I’ve heard many names for this fruit salad and I’m not sure which is most well known…. but the salad with cool whip, pineapple, and pistachio pudding was on the menu last night!
Miles = big fan! He liked it, and he got to use a spoon. 
Kind of reminiscent of his birthday, don’t you think?!
Look, Mom, 2 hands?!
Posted in: Miles
As Saturday was Nate’s last Saturday before classes resumed after his spring break, we did our best to enjoy our fantastic weather. Miles is developing a big love for animals – so why not use our pass to get into the Bronx Zoo…
Sadly, the zoo was still operating on winter hours so many of the animals were missing. We also timed Miles’ nap wrong… Picture-wise, here’s what I was able to salvage-fish and playing is a grass lot for his lunch break.
Sunday was slightly cooler, but still a fantastic day. Are you jealous yet!? We went on a 1.5 – 2 hour walk on the Bronx River Pathway near our place. I was a little better this the camera this time.
Feeding the ducks and geese animal crackers. Did you know that geese hiss? Well, they do, when you get too close!
Almost back home – our place is the tall one on the left
Mike Dean, a fellow ISU architecture grad, brought his family out to NY. We were so happy to have them! Heather definitely understands the trials attached to being the wife of an architect/student and Ethan is just Miles’ size! Though it was tough, they left Maggie, Cooper’s Beagle buddy, back in Iowa. We missed her!
They flew in the NYC the same night (Friday) arrived back from Brazil: PERFECT efficiency in planning!!
Miles, chilling in the airport…
We all went to bed early that night exhausted from travel into and out of NYC and with anticipation for the next day.
The next day was not an ideal day for sightseeing. With high winds, cool temps, and lots of rain, we decided to mellow out in our apartment, let the boys play, make a trip to the grocery store and catch up with some quality conversation.
The highlight of Saturday – the boys in the bath…(Miles 16.5 mo and Ethan 14 mo)
Sunday, we hopped a train into the city and met up with Brad Baer and Katie. The 8 of us ventured over to Times Square, found a nice little Irish pub to eat lunch. Besides the poor service and the less than impressive food, we had a great time! We saw parts of Times Square, the New York Times building, THE Toys R Us (and its indoor ferris wheel), Ground Zero, and went shopping at Century 21. By then, the weather had gotten to the boys. We left Brad and Katie to their romantic evening in the city as we took the train back to White Plains to eat pizza. Ironically, we actually ordered in Chicago style pizza (I know, I know – keep your thoughts to yourself) and watched 4 Christmases. Great movie, by the way!!
The ferris wheel inside Toys R us
Monday was another big site-seeing day in the city. We went to Times Square again and ate at Dallas BBQ, toured the M&M store, gazed at the lights of the area, toured Columbia University and its bookstore, had some honey roasted nuts from a street vendor, walked through Central Park and passed the Home Alone 2 hotel, the Apple store, the 5th Avenue shopping district, and a bunch of horse drawn carriages.
Tuesday, Miles at I went back to daycare and work. We left the Dean’s enjoy a day in the city on their own. The weather was much better so they made a day out of the Statue of Liberty. Nate, Miles and I drove their luggage down to them at their hotel near the LGA airport. We ordered in NY pizza (finally) and the boys (big and little) swam in the pool! Heather got a few adorable pictures of this… I’ll try to get them and post them later.
We had a fantastic time with the Dean’s (and Baer’s). Initially, I was planning to apologize for getting so wrapped up in the fun that I barely took any pictures – but then I decided that if I posted everything that we saw, none of you would come out to visit us! Our place is open – You’re welcome to come visit us and the city anytime :)
Nate said that he sent a lot of pictures via email while he was in Brazil. I had a hard time believing that until yesterday. I got a bunch of emails each with one picture. In fact, I received 8 yesterday and another 6 today. Who knows what tomorrow will bring….?!
