Swimjitsu 2016

Brooks and Landry both competed in Swimjitsu. Brooks had been hoping it would come our way as we would see advertisement for it in Splash Magazine. 

Brooks came in 6th overall and 2nd overall for Greensboro. Danny Gatling received 1st in Greensboro. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaPp1radP4I

Landry finished 1st overall for her age group. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XU_qIfzfVcM

Circle Party

Landry hosted a party to celebrate how God's love is like a circle- no ending can be found. The guests brought a round treat to share (like a cookie exchange) and we enjoyed pizza, cucumbers, clementines and carrots (all round) for lunch. The guests also brought a hairbrush for girls we see when we feed out homeless friends. We were playing Say Anything during this clip. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFWjjxs5KMw

Brooks as Benedict Arnold

Revolutionary War project:

Research paper, prepare and memorize presentation. Wax museum including attire. You did a great job with lots of personality and your mom's tall brown boots!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17ghTyCHHE4

Landry at Recess

You always play sports. Soccer, basketball, basketball drills or football. Of course usually all or mostly boys. Love it!

Soccer Spring 2016

Landry was fortunate enough to return to the same team. It was very fun to see you girls continue to grow stronger!

New York City 2016!!!!!!

DAY 1

Wake: 3:30

Kids: 4:00

Airport: 4:30

Flight: 5:45

Land: 7:00

Hit the ground running!  Drop bags at Hilton Midtown.

Grab breakfast at Greek diner.  Empire State Building. 

Cloudy day so we could see many landmarks but not Statue of Liberty.

Flatiron Building

Rockefeller Center:

Lunch and Tour of NBC Studios. 

Tour was so great. We enjoyed seeing the studios of Saturday Night Live, Seth Myers and NBC Nightly News. Our group recorded the opening portion of our own late night talk show. Landry was the host and Brooks the guest. Daddy played guitar and Mommy was on the tamborine.  Here is the link. 

http://onair.thetouratnbcstudios.com/2B8A8595

We headed one block over to the American Girl Store.  Landry gad been waiting since December to visit this store to purchase her next doll, Leah Clark. She was delighted to pick her out. She sorted through the selection, looking into their eyes. She said she would know she was the one when she looked into her eyes.

 She also took a pic with Jess to show her Jess when she returned home. 

The boys headed to Nike Town. We all met infront of Trump Tower before heading to the Apple Store and to a quick bite of pizza before calling it a day and going to bed!

 DAY 2

Ferry Ride to Liberty Island

Statue of Liberty

Climbing Stairs to Crown

Inside the crown of Lady Liberty

View of NYC from Statue of Liberty Pedestal. We then headed to Ellis Island to learn about the brave immigrants that helped shape our nation. Fascinating. 

Brooklyn!

Jane's Carousel in Brooklyn

Brooklyn Bridge

Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge after pizza at Juliana's and milkshakes at Shake Shack. 

DAY 3

We knew today would be rainy so we planned to be inside most of the day. We went to the 9/11 Museum and Memorial. So beautifully done and we all learned so much. It is important for Brooks and Landry to begin understanding and appreciating how that day impacted our country and history. 

American Museum of Natural History was up next!  But first, Chicago Style Pizza at Pizzeria Uno!  We all loved it. Our breakfast were so large and delicious at our hotel each morning, that we often only had a snack and dinner each day or maybe split something light inbetween.  We enjoyed the museum but we loved everything else in NY so much that this would be the one place that we would not recommend. 

Time for baseball!!!

A lifetime dream for Robert is realized at the Yankees vs. Redsox game at Yankees Stadium.  We had a great time and terrific seats, Bronx Bomber hotdogs, popcorn, baseball,"YMCA", Big Poppy- David Ortiz hitting a homerun in 1st inning, close game 3-2 Yankees final, Redsox GM getting tossed and then Ortiz getting tossed after a bad call that costs Redsox the tying run!  It was great. Plus, it did not rain as predicted. 

Day 4!

We were able to a get slower start to our day after a late night. We started off at Central Park. The park is so beautiful. It appears that it is built around massive, black rock. 

You guys really enjoyed the playgrounds that were like concrete forts built into the side of rock. 

Daddy helped you organize a pick up football game. You both loved that and the other kids certainly enjoyed it too. 

Off to Times Square. So many people. We saw a music video and television show being recorded as well as numerous modeling shoots.

Next - Matilda on Broadway. This show was over the top hilarious!  We laughed hysterically and had so much fun together. None of us will soon forget Miss Trunchbull in her athletic clothes. 

We grabbed dinner at Guy Fieri's (Food Network) Guy's American Kitchen & Bar. 

Mommy and Daddy had Junior's Cheesecake and kiddos shopped around Hershey Store before deciding on unique sweets at the M&M store. 

Day 5

Final day and we have packed so much in. By the way, we went into a unique shopping center on the west side of Central Park which had 2 bronze statues of naked people. Large, very strange structures. We had a good laugh. And of course, there were constantly people trying to offer us tickets, bus tours and bikes for rent. We would come up with clever comments to say back but never actually say them. 

We returned to Central Park. You guys loved it so much. We visited the Statue of Balto, the pond where the remote control sailboats are and the Alice in Wonderland Statue. Then, we returned to the playgrounds for a final spin. 

Truly the trip of a lifetime!!!  I❤️NY