Central Park

After a couple days of rain, it was nice to get out and play in the sunshine. The kids were all prepared with their soccer socks, cleats, and soccer balls to scrimmage and play together, but when we arrived at the park we learned that after it rains they close the big fields. Bummer. Oh well, we still had our picnic lunch and lots of granite rocks for climbing. I think the kids were still happy just to get out.

Posing for Mom on top of a big granite rock where we ate lunch.

Happy Owen. We love his smiles.

Playing in the rocks. You can't go wrong with rocks and sticks.

On the way home we stopped at the playground on 96th in Central Park. The kids love the tire swings here.

This was the last week before Abigail started school. We are going to miss having her helpful, happy, smiling face around. But she is really excited to be going to school again this year. Mom and Dad are a little nervous, but we are trying to be positive about this new experience for Abby. An inner-city school will be a new experience for us all.

Out On Our Own

The kids and I decided to be brave and venture out on our own. We packed our lunch, loaded up and jumped on the subway heading downtown towards the Central Park Zoo. I am still horrible at figuring out where I am when I come up from the subway stop. And yes, this time was no different. Because I couldn't tell which way to go at first, the kids and I took about an 8 block detour before getting in the right direction. Oh well.. we are learning. Needless to say the kids were very hungry when we finally reached the park. So we enjoyed our lunch while watching the sea lions :).

The Central Park Zoo was nice, but small... very small. It didn't take us long to see the entire zoo (I think top to bottom including lunch we were there about an hour). We did love the polar bear, who put on quite the show - swimming back and forth, back and forth along his pool, and the sea lion show was a winner. We even had front row seats ... perfect for the kiddos.

Just down the walkway from the main zoo is a children's zoo. Again... small, but enjoyable. Along the way you pass under this clock tower. The kids were in awe as the chimes began and the animals began circling the tower to music. Both Abby and Dallin said it was their favorite thing of the day. It really is quite a neat sight.

Inside the Children's Zoo the kids had fun climbing on everything and anything they could find.

Lucky for all of us this little man was a great traveler. Sleeping most of the time. I love a sleeping baby.

Connor thought it would be fun to have a stare down with an alpaca. Even though I kept trying to tell him... "That animal will spit at you if he gets mad.... watch out." But that did not deter him. He stayed right there .. staring.

After a fun afternoon at the zoo... we decided to head home. I didn't think that Central Park could be that big and we had come up some from where the subway stop was... I decided we would walk. The kids weren't too happy about the plan, but they agreed when I promised we would stop at one of the parks along the way.

Let me tell you ... Central Park is that big! :) We walked from 59th Street up to 97th Street and then over about 4 more blocks until we reached home. It only took us about an hour and a half with a short park stop in the mix. It was nice to walk through the park. It is beautiful. I am still amazed at how many people there are though. I have always associated nature with fewer people... not here in NYC.. there are people everywhere :).

And Yes... in case you are wondering.. We do look funny in NYC. Anyone with four kids is bound to draw some attention and get some interesting looks :).

Intro to NYC

Our first weekend outing ... A "Big Taxi Tour."

Not only had John set up the house (unloading boxes and arranging furniture), but now he was determined to help his little family know a little bit more about this "foreign" land we now call home. We set out toward Rockefeller Center, jumped on our tour bus and immediately were blown away by all the sights and sounds of NYC. It was nice to be able to see the main attractions/sights of downtown in one sweep. Part of me was more confused than ever ... the other part of me just in shock... "Did I really move my family here?"

Once reaching Battery Park, we decided to get off the bus tour and venture out on our own for a bit. The boys were anxious to use some of their never ending energy.

Battery Park has a beautiful view of the Statue of Liberty. I love this picture of John with his little ones and the Statue in the background.

From Battery Park you can catch the Staten Island Ferry for an even better view of "Lady Liberty." The kids were so excited to get on the orange ferry. I was so grateful John is extremely good at navigating large crowds of people.

View of Manhattan leaving the ferry docks.

Connor wasn't too sure about standing in a boat. He preferred a comfy seat against the wall, while the other two loved watching the sights and sounds from the balcony of the ferry.

Our last stop for the night... Times Square.

WOW!!!! I think Abigail's reaction was the best ...

As we came out of the subway and began to take in all the lights, shops, and people... Abigail turned to John and I and said, "This is paradise!" Not exactly my thoughts, but I am really grateful that our kids are enjoying everything NYC has to offer.

One of the kids favorite places in Times Square... the M&M store.

So many colors... so much fun :).

It was a full day.

John was an excellent tour guide.

I can't say I feel settled, but I am excited to see more of the city we now call home.

Home Sweet Home

In case you were curious... this our new home :). We live on the 4th floor of this NYC walk-up.

Home Sweet Home

Utah State Fair

We were trying to cram in as much fun as possible our last week in Utah. MaryAnn and Catherine were nice enough to invite me and my rascals to tag along to the Utah State Fair. I love state fairs. I love the smells, the booths, the rides... everything about them is fun.

My kids equally loved the state fair. We had so much fun with our Aunt MaryAnn and cousin/niece Catherine and her kids ... which I think technically are my kids "cousins-once-removed." But really they are the kids that ours match up with best (age-wise).

All the rascals (minus the two babies -James and Owen)

Andrew, Maddy, Abby, Dallin, Connor, Christian

Catherine and baby James

Digging, planting and harvesting.

Learning how things grow and end up in the grocery store.

Roller-coaster Rides

More rides...

Meeting a real robot. The kids thought he was awesome.

Trying to see the sea lion show...

How cute are they??

We had such a fun day! Making memories with family.. doesn't get much better than that.

Monday Night FHE

We had been playing in the backyard at Grandmother's when Dallin asked me .... "What is that?" He was pointing at Grandmother's fire pit that our Dad had helped to create many years ago. Then came the next big question... "Do you think Grandmother would let us have a campfire and roast marshmallows??" With a little coaxing, Grandmother agreed if we enlisted the help of Uncle Mark.

Mark was a trooper... coming over straight from work (with work still to finish)... building us a fire... and then returning back to the house to finish his work. We love our Uncle Mark. He is so good to us. And how fun for us that his whole family came out to join us for a Campfire FHE. We enjoyed hot dogs and marshmallows until the sun went down.

Roasting...

Aunt Allison and Owen

Christine, Dallin and Abigail enjoying the hammock with full tummies.

Yummy Mallows!

Thank you to Uncle Mark and his family and Grandmother for helping us to make our campfire night so much fun. We love you!!

Lunch Date

I think one of the best things about staying behind in UT is being able to spend some quality time with my siblings. It has been so much fun for the kids to meet up and play and for the bigger "kids" to chat and play too.

Becca and I decided to call Adam and meet for a lunch date at the park. We had a great time.

Adam was quite the entertainer with the kids. They really loved swinging with him. And the kids loved running and playing on the playground... which we had all to ourselves.

Connor and Adam swinging together.

Abigail and Mylie - Little Buddies

Owen was there too. What a great baby... just sleeping while the others were playing.

Adam and Becca ... just being silly. I love these two :).

As the outing was starting to wind down, we noticed a maintenance man around the corner. We didn't think too much of it until the field by the park was covered with sprinklers! Of course, the kids just couldn't resist (especially Abigail.. she has always been drawn to water).

Soon they were all soaked from head to toe (except for Connor - he didn't think getting wet was a very good idea). After laying on the cement for a few minutes to dry some and warm their bodies, we decided to call it a day and head back to Becca's.

I love time spent with family and the memories that are made.

Thanks Becca and Adam for a great afternoon!

We love you guys!