So that subject line really wasn't about any news, just the words from a song about New York, because Justin and I went there last month. We took advantage of a super awesome one day sale throught Southwest and with an award voucher that Justin had (we had to pay $50 to activate it because it was expired) we only paid $260 total for two roundtrip flights for he and I to fly to Albany, NY. We had planned to go there next Spring sometime before Duane & Angie come back to AZ after Duane graduates from residency, but with the flight deals that had to be taken on certain dates, we decided to take our trip sooner than later. I had to wean Daisy earlier than I had wanted to and was sad about that, with her being my last baby and all, but after much thought it was just obvious that it would be a lot harder to take her on this trip when we'd have to work around nap times and stroller/carseat issues. It was really hard to leave her, and I had so much anxiety about something going wrong and making updates to our will and getting it notarized and having my Dad witness for it, etc. But everything was fine and well and we had a great trip. It was soooo needed and I think my anxiety before leaving was just a symptom of the elevated anxiety levels I have had for a few months now. I NEEDED to relax and have a break.
Angie was kind enough to pick us up from the airport after midnight on a Tuesday (or early Wednesday morning). Their youngest woke up while she was gone so Duane was up waiting to say hello to us too at 1am when we got back to their house. The next day Duane had to be at the hospital and Angie took us on a little walk around their neighborhood before we took off for New York City after lunch. Great picture of their two youngest, Tristen & William, but Angie happened to look away right as I was snapping it!
In NYC we had a long list of things we supposedly "HAD TO SEE" according to friends and tourist advertisements. Among these were Times Square and the surrounding area. We spent the our two and half days there just walking and walking and walking and walking and WALKING! We (more me) were totally dead at the end of the day.
Yeah for Time Square
I joked on this trip that Justin kept photo bombing our pictures with his goofy looks...
Here's a better re-take:
Carnegie Hall was kind of a let down since it was under construction and closed.
I had to take this picture for Adaira because she loves the movie "Enchanted" and we always sing that "How Does She Knoooow?" song from that movie, and the whole scene is filmed in Central park and they are in a horse drawn carriage for part of it.
Photo Bomber
Photo Bomber
Photo Bomber
Photo Bomber
We chilled in Central Park for a good hour. It was nice. We fed a squirrel over and over, and shooed away the nasty rat that kept trying get in on the yummy trail mix we were offering.
See that dirty rat above the squirrel's tail? Gross! We saw several rats while we were there.
Have fun playing "Where's Waldo" on the Dunk Tank Cam. Can you see me & Justin?
The Empire State Building in the background.
Naked Cowboy! I had totally heard of this guy from an article I read online about him
HERE
I think I got overly excited to actually see this pseudo-famous dude. I kept saying to Justin "There's the naked cowboy!" and laughing.
We were pretty tired and had bought Broadway tickets the night before so we sat around Time Square for an hour or so just people watching and enjoying our chairs.
Trump Tower & FAO Schwartz. Must see buildings, but after we put the effort into walking all the way there, it was kind of a downer. We walked around FAO Schwartz and then were like "Whelp, okay, we saw it!" I felt that way about a lot of places in NYC and kind of regretted spending so much time there after the fact because we were rushed during other parts of our trip in places where I would have liked to spend more time.
The piano from the movie "BIG" another "must see"
Top of the Rock with Central Park behind us.
It was more money than I ever thought I would spend at the theater, but we saw "WICKED!"
It's a must do on Broadway, right? We enjoyed it.
So Justin traveled as an off-duty armed federal agent on our trip. He flew armed on the airplane and checked in at our travel point security screening spots as an agent (Top of the Rock, 9-11 Memorial, and the Statue of Liberty all require security screening). Turns out that the 9-11 memorial ridiculously prohibits firearms of any sort, even on federal law enforcement. We were told that even uniformed police officers aren't allowed in armed unless they are assigned to it. How stupid. They didn't offer a locker for law enforcement to stow their guns or anything. So we didn't get to see or tour the 9-11 memorial, which was actually a "must do" on MY list of things I really wanted to see in NYC. Such a bummer, and our hotel was in Queens so we couldn't just go back and leave his gun there. We went to a hotel across the street and took the elevator up to their outdoor lounge. This was all we got to see. The structure in the middle of the picture looks to be an underground parking garage for the new tower they are building. Just above that you can kind of see the waterfall pools that sit at the sites of the original Twin Towers.
From that disappointment we went on to Liberty Island. I found myself in awe many times and actually choking back emotion as I looked at Lady Liberty. We were listening to a walking tour on our headphones and I thought about what she meant to so many people who came to our country and saw her as a symbol of freedom, hope, and promise. My great great grandparents came from England in the 1800's and I think I looked up at the Statue of Liberty and tried to imagine how excited they must have been when they first saw her. I also felt sad that many people today probably don't feel that way. I felt sad thinking about the entitlement mentality that exists now and that
so many people see our beautiful country as owing them something rather
than gratitude for all the opportunities they have to be successful and
free.
