The Kids Visit - Part II

A lovely, boutique-style pizzeria, Amorina, opened around the corner from our house about a year ago and it's become a favorite of ours for a quick and tasty dinner. No slices here - just small pies, a variety of pastas and nice salads. The man who owns it also has a lovely Italian restaurant across the street, Aliseo . We took Dani and Erik here the last time they were in (B.E.) and she loved it so we decided to try it again. This time our old friends Monique and Lonnie asked to join us - they wanted to see the baby and Michael who they hadn't seen for a long time.

Monique feeds Ethan, Lonnie enjoys the pizza at Amorina.

Stacey enjoys having her son around.

Mike, Erik and Lonnie at Amorina.

After dinner our family walked over to Grand Army Plaza. It's been decorated with beautiful lights at the main entrances to the park.

The Soldiers and Sailors Arch at Grand Army Plaza - all lit up for the holidays.

Mike stands under the arch at Brooklyn's modern rendition of a christmas tree.

The arch is all lit up -- beautiful!

Erik and Stacey are transfixed by the beauty of the light display.

Here's the Neptune fountain surrounded by "waves" of lights. The Arch is visible, illuminated, in the background.


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The next day we drove down to the shore to visit Aunt Sissy. She was eager to see Ethan, not to mention Michael, Danielle and Erik. We had a lovely visit and a quick bite at Nathan's afterwards.

Here's Sissy holding her great-great nephew.
Mike tickles Ethan's foot while Sissy holds baby Ethan.

Aunt Sissy with her great-nephew, great-niece and great-great nephew.(Whew!)

Mike holds a sleeping Ethan.

What a wonderful week hanging out with our children, friends and the new grandson. During one day, Mike and I took a memorable bike ride into Manhattan for lunch at Sammy's Chinese restaurant in the Village. We took the Manhattan Bridge in and the Williamsburg Bridge out. The weather, of course, has been very cooperative, temperatures hovering in the 50's (this in December!) It was a great way to break in a new year. Now let's hope for Peace - for us, for our families and friends and, most important, for the planet.