We spent the entire day in Manhattan yesterday - a place near and dear to my heart. I am a NYC fan...always have been and always will be.

B has a friend that lives in NYC part time on the Upper West Side. The apt. is two blocks from Central Park.

It brought back such wonderful memories of living there during my career driven years, single hood, and living with my husband. We use to live on 74th between cpw and Columbus - just steps from he great lawn.

I keep pestering my husband "lets move back into Manhattan next year" His response "If you really want to we can rent for a year and see if we like it with kids" He goes on "I grew up in Brooklyn and although as a kid, I loved Brooklyn, I also always wanted a backyard" My response "we'll get a garden apt!" He laughs and says "O.K. we'll see...let's just get through this week".

We spent the day in Manhattan last Sunday and yesterday. I was in heaven and felt soooooooooooooooo alive. I just feed off the energy and the eclectic mix of people.

B friend has a little sister and we were there to celebrate her 1st birthday. We got there early so B could have some one on one time with his friend and really enjoy each other. They are so cute together.

When his little sister needed a nap, the mom(my friend) stayed in the Apt. and me, the babysitter, B, friend, and S headed off Central Park. I ended up leaving B with his friend and baby sitter and walked over to 56th and 5th to see a High School Friend who was visiting from Georgia. I haven't seen her in 7 years.

My friend has two little girls and I really wanted to meet them. They were adorable just like her mom. I loved seeing her and LOVED the fast pace walking I did and remembered "HA...this is why I was so much thinner!" I walked everywhere. LOL.

City living definitely has it's pros and cons. Especially with kids but for me the pros out weigh the cons.

One time when B and I recently went to the city for early evening meeting I had, we went out to dinner and I said "B do you like the city?" He said "NO..too loud and too many people". I laughed and said "So I guess you wouldn't want to live here?" He said "NO...I like my house".

Two weeks ago we were in the city for another friend's birthday party and it was at the Fire house Museum all the way down town. He had a blast! Loved the museum and loved playing with the kids. So I asked him after the party.."B did you have fun?" He said "yeah, it was really cool". I said "do you like coming to the city?" He said "yeah" I said "would you like to move here? He said "NO, I like my house...let's go home"

Yesterday was different story but not entirely....
As I was dropping him off at the park, I said " have fun". I turned the babysitter (who is excellent) and said "I bet he says he wants to move to Manhattan".

When I got back to the park B was running around this amazing park, got wet in the sprinklers, playing in the sand with his friend and new friends.

We got back to the apt. washed up, balloons were spread across the apt. with the incredible view. Music was playing, and the face painter arrived(a mighty good one to boot) and kids we pouring in. How could I leave?? B begged for us to stay for cake. We did!

We spent the rest of the evening making new friends and laughing! The birthday girl was fast a sleep an hour into the party.

He didn't want to leave...he didn't want to leave the city. His let him borrow a pair of short because his was wet. As we were driving home he said "mom, J needs these shorts, we need to go back to the there and give them back to him". I said "B did you have fun in the city?" He said " yeah a lot of fun?" I said "So do you want to move to Manhattan?" He said "I don't know, maybe, naaah, I like my house"

Gotta love that kids determination!! Wonder where he gets it from. LOL! Definitely both sides.