Always Look on the Bright Side of Life

In June, Sam and I were excited to share our Brooklyn hovel with Sam's sister, Brenda. We had a few days of our big sister, sans her husband and kids. Not that I don't love the hubby and kids, but ever since Sam and I have been together, Brenda and I only hung out once prior to our wedding and prior to the addition of the Yoni and Yaeli. Since she lived in Israel for so long, I lost out on the opportunity to bond with my new sister prior to her moving back to the states and us moving to NYC. This was a fantastic opportunity to get to know Brenda just a bit better.

First we introduced Brenda to Brooklyn diners and famous egg creams (I think she's hooked!). Sam got to spend all of Friday with his sister while I was working. They went to the South Street Seaport and stood in line to get us theater tickets!!! I met them for lunch at Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs in Coney Island. Sam and Brenda rode the Cyclone and we walked along the boardwalk. We even watched a segment of some sort of food show being filmed with Ted Allen (who's very short in person).


Is Brenda tall enough to ride?


The Famous Cyclone

We were able to get home and changed and made it to Times Square right on time to see...Spamalot! We were all so excited. This was the only show that Sam and Brenda wanted to see and I was just along for the ride. I honestly have to say that this was the best Broadway show that I have seen in all my years of being a theater connoisseur. I think that I could see it over and over.


The Spamalot Theater


Brenda & I at the theater

Following the show, we had dinner at Junior's and came home with tons of cheesecake. We of course had more famous egg creams and pastrami sandwiches. Nothing says New York City better than that! It was so nice to share our love of cheesecake with our sister and to show her the best in the world.

Saturday was "shop till you drop" day. Brenda and I both needed new clothes and shoes and stuff and dragged Sam along to Long Island to hold our purses. It's so nice to have a shopping buddy, especially when we can both laugh about looking like a common hooker in summer clothes (Right Brenda?)! I treated Brenda to pedicures complete with awesome massage chairs and matching flip-flops. The worst part of the day was the two-hour drive home through flooded Long Island highways.

Brenda's trip was short, but made just a little longer by her canceled flight home on Sunday night. Monday morning she was headed home, back to the life of a mommy and wife. We enjoyed her separation from her family and her surprise birthday trip. And if we didn't have enough of Brenda, we'll see her in Houston in a couple of weeks!