Enjoy – Nate’s pics and captions :)
The Desert Vehicle
Crossing the river by raft (travel from resort to desert was ~1 hour)
This desert is unique in that there are many freshwater lakes from the rainy seasons (Jan through March). This year was especially dry. The lake shown would normally be 7 meters deep.
Everyone walked barefoot through the desert. It is not uncommon to sink up to your knees in the sand.
The scale of the desert is incredible. We appear as nothing compared to its vastness.
Nate (and his sandy safari hat)… escaping architecture, freeing his mind
Yes – this photo is real….
Where the desert meets the forest
The ride home from the desert adventure
It’s great having Nathan back, and we are glad that he had a great trip.
As I gazed out my window at work today, I would have given anything to spend a few hours in the fantastic 60 degree weather and sunshine! Then I thought about Nate, possibly still in a old hotel without AC, crawling across a South American desert near the equator with temps deep into the 90’s and limited sunscreen. Poor guy, right?!
I checked my gmail to see a message from Nate with the subject “this trip is awful.” I was dying to see what he had to say…. They had a 4 hour bus ride to their next destination. They will stay here for the next 3-4 days……
Pictures!
Nate’s new hotel/RESORT! His villa is the first one on the right.
A better view.
The Dining Area
The recreation room
And the view
Now I understand that the subject line was oozing sarcasm!! This looks like an amazing vacation. He said that its a great resort and its not busy at all since its currently mid summer for the Southern hemisphere.
Here’s an excerpt from his email:
“Today we woke up around 9 am. We had a breakfast of fresh fruit and
pastries. Around 10-11 several of us went kayaking on the river that
runs past our resort while other swam in the pool. At noon we
departed for the desert. It took us about an hour by car (military
grade safari hum-v) to trek through the bush to the desert. Once we
arrive we had a picnic--fresh salad with chicken and water. Then the
adventure began. We had to scale a 40 meter dune to enter into the
desert from the lush green jungle of palms and cashew trees. The
contrast between the white sand and the green jungle was incredible.
Then we basically walked as far into the desert as we could before it
began getting dark (about 5 hours.)”
Miles and I were able to talk to Nate tonight via video chat. Miles was super excited to see AND hear his dad. The fact that Nate has been gone really sunk in this morning when he couldn’t find and wake up his dad after breakfast.
4 mornings left until dad returns……
Or… “Hello, Good Evening” to those of you who do not understand Portuguese. I don’t have a lot of information, but I can give you all an update on Nathan and his big trip.
As NY weather is climbing and holding steady in the 50’s this week – Nate’s decided to ‘one-up’ us… Columbia paid his ticket into the exotic deserts of South America!
Saturday morning, Miles and I dropped Nate off at JFK airport at 6am. His flight left for Sao Paulo, Brazil at 8:25am. He landed around 8:30pm local time (6:30pm NY time). His next flight took off for Sao Luiz, Brazil at 11pm local time and landed at 2:30am (12:30am NY time). Once gathering the group, luggage and ground transportation, he was supposed to arrive at the hotel for the night around 3:30am. Even though most of the day was spent sitting down, I think I’d be super exhausted.
I apologize for the stretched, low resolution map, but graphics are more Nate’s thing…. “A” marks Nate’s final destination, Sao Luiz. Yes, that dotted line is the equator – looks like a glorious, hot, tropical trip! I’m a little jealous!
Nate said that the local weather is in the 90’s and super humid. His current hotel (and possible all of the hotels he’ll stay at) have no AC. He mentioned that his hotel also lost power sometime overnight and he actually showered this morning by the light of his phone. Hopefully power is restored soon… since their day in the desert will most likely warrant another shower upon their return.
Now… for a few of the pictures Nate sent this morning!
The view from outside his hotel
Inside the hotel
The street view from the hotel
And finally, the hotel dining area
Everything just looks sweaty – but looks like a fantastic adventure!
Nate is supposed to arrive back in NYC at 5pm next Friday. Miles and I miss him a lot already and cannot wait for his return! I’ll do my best to keep you posted :o)
Kelly
