Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Our final adventures in NYC


We've been home for a little over a month now, but it feels like just yesterday we were walking the streets of NYC. Our time there was everything I could have hoped for, plus some. I would go back and live there in an instant, but Charles would have to find a different job there where we could actually see him. I'm not so sure that exists in NYC. It was interesting going there with kids, it almost feels like a completely different place than where I had visited many times (pre-kids). We loved exploring all the many different parks, museums, restaurants, and of course shopping. I developed two addictions while I was there, NY Pizza and Garrett's carmel popcorn. Those are two things a miss desperately and am going through serious withdrawals. I could always order some popcorn online from Garrett's, but I'm not sure I want to spend $40 for popcorn to be shipped to me. But the more I think about it, it does seem worth it. We might just have to add that into our monthly budget. I cant seem to find good NY Pizza here in Orlando either. I also redeveloped my addiction for Jamba Juice. Every time we passed by one, which was almost daily, Isabelle insisted we stopped and got a smoothie. On several occasions Isabelle was asleep in the stroller and the instant I walked into a Jamba Juice she shot straight up. I guess she became accustomed to the smell and didn't want to miss it. Of course we have smoothie shops in Orlando, but for some reason we don't have Jamba Juice, and nothing seems to compare. I also miss the friends I met there and those we reunited with. I'm so grateful for the church and how it allows you to make instant friends no matter where you go.

I wasn't sure how it would be living without a car for a couple of months, but I loved it. I was a little apprehensive at first about getting around with the kids, but it worked out great. We walked everywhere and took the subways. The kids loved being outdoors all the time and so did I. Now that I am home I miss being able to walk everywhere. The other day we walked to the grocery store and packed everything up in the stroller for old times sake. The kids loved it. The hardest part about using the subways was having the stroller. Not all subway stations had elevators and handicap access. So we had to figure out which stations had subways and then figure out the best route. It wasn't always the most direct route, but it worked out fine. A few times when Charles was with me we used stations that didn't have elevators, so we would just carry the stroller up and down the stairs. That worked out fine on most occasions as long as there was a handicap gate to get through, but a couple times they only had turnstiles to get onto the platform so we had to lift our huge double stroller, with the kids in it over the turnstile. Now that was interesting.


We thought it would be fun to go for a ride on the big ferris wheel in Toys R Us at Times Square. That was the longest ride I have ever had on a ferris wheel and I think we only went around like 4 times. It kept stopping to let people on and off and never really got going. While Isabelle enjoyed it at first, she was definitely ready to get off after two loops around.


We loved watching the cruise ships pass by from our window.


Looking out at Lady Liberty.






John's Pizza was our favorite pizza place we found. We went to the one in midtown and then to the original one in Greenwich Village.



A great view of the Statue of Liberty from Liberty Park.

FAO Schwartz and the BIG Piano! They put on an awesome concert while we were there.

Isabelle loved doing the grocery shopping at Morton Williams.

We loved spending time in Central Park, strolling around, climbing on rocks, playing at the playground, and just enjoying the beautiful scenery.

Isabelle loved climbing on the rocks at Central Park.



Charles kept up our Saturday tradition on making Crepes. It definitely helped it feel like home.


A few years back we saw a special on a place called Pommes Frites in New York. They sell all sorts of french fries. Every time we have gone to New York we have planned on going there, but it never happened. So we made sure not to miss it this time. It was definitely worth the trip there.


Of course we had to make a trip to Pinkberry.






Right outside our apartment there was a playground that we went to almost everyday. But for a bigger variety, there was a great park about a 15 minute walk away that we went to quite a bit. We had to walk through the mall to get there, so that was a dangerous perk. We always had to stop at the Disney Store, where Isabelle would try on all the different princess shoes and dresses when I would let her. At the park, Isabelle especially loved playing in the splash park, and going up the rock climbing wall. It was a great playground, with endless things to play on.



Anya loved going on the swing at the park.

We were quite the scene leaving to come back home to Orlando. Fortunately, we had Charles' mom there to help us with the 8 suitcases, carry-ons, huge double stroller, diaper bag, car seat, and 2 kids. Somehow we managed to fit everything into our car coming home from the airport. While it was so hard to leave, it was wonderful to be back in our home. I am so grateful for this wonderful opportunity that we had. I think we made the most of it and really took advantage of the time we had there. Isabelle still talks about New York City all the time. She really got a feel for the city and knew her way around. Our few months in New York will always be great memories.


