Month in numbers: NYC, August 2018!

This past weekend James and I spent the weekend exploring NYC for the THIRD time together to celebrate James FORTYth birthday.   Let’s face it, we’ve been celebrating a good portion of the month so it seems fitting that I use the monthly recap to go over his birthday trip.

On our FIRST full day in NYC we headed to the financial district where James rubbed the charging bull’s balls for at least the THIRD time.  I’ve personally seen him do it TWICE.  We got there to find a line at least FIFTEEN people long.  Instead of waiting, he snuck in from behind to cop a feel.  Apparently if brings you financial success.  I was okay with just taking the photo and leaving the rubbing to him! Ha!

While we were downtown we visited the 9/11 tribute museum.  Jame has been before but this was my FIRST time.  We spent THREE hours there including a tour that lasted SIXTY minutes.   I could have easily spent THREE more hours exploring as it is so well done.  I highly recommend the tour either the museum one for the tribute one which my mom did early this year.  It was only an additional TWENTY dollars but the guide gave all sorts of extra information and tidbits that aren’t documented in the museum.  We all wore headsets so we could hear what he was saying and I was so thankful since the museum was so full the entire time we were there.  It was interesting how the museum was so full and yet so quiet.  I still remember being in university and hearing the news of the twin towers like it was yesterday.   

Hidden behind this wall is a special room devoted to the THOUSANDS of families of the victims where they can come to visit their loved ones since many of the remains were never found.   The wall is covered in over TWO THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED different shades of blue to represent the color of the sky that day and the number of people that perished.  

Next, let’s talk about photos.  If it were up to James, we’d have ZERO pictures together.  I think this is a male thing.   He doesn’t like taking selfies and truthfully he isn’t very good at it and I have to ask, no beg, him to take a photo of me.  While I do enjoy some scenery pics I like to see myself in some of them and better yet, some as a couple.  We took SIX photos together over the FIVE day.  SIX.  That's lame.  

All are selfies except the best one which is shown below and taken on a machine in the Vineyard Vines store which apparently is James new fave store. I should get better at asking people to take them so I have to take some of the blame to.

While he managed to spend a couple HUNDRED dollars there on him and the kids I only bought ONE pair of shoes out of necessity.   I packed FOUR pairs but ZERO flat shoes to wear with my dresses, only wedges.  We were easily walking more that THREE THOUSAND steps to supper and back so I needed something easier on my feet.... Found a perfect pair at Century 21 for a mere $39.

Now let’s talk about location.  The last TWO times we’ve visited NYC we’ve stayed off time square.  I love time square and all it has to offer but this time we wanted to stay closer to Central Park to really use the park and maybe get a few runs in.  We chose 1 Hotel Central Park, which was only ONE block away from the park.  It was perfect.  I loved being central meaning we walked everywhere.   On our first full day we got over THIRTY THOUSAND steps!   While the hotel was great it was pricey and I loved my pillow, we decideded that next time we go we’d stay any where between time square and Central Park.  We spent a lot of time walking up 6th ave to the subway and by this love structure more times than I can count.  I made James take this picture in a dress I bought in Vegas and only have worn once.  It's just a little too dressy for a night out at home.  I think I’ll pull it out for my Xmas party this year.... that’s me, always thinking ahead.

On Deena’s suggestion, we signed up for a food tour of the Chelsea market.  I am so glad we did.  We were treated to a funny New Yorker passionate about food for THREE hours.  We went to EIGHT different food stands in the market.  Yes, EIGHT.  Unlike the fancy restaurant we ate at that also had EIGHT courses and ironically probably costed EIGHT times more, these were everyday foods that I loved!!!  Not the caviar, foie gras (liver!), lamb, and tuna tar tar I forced down at the 'nice' restaurant.  This food was right up my alley!

We met in front of this big bottle of wine in the Chelsea Market which is also home to many food net work shows, the MLB, and news stations.  Google now owns the building and has its main headquarters right across the street.

We ate and ate and ate some more.  We hadn’t eaten anything prior to arriving at 10 am and didn't eat again until after the show more than TWELVE hours later.  Even then I’m not sure I was ready to eat yet.  My stomach felt full and boated all day.   My favorite was the deep fried Oreo for TWO reasons.  First, it is not something I would ever order on my own and also I was really hungry and this was the FIRST thing I’d eaten all day.  I wasn't full.... yet.   As a side note, the market was originally home to Nabisco until it it out grew the facility over 50 years ago.  The Oreo cookie was their most popular item.

