Christmas in New York

For Christmas I stayed in New York.  I spent time with my host family and watched the kiddies open up their gifts.  They finally reached the age where presents were exciting...but hopefully they don't think everyday you get tons and tons of presents :D  I also spent time with my friend Maka.  It is cool how being out here on my own I have to rely on my ward as my family.  It is so great how the church brings us all together.  I just wanted to share my favorite video about Christ for this post.

These Streets Will Make You Feel Brand New; Big Lights Will Inspire You, Lets Hear it for New York, New York, New York

So this week I did about everything you can imagine. Hilary came to visit and so we went and saw everything we could. We went to the Statue of Liberty, walked the Brooklyn Bridge, and had NY pizza (at Grimaldis). We saw the Rocketts Christmas Spectacular, went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, MoMA, and walked around Central Park. We went to Grand Central Station, Rockefeller Center to see the christmas tree, and saw Spider-man Turn Off the Dark...Booyah! We rode trains and subways, shopped, and stalked santas...Apparently one of the days we were in the city was dress like santa day. It was the craziest thing I had ever seen. I am not joking...everyone and their dog was dressed like santa or an elf, and we even saw people dressed as stockings and reindeer. I felt like I was inside a Where's Waldo book! But I am not going to write much for this post because it deserves more pictures than words.

Santas

More Santas...

Even More Santas...

Lady Liberty

Radio City Music Hall

Radio City Music Hall

@ Grimaldis under the Brooklyn Bridge with Stephen and Kate

Times Square with Hilary :D

Saw Spider-Man the Musical

Random plants everywhere that look like heads of lettuce

@ the MET

@ the MET

Death of Socrates

Wall of Figurines @ MoMA

Figures up close

At the MoMA

Christmas Tree @ Rockafeller Center

The Temple 

Can You Tell Me How To Get, How To Get To Sesame Street

Yesterday we took the kids to Sesame Place! It was in PA and first I have to say that I was an hour and a half away from my brother Walker serving his mission, that felt weird. Anyway Sesame Place is like Sesame Street. I think it's a summer waterpark, and for fall and winter they do programs for the different holidays. There are rides and such for kids. The one we went to was "A Very Furry Christmas". We saw shows, went on a carousel, saw a parade, and even saw Santa. It was about the cutest place for kids...or 23 year olds who enjoy being a kid again:)

Hoorray! Hoorray! Today is the Day to Give Thanks for Giving and Give Thanks Away

Well it is Thanksgiving time in NY and whatan exciting time it is. Thanksgiving eve I took the train into the city. I was meeting up with Jenny and Xing's family, who came down for the holiday. I got in a little early and they were at the Park watching the balloons getting blown up for the big parade. So I walked around and just got used to the streets and where things were in the city. I meet up with Jenny and Xing and we stayed in a hotel...for a few hours....till we woke up at 5/5:30 to go get a spot on the sidewalks for the big Macy's Day Parade!!! It was insane! I could not believe how many people were up so early to stand on the sidewalk and wait for a parade to start in 3+ hours....but it was so fun. We met some hilarious people from California and sang carols with the people across the street.

The parade started and it was pretty crazy....seeing everyone from Cee Lo Green to Manheim Steamroller, from Cobra Starship to Rodney Atkins, and from Avril Lavinge to Neil Diamond. Not to mention all the marching bands and dancers. It was a parade!!! It was even exciting to see all the dramatic people trying to fight for a spot up by the barricade to see better....but like the old man standing next to us said "If you wanted that spot, then ya should have been there at 4 in the morning" :)

After the parade I went up to my cousin's (Jed and Lisa's) place for dinner. They have the most wonderful view looking over the Hudson. It was great! We had the missionaries over and I was reminded of my brother serving in PA. I hope someone was treating him well too. So my brithday and Thanksgiving we had missionaries for dinner...I guess we will have to keep this going....

Lions and Tigers and Cars...Oh My

I have been quite lazy and haven't put pictures up from Halloween so here they are. They kids love Cars the movie and those three words will always come out of their mouths together ("Cars the movie"). So Brooke was a race car driver while Derek and Jake were the pit crew. They loved wearing their costumes and even played around in their McQueen car.

Jake wouldn't get out so Brooke took her car bag accessory and acted like she ways cleaning McQueen...it was so cute...they probably should have switched places.

For chilly weather you always need hats and gloves. So the kids got the cutest hats and beanies. The boys got Cars hats and Brooke got a Minnie Mouse hat. The first day they got them, Jake wore the gloves and hat all day. He didn't want to take them off at all! They also got hats that have the long sides to keep your ears warm. A lion, a tiger, and a cat...meeeoooowwww

STOMP!!!