Brighton had one main request for us, and that was to take a picture of the Statue of Liberty for him.
I wanted to see Wall Street, and of course....the BULL! Too many Asians around to get a picture myself with it though.
The New York Stock Exchange where smart, educated, and hard working people earn the American dream for themselves....awesome.
This was the first trip I have gone on where I saw things and thought "We need to take a picture of that for the kids!" Brighton is so hungry for knowledge and I love feeding his brain. I saw this monument and had to take a picture of it just for him. It's the site of Federal Hall where George Washington took the oath of office as president of the USA on April 30, 1789.
Justin really wanted to see the Brooklyn Bridge. We walked across town to see it. There it is.
After NYC we went back to Albany to spend Friday night through Sunday morning with Duane & Angie. We were happy that Albany has a 9-11 memorial at their museum and we were able to go through it and somewhat lessen the disappointment of not being allowed into ground zero.
This is my nephew Kalvin in front of an old fire engine cart.
In front of what remained of a fire engine at ground zero.
The flag that flew over one of the Twin Towers.
Duane and his boys in front of a Sesame Street exhibit (this was for our kids)
Justin on an old train car. Even though this wasn't a boxcar, I can't get in any of these in a museum anymore without thinking of the boxcar at the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C.
Kalvin really took a liking to Justin. He was always showering him with hugs and butterfly kisses and this time Tristen wanted to get in on the fun too.
On Sunday after attending church with Duane & Angie we took a 5.5hr drive up to the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. We did the "Journey Behind the Falls" excursion. We were going to do the "Maiden of the Mist" but ran out of time. After doing Behind the Falls we didn't really think Maiden of the Mist was necessary anyway.
Down near the base of the Falls. Crazy how misty it is!
We took this picture to show the kids where we walked to behind the falls.
Beautiful.
Justin sporting nearly a week of facial hair growth...
After dinner one night we were walking along and saw these cute little critters foraging behind the rails of the walkway we were on. Lucky for them we were still equipped with our yummy trail mix.
They were so cute and friendly they probably would have eaten right from my hand, but those things can carry rabies, so NO THANKS!
The next morning we drove to Palmyra. Stopped by the temple and regretted that extra time we spent in NYC. Wished we would have dedicated an extra day to this beautiful place and done a temple session.
Inside the Joseph Smith Sr. log home. Upstairs in the loft where all the 9 kids or so slept, and where Joseph Smith Jr. received a vision from the angel Moroni.
The boys slept in this front room and the girls slept in the smaller back room.
living/kitchen area downstairs.
Outside
Inside the larger home the Smith family built and moved into after the log home.
Outside.
On the way to the Sacred Grove. Such a beautiful day to go.
Would have been so nice to spend more time here. Again regretting the time seeing all the unimportant things in NYC.
This picture is for the Ensign ;)
so is this one.
Christus at the Hill Cumorah visitors center.
Hill Cumorah statue. We were way too rushed here.
Hill Cumorah, pictures do not do it justice for how steep it is.
We ran over to the Book of Mormon publication site and rushed through a tour in 15 minutes when they are normally 45. We had a 3hr drive back to Albany and wanted to make dinner with Duane & Angie.
After Palmyra we started back to Albany. We stopped by a Mennonite store on the way and LOVED all the fresh stuff they had for sale. Picked up a late lunch from their deli as well as some goodies and headed on our way.
We didn't get home to Albany until after 8pm. Justin wanted to make a dish called a "Fattie" (sausage roll stuff with cheese, peppers, onions and other yummy goodness) for Duane & Angie, and that took some prep so we played (and were beaten) Canasta while we waited.
Typical Duane.
The next day (Tuesday) our flight left at 2:50pm. Duane was gone to work before we woke up, but we did wake up to say goodbye to Kalvin before he left to school. He kept telling Justin he loved him and when I said goodbye to him as he was walking out he said "and tell Justin I love you, from me!" So cute. It was such a cool trip. It was so fun to spend some time with Duane & Angie & their family. We spent a total of four nights with them in between our travels and they were kind enough to loan us their car to take to Niagara Falls and Palmyra. We totally saved some $$$ because of them.
We bought each of the kids a Sesame Street type puppet and they were super excited about them for the first few days after we got home.
After the first few days the newness wore off and I honestly don't think they have touched them in over a week. Oh well. We were happy to see them, Daisy got all excited and was thrilled to see me. She was giggling and just bouncing toward me when I saw her. Love that girl. Dale was super excited too and couldn't express himself but you could see it in his face. Brighton and Adaira are older and more independent. I know they were excited to see us but I think some of that excitement might have been for the anticipated "surprise" they were sure we would bring home for them. Gotta love them.
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