the 3 day

I love the three day holiday weekend in NYC. In most cases, the city empties out, leaving the streets clear, the stores easy to navigate and restaurants more than willing to accomodate your party. While the Hamptons or Catskills might be fun for a long weekend, we're perfectly happy to stay put and enjoy the city. Gaining back a bit of your personal space (and being able to stretch your arms in a restaurant without fear of knocking over your neighbor's drink), if only for 3 days, is kind of refreshing.

On Saturday, we trekked up to Central Park for a birthday party. Kasper, Baby S' little friend & future prom date, turned a year old, so we celebrated with his parents & friends at a picnic by Turtle Pond. What originally looked murky turned out to be a gorgeous day. We got a chance to try out our "new" Kelty carrier (given to us by a friend) - and of course by "we," I mean Husband. It will be a great way to carry Baby S during all that hiking we do every year... ummm.... And back in the real world, we plan to use it on vacation, in addition to longer subway rides where hauling a stroller up & down stairs is less than appealing. Is it ever?

Sunday we had brunch with friends at French Roast in the village. A quick shout out to the wait staff there... they were so cute to Baby S, stopping by often to wave & smile at her. We easily got in with her stroller and, due to the absentee Memorial Day crowd, there was quite a bit of arm-stretching going on.

Afterwards, we headed over to Buy Buy Baby, where, even on a holiday weekend, it is always crowded. ALWAYS. We'd been discussing buying Baby S an umbrella stroller, and after reading countless reviews, I'd narrowed it down to the Maclaren Triumph and Baby Jogger City Mini. Since you're practically given a Maclaren along with parenthood in this town, I figured it would be a good choice. But I have to admit, with the recall last year, it's now the first thing I think of when I see one coming at me on the sidewalk. Maclaren now includes hinge covers with all their strollers, so clearly it's just my issue. Nevertheless, we settled on an orange & gray City Mini and are enjoying using it so far. It's fairly lightweight, reclines with ease, collapses with one hand and takes potholes pretty smoothly (not Bugaboo-smooth, but then again, the City Mini is considerably cheaper). So far, so good.

All in all, our 3 day was pretty near perfect. It was a time to walk the city and remember what it is that keeps us here. And lest I forget, a time to reflect on those brave men & women serving in the armed forces, and those that have given their lives for the freedom we so often take for granted.