Our last few hours in the Big Apple

I "needed" to get some pictures in Central Park before we left so we bribed the kids with a trip to the souvenir shop afterwards...I'm not sure all of the kids understand the concept of a bribe...

At the souvenir shop, Kyle got a NYPD sweatshirt, an Empire State Building statue, and a little NY license plate with his name on it.  Barrett got a FDNY sweatshirt and a New York City wallet, and Annabelle got a FDNY teddy bear.  Kyle couldn't wait to show his friends at school his souvenirs.

We had a great time in NYC!  

NYC Day 4

We took the Staten Island Ferry to see Lady Liberty from the boat. We had lunch on Staten Island before returning to Manhattan.  Then we finally went to Serendipity (they were open this time)! 

We started off each morning with a trip across the street to Starbucks for coffee/tea/breakfast and to the 2-story market for other snacks including grapes.

NYC Day 3

It was St. Patrick's Day and it was super cold. The Parade was marching down 5th Avenue for at least 4 hours!  

Snuggled up with warm blankets on a Carriage ride through Central Park

Refueling our horse, Murphy after our fantastic ride

At F.A.O. Schwartz - The Boys with Emmett from the LEGO Movie

Making a wish

Ice Skating in Central Park

two big nerds :)

Kyle took me down with him right after this shot was taken.  It wasn't pretty, but we laughed the whole way down!

We had the best time ice skating in Central Park.  Annabelle was asleep when we arrived and sat in the warmth with Gigi.

NYC Day 2

The boys in the middle of Times Square

Found the Aggie M&Ms at the giant M&M store! We also went to the Disney Store where Annabelle picked out an Izzy doll from Jake and the Neverland Pirates.

The Brooklyn Bridge

The kids on the Brooklyn Bridge

Kyle took this picture...pretty good.

Dylan's Candy Bar - eating ice cream in a giant cupcake.  We walked like 12 miles uphill in the freezing cold and swirling wind (both ways :) ) to go to Serendipity only to find that it was closed that day because the were filming a TV show.  We had talked it up to the kids and they were so looking forward to a sweet treat that we had to find a plan B.  This place was a block away.  

New York City Day 1

I think I am going to have to post about our New York Trip in several installments.  There are a lot of photos and I am having trouble narrowing it down.  I also want to write some things down about what we did and saw.

We arrived in New York pretty late in the afternoon.  When we arrived at the hotel, we found out we had been upgraded (yea!) to a suite that was probably bigger that Cody and my first apartment...2 big bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, living room, dining area and kitchenette!  Perfect except that the windows (on the 17th floor) opened fully and did not lock.  I was kind of a wreck about that, but I didn't want to complain because I was afraid they'd move us to smaller rooms.  We dropped off our stuff and went next door to eat dinner and check "Eat NY Pizza" off our to do list.  After dinner, we went for a walk and checked off "Go to Top of the Rock" and "Eat a Cupcake from Magnolia Bakery."  Pretty good for our first few hours!

Luggage cart shenanigans

Rockefeller Center

 Hot dog vendor, Radio City Music Hall and the new World Trade Center Memorial in the background