Epic Monday, Part 1

We are still floating high over the amazing success of the Our Time Gala on Monday night. It was a phenomenal evening and I can't wait to tell you all the juicy details (like how Renee Zellweger told me she wished she had brought kleenex, Carly Simon accidentally gashed her shin at dinner -- she's OK -- and our live auction morphed into an amazing, entertaining, exceptionally joyous and over-the-top orgy of giving). It was so epic that I kind of don't know where to start.

So how about if I start by just sharing about our day as it unfolded? This was the first year that I have not taken the kiddos to the gala. In the past they were both so little that it was actually easier for me to take them to the event and wear them in slings so they could nurse and sleep through the evening rather than leaving them with a babysitter for so many hours. But this year, they're both at really rambunctious stages and they have become so close (they are truly best friends), so it seemed more appropriate and more fun for all to have them stay home. Still, I knew I would be away for up to seven hours, which would be a record for leaving them with a sitter late at night, so I put a lot of energy into making sure they had a lot of fun during the day.

We started off by going to the neighborhood diner for breakfast, Jackson's favorite restaurant. While there, he innovated a new technique for drinking from two straws at once ;) Then we went for a walk and picked up a couple of yellow balloons before resting on a stoop in front of an awesome sign...

Then we headed to the park, where Walker insisted on wearing his new silver Nutcase helmet while he climbed big rocks and hills...

It was a gorgeous Spring day -- downright balmy! Central Park was on the verge of exploding into a symphony of greens, pinks, and yellows...

Then we spent some quality time at the playground...

...before heading home for lunch and a nap...

...during which time i got dressed for the big night:

Stay tuned for more!

XOXO.