This is a clip from the DVD

So I went out last night with Taren, Makarena, and Danielle (girls from the ward) to go see Stomp. Maka and I took the train into the city and then had to take the subway to the show. We had to wait at Penn Station for Danielle who was on a later train so I had 2 options...to take the subway myself and meet up with Taren and go to the show on time...or wait with Maka and be a few minutes late. I have never been on the subway before but decided heck why not?!? So after getting directions a billion times I entered the gates. I even had to do a transfer to another line...which if you know the subway map it was quite a distance for this particular transfer from the red line to the gray line...but I made it. We got to the show and it was a cozy little theater and decorated with old street signs and such. The show was amazing! I absolutely loved it. It was strictly music from the most random things you could find. They used their hands and feet, trashcans/lids, huge inner tubes, sinks with water in them, plungers, all sorts of pipes, sticks, newspapers, and much more. They did this cool number in the dark with lighters. 2 guys were playing something that had high pitched clinks while they all held a lighter in each hand, making patterns to the music. They did another number with just 3 performers who competed making music with random items you would find in a trash receptacle. They used cups and straws and plastic bags and more...they were funny. They smallest character was always getting picked on by the others it was hilarious and made the show that much better. And like the clip, they did harness themselves and play on signs and stuff that was hanging on the walls. It was just a really cool show. At the end on guy came out and tried to get us to copy his clapping....wow is it a whole lot harder than it looks. Go see this show...words cannot describe how sweet it was in the least...

And Drive Until the Map Turns Blue

When I used to think of going to the beach...I never thought of going to New York for that. Especially not at the end of October! But here we are at a nice, sandy beach on Long Island. It was a beautiful beach. The sand was soft and warm and there are tons of volleyball courts for tournaments in the summer.

We had so much fun playing on the playground and running through the water. It was surprisingly warm for the last week in October. It was super windy though, as you can tell by my hair, but we got some great shots and the kids had a blast. It's still impossible to keep them all still, and looking at the camera, and smiling.

One Short Day In New York City

So for my birthday weekend Ryan, Lauren, Jane, Crew, and I went to the city. It was a dream come true! I loved every second of it!

We first walked up to the Manhattan Temple. I love how it lies perfectly with everything else on the block. It is so sweet and right there by Juilliard. Then we went and had lunch in Central Park and it took all my energy not to burst out into "How does she know that you love her?"

Then I made my way to a show. I always told myself that I want to see Wicked (like everyone else), but I will only see it first in New York. Well since I was out here then it was my chance. So about a month ago I bought a ticket for my birthday present to me. And it truly was amazing. I am embarrassed to admit this but I cried! I was so happy I got to see it, and it brought back a flood of memories singing and messing around at the pool joking about how one day I would be a broadway star, and plus it was during "For Good". Wow, I can't believe I just told you that but it's true.

After the show it was still a little light out side so we made our way to Grand Central Station. And it was grand, and central (Madagascar). I can only imagine going there everyday to use the Metro to get to work or something. The whole time I kept feeling like Glinda and Elphie going to the Emerald city and singing "I wanna be in this hoi polloi, so I'll be back for good someday to make my life and make my way, but for today we'll wander and enjoy."

I loved it so much that I really think I could live there someday but, for today we just wandered and enjoyed. So at Times Square I wasn't allowed to look back and see everything until I was on the red bleachers to see it all. And I was glad I did. It was worth the sight. Someday I WILL be living in a big ole city!!!

Happy Happy Birthday Sammy Dear

So all week I told the kids that Friday was my birthday! When Friday finally came I was like "whats today?" and every time they said something along the lines of "Sammy Happy Birthday". I about died it was so cute. Derek was gone when i caught this video but Jake and Brooke say Happy Birthday and I wanted to let you in on the cuteness :)

Fortune Favors the Brave

I can't believe that October is half way over! I guess time really does fly when you're having fun. And I'll tell you what, we are having a lot of fun. All that fun it is sure to make us tired...well at least one of us tired enough to sleep while the others eat lunch :)

We have had some pretty big break-throughs out here. I officially succeeded at getting all three kids to look at the camera and hold still. It was unreal. I thought I was going to faint. I don't think you know how hard it is and how many times everyone has tried. I guess I am either really loved or magic...or I may or may not have bribed the kids with chocolate...

The next biggie was the car. I made the biggest purchase of my life. Though buyers remorse is big, I know it will all be fine. And it's nice to have a little freedom (and not have to worry about wrecking the BMW X5 they have been so nice to let me borrow).

And all the way out here, I still bleed BLUE through and through.

Now We Sound The Drums Of War

We love to color!!! But there is nothing better than to color on your own face! Paper just wont cut it these days. I think the kids are trying to send a message...

So I have almost been out here for a month! I think the kids are starting to realize I will be around for a while. Little Jake said "hi sam" one morning right when I opened the door, before the light came on or anything. It was so cute. We have fun playing with cars, blocks, puzzles, and letters. These kids are geniuses. We go through word, letters, shapes, numbers, and color flashcards and they rip through them like none other. Little Jakey went to physical therapy and was playing with shapes and one of the workers was amazed with how well he knew them, BUT she about died when he could recognize and name the octagon like it was nothing!

We went pumpkin picking the other day and it was so fun. The kids had a blast looking at all the pumpkins but loved they tractor ride the best. They each had a little animal "backpack" that is a leash and about saved our lives! The best was when one of us had all 3 while the other looked for a pumpkin. We were a sight, a lovely one for that matter.

May I also just say that I love being with 3 of them! You may think I am crazy but it is so fun and there is never a dull moment. They always keep me busy and I am sure they love having others their age always around! Life is Good!