Friday, August 12, 2011

Fishing 101: Lessons from Grandpa

Mommy and Cavan took a trip to Minnesota this summer to visit Grandpa Wright on beautiful Forest Lake.  Cavan got a crash course in fishing and (beginner's luck!) caught 17 fish in one day!  As it turns out it was lucky day for the fish too (all were thrown back, though at least 2 would've been good for dinner!).

Grandpa Wright + Cavan

Cavan soon learned that Grandpa has more than one trick up his sleeve when it comes to catching fish.  


Grandpa shared wisdom and tips on everything from casting and baiting, to reeling and trouble shooting when your line gets "all gnarled up." Watch.  Listen.  Learn.  


And voila!  Catch fish!!!  A good visit with Grandpa Wright and a great lesson in the art of fishing.

BBFFAA

For those of you who didn't come of age in the 80's that means "best best friends forever and always."

Cavan + Henry.  Long Island, Summer 2011.

Cousin Convention: Summer 2011!

If you're anything like me, you're wondering why my husband somehow forgot his shirt.  But let me explain....it was a beautiful summer weekend and we were at Auntie Lanie's dad's house meeting Baby Ellie for the first time.  We'd just walked in from a very enjoyable day by the pool and when you're lucky enough to have two beautiful girls sitting still at the same time you just smile for the camera no matter your attire!

Lulu, Uncle Greg and Baby Ellie

Ellie was charming, good natured, beautiful and sweet but when it was time to wind down only Mama knew just what to do.  

Mama + Ellie

And then, that evening we realized too late we hadn't gotten a shot of the cousins together.  Poor Ellie!  She was a trooper but decidedly non-plussed with the photo op.

Ellie, Cavan and Lulu

We look forward to watching these kids grow.  The mischief we imagine they'll get into together...not so much.

xx
The McHale's

Friday, July 29, 2011

Clover Louise & Anna Louise...


....so beautiful.  5 years short of a century apart.  Amazing!!!

Friday, July 15, 2011

I went to Southampton with Grandma and Grandpa and all I got was this...

...picture of a sand-filled, dirty-and-drying swimsuit belonging to a certain almost-two-year-old.


The camera was packed.  The intentions were good.  Alas, no photos taken.  I suppose the sign of a really good vacay is, well, no pics.  We were simply too busy to stop and pose.

Grandma and Grandpa Owings flew to NYC last Sunday and drove with us to the Hamptons Monday morning for a short, but very sweet, getaway.  The weather cooperated, the beaches were perfection and the food was 5-star (thanks, of course, to Daddy).

Now we're home wishing we had photographic evidence of a very fine week.  Guess we'll have to rely on our great memories.

Thank you to Grandma + Grandpa Owings for a wonderful week.  And HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

xx
The McHales

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Little League!

The Little League Yankees season is coming to a close but our slugger has loads of accomplishments to add to his stat card.


The team!



Saturday, April 23, 2011

Awe, hell!



I couldn't decide which one was cutest, so here are both.

A pretty typical night at The McHale's.


We still can't figure out the construction hat, but oh well.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

These Boots Are(n't) Made for Walking.

Guess it runs in the family.  I liked wearing my dad's cowboy boots and now Lulu likes wearing mine.  Looks great but not so conducive to mobility.


Lesa in Dad's Boots.  Circa 1973?  (Nice shag carpet. Wow.)


Lulu in Mom's boots. 2011.  (Better carpet.)

And You Thought Sinks Were for Washing Your Hands.

fun.

Our friend Rachel Antonoff is really, really great.  But according to Cavan the best thing about Rachel is her boyfriend Nate.  It just so happens that Nate is the singer of a fantastic band called fun.  Cavan started listening to them and quickly became obsessed.  Like, knows-every-word-to-every-song-and-everything-about-every-band-member- (especially Nate) -obsessed.  Come to our house and he'll show you every video the band ever made and, if you're lucky, he might even construct a microphone out of tinker toys and perform some fun. songs for you.  We arranged for Cavan to meet his idol and they were instant friends.  Cavan sang some of Nate's own songs to him and before you knew it they were playing Candy Land together.  Now that's cool!


