NYC Regrets

Over Memorial Day Weekend we traveled up to good ole New York City to visit Thomas and celebrate Claire's 9th birthday. We rented a great 2 bedroom apartment in Brooklyn and were ready to take on the world. After the long weekend I came home grumpy, irritated, exhausted and plainly not liking New York. Taking 4 kids on subways, through crowded streets, while you're not exactly sure where you're going is just hard work. Not to mention by the end of the trip Thomas and I were a bit frazzled and done, so that added to my feelings of a wasted trip.

But as I had time to recoup and hear the girls telling their friends about the trip with excitement in their eyes, I started to try to let those bad emotions go. Finally last night when I uploaded the pictures and went through them one by one a smile came to my face and I realized how lucky I am. I'm lucky to have such beautiful children who are enthusiastic and in love with life. I'm lucky to have a husband who is willing to cart us all around and show us a good time, a husband who truly loves his children, and would do anything he could for him.

This time apart from eachother sucks. We knew it would be hard, but I wish it didn't have to be.  I feel bad for him, being out there all alone, new job, new roommates, which in itself is a hard adjustment for him, at least I'm in a familiar home, with familiar friends and have our children to buoy me up.

He's a good man to sacrifice so much for our future.

With all that said, here's some pictures from our exciting trip to NYC.

Our first stop after a yummy dinner was Prospect Park in Brooklyn to get some energy out before we headed back to the apartment.

Then back to the apartment for ice cream before bed....

mmmm I love ice cream.

Next day. Financial District to see where Tommy works and to catch the Staten Island Ferry.

Everyone enjoying the view on the ferry.

And what a view it was.

This little stinker kept us on our toes the whole time!

Crowded Times Square.

Where we hit the gigantic Toys R Us with a ferris wheel inside and oodles of things to look and gawk at. We even saw an actor in there, oh how exciting I know. unfortunately Rainier conked out and didn't really get to enjoy it.

A much needed stop for lunch at Juniors. We were lucky enough to have a friend who lived in New York to give us the ins and outs of where to go to eat and see, her suggestions were fabulous, thanks Liesel.

Next stop a nice walk up Broadway to Central Park.

For some much needed play and cool down time. By the way this is our nanny,

she's absolutely fantastic, I recommend all families with young children get one.

Sunday we went to the ward Thomas will be attending, Alli thought it was so cool how it didn't look like a church outside but how it looked exactly like a church on the inside. We then took a lengthy walk down the Hudson River, very lengthy I'd say, and I did it in 4" wedges. Not a good idea.

The girls our obsessed with The Cake Boss on TLC which is a reality show bakeshop in Hoboken, New Jersey. So we really wanted to go there for Claires birthday, we were all excited. We had tried to go on Sunday but there were no ferry's available, then when we tried to go on our way out of town Monday they were closed for Memorial Day....we were so bummed.

Anyhow after our LENGHTY walk down the Hudson we stopped at another cool little park so my swollen, blistered feet could get a break and the kids could feel like it wasn't all for nothing. They really do have a ton of cool parks there.

We then stopped at a drug store and bought me some flip-flops, something we should have done in the beginning, ohwell, and then stopped at Ground Zero before we headed back to the apartment. It's all fenced off with a ton of construction going on but you really could feel a silence and sacredness there.

For Claires birthday, since we couldn't stop at the Bakery we went to the 3 story Dylan's Candy Bar.

The girls were in HEAVEN.

And Claire got some bling for her birthday.

After a hotdog from a vendor we hopped in the car for a beautiful drive home, leaving poor Tommy to fend for himself once again. I sure miss that guy when he's not around.