{ Back from . . . the Big Apple }

That's right . . . we are back from a great trip to New York City! It was a quick trip, but we had such a great time!

Logan found out a little over a month ago that he would be going to NY for a work conference. Well, as soon as he told me that the wheel started turning because I am ALWAYS looking for an excuse to go visit my sister! We have wanted to go out and visit them together ever since they moved there, and this was our chance! So I booked my flight and off we went!

Special thanks to my family for taking care of the kids. Mom, Jenny and Trevor, Michael, Todd, Gramps and Gram, and Ron and Judy . . . .you guys are the best!

I left on the red eye Monday night and my awesome sister didn't even complain about having to pick me up at the airport at the butt crack of dawn the next morning. We went back to her apartment and there was a warm welcome from her cute kids! Laura had told Connor the night before that we used to call each other "poopy" so while she was at the airport picking me up he made this sign and taped it on the door!

After I rested for a little while, we packed all the kiddos up and headed out for a little shopping! There is a store out there called H & M that I absolutely love! 

That evening Laura had arranged a babysitter so the adults could meet in the city and have a nice dinner. Since her husband, Alan, spends most of his time there we asked him to pick a restaurant. Boy were we in for a treat! He didn't pick 1 restaurant . . . he picked 8!! He wanted us to get a taste of the culture of the city so we made a bunch of stops at different restaurants that were famous for something specific. It was so fun! I don't remember the names of all the places, but I'll try my best!

{ Our first stop was for a delicious chocolate chip cookie }

{ Then we stopped her for some Crocquets } 

 

{ Here we are at Ruben's for some empanadas }

{ Next up was this bakery for an almond cookie }

{ And then a vietnamese place for a famous sandwich }

{ This is Laura's favorite place for a slice of pizza  }

{ Then we had the most delicious corn! I'm not sure what was on it . . . some kind of cheese and pepper. So Yummy! }

And our final destination was this delicious restaurant named Max Brenner that specializes in chocolate desserts. We were beat from all the walking, but it was all worth it!

{ yum }

Special thanks to Al for all the preparation he put in to this fun evening! It was a great adventure that we will always remember!

We got a good nights sleep that night and woke up to some delicious breakfast sandwiches that Laura and Alan got us from a deli up the street from their house. So good! Then we headed into the city again, this time with all the kids! Alan had to work but he joined us for lunch at the Shake Shack before he headed in. Then we took the kids to the Museum of Natural History.

{Logan and Abby making a magnet mountain }

{ the Logan shuttle }

{ Learning about evolution }

{ Logan getting eaten by a dino }

{ Goofballs }

{ Diggin for fossils }

{ There was an ice cream cart outside the museum and the kids and I just had to grab a sponge bob popsicle!}

After the museum we went for a walk through central park and apparently the kids were quite pooped:

We walked over to the Apple Store because I just think it's so cool and I wanted Logan to see it since he was the one who introduced me to the apple electronics I can't live without.

Laura and I needed a rest, so Logan went to look for a snack for us when all of a sudden I get this crazy phone call . . . "MAR, YOU GOTTA GET OVER HERE RIGHT NOW!!"

So we grab the stroller and head in that direction. As we roll up on this huge crowd of people  . . . I realize what it is. (I should preface this by saying that I  have been obessesed with the movie The Time Traveler's Wife ever since I saw the previews a few months ago and ran out to get the book.) I knew the movie was coming out this weekend but never imagined that we'd actually come across the red carpet premiere! Right as we turned the corner we heard a huge crowd start screaming and yelling "Rachel, Rachel"!! I look up and there she is . . . 3 feet in front of me!

 { I snapped a couple shots before she headed across the street to the red carpet}

Then, oh you better believe it . . . the gorgeous Eric Bana steps out of a limo and heads right over to where we were standing!

I was too big of a chicken to ask for a picture with him so this was my sorry attempt at sneaking in on someone else's picture! Ha ha! Yup, thats my scary face and his eye . . .

Oh yeah, don't let me forget to mention . . . a few minutes after the Eric Bana madness who do you think steps out of a limo? None other than Brad Pitt! Apparently he is the Executive Producer of the film. He didn't come to our side of the street so the only picture I have is from pretty far away . . .

