NYC

Months ago I decided I wanted to make a trip to NYC just us for my birthday weekend.
I planned the whole trip as best as I could.
So at 3 AM we caught our bus and arrived right near Times Square at 6:30 AM.

We randomly walked the streets enjoying the empty-ish city.
Spotting Spider-Man in a huge Comic book shop.
(While prepping for our trip to NYC Connor asked "Can you remember to take the picture of statue of lib-er-te and Spider-Man? He lives there can you find him and see him?" I told him I'd try!)

In Rockefeller Plaza we saw all the News Stations and were in time to catch some of their morning shows.

Amanda Freitag from Food Network :)

Shea made sure we made it in time to the TKTS Booth for Broadway Tickets for Matinee showings.
We got tickets for The Phantom of the Opera, not our first choice but we were stoked!

We had looked up a bunch of places to eat that would be in our budget and were hot spots.
But as we should have expected they were all packed!!!
John's Pizzeria was the only place we managed actually getting into that was on our list.
It was gorgeous and had been a little cathedral many years ago; murals, stained glass, and chandeliers.
All pizzas were made in coal-fired brick ovens.

Right across the street was our theater for Phantom of the Opera in a few hours. 

We wandered through the Broadway District, checking out the theaters and enjoying the city, till the show was ready to start. 

I wish I could have captured how absolutely amazing the show really was. The live orchestra, the performances, the amazing sets, the effects, the props, the voices; all were gorgeous and it was quite a show.
Definitely gives me the itch to see another Broadway show because there is nothing quite like it.

(Here are a few images I found online of the same show, but truly they don't even do it justice.)

By the time the show was over we made the walk to our hotel in Midtown West and checked in.

Then we were off to find a place for dinner. Our top choices required quite a walk, so we decided to see Grand Central Station and try out the famous Oyster Bar.
Where we tried FRESH fried giant blue oysters which were amazing, but a little too much for Shea.

We were more than ready for bed by the end of the day, pure exhaustion.

We started the next day waking up late and hungry.
By the time we were out of the hotel we were starving and fortunately discovered a sweet little bistro still serving breakfast which we were thrilled about.

Then we began our busy Day 2.

 After seeing some sights including the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, stopping in a souvenir shop and popping into Nintendo World...

...we made our way to the TOP OF THE ROCK - Observation Deck.

With a historical museum along the way and 3 different sets of views, 70 floors up it was quite the adventure (especially for Shea!).

Then we were quickly off to catch the subway(an event itself) to the tip of Manhattan to catch the STATEN ISLAND FERRY. Where we saw the famous Manhattan skyline and a view of the statue of liberty (albeit a little farther away then expected).

After another subway trip we headed over to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art.The MET was one of the few things on the top of my list. Unfortunately we were low on time and other than a picture out front didn't get a chance to really visit it.

We then took a tremendously long walk across Central Park. I was insistent that I was on backpack duty and man it was rough. And I determined that backpack duty depicted our moods. So although Central Park was gorgeous we didn't get to explore as I wanted because we were in reality taking a long trip from point A to point B which I couldn't help but think could have changed drastically if I hadn't insisted on getting off the subway by the MET. Honestly although it was exhausting we had fun.

Then of course our last attempt at eating at our hot spot and backup ended up in lines and lines of dwindling time we couldn't afford.

So McDonalds became our last resort which considering it was Father's day, seemed appropriate. 

Then off we dashed for our bus, where we scored seats together this time! (Our 3AM trip to NYC had been another story.)

Looking back I would have done a lot of things differently but it really was a wonderful adventure, no matter how exhausting. And a big THANK YOU for my family for babysitting for the weekend and taking us to and fro for our bus rides.

It was quite a trip and we sure saw more than I imagined we would. NYC is a magical place. But nothing beats home.

Backyard Inflatables

We ventured to a bounce house fun center this weekend.
It was not quite what Shea and I had imagined but the kids loved every second.

Connor Turns 5

My boy.

It was 5 years ago today that I met my first baby. You made me a Mama. And a boys Mama at that.

