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

Easter Break 2016

Easter Break is drawing to a close. It was wonderful and we had a great time being with each other and growing refreshed by relaxing and spending time in relationship. 

I am easily sentimental and so are you kiddos. I can never have enough time with you nor fit in everything I want to enjoy with you. During the break we enjoyed lots of reading and especially took advantage of the beautiful Spring weather by playing outside!  We explored the creek by our home and even discovered a path directly to Greensboro Academy!

We began the break with sleepovers. The first night, Landry had Kate Sheppard over. You girls had a great time walking around the nieghborhood with walkie talkies and playing with the neighborhood dogs.  

Brooks went home from school with Cayden Dollyhigh for a sleepover and lots of time exploring outside. Kate came with us to pick up Brooks so we played there a short while and then when we got to Kate's house, the kids all enjoyed playing there as well. 

We hustled home because Jacob and Jensen were coming over. You all played outside really hard with the girls on walks and everyone playing outside in the yard, basketball and 4 Square.  They had dinner and showers here before all meeting at church for a Good Friday service. 

Saturday morning Blake, Lanie and Macon came over to go to the Easter Egg Hunt at the Wilkins' with us. We had a really fun time and I am thankful for that tradition. When everyone got back to our house, you guys stayed outside the rest of the afternoon playing and this was when we discovered the path to school. Boy was that a fun afternoon and we even played on the school playground, track and soccer field. 

Easter Sunday!!  Happy Easter!!  

We had a great morning at church and you guys were excited about your Easter baskets. Landry was most excited about giftcards to American Girl for NYC next month and Brooks was pumped about his new Speedo swim bag. Brooks also got a fun game called Say Anything that we have all enjoyed together.  

We had Grandma, Mima and Papa over for a yummy lunch.  The china we ate on was Granny's, the green bowl was Granny's, the silverware was purchased by Grandpa in Japan when in the Navy and never used (made of bamboo) and the glasses were Jacob, Jensen, and JG's Granny's. 

In the afternoon, you 2 built a great fort under the ping pong table that stayed up until the next 

Sunday night before heading back to school. Landry slept in there every night but 1 and Brooks slept there the first 4 nights. 

Monday Brooks had swim practice in morning and Landry and I enjoyed errands and shopping. We went to library and Fresh Market and played outside. Part of our vacation was eating dinner out since we don't take the time to do that often. We went to Salsarita's and Daddy worked a pretty abbreviated schedule the whole week. 

Tuesday Brooks had swim practice, we had lunch at Costco and met Hudson and Cambree Spencer at Cascade Park all afternoon before meeting Daddy at Hops Burgers. Yum!

Wednesday Daddy was off work and we had an incredible time at Hanging Rock. We hiked for over 4 hours. Our favorite parts were going off the trail when we would hike up the waterfalls. We ended up with some wet shoes that were totally worth it!

Of course we dyed Easter Eggs!

Thursday Brooks had practice and Danny Gatling came with us after practice. We went to Yum Yums for hotdogs and ice cream. We picked up Leia Houser to have time with Landry and later we took Danny home and had Eli over too. Whew!  The house has been full of kiddos. Again, lots of outdoor time. Such beautiful weather during break. 

Friday was intended to be s'mores and camp out in backyard but rain and high winds were threatening. The rain never really happened. We enjoyed smores at the fire pit anyway.

Brooks and Jonathan built a fort in Brooks' room.

Landry and Cambree slept in the original fort in bonus room. 

Saturday Daddy took Brooks and Jonathan to play par 3 golf and then the 4 of us went to Ben & Jerry's where Landry treated Brooks to ice cream with a giftcard she received for her birthday. 

We wrapped up with a great Sunday including a bike ride and 4 square with the Lovett family!  It doesn't get better than you guys. Thank you Lord for the blessing of our family and for every moment you give us together. Brooks said tonight, "I have so much. I am so happy.  I just want to go to heaven."  Wow!

Basketball Season

You were both so blessed to play on basketball teams with many, many friends. Also, Landry was coached by Blake Weller (Catherin's dad) and Jason Huitsing and Brooks was coached by Daddy and Jason Huitsing. You both love going to practice and had a very fun season.

This was Landry's first try at basketball. She went from not being able to even hit the rim, to being consistent in making her free throws as well as our best defensive player.   The boys' practice was immediately after the girls'.  Jensen and Landry would always stay and do drills. Hard workers!

Brooks really stepped up playing strong under the basket as well as developing his shot by focusing on follow through which really upped your points per game.