My second favorite was probably the biscuit and preserves (aka jam) from Sarabeths.  It was delish.  Something so simple but better than any other I'd ever tasted.  James preferred the more savory dishes like the sausage roll we had at the SECOND to last stop.   At this point I was only having a bite to try and James would finish mine if he liked it.  Except for the ice cream, I ate all my ice cream at the last stop. I ever turn down dessert!

After the food tour we decided to walk the high line that was introduced to us during the tour.   It is essentially the train line that once went from building to building delivering dry goods.   Now, it is a park.  James had never heard of it until the day before the tour and I hadn’t either until I started researching the tour.  I would have enjoyed it much more if it didn’t rain on us on and off but it was still really enjoyable.  You can still see the train tracks beside the path buried in the trees. It was really busy and obviously a tourist destination that I didn't know about until this trip. 

My personal favorite of the entire trip was the Broadway production of Pretty Woman.  It is my SECOND fave movie of all time other than Dirty Dancing.  In my opinion, you have to see ONE show when in NYC.   James told me he was going to equally hate them all and to choose what ever I wanted to see.  He clearly isn’t a musical kind of guy.... so after looking through the long list, the one I really wanted to see was Pretty Woman.  I loved it and surprisingly James said it was one of the better ones he’d seen.  I think I even liked it better than Dirty Dancing.....

Since the show was so close to Times Square we headed there next.  Since we've stayed in that area TWO other times it really represents NYC to me, that and the Statue of Liberty which I only saw once from afar this trip.  After walking down the street in time square with what felt like a MILLION other people I realized I liked staying off the square better!   We waited about TWENTY minutes to be seated at the Hard Rock Cafe where I enjoyed a cocktail and a platter of nachos all to myself.  And I wondered why my tummy hurt the whole trip.... Back to healthy eating starting today!

When James and I travel together we always see a sporting event.  He was struggling between seeing the Yankees and going to the US Open (tennis) and I told him I’d hate them both equally.  Ha! Well, I was wrong.  We went to the US Open and it was pretty darn cool.   We watched parts of THREE different matches where the under dog won in each one.  We had gross TWENTY dollar sandwiches and EIGHTEEN dollar cocktails that were to die for.   It wasn’t a cheap place to be.... for us, it was a once in a lifetime experience and I’m glad that is what he chose.  

One of the reasons I wanted to stay close to Central Park was so that we could potentially go on a few runs.  I wasn't sure If James could be convinced but we ended up going twice.  They were hard runs.  Maybe because it was hot, the time change, the food hangover, or my killer leg workout the day before we left.... Whatever the reason, they were hard but we still crushed TWO FIVE km runs.  Here I am post run on our last day.  Again, I had to ask for my photo, I wanted evidence that I ran in Central Park because that is pretty darn cool.  

James admiring the view in the middle of our run.  I had to sneak photos of him because he wasn't a big fan of posing for photos as I already mentioned.

While we were away, my mom took very good care of the kids for FIVE days.  She got them to FOUR hockey games at a rink she claims is the worst to get there.  She got lost all FOUR times even though she had directions!  They ended up downtown, at the saddledome , and at Ikea.  None of these locations are remotely close to the rink.  Sigh.....  This will be known as the trip where Grandma always got lost.  Even leaving town.....

These TWO are so lucky to have a Grandma ready and willing to travel EIGHT hours to watch them while there TWO crazy parents run wild in NYC.  Thanks Mom!

I feel so fortunate to get away with my hubby once a year to really focus on us and go on trips that aren't kid focused. We slept in, we explored, we ate, we stayed up late, we ate and we ate some more.  Such a memorable trip.  Next year is my big 4-0 so I'm excited to see where we end up!

New York City!

We just got back from our first childless vacation, actually first vacation, since Cooper was born. We hopped on a plane and headed east to New York City! James actually won the trip at his Christmas party in December. A Christmas party in kananaskis a mere 5 weeks after Cooper was born that we nearly didn't attend. Good thing we did. This was an unplanned vacation. We had planned to go to San Diego in the fall, which we are still doing, but we had not planned to go on a childless trip this year. I am learning to be more spontaneous. Or trying to.

