Monday, April 23, 2012

In a New York Minute

Picture overload.  We didn't do New York in a minute, but our one day flew by about just as fast.
Here's a quick recap...
left our house at 7:20am and headed to New Haven.

We took the train from New Haven.  The kids enjoyed switching seats to sit by the window each time the train stopped
We even made some cool friendship bracelets to pass the time.

 Singers in Times Square.  I think Annie walked with her neck cocked all the way back for the first 3 minutes just saying "Whoa, those are tall buildings."
 Our wonderful Aunt Megan tour guide and hand holder of Whit and Annie
 Of course we hit M&M world (and poor Matt spent our time there at Walgreens buying bandaids while Meg dropped her girl scout cookies and our jackets off at Nate's office)
 We went to the Hershey Store and by this point the kids were in that "I want to buy everything in site mode" thus ending our time in Times Square.
 Shake Shack for lunch.  Delicious.  Plus we even managed a miracle table for 8 open up in the heart of lunch time.
 Staten Island Ferry--I think it was all of the kids favorite part.  Perfect weather, a perfect view.


 Lounging on the ferry boat

 Subway riding was another favorite--Annie, Whit and Andrew loved to try and balance and stand without holding on.  Fortunately we planned our subway rides at low peak travel times.  

 Even enjoyed some of the subway art


 Andrew was dying to eat something from a street vendor and was amazed at how many there are EVERYWHERE.  We settled for a pretzel in the afternoon.
 We took about an hour in the afternoon to hit the Museum of Natural History--Matt's plea.  He's dreamed of going there for forever.  I didn't' even have to feel guilty giving them hardly any money b/c when I got to the ticket counter the woman told me that the museum would be free in 15 minutes so we could either wait or just pay a few bucks for all of us.   SOLD!


 After the museum, we met up with working man Nate and went to Patsy's Pizzeria for dinner.  Delicious.
 Once dinner was done, we had less than an hour to be to our train...just enough time to go back and get some souvenirs.
Our kids, who NEVER (and I mean NEVER) sleep in the car were all asleep within 10 minutes of getting in the car back in New Haven.  I think they earned their exhaustion.  We arrived home right at 11pm.  Mary slept in til 11am the next day. :)

Whitney, Whitney...

Happy Birthday Whitney--the big number 5!!!!

Matt was in Chicago for her birthday so she got an extended celebration.

Her pre-birthday celebration was on Tuesday at Chilis!  She was loving it.
They even sang to her and brought her a big hot fudge sundae with 4 spoons--it was a shy girl getting sung to, that's for sure.

Then to open a few presents from mom and dad.

And eat some yummy ice cream cake


Then Friday, her real birthday she got her Ariel cake.  She was happy with how it turned out and so was I.  I think it was my fastest cake to date.


Happiness all around with presents from everyone but mom and dad.

We love our Whitney girl!
5 great things about Whitney--- 
a great sister, 
a friend to everyone, 
lover of her Twinkle Toes dance class, 
funny lady, 
dress-up queen

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Easter

It was a happy Easter at our home.

We made Big Mouth Bunnies (2 years in a row)

Got some candy and fun treats



Attempted to look pretty (or better said, were pretty but attempted to look scary!)

Then Matt left during church to head to NY to give a talk at Cornell.  He was a travel man that week.