The Big Apple Day 3

Must. Get. This. Trip. Posted. Before. Thanksgiving!!

Day 3

This was Miriam's big day.  The whole reason we started planning this trip 2 years prior was because Miriam asked for a trip to the American Doll store for Christmas.  We made it!!  Not by ourselves by any means, but we both put a lot of effort into saving $ for the trip.  It was one of those things where I sent my wish out to the universe and goodness came back to me in abundance.

Anyway.....we stopped at Financier Patisserie for a quick breakfast.  Miriam got a chocolate croissant, of course, and we picked up some macaroons for later.

We ooohed and ahhhed over the darling AG store.  Miriam poured over everything in that store trying to decided what to buy to document this monumental moment in her young life.

Then we went to lunch while we mulled over our options.

5 courses...while not necessarily gourmet it was very cute, and pretty good!

Just look at that cute dessert.

Miriam finally decided on a doll guitar and earrings, I picked up Caroline's nightgown for her.

We walked up 5th Avenue, right into The Plaza to peek in at Eloise and use the swanky bathroom.

And made it to the temple for the older girls to do baptisms.

Tami took us to tour a penthouse which was amazing!

 We were as high as the Empire State building but surrounded by lush furnishing and it was warm!

Then Tami (our New York guru) introduced us to the greatest stores.  Fishs Eddy and ABC Kitchen.

Best meal I have ever eaten.

Seriously. Ever.

Thank you Tami (she treated us!)

Then to Newsies!

Loved it, so much. I have loved it since Christian Bale, love it always, always will.

Miriam came right home and got the soundtrack.

The Big Apple Day 2

Thursday:

We were up bright and early to catch the subway to Battery Park.

Such a cheese ball picture of me, but our first NY subway experience must be documented.  We met THE NICEST people in New York and many times it was people on the subway. 

All the ladies (including Lady Liberty), this picture was taken by our tour guide.  

While in line for the boat over we met another mother/daughter New York group from Kentucky ..believe it or not they were even bigger than our group. We ran into them later on 5th avenue and I said "Hey Kentucky" and they yelled back "UTAH!" It was cute.  Also, notice how many blondes there are in our group.  More than one person commented on the "blond ambition tour" or the "Swedes".

Not pictured is Ellis Island.  I was too busy at the museum to take many pictures.

Looooved it.  So touched by the immigrants stories.

 Girls back row:  Rachel, Bella, Annie, Maddie (can't really see), Abby, Candice, Sophia

Middle row: Miriam, Anna, 

Kneeling: Berkley

Mom's: Me, Tami, Cristina, Rachel, Mindy, Michelle, and Cristin

911 Memorial

Survivor Tree 

St. Paul's Chapel

This is where I really felt the tragedy of 911.  It was such a reverent, sweet little church, I couldn't help but cry.  You weren't suppose to take photos in the church but I snapped a quick one of these papers folded into chains.  Each one had a note of sympathy and love from around the world. 

We had walked from Battery Park to the 911 Memorial and then to the Brooklyn Bridge, so we were in bad need of sustenance.  Luckily we found the yummiest waffle cart...nutella, speculoos, gingerbread ice cream...the stuff dreams are made of.

I thought walking the bridge was thrilling.
Sun was setting, it was windy, cars were zooming below....
I loved it!

Cute lovers tradition.  You write your name on a lock, lock it to the bridge and toss the key into the river. If I ever go back with Darin, this will be on my to do list.

I could have called it a day, but Cristina and Abby talked us into sightseeing and shopping around Times Square.  We saw everything, including 2 naked cowboys.

Miriam had her first taste of sushi.

She dove right in with the raw salmon.

That's my girl!

Halloween 2012

The Peacock Fairy (not the butterfly) scootering off to school.

Miriam's school costume parade.

Since Bub's costume came with ninja dagger things Soren decided Spiderman needed a weapon.

The web-slinger...pretty unmistakable.

The Ninja (not a marshmallow...I didn't know if he would put his costume back on after that comment)

I was impressed with the enthusiasm of Miriam's principal and office staff...the picture doesn't show their struts.

There she goes....paradein' it up!

Off to gather candy candy candy!

M's cute trick-or-treat buddies.

Witches Day Out

I have to interrupt the New York re-cap because Halloween happened!

I knew it was coming, but holy moly it felt like I was blindsided.

The week before the big day we met up with the Ray girls at Gardner Village for our annual witches day out. So fun to get together with the ladies to eat and chat.

The guys went to check out the new Scheels and then take my father-in-law out for a belated birthday lunch.  Bub was at a birthday party so I brought the S-man with me (thought he would have more fun with us than with the big boys).

He was good as gold!

Especially once I bought him a lick-a-cricket...not even kidding.  He didn't finished it but he got pretty far. I think he would have eaten the whole thing if others weren't freaking out about it.