Two days after we moved back in the house Kristin and Mike joined us from DC to celebrate Thom’s birthday. This meant a few sleepless nights of cleaning and organizing but was totally worth it! And, it just so happened to be one of the only warm days for weeks.
Kristin and Mike considering what to have for their next drink? Another slice of pizza?
This is what I look like on my tippy-toes with Kristin squatting.
They brought along their little girl Nugget.
Who usually looks more like this…
In an attempt to keep our brand new floors clean Casa Armstrong is now shoeless. So we’ve provided a bucket of flip flops for backyard dwellers.
Ben and Jon prepared the dough and oversaw the pizza grilling.
Jon brought over an enormous, made-from-scratch challah. Let’s just say we bought the pizza dough from a local pizza parlor. Seriously, Jon and Laura need to stop being such overachievers.
Me making inappropriate faces and Ben pretending to be a homeless man.
Belly shirts.
Sophie wasn’t sure about Tung. Or maybe it was the hat?
Isn’t she ridiculously gorgeous?
Though a little tame it was a good first party back. And you can always count on Jon to bring the funk. For those of you who have not seen Jon dance in person, you’re welcome.
This past weekend was Sean’s surprise 29th birthday. Because we love Sean we hauled our asses out to New Jersey to celebrate and show off our dancing skills. [ahem]
Thom was actually a lot more excited than he looks here.
Just before we headed off to Hawaii, we were at Jon & Laura’s for a bite before the Beirut concert. They made insanely delicious vegetarian chili and I tried to made cornbread.
Phil had a wonderful suggestion for the upcoming birthday celebration.
And so, we found ourselves at the corner of 39th street and 8th avenue about to meet Ms. Harmonica and Shadow [this isn’t him. that picture I couldn’t share…]
The boys complained until they realized we were in the most awesome place on Earth.
This makes it look like I got breast implants.
I think this was after the $3 special on vodka drinks. Don’t Zack and I make an excellent couple?
In between the entertainment, Harmonica engaged the audience in fun and games. Let’s just say no one is competition for this rear end in a musical chairs contest. Be warned, there’s a lot of Jesse going on in this video and it might offend young viewers. [If anyone can explain to me how to edit a video in iMovie then I can post the actual winning moment.]
A week later we came together again to celebrate birthdays as Travis also turned another year older as well. Here he is enjoying Sophie.
Sophie’s father with the sexy beard.
There was a lot more fun and festivities to be had at this party but I apparently neglected the camera as I chatted it up with everyone. Shame on me. Won’t happen again.
My co-worker Tina turned older on Monday. We got our celebrating in a few days early. And it was quite the celebration. At least, that’s what Thom tells me. I don’t remember all that much of it…
Polly tries to covertly steal Tina’s pup Eloise.
I’ve threatened to move in with Tina - it’s one of those you-cannot-believe-it-exists NYC apartments. The food was delicious too.
So far this year has been much of the same - work, work work and barely time to breath. But we were able to get a nice break New Year’s week and we rented a house in Rhinebeck - just 90 minutes out of the city.
Some of us were a little stir-crazy after working so much.
But we felt right at home there.
Rhinebeck and the surrounding towns were quiet and adorable - if a little more depressed than we had expected.
[I should have warned you before that one, huh?]
And then we were snowed in so we almost never left. Pity that didn’t last.
For my upcoming 21st birthday (ahem) I was hoping to be doing this -
Shockingly, the only place you can apparently roller skate year round in on Staten Island. And as fabulous as RollerJam USA looks (and it does!) I’m doubting I can convince everyone to trek out to the borough.
Although it feels like a million years ago now, in early November we flew down to Key West for Isabelle and Tony’s wedding. Jennifer rented us a little bungalow for the weekend so we shacked up with Jennifer & Dirk and Kristin & Mike.
The boys staked their claim as soon as we arrived. Kinda looks like they’re a couple here, no?
Then again, maybe Jennifer and I are a couple too…
Our first night in town we headed out to explore. Apparently the call was for Mike.
Tony and his best men. Needless to say, they loved him.
The bungalow we stayed at was, um, interesting. Subdued was not the word.
In fact, the ceilings were so low in the room we were sleeping that there might have been some accidents.
The next day we got up early to go scuba diving/snorkeling.
The dive instructor taught us the meaning of relaxed. Even the sharks didn’t faze him.
I only have this picture because the sharks did faze Thom. He was eager to get a break from the water.
