NYC Baby! (Monday and Tuesday)

So here goes the second half of our New York trip.

Hopefully, some of you still care. Once again I have no problem posting every picture I like and with these adorable children it is just too hard to say no! Eliot just cracked me up in this picture. Monday morning Cody was reading to Eliot and Morgan and both boys had to be sitting on top of Cody. I guess Eliot needed to get a little cozier! Luckily, Cody is the perfect teddy bear to cuddle with. After storytime, we got on the subway and headed down to the Natural History Museum to see the dinosaurs. P.S. Cleveland THIS is a Dinosaur Museum!!!!

Morgan had fun riding the trains again.

Pepper didn't seem to have an opinion on the matter.

Since our stroller broke and Ashely needed her Maclaren back, she let us borrow her umbrella stroller. Getting Morgan in the small stroller was a bit comical but Pepper fit just fine.

I love this picture of the girls. So happy to be out and about.

Eleanor seems a bit suspicious of her new friend.

Maybe because she's trying to steal her toys!

Going crazy with dinosaurs.

It was a bit crazy at the museum that day but we still had a good time. Unfortunately, we had a hard time meeting up with our friend Kiasa and her kids and Cody needed to leave for the airport so it was a bit rushed and hectic. I keep kicking myself that we didn't get any pictures of Bella and Morgan or Oliver and Pepper. So sorry we didn't get to see more of you Kiasa but it was great to see you guys again!

Taking the train home.

Once again, Morgan seemed to enjoy his friends' little sisters better than his. Here he is talking sweet and being gentle with Eleanor.

Poor Pepper was not herself this trip and I thought this picture just capture her overall attitude this whole trip. Thanks Minde for probably coming her down from yet another crying spell.

Riley, Chase and Eleanor hanging out at Ashley's.

Morgan and Eliot playing dress-up.

Eliot showing off his Spider-Man moves.

Morgan riding the range minus pants.

Here's a video of Morgan and the boys playing around at Ashley's:

Minde and Riley blowing kisses. She is such a cutie!

The girls having a pow-wow in the hallway.

I was desperate to get a great shot of the three ladies all together and actually looking at the camera. Sadley, Pepper is not looking top-notch but with the help of some fun necklaces we finally got the shot.

No cute smiles but hey, we got three babies to sit still and look at the camera. I would call that a very adorable success.

We have lots of pictures of the boys taking baths together as babies and toddlers so I thought it would be fun to continue the tradition. Riley helping me with the bathing beauties.

Monday night Ashely, my friend Morgen and I went out for a ladies night.

We went to my favorite Italian restuarant in the city, Caffe Buon Gusto.

Here is our delicious appetizer.

I, of course, gobbled down my entree as soon as it hit the table and didn't stop until my plate was licked clean so no pics of that but here is the mighty tasty dessert.

Morgen and me. It was great to be able to spend some time catching up with Morgen. She is one of my most favorite people and I always miss our theatre chats. I don't know if I would have made it through graduate school without this wonderful lady!

Tuesday morning, Minde dropped off the schools to go interview a preschool for Chase and Eliot. I was trying my best to get a picture of the boys all together but these boys barely sit still for even a moment so when they were zoned out in front of the tv I tried to sieze the opportunity.

I tried.

Eliot, Chase and Morgan playing Chutes and Ladders.

Later that morning Ashley hosted playgroup at her apartment. I was so excited to see all the ladies and get a chance to really chat. I wish I had taken more one on one pictures but when you're busy catching up you forget those little things.

The kids having a blast in the kids' room.

Ashley and me enjoying a little quiet time while the girls nap.

Yipee for great friends!

Morgan keeps asking to go to Eliot's house. One day we'll get these boys together again.

The only thing missing from this wonderful picture was Minde and Chase. I am so glad that we have all gone from getting pregnant for the first time, to raising our babies in the city and then getting pregnant a second time with our daughters together. I would not have survived life as a stay-at-home mom in the city without my wonderful friends and I'm so glad we could get together and reconnect.

Our old apartment building on 112th. I took these pics from the taxi on my way with the kids to visit Dr. Cohen who I worked for before I had Morgan.

Hunter College where I went to graduate school.

After visiting with the doctors, we travelled over to Times Square to meet up with Minde and Ashley and kids. There was a big viking ship set up to promote the movie, How to Train Your Dragon. There was suppossed to be lots of fun stuff but since it was raining everything was packed up. So we walked up to Columbus Circle to a mall and let the kids get out and run around.

One of the electronic stores had mix tables you could play with. We had to wait quite awhile for a European couple to stop playing with them but Morgan was not about to let this opportunity pass him by. He did a great job scratching and was SO proud of himself!

After that we went to a bookstore, and Morgan ran off AGAIN and we had to get security to help us find him. Ugh!

A bathing shot for old times sake!

Thanks so much to Ashley, Bryan, Eliot and Eleanor for letting us invade their home and for being such great hosts! We had a lovely time seeing all of our friends and enjoying the city together again.

I got terribly sick with some sort of stomach ailment my last night there and had a horrible night and morning. Getting ready to get on the airplane with two kids while trying not to throw up every two seconds was a bit of a challenge. I was so scared to travel in that condition with two small children but thanks to Bryan and a wonderful blessing I was at peace and managed to get home without any difficulty. I am so grateful for worthy priesthood holders and for amazing friends. Ashley took over with my children that morning and let me sleep, pack and spend too much time in the bathroom. We miss you guys already (but must admit we were rather happy to see our mini-van:)!

I also need to thank my wonderful Akron friends. Becky was so great and drove us to and from the airport, even at 4:30 in the morning! Wednesday when I stumbled into my home exhausted and dehydrated I decided I needed help. Heather dropped everything and came over with her son to help take care of me and my kids till Cody got home. How grateful I am for these amazing ladies, their beautiful spirits and can-do attitudes!