Cavan and Nate


Cavan with his tinker toy microphone singing to Nate with his backup singer Rachel.

The McHale's Love Rachel and Nate!

Sunday Brunch and an Explosion of Babies

Lesa, Jennine, Simona and Jen.  We met over a decade ago when we were all single girls living in the big city and working at one of the most well known beauty PR firms in the city.  A crazy boss and crazy lives brought us together and we've been friends ever since.  The expense accounts and crappy studio apartments have long since been replaced by great husbands and, apparently, lots and lots of kids.  Sunday brunches may not be held at the latest, hottest restaurant and the conversation may revolve around sleep patterns and runny noses instead of the latest Marc Jacobs collection but none of us would trade it for the world.  Ladies and gentlemen....our Little New Yorkers:


Harlow Levin, Presley Levin, Oscar Lihn, Gray Levin, Charlie Lavyne, Lulu McHale, Ceci Lihn.


Lulu was particularly enchanted by one of Harlow's toys.  Charlie's dad was there to capture the fascination.


A mouthful of bagel and hints that naptime might be approaching.  A fun Sunday Brunch indeed.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

The McHales by Drew Lavyne

We went to go visit our friends Drew and Jennine and meet their beautiful new baby boy Charlie.  Not only did Lulu come away from the visit with a great new pal, but we came away with some great family photos courtesy of Drew's cool camera.  Thanks Drew!  We look forward to many happy playdates with the Lavynes!
Daddy and his very serious (and teething) Mini Me.
Yes, even daddies have noses!
A rare shot of a camera-shy mama and baby Lu.

Monday, December 27, 2010

The Blizzard of 2010 - An Epic Tale of McHale Adventure


We were lulled to sleep by flurries and awoke to a window half obscured by snow and wind whipping the flakes into MOMA worthy sculpture.


We opened the door to reveal a snow fossil.  The imprint of wood in snow.  That stayed put.  Like an icy child safety gate.


The base of a "snurfing" run or an alternate view of the police precinct? You tell us.


We decided to bundle up and brave the elements.  Lulu chose leopard.


And Cavan, Mommy and the dogs discovered the street was better suited to walking than the sidewalk.


Daddy + Lulu = Sugar Sweet Snowshine.


The 'hood.  Looking down Loisaida.


A snow angel testing out her wings.


The big news of the day?  A city bus grounded for 14 hours. Skidded, swerved and....stuck.


Mama and Lulu survey the scene.


As does big Brother Cavan.


The sun shines over the disabled bus as workers (on the opposite side of the vehicle) work to clear snow and traffic and allow the tow truck to clear the scene.  The bus driver is tired.


A giant, shiny orange snow plow pitches in to help.  St Nicholas Carpatho Church stands stoic in the background making sure all is well.


 We retreat to Tompkins Square Park where Cavan engages in snowball warfare. A battle ensues.


But Mommy captures the soldier and forces him to hug and pose for the camera.


Meanwhile our snow leopard battles a runny nose.


Mommy and Cavan found an unfettered batch of snow covered ground that we decided to adorn with snow angels.


Cold, tired and hungry, the crew returned to home base for hot chocolate, marshmallows and doughnuts (with white powdered sugar according to Cavan's lips).  The sustenance of champions.


Once the chill wore off we decided to check out the roof and turn the guard dog loose.  (If you guessed that she's embarrassed by the argyle sweater, you've guessed right).


We didn't last long out there (it was cold!!).  But long enough for Lulu to spot something funny...


The end.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Lulita the Eskimo

Livin' Like the Iroquois

As part of the their Iroquois study at NEST+m, third graders were asked to construct their own model of an Iroquois longhouse.  Cavan and Greg went to Tompkins Square park and gathered sticks, wood, stones, grasses and sand to use in the model. Then they planned where everything would go and set to work building the main structure.  They added a stream, trees, fire pit, rocks and paint.  


The finishing touch was the addition of a turtle above the longhouse door.  The Iroquois used animal names for their Clans.  Behold the abode of the Turtle Clan.

Monday, November 1, 2010

Happy Howl-o-ween!

Here are your goblins Grandma!

A Top Gun...


And a ladybug...


In the Infantry.