Trip to New York City

Loved the Chinese guy that drew the pictures of all four of them. Their eyes all look a little chinese in the drawing. I really like the picture though. They all sat still for it which was surprising. 

  In years past we had spent these two weeks away from home in the mountains.  This year, we decided that we would just pack up and go where ever we landed.  The first stop was a nice trip to New York City.  A four hour car ride, we woke up wayyy early in the morning with all the kids excited to go from the start, which was around 4:00 am.  We must have been very lucky because the traffic was not so bad the way there. 

Lyn's co-worker had stayed in NYC recently and recommended a hotel for us to stay at in Queens.  We got there early and the hotel was nice enough to let us check in very early, thankfully.  We got into the hotel room and was out and about in about five minutes heading out to the train.  The train took us into Penn Station and we were let loose into the city. 

  There is such a magical feel to the city.  We walked and walked and then walked some more.  Out into Central park we went.  Its funny walking into the park with all the vendors trying to sell you bike rentals and other things. 

  The first stop in the park we made was to the playground with the rock mountain.  Cat and I had been there for her birthday two years ago.  Jack was all over the place.

  Of course Laura found the hollowed out head of the rabbits.  She has never found one of these that she didnt stick her head in. 

  As usual, we started looking for the baseball parks and batting practice for all four of them.  It was a hot day and the ball parks were well groomed and empty.  I packed an expandable bat and each kid had plenty of swings. 

 

                                               Of course we had to go find Balto the dog. 

  At one point i turned around and saw Jimmy tying Jackies sneakers.  I knew i had to find the camera and remember that they can get along sometimes.

  At the end of day one, we had to go find the Staten Island Ferry and see lady liberty.  I had never seen the Statue of Liberty so close.  The ferry went over to Staten Island and we also took the return trip back to the main island. 

  What was really exciting was seeing Jimmy actually want to go on the carousel with the other three.  They really liked it and went on it twice.

  We also took some time to spend at the Central Park Zoo.  That polar bear was quite amazing and as soon as we walked in he was about four feet away from us, behind the glass of course but amazingly huge. 

  After we got out of the zoo we met up creepy elmo.  I remember seeing him when i was here two years ago.  The kids went running right up to him so I took a picture.  Getting a little bit closer to him he hit me up for a couple of bucks.  He kind of creeped me out.  I googled him later and learned that he had been arrested for doing racist rants and scaring off a bunch of kids. 

                                        She is just so damn cute!!!

                                            My god he is getting so old....