NYC - Day 4

This was our last day in the city. Kevin found a park that was built from an old, raised rail-road track/station called the High Line. It is a 3-stage renovation, and the first stage was completed when we were there. They were opening the 2nd stage a few weeks after we left with one more left to complete. When it's finished it will be a mile and a half long elevated park. It was simply amazing. Near Chelsea, it was so cool just to get off the beaten path of the city and imagine what it would be like to live there. I won't lie, I looked for apartments in the area.

There was so much to look at, and this super cook retro hotel towered over it. There was also lots of artwork, below the park where the freight would have been stored.

NYCC - Day 3

Today we started our day at MoMA. This is by far one of my favorite museums. Last time I was here, Starry Night by VanGogh was on tour and we missed it. This time it was there, with one particular patron who appeared to be attempting to physically step into the painting.



After a gentle talk from the man in the blazer.....


The disappointment this time was the whole wing with Jackson Pollack's work was closed off, so that was a bit of a bummer. But they had a mid-century-modern furniture exhibit up and that was really cool.

We decided to head back to Central Park after that, and just leisurely stroll through there and grab lunch at the park. A few artsy shots by Kevin:



After that we strolled around and noticed a big crowd. We went to check it out and it turns out it was Madonna, directing a movie. She was less than happy (which I don't find surprising at all). She's the one in the white hat.



We finished the stroll by visiting the Castle at the park. It never ceases to amazing me how quiet and peaceful it can be in the middle of the big city.




We finished the night with another amazing meal. (Note: I ate tons, walked tons, and came home a few pounds lighter from this trip. True story.)

NYC - Day 2

Today's first stop was a nice leisurely walk to Washington Square Park. Another beautiful day. Sunny and just a tiny bit cool.




From there we walked to Gramercy Park, the last private park in NYC. It was so fun to just really not have a concrete plan, and stroll around and get a sense of the city. This park was like a Secret Garden to me. I can only imagine how wonderful it is to be inside there, quiet and mostly alone!



We took the subway across town to the box office near the water. Kevin had done plenty of research on this particular one and how it often had more access to tickets than the one off of Broadway. So in line we got, and sure enough! We scored two tickets to the show Promises, Promises at a great price and the seats were great!



After another delicious lunch, we decided to go to Rockerfeller Center and go to the Top of the Rock where you can go to the top of the building and take in the sights. This is one of my favorite stops in NYC. I had gone here a few years ago with some girlfriends for the first time and I loved it more than the Empire State Building. The day had started to cloud over, but we still had amazing view; my favorite being the view of Central Park.




We spontaneously decided to take a tour of the NBC Studios and of course there were no camera's allowed. We got to see Dr. Oz's studio (snoozefest. Sorry Dr. Oz.) and then the Saturday Night Live Studio. THAT was something else. Just amazing. It was much much smaller than I ever would have imagined. They told us all sorts of cool facts about it and it was definitely the highlight of the tour.

After that it was back to the hotel to get ready for the show. Promises, Promises was a really interesting show. It was set in the 50's and they had the coolest furniture.

Of course it was pouring after the show and we had to walk blocks and blocks in the rain, but we hailed a cab! It was even across the street at a red light. I like to think my hand went up first and got it....

NYC - Day 1

We took the early flight out, dropped our bags at the Hampton Inn & Suites in SoHo (great hotel!) and headed out the door.

Our first stop was Zabar's Grocer, a NYC Staple full of all sorts of groceries, baked goods, and kitchen wares. We picked up some bread, jam, and honey and headed to Central Park where we rented bikes.

We thought we could bike all through the park, but turns out you can only walk your bike through on the inside paths. So we stuck mostly to the road that circles the park entirely. It was a gorgeous day and there was still plenty to see.

Our first stop was the Bethseda Fountain. Wearing our dorky helmets, and ignoring the snickers from passers-by, we took in this beautiful fountain.





Next was lunch in front of the lake. We were starving at that point, and I don't think bread and jam have ever tasted so good.



