outgoing) and I am going to go alone and try to meet people in a conference of a couple thousand people.  I am going to try to do this without hiding in my room... without being a wallflower... and without drinking excessively.  : )

3. I'm spending 3 nights in NYC.  What isn't exciting about that?  It's New York City!!!  You would think that since I grew up right here in New Jersey... about 1 hour from NYC... I would have been all about getting into the city and exploring.  Nope.  Before I met Nick I could have counted on one hand how many times I trekked into the city (and one of those times was a high school music department day trip).  Since meeting Nick I could probably add another hands worth of visits.  So... 1 hour away from NYC... but maybe only a dozen times in?  Crazy right?  So again... New York City is one of those things that makes me excited AND anxious.  Thank goodness Miss Banshee offered to take the train in with me.  She told me she would hold my hand... and not to worry because no one ever died at BlogHer.  I'm trusting that she's right.

4. I'm going to a blog conference.  That's quite a big deal for me.  It's saying that this blog... and the blog community... are important to me.  I'm going to meet other bloggers.  I'm going to go to conference sessions.  Some sessions I'm really hoping to squeeze into?  How To Take Great Pictures (with Mishelle Lane, Rachel Devine,  and Lotus Carroll)  Where's the Line or the Lie (with Jenny Lawson and Julie Marsh and moderator Jory Des Jardins)  Little Fish, Big Pond (with Mayberry Mom, Celeste Lindell/Average Jane and moderator Nora Leibowitz) and Grief, Loss, Tragedy and Community ( Cecily Kellogg,  Loralee Choate,  Kim Trimble, and Peter and Anissa Mayhew).   Some of the sessions are to learn... and some are to see bloggers I love to read.  I think that regardless of the conference sessions I am going to learn a lot... but I'm really hoping to get in and soak up as much info as I can.

5. I'm going to party it up.  The girls are going to be safely at home with Nick.  I'm going to have no worries of a babysitter.  No worries of who's driving home (usually me).  No worries of possibly being exhausted (or hung-over? yikes) but still needing to get up with the energized children.  I'm signed up to go to all of those parties listed over in my right sidebar... plus a couple others  (including NYCity Mama's party at Madame Tussaud's Wax Museau  People... there are parties on top of parties on top of parties.  Just thinking about it makes me a little tired.

So... Excited. Anxious. Thrilled. Nervous. I'm that kind of excited that makes you want to throw up.

On top of all of the excitement and nerves... I'm now starting to wonder who exactly I might actually get to meet.  Get to actually talk to.  I realize I will meet countless new people.  I will fill my Google Reader with tons of great new blogs (just what I need, right?).  I may end up with a few fabulous new friends.  I will have a blast.

What I really want to know though?  How many of you out there... people I've already exchanged comments or e-mails or tweets with,  people who are friends on Facebook... how many of you are going to BlogHer?  I already have cell numbers plugged into my phone for Amanda and "the other" Colleen (and sushi lunch plans with Colleen)  Miss Banshee will be showing up at my door to head to the train (and be my roomie!!!).  Those are my only 3 definites out of a gazillion BlogHer attendees.

Are you going???  Wanna swap cell phone numbers???  If you do... e-mail me (colleen.bohensky at gmail dot com).  You give me yours... I'll give you mine... we will meet in NYC and have a grand old time!

Um.....

I'M GOING TO BLOGHER IN NYC IN EXACTLY ONE WEEK!!!!!!

SQUEEEEEEEEE!!!!!

OK...

I'm good now.

Who knew 5 year olds liked bowling?

Although it seems like forever ago... not quite a month ago Zoe turned 5.  She just about begged for a bowling party.  I tried to convince her to do something else (I don't know why) but she stuck to her guns and the girl had a bowling party.  And do you know what?  4 and 5 year olds LOVE to bowl.  I think every single one of those dozen kids had a blast.  I don't know that any of them paid attention to score.  I don't think anyone knew who "won".  No one cared.  Every single one seemed to have a blast.

One thing is for sure... 5 year olds have AWESOME form.

5 year olds enjoy doing a little dance while their balls makes it's way down the lane.

5 year olds can be VERY serious about their game.

And, 5 year olds have AWESOME bowling attire.

And just because I think it's funny...  Zoe could very well end up being an amazing trumpet player just like Dizzy Gillespie.  I mean... check out those cheeks!

At the end of the day... bowling was a success.  I had one smiley girl to prove it!

(I have so many other great photos... but I just don't want to share the pics of other people's kids.  Sorry.)

Happy Birthday Mom!!!

This free greeting created with Smilebox

Our Thoughts on Bella Sara Moonfairies (and a Giveaway!)

