Bear hug.

When you're having one of those weeks and you're feeling down and maybe a bit scared there's simply nothing better than a little pair of arms round your neck to help remind you that everything's going to be ok.  I love my family more than anything in the world. #blessed

First recital.

Overall, Lulu's first performance in front of an audience consisting of real, live people as opposed to a dozen or so stuffed animals, went off without a hitch.  There were no real "deer in headlights" moments, and in fact, she seemed to relish being in the spotlight.

(Who's the ham-iest of them all?)

The only real issue arose towards the end of the number when the dancers were to return to their assigned spots on the stage.  In all of the movement and excitement a few dancers got confused and  returned to the wrong places and, being Type A and somewhat bossy (no clue where she gets that), our little Lulu decided there was no time like the present to discuss the fact that the dancer next to her was, in fact, in her designated area and this would simply not do.  In the brief moment of silence after the music stopped and the applause began, the words heard loud and clear round the room were "that's MY spot!"  Way to steal the show doll.  Brava.

Giants, 2013.

Official 2013 Giants photo.  Solo and together with the team.  

Go Giants!

Story time with Daddy.

It just doesn't get any better than this.  Lulu is a lucky little lady.  #daddyslittlegirl

Mama.

Thinking of this beautiful, intelligent, kind and inspirational woman today.  She's always been there for me and I'm lucky to have her as my best friend.  Love you mama!  xx

Budding filmmaker.

Cavan took his love of Playmobil a step further by creating a stop motion movie, carefully positioning and repositioning the parts so that the airport truly came to life.  We think its quite good for his first film!

Pitcher's mound pileup.

Victory! The Giants were so overcome with joy after their first win of the season that they hurled themselves on top of the pitcher's mound and got sand down their drawers.

Dress rehearsal.

Lulu is ready for her theatrical debut.  On May 5th, she will play a flower in the "Save the Rainforest" ballet recital.  We know she loves her costume, but will she have stage fright?  Stay tuned for a complete review of the production. xx

Batter up.

Baseball season is officially in full swing.  A parade complete with drums, bagpipes and an appearance by former New York Yankee Cecil Fielder kicked things off a few weeks ago and the Giants are ready to give it their all. Go Giants!

Spring has sprung.

Or so we hope.  Its amazing what some new lanterns, a few sunny days and a bit of rooftop gardening can do  for a person's state of mind.  Gonna clock some hours out here this summer.  Yes, indeed.  #lifeisgood

Chillin' with my homies.

You know.  Its after school and I'm kickin' it to the park with my bestie Sasha.  She's not as fly as I am yet cause she's still in her stroller, but whatevs, we still look fresh.  Word.

Sugar crash.

This is what happens when the Easter Bunny comes and you have one too many chocolate eggs.  One minute you're flying around the beach cottage like a whacked out rabbit and the next, your ears are a mangled mess and you're drooling in your carseat.

King of the World.

Portrait of a 'tween.

Montauk, NY.  Easter weekend 2013.

Taxidermy transport.

This is how we do it in the big city.

When Grandma Comes to Town...

Strange things happen.

(Thank you Grandma for helping us make our anniversary weekend so special. We love you!)

xx

Billye Jean + Linda Louise

This evening, in a brief moment of solitude, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, and as I often do, I studied my own curious eyes.  They're somewhat mismatched, a crazy color and, most amazingly, an almost mirror image of the eyes of my mom and my Grandma. Outside the bathroom door hangs this photo. My Grandma gave it to me and wrote on the back of it, so that I'd know my mom was "about four" when it was taken. About the same age as my little Lulu. I look at it often and am always filled with a sort of pride and big love for these two remarkable women, in whose faces I clearly see myself and my history.  

I see the gorgeous and glamourous Billye. Her stylish hair, beautiful shoulders and Hollywood lips.  I see my mommy's little feet and they look like my daughter's. These women represent a past that existed long before I drew breath and they are the future. In my son and daughter, and their families to follow.

If I have the good fortune, one day, of seeing a set of unusual, green-ish speckled egg eyes in a grandchild of my own, I'll say "Hello, Grandma. I love you."