By the time we circled the entire park, we were ready for some down time, so we returned the bikes and headed to the hotel to see if our room was ready. It was! And we had the most incredible view of the Empire State Building.



After a nap, some tv time and getting cleaned up, we got dressed to go to a restaurant we had made reservations for 2 months in advance. Artisnal. Their masterpiece? Fondue.

And boy did they deliver. It was probably the best we've had since switzerland. Perfect temperature, perfect consistency, and wonderful taste. I think it went down in our recordbook as our most expensive meal ever as a couple (including dessert. How can you not get dessert?). And it was worth every penny.

10th Anniversary, New York City Trip

Kevin and I went to the Biltmore early in the summer for a 10th Anniversary celebration, but then he got an email on some amazingly cheap flights to NYC. Never to be one to pass up a good opportunity, we quickly checked our airline miles, transferred them to hotel points and voila! A trip to the City was born.

Most of our pictures are via camera-phone. We brought the 'big 'camera, but just didn't feel like lugging it around the entire time. Our goal was to go explore the city with a little less of an agenda as before. Of course this did not stop Kevin from pouring plenty of time over plans for the trip.

Our trip started off with Kevin trying to find the app he had downloaded that reminded him where our car was parked. While he was looking for that....I snapped a picture of our area name & number, and then of him. :)

A Moment in the Day

Video Chat with cousins. I don't know what's funnier, seeing them wear a big head set, or listening to them talk and laugh to each other.

Labor Day Weekend

After an entire summer full of 95+ temperatures, we are more than ready for the arrival of fall. But because we live in the south we have a bit more time before we start to see that actually happening. So it should come as no surprise that we decided to head up to the mountains for a long weekend. Temperatures there were in the mid 70's with the lows hovering in at the high 40's. It was glorious.

Leading up to this trip, we decided to reserve a canoe and take the kids canoeing down the New River. The shortest trip is 3 hours and we had no idea how the kids would do, but figured you won't ever know until you try.

The morning of it was cool! But there was not a cloud in the sky. We got to the loading doc about 9:00 and got the kids loaded up, life jacketed up and settled. The water level was a little low, but every bump, and ever moment we worked to get un-stuck was part of the adventure. The kids did amazingly well. We finished the course in about 2 hours and were almost ready to ride around and do it again.

I couldn't have, though, as my arms were pretty much numb from paddling. When I told Kevin this, he was surprised and said he thought it was really relaxing....but then told me that since he was in the back he would often take a leisurely rest and let me paddle away....

Monarch Butterflies

The last time we went to the mountains we were on the look out for Monarch caterpillars because there was a lot of milk weed mixed in with the trees. We never saw any, but when Fletcher and Nancy took the kids up there for the week they came back with 5!

We put them in our little butterfly habitat and watched them eat and eat and eat until one afternoon we were out for 3 or 4 hours only to come home and find they were all hanging tight in their chrysalis's. A little research told us that in about 10 days we would have Monarch butterflies.

Sure enough, on the 10th day exactly the kids and I were getting ready for school we discovered that one was out! I wish I had recorded their excitement on camera. They were truly beside themselves, just that no-hold-barred child-like wonder that kids express without shame. I love sharing with them in that.

By the time Cole was home from school they were all 4 out (one caterpillar was so small he kept escaping and so we let him grow out on the butterfly bush outside). Kevin got home and we went straight out to let them out near the bush. Everyone got a chance to let a butterfly out. Not one of them decided to stay on the bush, and I snapped a picture of one flying in the sky. These hatched late and that means that they should all begin their migration south. All of us enjoyed learning more about Monarch's through this and it is such a fascinating testimony to the intricate and complex way God created each living thing.

Adison-Ism

Her prayer at lunch today:

"Thank you Lord, for giving us whatever food we want. We LOVE shells & cheese. In Jesus name, Amen."

(note: I gave her Kraft macaroni today...and I got the hint).