New York City - with kiddos

Our annual trip to New York included the kiddos. Usually just Rob and I enjoy this week long getaway by ourselves, but the little miss had a birthday over the scheduled time so we thought, "Why not take them with us!" Turned out to be a great idea. The city is a lot for me to take in, I can't even begin to describe the awe and wonder they experienced. To keep this short and not turn it into 5 separate posts, which I could easily do, I will give you a brief synopsis of the weeks events. Friday we arrived and walked around Times Square and ate at one of my favorite restaurants, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. The kids could not believe Times Square. I had gotten books about NYC and read to them before hand, but can you really prepare a kid for what they will see, NO! Carys literally sat in the stroller looking around and not saying a word. Broderick was so hyped up he just kept jumping around and say, "Let's go here, let's do this!" It was great! He really wanted to go to the M&M store most so of course we did. As we were going down the escalator Carys got her foot stuck in it. Put a hole right in her crocs. I later found out that kids have lost their toes while wearing crocs on escalators...thankfully we walked away with all toes!

On Saturday we rode the Subway to Battery Park and then the boat to the Statue of Liberty. Let me just say, I love being in New York around the 4th. To think that people came to Ellis Island with hopes and dreams of this new free country is awesome. Anyway...It was exciting to tell the kids about the history and see the statue with them. This also was an interesting day thanks to Carys, again. We got to the Liberty Island and she started complaining that her belly hurt. (She was just getting over strep, so I naturally thought it was due to this.) We got a snack walked around and headed to Ellis Island. While walking around the museum part she was really complaining of a belly ache. I saw a bathroom and told Rob I was going to go and I would take Carys. No sooner do I walk into the stall door and she pukes. Due to the fruit punch and twizzlers we just had it was lovely. (Isn't puke always lovely!?) Thankfully it was not on the subway, boat or in the museum. After that she was totally fine! Never a dull moment.

Sunday and Monday Rob had to work so I was left to fend for myself in the city with the kids. This made me super nervous, but let me say...we did great! The kids were so awesome which made it very enjoyable and fun for me. Sunday was Carys' birthday so we went to The Met, Dylan's Candy Bar got cupcakes at Magnolia's, and rode the Ferris wheel at Toys R Us.

Monday we went to the Central Park zoo, which is fun, but not like the movie Madagascar. I have been before so I knew this...I tried to prepare the kids that there would be no lions, hippos or zebras. They still really enjoyed it! That night we ordered pizza to the hotel room and watched a movie. It was so much fun!

Tuesday proved to be my favorite day...along with everyone else. It was the day we celebrated Carys' birthday with the whole family. It started with the brunch at the American Girl Place. So fun. If you have girls and ever get the chance I would suggest this. Carys had birthday money so she picked out a few things and got her dolls hair done. Too cute! And we bought her another bitty twin. So now she actually has twins. These people that invented these dolls are genius. Genius I tell you! After the store experience we walked 5th Ave. FAO Schwartz and all. Broderick even got a little surprise. The grand opening of the Lego store. He loved it!

Wednesday we did the Intrepid Museum. It is a huge battleship. Rob and I had never done this, but knew the kids would love it. It was great. Again, another reason I love being in NYC this time of year. To walk aboard a ship that has served our country is a great honor. To see the conditions these men and women live in for my freedom.

And the last day we walked Central Park. We took a taxi to 85th Street and walked down to 60th through the park. We stopped and let the kids play at playgrounds, saw the Great Lawn, the Castle and parts of the park we had never seen before.

Even though Rob and I look forward to having this trip to ourselves I am so glad we took the kids. It was so much fun! They did great with all the walking and behaved wonderfully. I love doing new and fun things with them. I was nervous about being in the city with them by myself especially. And even up to the day before we left, I was questioning if this was a good idea. I am so glad we did it!