New York part 2

So Friday, we were glad to have traveling companions with us. Kathryn (my sis in law), Josh, Caroline, and Thomas came with us to Time square (Sorry Matthew and Sam! I bet school was great!)

Kathryn drove us in, and this theater was right by where we parked. Um, hello "Downton Abbey" fans! Kathryn and I were in heaven to see such a big picture of "Matthew". 

Off to the M &M store. This trip was totally dedicated to the kids as I did not step into one store of my own liking. The closest I got was the shoe ferris wheel in the Sax 5th Ave window. I had to set this in my head before I went so I wouldn't be sad.

 It was POURING! Soaking wet pouring. But it didn't dampen our spirits. Well, maybe just a little when a bus drove by and splashed Parker and Josh as they were headed to the Yankees store. 

Disney Store

Toys R Us. We rode the ferris wheel. Parker and I were in the ET car. Emi and Caroline were nice to ride in the fire engine for cute Thomas. 

 So, after a fun few hours in Time Square, we grabbed some subs and decided our plan of action (because of the rain). The girls opted to drive home with Kathryn and do crafts on a nice rainy afternoon. I took the boys to the Met. It cleared up quite well by then. I do like strolling around the east side. Lots of poodles and doormen. I really do love walking by Central Park as well. 

I like the Met. It was pretty nice to have a freshly educated 6th grade Parker with me to explain the whole Egyptian exhibit to me. That kid retains knowledge.

 The security guard told us to take this pic.

 It's interesting to go with boys. They were very definite about what they wanted to see. 

 We did the Andy Warhol exhibit, which was cool but different than I expected. But I couldn't leave without a Degas fix.

It's so nice to be in New York with locals. Josh directed us down to a wonderful shake place in the basement of Grand Central. Yum! I had a Black and White shake and we split huge steak fries. I believe it was called Juniors. I could be wrong.

 Love, love, love Grand Central. This is the view from the Apple store that now resides in about 1/4 of the mezzanine.  It's pretty sweet. The boys were in tech heaven while we waited for the train.

So, we got home that night, still a bit wet. It was nice to enjoy some down time with the Newman family.

Transportation: Newman minivans, commuter train, subways. Oh, and ferris wheel.

NYC Part 1

So... I realize I should be up to date enough to be posting all the Halloween pics today because heaven knows I don't want to drag Halloween out any farther than it has to be. As a dance teacher, I have had to keep up that blasted Halloween enthusiasm for a lot of classes. Bleh. I can't get the decorations down quick enough. I'm ready to delay Christmas a bit and just ENJOY early November. 

But, I've been a little spontaneous and spoiled lately. After a girl's trip fell through that would've happened over UEA, I had a nutty idea to run my 2 oldest back to NYC to visit my brother's family. I've been a little YOLO lately. (plus, this counts as their birthdays. Yeehaw!)

So off we went. Our plane flew right over Manhattan starting at the bottom.  It was so cool. This was the shot as we landed. 

If you are going to head to New York, make sure you have relatives to stay with. It sure makes it way, way funner and way, way cheaper. Mark, Kathryn and family were so wonderful to host us and made our quick trip so easy. Here are the 2 favorite cousins reunited in my brother's newly remodeled kitchen.

Sleepovers! 

Day one, we headed into the city with Mark on the train and walked down to the Empire State. 

Parker has a love of maps and was pointing out tons of buildings that I didn't even know. We had amazing weather on day 1. 

Then we ran into a fully Christmas decorated Macy's on 34th street. I love the Cellar downstairs and the part of the store with the old escalators. 

Subway trip....I snuck this pic with my phone. You never want to look like a tourist on the subway. They got really good at navigating it with me.

We went to NYC five years ago for Christmas and this was one of the favorite parts for the kids. This is down in Battery Park, and I'm really sad to think it was probably under feet of water this week. How lucky am I to have avoided Sandy!

(video)

Statue! We were 2 weeks short of being able to go inside it as they are refurbishing it. 

Did a quick run through Ellis Island and then back to Battery Park. I usually enjoy street performers. But these guys, not so much. Just as I was grabbing my bag to leave, I turn around and they had taken Parker into the show. There was a lot of dancing and fleecing people for money, but this is the grande finale.

(video)

Then off to Time Square for a quick pizza dinner and down to the Circle Line tour. It is a really too bad that my camera sucks with night shots, but it was such a cool way to see the island of Manhattan.

The new "Freedom" tower, but they decided to call it World Trade Center 1 as to not offend out of country clients. Really? 

Brooklyn Bridge. The tour guide had a lot of cool facts about the city. I really enjoyed it. So did Parker. Emi was just exhausted by this point, but she was a trooper. 

Knowing we'd be exhausted, Mark drove down to pick us up. SOOOO welcome at that point of the day. 

Transportation used: Plane, 2 different Newman mini-vans, commuter train, subway, bus, and 2 boats. My kids were obsessed with different ways to travel on this trip. 