Tween.

For those of you unfamiliar with the definition of a tween, it refers to the brief period of time between the ages of 9 and 13 (at which point one becomes an official teen).  We didn't make such distinctions when I fell into this category (three thousand moons ago), but it truly is a remarkable time. You're not quite a kid, and not yet an adolescent. You still like a lot of the toys you grew fond of during childhood, but you're also doing crazy stuff like taking ballroom dancing at school where you have to (eek!) touch a girl's hand (and you kinda think she's not all that icky). You still need your parents' help with a lot of things but you also think you know way more about cool music than they do and you're surprised that yes, in fact, your mom does know what Gangnam Style means.

Long story short, I love this little gentleman-in-the-making. I've always believed he was amazing and it's a privilege to watch him morph from little boy into young man.  

(And yes Cavan, mommy is crying tears of joy again.)

Ten Bucks If You Pick Out the Class Clown.

All jokes aside, I've known most of these kids since Kindergarten and have seen them mature and become little ladies and gentlemen. I'm amazed and impressed with their intelligence, kindness and individual talents. Cavan thinks its funny that I cry at school presentations but one day that little whippersnapper will understand the miracle of watching a child grow. (Mom, you can wipe that smug grin off your face now. I stand corrected!)

xx

WANTED: For International Naughtiness.

If you spot one of these two wily rascals please contact your local authorities immediately. Be forewarned: they are extremely charming, crafty and skilled in the art of persuasion.  We're told they're attempting to obtain passports (hence the photos), leading law enforcement to believe they intend to expand their crime syndicate. If you come into contact with them please do not attempt to take matters into your own hands. Their knowledge of naughtiness knows no bounds.

Note: the one on the right is especially dangerous.

Three little monkeys splashin' in a tub.

What do you get when you put six cousins together in one house? EXTREME CHAOS! Three boys (Cavan, Donny and Beau) and three girls (Rowan, Aurelia and Lulu) all met for the first time this week. They became fast friends and wasted no time making a big mess of Grandma's new house in Delaware. And despite the fact that her home exploded into near ruin and was littered with trucks, doll furniture, Barbie shoes, lincoln logs, baby dolls, plastic monsters, random game pieces and yogurt, the smile (miraculously) never left her face.

Now, lets see if we're ever invited back.

Happy Holidays!

Lincoln Center Here We Come.

It was a big night Saturday night. Lulu's first trip to see a real live ballet. The Nutcracker! Mommy meant to buy tickets to the Saturday afternoon matinee but - oops! - got tickets for the 8pm show by mistake. Since they were non-refundable (and not cheap!) we had to cross our fingers and hope for the best. Lulu loved it and powered through, only falling asleep during the last ten minutes. Cavan was less enthused, but very patient. He was more excited about his coat and tie. After an epic cab ride home (holiday traffic - yuck) we all fell into bed and dreamt of toy soldiers and sugar plum fairies. Another element officially added to the McHale family NYC Christmas tradition.

Happy, happy holidays!

And then, there's this guy.

Pat Brunner, my awesome brother-in-law, is officially my hero and a true inspiration.  He has mobilized a relief effort from his home in Delaware, raising money, collecting supplies, enlisting the aid of his community and commandeering a massive truck which he'll use to haul much needed necessities and supplies to Staten Island later this week, because, he says, "Its tough to be down here and know that so many people are struggling with this just a short distance up the road."

We need more people like Pat. It's remarkable how alone and sometimes forgotten you feel in a situation like this. I've never experienced it before. But I've discovered that a little empathy goes a long way. And I will resolve to remember that when the news fades to the next big headline, there are real people, still there, still struggling, still surviving. Still in need of empathy and love.

So three cheers for Pat Brunner, and others like him, who are lending a hand, pitching in, and simply caring. Couldn't be more proud to call this guy family!

xx

Hurricane Sandy.

