NYC Baby! (Saturday and Sunday)

Last Saturday, March 20th, the kids and I flew to NYC to join Cody who was there all that week for work. We flew out at 6:30 that morning so we were there bright and early and ready to play.

Here's a view from our hotel of the Empire State Building.
Morgan relaxing waiting to go explore the city.
We had some time to kill before we met up with our friends. Since our hotel was in Times Square we decided to walk around there. I guess the Addams Family is a new musical on Broadway. Why not?!
Enjoying the new TKTS steps and sitting area.

Hanging out in the Hershey Store.

Visiting the T-Rex in the Toys-R-Us store.

I thought Morgan would really like it since it is huge and moves and makes noises like in the movie. Not so much! I think he had nightmares the rest of the time we were there about this T-Rex. Oops!

Playing at the Thomas train tables.

Pepper needed to relax in the stroller but Morgan didn't want to walk so thank goodness for Ergo carriers!

We walked up to Central Park to meet up with Ashley and family, and Minde and family. It was such a beautiful day and the kids had a blast playing at this HUGE playground near the southwest corner of the park.

The girls finally all meet. Pepper, Eleanor and Riley. Pepper and Eleanor are only two minutes apart and Riley followed them by 6 weeks. Such cuties!

The boys had no problem picking up where they left off playing together. Bryan was crazy and decided to get in the mix. I don't think he was expecting how big Morgan would actually be! Good thing he was a wrestler in college!

Chase, Morgan, Eliot, Bryan and Eleanor's head.

Minde, Riley and Ashley

Poor Bryan.

Here's a video of the boys running around:

Shortly after this we lost Morgan because he ran off. All the dads split up to find him and Bryan found him in the sand area and dragged him back kicking. We definitely had to be on our toys with this boy.

I think Eleanor has the most perfect little kissy, pouty lips. This girl is going to be a heartbreaker!

It was a beautiful, hot, sunny day that we were not really prepared for. Luckily, I still had a stick of sunblock in my diaper bag from last summer.

After spending a couple hours playing at the park we left to meet up with our friends Kiasa and Brian and their two kids at the MOMA. Cody was able to get free tickets to the Tim Burton exhibit and we were ready to spend some time inside. A block away from the museum Cody was pushing our old Graco stroller up a curb and the handles completely sheered off both sides. We could not believe that on our first afternoon in the city our stroller completely broke! Not fun at all. We hobbled our way through the museum and back to the hotel but left it in the closet when we left. Not my favorite way to start the trip:) We ended up taking a lot more taxis then we normally would have...I guess we're not real New Yorkers anymore!

Morgan is currently obsessed with The Little Mermaid. While hanging out in the hotel room he would call Ariel to have her come over and play. Here's a video of his conversation:

Sunday morning we packed up the hotel room after a horrible nights sleep. To quote Cody, "That was the worst night of my life!" Both kids took turns every hour coughing and crying and waking the other one up. At one point Morgan coughed so much he threw up. Ugh!

Anyway, we headed up to Harlem to Ashley's apartment and to get ready to head to church.

The morning seemed much brighter with this little face greeting us.

Eliot was being sweet to the girls and giving them hugs. We asked him to give them another hug...

this is what we got. Too funny!

We had a wonderful time going to church and visiting with all of our friends in the Harlem 1st Ward. It was so fun to see how much all the kids had grown and to meet the new babies. A lot of our friends will be leaving the city this summer so it was good that we came back when we did. Of course, I was too distracted catching up with everyone that I didn't take any pictures but it was fun chatting. We miss everyone a lot!

Sunday afternoon, Minde and Tyler invited us all over for dinner. Since Minde was in charge it was all delicious and beautifully prepared. It was so fun to be all together again.

Our little crazy lady under the table.

The boys had a blast together. I don't think they sat still from the moment we got there.

Here's a video of them going crazy in Chase's room:

Morgan was so sweet to Riley. He kept getting down and talking sweetly to her and rubbing her cheeks. I guess when these cute little girls are not at your house messing with your toys they are much more appealing.

Riley has the biggest smile!

Riley, Ashley and Eleanor showing off their pretty dresses.

Pepper clearing out Minde's tupperwear for her.

Eleanor and Pepper tucked into the Phil&Ted's stroller for the ride home. I miss my NYC strollers!

Eliot, Morgan and Eleanor getting ready for bed.

We were so thankful to be staying with Ashley and Bryan. They all squished into their bedroom and gave us the kids room. I was worried after the horrible night in the hotel how things would go but we all slept great the rest of the time we were there. Thank goodness!

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!