12

I think I avoid blogging sometimes because the best blogs have oodles of pictures and I don't always feel like uploading pics. Or taking the pictures for that matter. So...no pics tonight.

I've got a ton going on the next few days and lots to plan for and get ready for, but I  have to stop for 10 seconds and write down about a beautiful day for Parker yesterday. My little boy turned 12 yesterday and I cannot believe how much that freaks me out. He received the priesthood and it was one of the most tender experiences of my life. I've been feeling so much anxiety about this, given his situation. I about lost it on Saturday night because of the worry I felt for him and this big responsibility in his life. Most of you know how much time and energy we give to him to help him navigate a world that doesn't always make sense to him. But Sunday, there was a shining moment that made it worth it. I was really going to keep it together, and then Parker walked out in his new "deacon" suit and I lost it.

Bill gave him a beautiful blessing and ordained him and we were all very emotional, including Parker. He really gets it and feels the Spirit so easily. I wish I was like that. Bill had spent a lot of time helping him know how to pass the sacrament, and he breezed through it with the biggest smile on his face.

But then, testimony meeting started. Parker stood up first thing. Given his inability to filter his thoughts at time, my anxiety level soared. But you'd never believe how sweet and simple his testimony was. He opened with, "it's been an incredible journey so far". It has been an incredible journey! I'm lucky he's mine. I learn a lot from him and have really tried to do my best to understand the way he sees the world which is so (almost painfully) different than how I see the world.

He even did fast offerings, so he got a full day of priesthood fun for his b-day. I'm grateful to all those who could spend the day with us. We love you all.

(ok...one pic)

3 days in DC

So, I've decided something. I do better when things are spontaneously thrown on me. Bill approached me a few weeks back and asked me to join him in DC for a few days since he was working there all week. As luck would have it, we found 3 wonderful sitters to watch the kids for 4 nights, so I booked a flight. A red-eye. Ughhh. I will never do that again, but I had to teach Thursday night. Crazy, yucky turbulence and a smelly passenger next to me was not ideal, but I'll do anything to see my man, right? The flight was delayed, so I missed my connection in Charlotte. I hopped off the plane and ran to a courtesy desk. The nice lady told me if I could sprint the farthest concourse in the airport, I'd be on the next flight. If not, I'd wait 2 1/2 hours. I ran like the wind (even though the wind had about 2 hours of sleep in her) and made it. Hopped on the metro, found the hotel and zonked out for a few z's while Bill finished some work. 

Then we headed out for 3 days of walking.

First, to our future home:

 Michelle Obama's garden

 Then down to the Washington Monument and WWII memorial, which was new to me. So well done. 

 You can't go in the monument anymore since an earthquake made it unsafe. Bill and tried to make predictions which way it would fall if it did and how far it would reach. We're weird that way.

 Lincoln Memorial

Korean Memorial

Then we headed to Old Ebbit's Grill for a yummy dinner. Thanks Brooke for the food suggestions. Loved them all.

After sleeping in, we headed to a session at the DC temple. Really fun to see the inside. But we really enjoyed the show afterwards.

As we exited, we noticed a limo had pulled up and a huge wedding party was taking pictures if front of the temple. However, they were not exactly LDS. They then proceeded down to the side of the temple with an Ethiopian priest to perform the ceremony. Bizarre. Everyone was nice about it though. 

 Off to the Museum of American History. Love me some Kermit.

 Michelle Obama's inaugural gown. Love, love, love the presidential section.

They closed at 5:30, so we booked over to the National Gallery of Art. I wish we had more time to spend in the modern art section. It was awesome. This was a piece that was mesmerizing.  All 50 states were represented on video screens with various images from the state. I read the artist put his connection to each of the states in the video sequences. Kansas was Wizard of Oz, Utah was scenes from the desert, California had tons of things flashing, including an exercise class taught by OJ Simpson. It was so cool. 

 

By this point, we were TIRED. It was probably the low point on the trip as we headed to see the Capitol. Luckily, sis in law Kathryn had suggested a great restaurant in Arlington, so we headed off to "Red Hot and Blue". 

 The food was amazing, nicest people, and HUGE diet cokes. (Thanks Kathryn!)

 The last day, we hit China town, ate at Matchbox Pizza (again, thank you, Brooke. I'm dreaming of those sliders). Shopped a bit and sucked down some Hagen-daaz shakes. We walked through the sculpture garden just off the mall.

 Then off to the Air and Space Museum. I've learned a trick after 13 years of marriage. Take Bill to a museum when he only has a couple of hours before closing. It moves him along. We rented bikes to hit the monuments we'd missed. Perfect time of day for it. DC is so pretty.

Jefferson Memorial

 FDR

 MLK

 back to the Lincoln (it's probably hard to notice the monument with that crazy bright shirt of Bill's . Not my favorite. I hate looking like tourists.

We headed up to George Washington University area to check out some neighborhoods. Be a-u-tiful. Next time I'm going to wander through different neighborhoods. They are so cute.

So, here we are back to reality. Thanks to my parents, Chloe, and Lisa for watching our kids on such short notice. We love you!