Now you are at the most incredible age. You are the sweetest and most loving and obedient you have ever been. That being said you are 200% boy. With a smile almost always. You are my favorite little boy in all the world. You love to whisper "I love you's" and give me random kisses throughout the day. You make me feel appreciated and loved more than any child in all the world could.

I am immensely happy to be your Mom.
I see this boy in front of my who has grown up right before my eyes and it makes my heart skip a beat knowing that you are 5.
Five seems like such a landmark in childhood. And my wishes for you are simple; I hope this year brings you excitement as you discover new things, I hope this year brings you friendship like you've never known before as you begin kindergarten, and I hope this year brings you confidence as you see how much faith your family has in you and all you do.

Connor you are the most amazing boy I have ever known. I wanted to make today special for you.

I had some help thinking of the theme and ideas for your party from your Auntie Am. And everything turned out great.

You loved the pirate idea.

And dressing up to begin pirate fun was about the coolest thing ever, genius.

You loved hunting for pirate treasure,on our pirate treasure hunt...
(this is a copy of the clues during one of my drafts, I lost the final draft, but this is the gist)

Have you ever heard of Blue Beard the Pirate? His friends called him Connor, for short.
He wore only blue, and his nose was even covered with a large blue wart.1 Can you find a clue for our treasure on something blue? Blue Beard would roam the Dirty Black Seas, and munch on his favorite snack, French fried cheese.2 Can you find a clue for our treasure on the place where Blue Beards snack might be kept? He sailed fearlessly, and those he crossed he’d “AARGH” and scowl.
At night the sailors thought they could even hear him growl.3 Can you find a clue for our treasure on something mean? No one refused an order from Blue Beard, when he said “SWAB THE DECK” you did so in case he’d wring your neck.4 Can you find a clue for our treasure on somewhere like a ship’s deck? When people saw him coming they’d shiver and it was rumored he’d make you walk the plank and sometimes eat your own liver.
5 Can you find a clue for our treasure on somewhere outside that reminds you of a walking the plank? It wasn’t too hard to soften Blue Beard up; he was always up for a drink in a gold cup.
6 Can you find a clue for our treasure on somewhere you could find a cup? He often dueled a pirate named Peg Leg Joe, who he often fought for a bit of gold dough.
7 Can you find a clue for our treasure on somewhere where Joe rests his leg? But this time he found an old map, which seemed to be true and he gathered his scurvy dirty ten man crew.
8 Can you find a clue for our treasure someplace you go to get clean up? Off Blue Beard went to Dead Man’s Peak, where he let out quite a shriek.9 Can you find a clue for our treasure on somewhere you can peek out? Blue Beard hid his pirate treasure somewhere only he could uncover, do you think you can find it ye dirty landlubber?10 Can you find a clue for our treasure on somewhere outside with an X?

You have been begging and begging to go to FAMOUS DAVE'S forever. We have told you over and over again "on your birthday". So of course you were thrilled to finally get to go and you loved it! Birthday firework ice cream sundae and all!

When we got home we played Pin the Patch on Pirate Pete, which was a HIT!
Even though we had some cheaters ;)

You were obviously anxious for presents so you couldn't have been more antsy to get started and everything you showed shock and awe and love for and then through it aside to unwrap the next, unwrapping presents probably took all of 90 seconds.

Daddy was stoked to start you out on REAL Lego's :)

Good thing the aftermath is just as fun!

My Mom and I worked so hard on your cake. It didn't turn out exactly like I imagined but you didn't mind, your smile and awe made up for it.
And it tasted AMAZING!

After cake we enjoyed playing with presents and mopey Bella even got a surprise for being so good all day (pjs and sunglasses, tucked under her pillow).

Gotta say you LOVE a PARTY! And you especially enjoyed this one. Love you Connor.
Happy 5th Birthday Dude!

Heaped with gold
and jewels and silver
tons of cake and presents, too.
And a great big pile
of love-filled "ARRGHS"
for a very special you!