Trip to New York City

Last week we headed to New York City for a vacation with Phil's family. Yes, we did take the three kids with us. A lot of people thought we were crazy for taking the kids but they actually were all really good during the whole trip. We flew into JFK on Friday night, and arrived at about midnight. Noah was really wired and hyper when we got there and even after we got our rental car. Suddenly he wasn't talking anymore and I turned around to see Noah asleep in his car seat with his head right down between his legs. Kids are so flexible! I could never fall asleep like that.

One of our main reasons going on this vacation was to attend Scott's (Phil's brother) graduation from PA school. So after arriving in NYC, we drove an hour and a half to Conneticut so we could be at Scott's graduation early Saturday morning. We arrived at our hotel at 2:30 am and had to be to Scott's graduation at about 10:30, so we didn't get much sleep the first night.

Our family with Scott after the graduation ceremony.

This is a picture of the whole family. Everyone, including all nieces and nephews made it to Scott's graduation.

Phil's Uncle Evan lives in Connecticut. So after the graduation, we headed to his house for a BBQ. Everything in Connecticut is really green. All of the houses are surrounded by thick green trees. It is really beautiful! It was fun to meet Uncle Evan and Aunt Kathy. It was my first time meeting them and Phil hasn't seen them in over 15 years, so it was great for him to get see them again. Phil's Aunt Penny lives in New York City, so we had fun spending time with her as well.

On Sunday we took a walk through Central Park and had a great time.

I caught this great moment on camera when Peyton realized that these statues in the middle of of the park were women with no clothes on. The grandkids thought it was so funny.

This was a waterfall near a path we walked on in Central Park.

Early Monday morning Aunt Penny took us to a beautiful church that she attends in Manhattan. The architecture of the church was awesome.

Phil wanted to take the boys back to Central Park to let them play with remote control sailboats on a big pond.

Noah was so excited to get to control the sailboats all by himself, without Dad's help.

We went to the famous FAO Schwartz Toy Store which was in downtown Manhattan.

Apparently, this is the big piano from the movie "Big". The boys had a lot of fun playing this huge piano with their feet.

We also had quite the star sighting while at the toy store. I was waiting for an elevator when I noticed that Kate, from "Jon and Kate plus 8" was standing right next to me. She was with her bodyguard and other assistants shopping for toys. I had to let everyone know that she was in the store, so I went down to tell them that I had just seen Kate. Ashley and I decided to go back up and get some pictures. We also noticed that there was a big group of paparazzi waiting outside to get pictures of her.

Ashley was a little hesitant to take her picture, but I decided I would get up real close and snap away with my camera. Kate did have a bodyguard that would try and step in front of you if you got to close. It was the bodyguard that the tabloids claim that she has been having an affair with.

This is Kate leaving the toy store, thinking she's "all that". She had all these personal assistants carrying her huge shopping bags.

The funny thing was, that we saw her on Good Morning America that morning, saying that she was in hiding from all the paparazzi Yet, less than 5 hours later she was out shopping at a very public place in NYC. Anway, it was fun to see all the comotion and to get some good up close pictures of her. Phil's family kept telling me to sell my pictures to magazines.

Monday evening, Phil and the boys went to see a Yankees game. They had fun at the game and were excited to see the new stadium. Unfortunately, the boys could only last through the 5th inning. After one game, Peyton and Noah are now huge Yankees fans.

On the way out Phil just had to buy Peyton and Noah some new Yankees attire.

Phil and Noah looking over NYC at the top of the Empire State Building.

Peyton at the top of the Empire State Building.

After the Empire State Building we went on the "Shearwater" sailboat and sailed around the Statue of Liberty.

The boys loved being on a boat and being able to get so close to the Statue of Liberty.

After sailing, we walked by the site of the World Trade Center. It was surrounded by fences, because they are in the middle of constructing new buildings on the site. I was glad we were able to go to Ground Zero. It definitely brought back a lot of memories I have of that day. I can't even imagine the horror all the people in NYC must have felt when those buildings came crashing down.

This is a picture inside a church that stands right next to where the World Trade Center buildings used to be. It was a miracle that it didn't get destroyed when the two buildings crumbled. This church was used for months after 9-11 by the firefighters and policeman who spent endless days and nights searching for any survivors. This church was a place where many came to try and feel some peace after the attacks. The benches around the church courtyard were worn out by all the firefighters, policeman and volunteers who came there to pray and rest.

We rode the subway almost everywhere we went in NYC. It was a workout having to carry the kids and the huge stroller up and down the stairs whenever we had to take the subway somewhere. Lily spent most of her vacation just like this; in her car seat, strapped to the stroller. She did so good. Not once, did she have a fit while in the stroller.

A picture of the NYC buildings, on our way to Maddame Tassaud's Wax Museum.

Me, with Brad and Angelina.

Standing next to Oprah.

Phil, Tyler and Jeff posing with Biggy.

Phil has always had a thing for Shakira, so he had to get his picture with her.

Peyton standing next to Yao Ming. He is huge!!!

I had to get my picture with Michael Jackson, but I honestly felt like I was standing next to a woman.

We mad it to the Museum of Natural History a couple of hours before it closed. Right when we got their Noah had an accident in his pants, so that is why he is in these pictures with only underwear on. He didn't really mind that he had to walk around without his pants on. It was not fun for Phil, because he's the one who had to clean up the mess that Noah had in his pants. I am grateful for a wonderful husband who will do things like that. Noah had fun sticking his finger up this guy's nose.

When Noah realized that we were going to the museum that they filmed "Night at the Museum"after, he insisted on going to see the rock that says "Dum Dum give me Gum Gum." We weren't even sure if the Museum would actually have the stone guy from the movie. But after a lot of searching we were able to find a stone that looked a lot like the one from the movie. Noah was so excited when we found it. Luckily he didn't ask us why this stone didn't talk.

Phil right in the middle of Times Square.

Lily and me at the "Top of the Rock". The view was so much better than the view from the Empire State Building. The view was breathtaking, especially with all the buildings all lit up.

The boys at the top of Rockefeller Center.

A view of New York City with the Empire State Building right in the middle.

A picture of the whole family (minus me and Justin because we were taking the pictures) on the steps in front of Aunt Penny's apartment.

We had so much fun on our trip to Conneticut and New York. Hopefully we will get out there again. It was great being able to go on vacation with Phil's family!