Monday, October 25, 2010

Charles' BIG 3-0!


Charles, Isabelle, Scott and Zoe at Battery Park

Charles turned 30 on Labor Day, 12 days after me. Typically he wouldn't get Labor Day off, but we made a special request for him to have that whole weekend off. What a great time we had. For his actual birthday we went and had a picnic at Battery Park with MaryLynn, Scott and Zoe. The kids ran around and had fun. After the picnic we went and let the kids play on the playground, then we did a little shopping (that was more the girls' idea than the guys of course). We tried to take the ferry back across to Newport, but it wasn't running because of the Holiday, so we ended up taking the PATH back. We went back and ordered Chinese food and picked up an ice cream cake, my favorite. I know it was Charles' birthday, not mine, but I knew he would love it too. It was so nice to have a full day to enjoy together.

MaryLynn, me and Anya

Of course Isabelle had to get in on the action of blowing out the candles. Now she is ready for her birthday to come.

Good job Papa! Lots of smoke, you must be getting old!



US OPEN


Part of our combined birthday present was going to the US Open. We went the first Saturday to the night session and took the girls and then we went back just the two of us for the Women's Finals. Even though Clijsters creamed Zvonareva, it was pretty exciting to be a part of a Finals.



The Finals took place on September 11th, so it was pretty special being in NY, listening to the National Anthem.


Isabelle had a lot of fun at the Open, cheering at all the right times.

More fun with friends in NY


Our friends Scott and MaryLynn and their little girl Zoe live right in the heart of the theatre district. Scott served his mission with Charles, but finished his mission before I got there. So I met him after I got home. While in NY, we got to spend a lot of time with them. I loved hanging out with MaryLynn and Isabelle just adored little Zoe. One fun outing was to Central Park Zoo. Laila was there visiting at the time.

MaryLynn and Zoe






Another fun place we discovered at the end of our stay there was the Children's Museum of Manhattan. It was fabulous. I wish we had a children's museum here in Orlando. Isabelle thought it was the best place, well probably second best after Disney. Anya loved all the action and watching the kids all run around. We liked the museum so much, we went back another time with Charles' mom.


Isabelle has a new found interest for Dora, so she was thrilled to find an entire floor dedicated to Dora at the museum.






Fireman's pole

Friends and Family in NYC

I guess NYC is the place to be, because while we were there we had lots of visits from friends and family. We also got to meet up with a lot of old friends who live in or near NYC.

Our first visitor was my sister Laila. She came up for two weeks to keep me company and help me with the kids. We had lots of fun exploring the city, shopping, eating and playing. While she was there we got to go see The Addams Family musical. It was a lot of fun.

Laila had fun doing Isabelle's hair all fancy.




Looking out at Jersey City from Battery Park. You can see our building we stayed in, it is the third one over on the right.


My friend Tim, from BYU, lives in NYC, so we got together one night at his place and had dinner with him and his wife. It was so fun to see him again after all these years. His wife just had a baby a few weeks after we were there.


My mom and Roland came up for my birthday. We had a fun filled week together.


My MTC mission companion and college roommate, Brittany, lives near Princeton, New Jersey, a little over an hour away. Her friend Maile was in my ward. We hung out a lot and made a day trip to Brittany's house. It was so fun to hang out again and see her as a mom.


It took us many tries to finally get a picture where all the kids were looking and smiling. We didn't even have the three babies involved.


Brittany and her kids at a little coffee shop we went to for ice cream.

Maile and two of her kids


Carolee and her boys came to see us from Pennsylvania. I absolutely loved hanging out with her and the boys. We haven't had that quality of time together since college. We had fun exploring the city and visiting Central Park. Isabelle loved playing with the boys. I wish we lived closer so they could know each other better.


Taking the ferry across the Hudson

Charles' mom came the furthest distance to visit us. She spent our last week in NY with us and then came back to Florida for a couple of weeks. It was so nice for her to get to see what we were experiencing in NY/NJ.



Another old roommate, Sara, had a layover for a few hours in NYC so we got to meet up with her for a couple hours and grab some lunch at the Shake Shack. It was a quick visit, but great none the less.

Thanks everyone for the visits, we loved sharing part of our time there with everyone.