NEW YORK CITY

We decided to spend the day in NYC exploring with the family. The weather has been getting colder and colder so we tried to wear as many layers as we could for walking around. Our first stop was at the American Museum of Natural History. We only really explored the first floor full of dinosaur bones and other extinct creatures. It is always fun chasing the kids around and trying to tell them about everything we are looking at. We were able to get free admission into the general exhibits, which was plenty for us to see. It will be fun to visit again and again with our future trips to the city.

After leaving the museum we had a romantic walk in and around Central Park. I guess not that romantic since we were chasing our kids around and listening to them tell us that their legs were going to fall off. You know, the usual romantic stuff? They are getting ready for the NYC Marathon so we got to see the bleachers and plenty of runners and fast bicyclers cruising through the park. I happened to remove my canvas jacket while we were watching the boys climb on some big rocks. Somewhere between that moment and when we had walked a mile away my nice warm jacket disappeared. I hope it is claimed and keeps some person a little bit warmer (and more fashionable, too)

Lunch at the Carnegie Deli. Busy and crowded, but a classic experience. Ben was longing for a foot high pastrami sandwich like the one on the counter... I guess we will have to get one next time. Connor was asleep in the stroller and we had quite a lot of looky-loos checking out our family (a waitress asked "4 kids?") There are pictures all over the wall of "famous" people who have also enjoyed a lunch or dinner entrée.

We walked along the street with some delicious crepes, caramel apples, pies, cookies, cupcakes, and hot shish kabobs to try, we were just so full from lunch--- but we did our best to try what we could.  Next time the street vendors will get more of our attention.

As we turned and continued to walk I knew when we saw ATLAS and then PROMETHEUS on Rockefeller Square (people ice-skating below), with the NBC observation deck and experience store... I felt like we were in New York. It might be fun to get down there early for the TODAY show so I can wave at the camera like a crazy person.

St. Patrick's Cathedral, Trump Tower, H&M, PRADA and LOUIS VOITTON along our walk up to F.O.A SCHWARTZ toy store experience. Our kids were begging for us to get them something. We enjoyed watching the associates sell their goods and the kids had a great time playing on the BIG PIANO (as seen on the movie BIG with TOM HANKS) Luckily enough we walked out of there without any purchases made. I'm sure the kids would really have loved to get something, but we're not made out of money!

More walking, trying to stay warm, sleeping Brielle in stroller and we made our first ride on the NYC subway. Nothing too crazy, just trying to make our way back to the Museum where our van was parked. From loading up and starting out it took us about an hour and 10 minutes to drive back home. Not too shabby. Our neighbors were cooking s'mores when we pulled into our driveway so we joined them before going inside for the night.

You might think that we were so tired from the day and we all collapsed in our beds, right? Well we had also promised the boys that carving our pumpkins needed to occur sometime before Ben left--- He was leaving the next day! So we let each of the boys pretty much carve their very own pumpkins. We are proud to say there wasn't any blood spilt. Not like the night before when Connor split his ear open and Ben applied DermaBond to keep the wound together. Yesiree, we didn't have any blood or finger fatalities on pumpkin carving night :) I would call that a success!

WHAT A DAY...  and WHAT A NIGHT!