Monday, March 11, 2024

Spring Break Week 2

Ally and I headed to NYC on Sunday. Traveling with cats is a lot of work but also fun.


Daisy and Maggie piled into their carrier.

We ordered pizza for our first night. It was cheap and delicious and a nice way to unwind after the drive into the city.

The cats made themselves right at home.



View from our room.

Selfie from the elevator on the way to your Fordham.



Ally really liked Fordham. 

Back in our room, Maggie really liked looking out the window.


We woke up to lots of rain. 

But we decided to brave it and do some shopping on Fifth Avenue.



After a stop at the Nike Store we made our way to Ally’s favorite place to shop, Sephora. We shop at Sephora all over; Miami, LA, Boston, NYC. It was nice to get out of the rain for a while.


We decided we were too wet and cold to even browse Tiffany’s flagship store. But Ally humored me for a picture. 


We talked about going out for dinner and eating in a restaurant but all Ally really wanted was pizza from her favorite NYC place, Joe’s. They opened a shop in Harvard Square so we can get it at home now, but it just tastes better in NYC.

The forecast was pretty crummy so we decided to head home a day early. We were not in the mood for museums and it was too overcast for any of the observation decks we planned to visit. And honestly, home was a good decision. We were ready.


So after another nonstop drive, it’s 3.5 hours nonstop we arrived home. 


Ally had work on Friday and Saturday, and here she is checking out the brochure from Syracuse. We have a tour scheduled there this week.

Saturday Ally also had a volleyball tournament and Sunday she met up with a friend at the mall.





Sunday, March 10, 2024

Spring Break Part 1

Ally’s concussion affected her more than we thought and she was really struggling to concentrate at school. After talking with administrators and support staff at school we decided to have her start Spring Break a week early! So she and I and the cats headed to Pennsylvania to spend some time with Dave and Debbie.


Walking to the car! Two cats in her backpack!

Car selfies! Daisy was not happy in the carrier.

So we took Daisy out and Maggie stayed in.

This girl and this cat are soul mates.

Maggie and Mommy!

I was stopped for traffic and took this picture. Maggie came out and settled in Ally’s lap for nap time.

And we made it! I drove straight through. 6 hours nonstop. So proud of myself!

When we got there Ally was so happy. She laughed more in the few hours before bed than she had since her concussion.



Yes Daisy slept under the covers too!

It was like Daisy was a different cat at their house. She was all over exploring. 



We did a puzzle.

Ally and Grandma made cookies. Poppy ate them.


Ally and Grandma Debbie went to a card making class together. I loved that they were dressed alike!

Poppy took me on a tour of Kennett Square. It had been a few years since I’d been there. We stopped at this weird discount store. I bought a puzzle.


Debbie found a pair of deer antlers in the yard.

We worked on another puzzle.


And drove to Lancaster. Through Amish country. Ally was very little when we went last time and had no memory. So it was fun to show her. We shopped at the outlets and drove through the Franklin & Marshall campus where Beth went to college. 

Back at home we finished the puzzle.

Obligatory group photo before we left.

And Ally humored me with a selfie before getting in the car. I did it again and drove back 6 hours nonstop.

Back at home we had a rough couple of days. Ally had a bad reaction to some new medication and it was a very stressful time. But she recovered and went to work Thursday, Friday & Saturday like usual. On Saturday she even started back at volleyball! 

Sunday we packed up again and headed to NYC.





Friday, March 8, 2024

January and February 2024

We are glad it’s March and winter is almost over. It’s been a tough couple of months for us. Here’s the good and not good.


School look for Ally

A very tired Cloey

Ally had a job interview as a gymnastics coach.

I attended an orientation to foster cats thru the MSPCA 

A neighboring town had a teacher strike that lasted 15 days. Becky went to one of their rallies.


Some new jeans

Ally got the job! She started working Thursday & Friday after school and Saturday mornings.

She had a volleyball tournament. We did not go, she got a ride there and back with a teammate. But Sunday morning she told us she didn’t feel good and remembered she had sustained a hit to her head trying to return a serve. 



She was soon back asleep. 


But she rallied and we met up with Roxie at the mall. Ally admitted she did not feel right. She went to school late on Monday and saw her doctor on Tuesday. Concussion. This was Ally’s second concussion in 10 months. It hit her pretty hard and she struggled to focus at school.  It was a difficult time.

One bright spot is always our cars:

The cats are so adorable.





Ally’s artwork on display at school.



2024 teen fashion; baggie jeans and platform Uggs.

Another milestone! Ally ordered food for herself!


We got a new backpack cat carrier.

Ally worked so hard to try and keep up with her school work. 

Valentin’s Day heart tortillas

Donuts







It was a gummy game controller.

We had waffles for dinner

And did a family craft project.





Ally found some Daisy perfume at TJ Maxx and it reminded me about Aunt Martha in London when Daisy first came out and was advertised on taxi cabs.





And finally it was Spring Break!