It seems that some little girls go through quite the pony obsession!  Zoe isn't there yet... but my niece totally is.

If you know someone who might be a little interested in ponies (or fairies) check out my review on Bella Sara Moonfairies... and then enter my giveaway!

Catching up

I sometimes feel like I'm spending all of my time playing catch up.

Catching up with blog writing.

Catching up with blog reading.

Catching up with laundry.

Catching up with sleep.

Catching up with random errands.

Catching up with Zoe and Ana and all of their antics.

Catching up with Nick and his random business trips.

Catching up with the calendar and the quickly filling boxes... and quickly passing days.

I have so much catching up to do that sometimes I feel like I can barely catch my breath.

 I have so much I NEED to do that I can't seem to get to.

I have so much I WANT to do that I can't find the time for.

But... I also want to forget it all and just sit on a swing with the girls.  Sipping ice tea. Getting sprinkled by the sprinkler.  Giggling.

That's a much prettier picture than my to do list. 

Girls, swings, tea, sprinklers, giggles.

Can you see it?

I'll never catch up.

A Sparkling Performance

This year Zoe class danced to the Dixie Chicks version of You Can't Hurry Love.  I am sure I'm a little biased... but I think Zoe did an amazing job.  I actually think her whole class did a great job.  Maybe because they had such a fun song?  Maybe because Ms. Casey (her dance teacher) is awesome? Maybe because they just happen to be a great bunch of little dancers who love the stage?  I don't know.  All I can say is that I am so proud of Zoe for being amazing on stage.

I wish my hand was a little steadier... but I was trying to take photos and do video at the same time.  

Zoe starts out on the far right in the front row... then she switches to the far left in the back row.

Enjoy!

2

Today Ana is 2.

2 whole years old. 

Ana came out this tiny little thing (just a few ounces bigger than Zoe).  From the very beginning she made herself known (the little bugger decided that she would be a VBAC even though Mommy scheduled a c-section).

She has grown up so quickly.  I have to say... I can completely accept that she's 2.  No denying.  None of that "I can't believe she's 2!" Actually... sometimes we joke that we missed a year somewhere and she's actually 3.  At 2 years old she's about 35 pounds to Zoe's 40.  She also does things that make people question her age. (She can turn on the iPhone or iPad, open a game app... and totally match letters.  No help. Crazy.)

Ana is very thoughtful. She thinks things out, solves problems, asks questions.  She's very verbal.  (Like, when you play "hide and seek" and yell out "Where are you Ana? Where could Ana be?" here answer is never "HERE I AM! Her answer is something like "I behind you Mommy!" or "I under here Mommy!"

Ana is a total snuggle bug and a momma's girl... but she also wants to run free and wants to be on her own.  She has a major sense of independence.

She is a total binkie baby.

Ana can be a total shy violet... or the loudest kid on the block.

She is a total jokester and had a ridiculous sense of humor.

In many many ways Ana is the most easy going 2 year old around.  She sleeps easily.  She eats easily.  She makes friends easily.  She follows directions like no other.  The very first word to ever describe her is happy.  She is a happy girl.  (Except when she isn't and then... oh, man... watch out. TEMPER!)

Like I've said before... Ana is big.  But... it's not just her size that is big.  Everything about her is big.  Ana has a huge personality.  A big belly laugh.  She dances big.  She plays big.  She has a huge heart... and gives the best biggest hugs.  She loves big.  And I do my very best to love her the biggest I can.

Happy Birthday Ana!!!  You make Mommy so very happy.  I couldn't be more proud of the big girl you are becoming.  Keep those smiles and laughs coming!

Sister Portraits

I got one AMAZING portrait of Ana and Zoe together.  Totally smiley.  Totally them.

I also loved this... since I keep warning Zoe "You better be nice to your sister!  Pretty soon she'll be bigger than you and she'll just sit on you when you make her angry!!!"

And this... this I just couldn't resist.  It looks like they're sharing some secret just between sisters.

I so love my girls.

2 year Birthday Portraits

Ana usually gives the photographer a VERY hard time.  By the time we're done I have to weed through to pick out photos that are OK.  Sometimes we get a great shot... sometimes I'm having them edit out crocodile tears and snot.

This time... Ana was a dream.  She smiled... she posed... she cheesed it up for the camera.  She made it really simple to pick out what we wanted to bring home.

5 year Birthday Portraits

Zoe was a photographers dream (as usual).  She posed like she was told... smiled her "nice" smile.  Enjoyed herself completely.  She made it REALLY hard for me to narrow it down to the 4 poses I try to limit myself to buying!!!