NY Trip - Baby Shower & Lilac Festival

I'm back! It's always a treat to go back "home" to NY and spend time with family and friends, but it's also great to come back home, to the familiar routine. I get frustrated because it's the same thing every day, no change. Then when I go back to NY every day is filled with events and being surrounded by people. So, it's nice to come back to our peaceful life in Virginia.....the familiar quiet and being able to control my day the way I want it. Sometimes you have to step out of your daily surroundings to appreciate it more.

We were in New York for almost a week and it definitely felt like a vacation. Not the peaceful one though. It was a lot of fun but also hectic. I've only attended showers and have been the guest of honor for my own; I've never been behind the scenes in helping plan one. I helped my MIL (mother-in-law) with lots of ideas and decorated her house for the shower. It was so much fun! I loved being in charge! I also helped make the favors and the layout of the party and where things should go. The shower was on Saturday and it went great! It was actually supposed to rain but it never did. Thank goodness! It was held outside and the weather was sunny and hot! We had BBQ style food....very laid back and homey.....corn on the cob, beef ribs and salt potatoes. Jason, my BIL (brother-in-law) and Carolyn, my SIL (sister in law) got some wonderful gifts. There were about 35 people who came and 40 were invited, so it was a great turnout!

          Me and Carolyn at her Baby Shower

Our family at the Baby Shower -from left to right--Renee (my mom), Eric (my husband), me, Becca (my daughter), Jason (my BIL), Carolyn (my SIL), Kim (my MIL), Chris (my FIL) and Cathy (Carolyn's mom)

We went to the Lilac Festival the next day. It was a lot of fun. I used to go every year when I was younger. It is a big deal for Rochester, it is famous for its Lilac Festival. It's been cold there lately and most of the flowers weren't in bloom which was unfortunate. Of course, we did go on the last day so maybe they were nicer in the beginning of the week-long festival. It brought back memories though. :) We walked through the park and enjoyed the few lilacs that were in bloom. They are just beautiful and give off such a wonderful smell. Then we walked through the vendors....rows and rows of original paintings, jewelry, signs, artwork, they do caricatures, there are sculptures...there is always so much to see and do there. It was very hot that day as well, but I'm glad I had the opportunity to go.

          Me and Becca at the Lilac Festival

Every time we go back to Rochester we like to stop at our favorite eateries. Dibella's for the best subs and sandwiches! Shaeller's for the best hamburgers! We also went to the Erie Canal which runs through the town. We took Becca to feed the ducks and she loved it! It's also great to take walks...people ride bikes and rollerblade and walk their dogs. There are boat rides and you can get ice cream. I spent a lot of time there growing up.

    Becca and my mom (Nana) feeding the ducks at the canal

While we were in town I was able to visit with some of my side of the family. Two of my aunts and two of my cousins came over as well as Shannon, who is like my little sister. My mom used to do daycare in her house and she watched Shannon since she was 4 years old and now she's 18, so she's part of our family. It was great to catch up with them. It's hard living so far away from all the people you love, and then when you finally see each other after months apart, that connection instantly resurfaces. I'm appreciative and thankful that they made the time to see us while we were there.

         My brother Joey, my mom, and me

       Family-from left to right---cousin Meg, me, my mom, Shannon, and cousin Jenna