A Day in the City

My friend Miranda invited  Jana and I to go to the city on Saturday morning and I was excited. This was going to be my first trip to the city with just the "girls" and I knew we were up for a treat. First stop the LDS Manhattan Temple and feeling peace and quiet. It just feels so wonderful to be there.

 We then started to walk across Central park to get lunch, but first we stopped at Dylan's Candy Shop. I felt like I was getting a sugar rush just breathing the air inside that store. There was so much candy, chocolate, gummies,  and other sweet stuff- I didn't know where to start. We browsed around and I helped scoop some peach gummies for Miranda. I grabbed some colorful lollipops for my kiddos and then we walked over to SEREDIPITY- you know? like the movie? only this is the restaurant that is just fun with the décor and menus and food.

 Mirada shows just how big these menus are-- Look at the size of that thing!

 Here is our very large FROZEN Hot CHOCOLATE. It was so delicious, creamy, hot and cold- combined. Miranda had her own but Jana and I shared one. It was pretty massive and so good.

THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUEM OF ART

"THE MET"

We then walked through the snowy and windy streets farther up and away to THE MET. We wandered and admired many famous artists and their pieces. I was impressed with Monet and Van Gogh of course, and all the other European artists that were in the museum. There is so much paint, the texture is so thick and the movement is incredible. It was also amazing to walk through the paintings without worrying about my kids, or trying to keep them entertained, or my back hurting because I am carrying a sleeping child through the massive hallways or art. I really enjoyed this particular part of our day out!

 Walking back to our car was pretty cold. The wind and snow was blowing right in our faces and we had almost 1 1/2 mile to go. Somehow we made it to our vehicle while still having a great and funny conversation as we went. Needless to say we were all exhausted after our busy day in the city.

The kids were pretty excited to see their treat when I arrived home as well. These really were so messy, next time I will remember to get the smaller lollipops.

Once there was a snowman...

We've had some great snow days and lots of fun building our favorite snow people. They last for a day and then we have warm weather again and they are gone. There wasn't a lot of snow this day, but Ben managed to build a pretty good looking guardian for our building. It was Brecon who came running in the house looking for carrots and "raisins" for the face of our snow man. I just so happened to have some limp celery and it really made some fantastic hair for our guy.

 I wanted to have a family shot, but Connor refused to leave the swing. I feel like this was still okay. Brielle really jumped right in the front and leaned right in there. she is getting so big and fun these days.

 Ben took Cael, Brecon, and Luciano (Cael's friend) to our double-chair lift ski hill just outside the gate. Cael says "We didn't feel cold. It was just fun. I went down the big hill twice and the little hill so many times I can't even remember." Ben had initially thought they were going to stay until the chair lift shut down, but they started to get really hungry and the sun was going down. It was really cold when they left and I had a hot dinner waiting for them at home, plus plenty of hot chocolate to warm them right up.

 Our friends built a monster snowman the same day we built ours. After a few days he started doing the snowman limbo, leaning even further than he is right there. Eventually he came crashing down in a couple of huge piles.

School got cancelled  because of this particular snow storm. With all the snow days and 1/2 days due to the weather, I'm wondering if we are going to have a summer break at all! We are enjoying the time together, but I do wonder if they are being a little too nervous about a little snow. Cael says they are not allowed to touch the snow on the playground because the principal last year made a rule against the kids having any fun at all! No running, laughing, breathing, or touching (playing tag) on the playground. Sounds like a good recess to me-- not!

ALL DAY-DATE to NYC

NO SCHOOL= FUN DAY

Ben had taken three days off and on Tuesday we got a phone message telling us that the elementary school was closed for the day because they were having issues with the heating units. Interesting, but we loved having the chance to spend the whole day together. First we had lunch at IKEA, kids eat free on Tuesdays. Then Ben and I walked around the store with Brielle while the boys spent an hour in the play land. Walking into the store Brecon says "I love this store. I love this place." I actually am glad that he has good feelings about going to IKEA. It just makes it that much easier when we go there.

 

We then stopped over to spend a couple of hours at the famous Chuck E. Cheese's for games and fun. The boys are given a few coins and they walk around the whole room before they spend their money-- Just kidding! They have been known to blow through a whole load on one game! Brielle even got the hang of putting the coin into the slot for the games, she loved the huge rocking horse ride. Brecon was so nice and even put Brielle on a few small rides and paid for it with his own money. It was so good for him to share, I loved watching him take care of his sister.

I love the whole family shot! Especially because Brielle is picking her nose! It's getting harder to fit all of us in that little photo booth!

It was here that we decided to keep the party rolling. This was a special day after all! So we drove to the Palisades Mall, a humungous shopping center/restaurants/ and IMAX theater inside-- to eat buffalo wings and watch the new Disney Movie "Frozen". Brielle was pretty good for the first part when we had popcorn to keep her occupied, then she got the walking bug. Ben had to take Brecon and Connor to the bathroom at different times. I thought the movie was fun to watch and the music even more so to listen to! I can see myself singing my loudest while I clean the house-- or something like that :) Cael got the biggest kick out of the snowman Olaf's summertime song. He was laughing so hard from the lyrics and actions.



So we had a great day! Thanks to the crazy heat not working at school and Ben having the day off, we partied and didn't get home until past 10 that night.

A Night with Ben (Platt) and Jerry (Seinfeld)