Vegas, baby!

Lovey & I took all our little ones (2 furry, and 2 real) on a road trip/vacation to Las Vegas, NV. Our plans to vacation in Mesa, AZ, and Myrtle Beach, SC, fell through (read: we couldn't exchange our time-share for those locations). So we exchanged our week from Orlando, FL, to Las Vegas, NV. We drove down Sunday afternoon in blizzard conditions, and planned on staying through the week. Carly was able to drive in from Phoenix on Tuesday to see us, which was a real treat for us and the girls. Rebecca & Mary-Gail ate her up!!!

Me, MG, Car, & Becca outside MGM Grand

An introduction to "Mr. Yellow M" outside M&M world. Becca was not so enthused

Whoa! Look at all these "M's" for Mary-Gail!

Outside M&M World.

Rebecca & Mary-Gail loved their "M" treat Lovey bought for them

Carly & her two adorable shadows. Rebecca was very protective of her treat as you can see.
She wouldn't let anyone touch the M&M can or try in anyway to help her get the M&M's out.

Sunday-Last day in NYC & Brooklyn

We spent our last day with Jason going to Soho for shopping, and then driving to Brooklyn to see his & Norman's place.

This fabulous space we lived in for 4-nights, "The Loft", is owned by Hermine Ford, Jason's employer. Hermine & her husband, Bob, were out of the country visiting in Rome. When they learned that we were coming for a visit, they wonderfully and generously opened up their home to us. Hermine also lent Jason her van so we wouldn't have to take cabs everywhere.

Each of us girls were in awe at this beautiful loft. It was very spacious with a large open floor plan as expected. We shared the building with Tom Clancy (the writer) and felt very "uppity" as we took the elevator which opened right into the loft. This was a vacation that I will never forget!

Jason in his office at the loft

One of the two studios in the loft

The fabulous Japanese-inspired bathroom. Loved the shower!

Mom, beside a Jack Tworkov painting - Hermine's father


We left the loft and headed to SOHO for breakfast and shopping. We each had a 2-egg & cheese bagel and then loaded up on this:

Lemon bar, cheesecake w/blueberry spread (my favorite dessert),
peanut butter brownie, and a cannelloni

Middle of SOHO


Back to the loft to load up the van and head to Jason & Norman's place in Brooklyn
Fern, Jo, & Car; Fern, Me, & Car. (Fern had her own seat in the van)


Goodbye NYC; Hello Brooklyn

Climbing the steps to Jason & Norman's place

Bounce that Beat - a flier designed for a show Jason put on



Jason hosts art exhibits in his house. He converts the front room into the show room, and then places other art pieces through out the office, bedroom & kitchen areas. The pieces shown here are from his most recent exhibit (Feb 13 - Mar 21) Hermine Ford: Two New Paintings

Jason showing us pieces of artist's work. We all loved hearing him talk about art.

He truly loves being an artist and an art curator

Jason surprised mom with her own original watercolor from an artist she met while visiting Jason at his house in Rouses Point. My mom loves watercolors and she loves flowers.

A perfect match!

We made sandwiches for lunch @ Jason's house; Fern waiting for a bite

Fern wasn't able to accompany us to the airport;

instead, she took her toy and pouted in the bedroom. The paintings on the wall are

Brooke Moyse paintings. She, too, is represented in the above mentioned art exhibit

Final pictures outside Jason's house.

We had a fabulous time. Thanks for showing us your city,

and for taking us to places we'd otherwise never visit.

Loves & loves to you!

Click here to visit Jason's website, or go to http://www.nortemaar.org/

Saturday - split between DC & NYC

We left for DC early Saturday morning. Early meaning at 5:30am to catch the 6:30 am train. We we're were all dead tired from out late night seeing WICKED; Saturday morning came too early!

Printing off our Amtrak tickets; waiting for our track assignment

Jo & Car slept; Kristie & Mom slept

I updated pictures on my laptop until my battery died

Yahoo! We arrived in Penn Station, Washington, DC.

Kristie snapped me talking with my BFF Jessica. I planned on spending the day with Jessica and her little family - grabbed a cab to meet her at the Smithsonian Castle

Penn Station; these crazy girls toured DC and the National Mall,

while I spent the day with Jessica and her cuties.

The Capitol

Jessica & Me. Our time together was too short!

Gratefully she & her husband + twin boys will be coming to Utah in May.

Hopefully Asher & Soren will remember me!

Jason & Norman met us as we got off the subway from our day in DC.

It was close to 9pm and we headed for a late supper. I'm always up for eating

Holy Guacamole! I could have eaten this whole bowl for dinner and been fine.

There must have been 5 avocados smashed in this delicious dip.

Trying to figure out how much everyone owes - my least favorite part about eating out.

What a silly sign! Only on the upper East Side

Ahh, Magnolia's Bakery (as seen on Season 3 of Sex in the City - Jo & Car

wanted me to stand by the picture).

We arrived and they were out of cupcakes! What the...? Plus, there was this man & woman who were filling containers with the cupcakes that were just frosted, not giving anyone else a chance to buy a single or double. Aren't they supposed to pre-order if they want more than 1/2 dozen??? We left with no cupcakes, but searched Bleeker Street for other bakeries to satisfy our cravings.