oops, the kids got a little cut off on this one, but here we are at the Brooklyn Bridge (although that got cut off too...) but the important thing is that there are five of the nine of us plus the great addition of Kristi hanging out in NYC. It was so great to be with these great siblings. I came away so inspired from each of them.
check out these gorgeous trees at this park in the middle of the city
I'll start by just saying it: New York City was not put together by someone who owned a stroller. And
CERTAINLY not someone with a
double stroller. When we lived in D.C. we visited NYC a bunch, and always had babies with us, went on the subway, blah blah blah...I knew it was tough. But it's even tougher when you're in a big group with five "strollered" kids, two heavy double strollers and one umbrella stroller with a super chubby baby occupying it.
Man we were a sight to behold lugging all those kids up and down big flights of stairs. That being said, we LOVED visiting NYC. There's something about that city that I just can't explain. I love it. My Dad served his mission there and over the years he's somehow instilled such a love for the city in each of his kids. Saydi got us there safe despite the three bawling kids in the car for most of the trip and we got there just in time to meet up with my two brothers, one with his cute little family and one with is cute girlfriend. We stayed up and talked and hung out (no picture of that, darn it).
The next day we took off for the Staten Island Ferry to check out the Statue of Liberty. We stopped by Times Square on the way...I LOVE that place with all it's commotion and brilliance.
sisters
--> My family has this secret place in NYC where you can see the most amazing view without standing in the tourist lines at the Empire State Building. It's this office building my dad found long ago and my whole family raves about it. When I say raves, I mean really seriously
I mean, you are on the top of the world up there. It is unspeakably amazing, and incredibly scary. I swear my heart was pumping outside my chest up there because it's so high and I was wondering what in the world I was doing taking my nine-year-old up there! (Saydi & Kristi were so nice to stay down with the babies since they had been up recently). Ok, am I painting this picture clearly enough? Because it's tough to find words to express what a thrill it was up there. You are so darn high up and there's really not much keeping you up there besides rusty old railings so it's a little freaky. I was so wishing Dave was there. He would have loved it.
Here's the view looking down:
the second rickety ladder from a pieced together construction platform to the top...
After our adventure we walked up Fifth Avenue to go meet Sayds and Kristi who had taken the little kids to FAO Schwartz. I love all the old buildings mingled in with the skyscrapers.
Saydi and Kristi are such inspirational mothers and
my brother is the cutest Dad...(besides Dave of course)
After some big piano playing at FAO Schwartz, we headed to Noah & Kristi's great apartment to hang out and have dinner. They have done such an amazing job with remodeling and I can't believe I didn't get a picture. That night we stayed up so late playing these funny charade-type games. Elle thought she was in heaven that I let her stay up until nearly two in the morning with all the grown-ups.