City officials warned that this would be different from Hurricane Irene. And they weren't lying.  Just as we were getting comfortable in our misguided belief that Sandy was crying wolf, a neighbor looked up from the bingo game we were playing and noticed several inches of water streaming down the avenue out our living room window.  In the time it took us to get down four flights of stairs the water had risen to several feet.  And it didn't stop there.  Soon cars were completely submerged and car alarms blared in unison until they were drowned out altogether.

In the midst of the the chaos of rushing water, the Con Edison power plant a few blocks north exploded into two massive fire balls and then a frightening hissing turned to darkness. This is when our real Hurricane Sandy experience truly began.

Today we're enjoying DAY 8 without heat, hot water or gas to cook with.  Although we did get electricity back a few days ago it's really only served to illuminate - more clearly - how unbelievably cold we are.  

Our local supermarket has been destroyed.  As have our laundromat and countless other small and beloved business in the neighborhood.  The devastation from this storm is massive and heartbreaking.  We could have never imagined anything like this.  And the funny thing is that we were situated in "Zone B," an area that was not deemed necessary for evacuation.  Pretty sure next time we'll evacuate ourselves to Grandma's house, thank you very much.

We've had exciting adventures between Sandy's arrival and now.  There was that time we took a $40 cab more than a hundred blocks for a $6 gallon of gas because every other gas station was empty and shuttered. Or the time we had to scurry out of our building into the cold because a gas leak was discovered. And oh, the hysterical discovery that non-perishables aren't so yummy when you can't warm them!  And ATM's don't dispense money when they're lacking power or have been emptied. (Kind of a downer when the businesses who were able to re-open are cash only.)

And sadly, we are the lucky ones.  Parts of Queens and New Jersey and nearly all of Staten Island are a pile of rubble and ruin.  Stories of families - none of them with flood insurance - left with nothing but the clothes on their backs.  And stories of children who were swept out of their mother's arms only to be found in a swamp three days later.  Or the father and son, ages 55 and 20, found dead in their basement locked in an embrace.  When compared to these accounts we have nothing to complain about. 

Still, there have been some bright spots and humorous moments.  For instance, we discovered that it is possible to make spaghetti on the grill! It has also been solidified that we have the best neighbors in the world. And we know with certainty that when the chips are down New Yorkers band together like nobody's business.  But then, we've seen that before.

So if this post is a bit more of a downer than normal, its simply because, this sucks.  It's sad, disheartening, challenging, emotionally draining, and....cold.  (Did I mention that already?)  But every day there is light at the end of the tunnel and we have complete and utter faith that, this too, shall pass.  We have each other.  All of us unharmed.  A bit unhinged perhaps, but safe.  And we are stronger as a family for the experience. And while Lulu has taken to drawing pictures of water and telling her dolls that she hopes the storm doesn't get us, both kids have been remarkable in their strength, good humor and blissful ignorance of the true scope of this tragedy.

Looking forward to the weeks ahead and hoping for a sunnier outlook. It'll come. But until then, its CHIN UP, McHales.

Thank you, Grandma.

Caught on video!  Indisputable evidence (captured by a sneaky Grandma) that mommy and daddy desperately needed a vacation.  Many, many thanks to Grandma for braving Hurricane CavieLu while we shamelessly basked in the sunshine.  We owe you big time!

xx

Our Big Fat Mexican Honeymoon.

Yes, honeymoon.  You see, right after we got married we discovered a little Lulu was brewing.  Thus plans for a honeymoon were postponed. For three years!  So when our friends Michael and Gina announced they were getting married in Mexico we decided to kill two birds with one stone.  Celebrate the union of our pals, and grab a few days for the honeymoon that never was.  The wedding festivities took place on the quaint and charming island of Isla Mujeres, near Cancun.

The island isn't very big and is easily travelled by golf cart.  Or, if you're a local you may choose to pile the entire family on one moped.  No joke. Windy roads lead you to gorgeous and vast expanses of beach, or to a town center with narrow roads and tightly packed tiendas, cafes, and homes.

Or you may happen upon an above ground cemetery filled with brightly colored, wildy textured graves and elaborate mausoleums festooned with bright plastic flowers and offerings to loved ones.  The feeling of the place was less sombre, more celebratory.  We think the Mexicans have it right.  Celebrate the life, rather than mourning the loss.   

