Weekend in New York

This would be the view that my daughter, Kylie, a freshman at NYU wakes up to each morning. Some of you would love to wake up to this and others, not so much.  New York, as she is discovering is not for the faint hearted.  Life, college included, is not easy.  Instead of a bucolic, self-contained campus, she literally lives as New Yorkers do--meaning every person for him/herself.   Two months into this new experience, she still is uncertain how she feels about the whole thing.  

This weekend is Parent's Weekend.  My husband, daughter Taylor and I are heading to the Big Apple to see what this place is all about.  Oddly enough, the university has only one planned event and 'suggests' where students should take mom and dad over the weekend.  With my twins having just graduated from the University of Notre Dame which is the antithesis of NYU on every level we laugh at how relaxed and hands off they are about EVERYTHING at this place.  

So we have made this into a fall weekend in New York with us girls dragging our guy around Fifth Avenue to shop, to little tea salons for afternoon treats and a visit to the Met or MOMA or both depending on how much time we have.  

As we go along, I will stop by to say hey!!

Photo credit:  velouria57@flickr

Journeys of Another Kind

 
It has been a crazy, hectic week at my house and will continue to be so for the next little while.  Last Friday, my younger daughter, Kylie had her senior prom.  She asked if we could host a pre-prom picture party where parents were able to come and photograph their son or daughter with their date before the dance.  I was happy to do it and provided cocktails and hors d'oeuvres for the parents since we didn't get to dress up and go dancing till the wee hours!! Bummer!  

A week later, we find ourselves in the middle of our older twin daughters graduation from the University of Notre Dame.  A three day extravaganza of ceremonies, pre and post ceremonies for the ceremonies, baccalaureate mass and the culmination, cap and gown procession on Sunday.  Knowing their mom as they do, my twins asked about a month ago if I would consider hosting a dinner party at our home (we live 4 miles from the university) for their friends and all their families coming in town for the weekend. I was more than happy to do for them as I did for my younger daughter so last night we kicked the weekend off with a bang!  

 
These two cuties are my babies,  Taylor and Lindsay and last night we celebrated their graduation with 200 guests of which we knew not many.  Grandmas and grandpas, aunts and uncles, siblings, parents--a whole mixed bag of people showed up for cocktails and dinner and what an evening it was.  Busy and crazy to say the least, but a wonderful way to share in the accomplishments of all these kids during the last four years.  



Here is the big, beautiful crew.  All these young men and women are so accomplished already--it is a bit overwhelming.  If they are our future, I know for a fact that the world is in good hands.  

Lins and Tay,  I could not be more proud of you if I tried.  I love you both so very, very much!