 

{that's him in the white suit }

{ I'm surprised that Laura and Logan didn't completely disown me . . . I was so totally embarassing!}

I was completely spent after that so we headed towards Time Square so we could get something to eat and meet up with Alan. We had a delicious dinner at The Olive Garden. Afterwards, Laura and Alan took their kids home and we headed to a comedy show. 

They have them all over time square and we were a little worried that it would be very inappropriate but it was actually really funny!

The next day we got up late and spent the morning playing with the kids since this was our last day with them.

{Logan and Connor playing Star Wars! }

Then we grabbed our luggage and took the train into the city. We stayed at a hotel called Excelcior right by Central Park. After we dropped off our stuff, we got dressed up and headed out to the city for some shopping. We went to a bunch of stores and just wandered around. 

{Logan with the fat bearded lady}

{ Crazy face guy }

We thought about going to a play, but decided in honor of the red carpet premiere the day before, that we would go the the midnight showing of The Time Traveler's Wife instead! 

(Grabbing some pizza before the show }

{ In the theater, I'm so excited I can hardly stand it }

The next day we had yet another breakfast sandwich and headed out for our final few hours in the big city. We stopped by the Waldorf Astoria, a beautiful hotel I had the opportunity to stay at twice in my life while in town for New York City Dance Alliance . . . a fairly popular convention and competition.

Then we walked a ways to see St. Patricks Cathedral, and Rockefeller Center.

After that we did a little shopping for the kids and headed back to the hotel to catch a ride to the airport. It was a wonderful trip and I'm so thankful I had the opportunity to go!

{1...2...3...}

Kids will do the darndest things. I snapped this cute picture of my kids today . . . . I guess they just want to be like Mommy and Daddy!

{Swimmin fool }

Ayden has been my more timid child where water is concerned. But this year he has become really brave and is doing a great job! Here is a video of him swimming at Cherry hill.

  (note: I took this video with my iphone so the filming is a bit crazy.)

{ A brave soul . . . }

Our little Sophie is a brave little soul. She LOVES to go off the diving board! This was the one of the first couple times she realized this new found love. Now she is a pro! Every time we go swimming the first thing she goes for is the diving board.

Then she found a new love when we went to Murray water park. They have this huge slide and after I took her down it once she decided she wanted to go alone. She then proceeded to go up the stairs and down the slide about 30 more times that day. I told her wait in line, but she wouldn't listen. So she would slide down, swim to the edge, climb up the stairs, cut in front of everyone, and slide down again. It was the funniest thing to watch and I think everyone kept letting her do it because she's so cute!

Here's a full shot of how big the slide was . . .

{In times like these . . .}

In times like these, when you are so far behind on your blogging, it's hard to find a starting point. I decided to start by going through the pictures of the things we've done over the past couple of months.

My kids are at such fun ages right now. It's become less and less painful to leave the house with them. (for a while there, we only left if our lives depended on it) The love to go anywhere and everywhere together.

So far this summer, we have spent most of our time swimming. The kids love it, and lets face it . . . we know this Momma loves the sun. We got Cherry Hill passes again this year and it has been so much fun for us. Last year we would go for a couple of hours max, before someone started complaining, or needed a nap, but every time we go this year they want to stay for hours and I end up being the one complaining who needs a nap. They LOVE to swim and they play so cute together when we are there.

I found some really cute pictures from when we took them miniature golfing for the first time. They got the hang of it really quickly and it was so fun to watch . . .

In May, Logan and I went with our friends Crystal and Chris Armstrong, to see Flight of the Conchords as Abrovanal Hall. It was an absolute riot! A funny night I will never forget!

A few weeks later we went with another group of friends to see Joel Mcale. It was another totally funny night! He is hilarious!

{Logan, Mary, Ben and Liz Raybould, Crystal and Chris Armstrong}

These next pictures I hadn't seen before, and when I found them on the camera, I just had to post them. This gives you a clear picture of what kind of dad Logan is. While Sophie and I were sleeping one Sunday afternoon, this is how they filled their time . . .

{Seriously, how can you not love these guys}

We have been having a crazy fun summer and I know there's only more fun this to come!