All of a loved one's favorite worldy pleasures are offered and replenished at the site.  It appears that even the dearly departed need their calcium.

After two fun-filled days on Isla Mujeres it was time to get back on the ferry and head to our honeymoon destination about an hour south of Cancun, just north of Playa del Carmen.  As we travelled across the water, the weather in the distance looked ominous.  As we neared land we were pelted by raindrops and had to surrender and abandon the ferry's roofdeck.

But things have a magical way of changing quickly in Mexico and by the time we reached the hotel, the weather was as gorgeous as anyone could hope for.  Our room was situated on a beautiful lagoon and after a quick check-in we were ushered there by boat.

Winding our way to our room we learned a lot.  Namely that the entire place was smack in the middle of a nature preserve.  We were told that swimming in the lagoon was forbidden.  We were shown one of the reasons why.  Look closely, that's a crocodile.  One of about 100 we were told live and hunt in the preserve.  No swimming in the lagoon, you say?  Noted.

We arrived at our room and found refreshments waiting.  Ay, que bueno!  Let the fiesta commence!

The view from our room was spectacular.  We had two fantastic perches to watch the wildlife from.  An oversized lounge chair and a warm plunge pool just next to it.  And for two people who live submerged a constant cacophony of buses, fire trucks, cars, horns, people, and general bustle, the utter peace and sounds found only in nature brought on instant relaxation.  No people.  Just us and the turtles and fish.  And about 25 different species of birds.  

Like this guy, for instance.  It was like having the nature channel on 24 hours a day.  Only 100 times better.  And as much as we could have very happily stayed put on our perch, there was still more to see.  So we grabbed some bikes from the front desk and headed for the beach club where we found an awesome infinity pool and miles of pristine sand and turquoise water.

Yes, please!

Oh!  Don't mind if I do.  Gracias!

With no complaints whatsoever about the view out over our toes, we settled in for some hardcore relaxing, with rigorous activities including reading books, dozing, swimming, and munching on delicious ceviche, shrimp tacos and fresh guacamole.  And of course, enjoying our hands-down favorite beverage of the trip.  The "Fresh and Spicy."  Que refresco!

I became certified in lounging.

And Greg took his skincare very seriously.  We applied (and reapplied) sunscreen regularly and liberally.  Sometimes too liberally.  (Have you met my husband the mime?)

Chocolates and a very sweet message were waiting for us when we returned to our room after a wonderful day.  Yes, this honeymoon was definitely worth waiting for.

We were sad to say goodbye to all of the beautiful things that had so welcomed and warmed us.  The people, the greenery, the wildlife, the water.  All of it combined to make this an unforgettable chapter in our lives.  

Relaxed, happy and missing the kids, we were ready to return to the sounds of "Mom, Mom, Mom...MOM!" (Oh, and did I mention there's now a trumpet in the house?)

Adios, Mexico.  Until we meet again...te quiero mucho. xx

Happy Birthday to Lu!

Shhhh.  The festivities may have happened a day early this year (thanks to mommy and daddy's crack of dawn flight the day of her actual birthday), but the birthday girl was none the wiser.  She was still every inch the princess worthy of a jeweled and gaudy, I mean, glamorous, crown.

Dinner (pizza, of course) was a mere formality and one step closer to the prize.  A very pink birthday cake with (go figure) a ballerina on it. Sugar Sweet Sunshine is the absolute go-to for all our sweet and celebratory confections, and, as usual, they didn't disappoint.  Yum!

Three candles were extinguished, and the cake...slowly...disappeared.

This will likely be the last year that Lulu is actually, genuinely surprised that she got gifts.  She'd have been happy with just the cake and decorations.  But there was more!  Including a new tutu, an Angelina Ballerina doll, games, and lots of other (mostly ballet-related) things.

She was a very happy birthday girl indeed.  That is, until bedtime.  A massive sugar high, coupled with over stimulation brought on by hoards of pink presents makes it somewhat difficult to wind down.  Understandable, of course.  Lets just say it looks like three is going to be a very good year.

We love you Lulu! xx