Cooper just seemed so young to leave behind. He is barely 7 months and not sleeping through the night. It seemed like punishment to inflict 2 kids on to someone. My Mom gladly accepted the challenge along with some help from Grandpa and Nana. She says the boys were really good and she had a good time. Would she really tell me otherwise?

The biggest struggle a trip to busy NYC was to balance the go go go with a little relaxation. After 3 years of getting up before 7am every day and 7 months of not sleeping through the night. I needed the sleep and rest. I wanted to explore the city the best we were able and have fun. We needed to find a balance between the two. James and I didn't always see eye to eye on finding that balance but we worked it out and saw as much as we could while going to bed at a reasonable hour all but one night that resulted in us taking the subway home from Brooklyn at 2am....

We stayed at the W in Times Square so we spent a lot time in the hustle and bustle of tourists and shopping.

As much as I love the craziness that is Times Square, my favorite outing this trip was to Coney island. NYC was having a heat wave and it was in the mid 30s before the humidity factor every day except the day we left. There is an amusement park right in the middle of all the little shops and the beach. We went on the Ferris Wheel pictured below. The outside carts are static and the inside ones are not. It was a little more scary than I expected. So glad we paid the $6pp to go around the circle twice. I really am.

Here is Coney Island from the pier we walked down. If you look close you can see the big Ferris Wheel. You don't have to look hard to see how busy the beach was. We spent the afternoon walking the boardwalk and having hot dogs on a bench while watching the crowds. We also talked about how nice it would be to bring the boys here.

James chose to go to the Yankees game. It was 38 degrees before humidity and by far the hottest day while we were there. I was wearing jean shorts and when I got up from my chair my shorts were actually wet. It was too hot to even have a beer as I needed the lemonade to quench my thirst. I have never experience heat like that. This is our only picture of us together on the trip. I bought a Jeter Tshirt while there and we also purchased Yankees shirts for the boys. I only knew who Jeter was because James has him in his pool. The crowd sure loved him too! The Yanks lost terribly and we left before the game had finished.

One of James friends has been living in Brooklyn for 4 years and we were lucky enough to have supper and drinks with him. This is the view from Brooklyn across the river to Manhattan. This is also the night that resulted in a subway ride home at 2am.

We made 2 stops to explore Central Park. I love how the city peaks out of the park. It is just something so out of the ordinary and so New York. We attempted to see the park from Rockefeller Center but waited until the last day when there was no visibility. This will be at the top of the list next time.

We also stumbled upon the John Lennon memorial in central park on our last day. A very unexpected treat.

On our last night we saw wicked. That was my choice. I loved it. It is going on tour this summer and I highly recommend it.

All in all it as a great trip. It was nice to get away without kids, great to know that the kids survived without us, and just plain nice to be on vacation. Already counting the months until our next vacation with the kids because as much fun as it is to go without the kids we spent a good portion of the trip talking about them and pointing out things they would have loved (digger trucks, Cars 2 billboards, police men etc.).

Once a parent, always a parent.

The Big Apple!

So it is official... we have survived our first trip with Grady! And what a feat that is. After bringing a 3 month old baby to New York for a week and making it back in one piece I think we should be confident that we can do anything!

Bo and Dave picked us up very early on Monday morning and off to the airport we went for Grady's first flight. Thankfully we did not have any problems getting through security with our bottles and stroller. Having many sets of hands was very helpful. Grady surprised us all - especially me - when he slept through the entire flight. Having a baby who never sleeps, I was super surprised and pleased that we didn't hear a peep from him for the duration of the flight. Actually I lied. About 45 minutes before landing we heard a little something from his bottom and boy did we smell it. James and I were eager to wait it out and change him at the airport... but Nana Marla pulled through and changed his diaper in airplane bathroom. Brave soul...

We brought our own carseat to load in the car that picked us up from the airport, James strapped it in and off we went to the hotel. We stayed at the Sheraton in Times Square (the billboard in the picture was not far from our hotel). I loved it! And so did Grady as it was the biggest 'mobile' he has ever seen. He absolutely loved the lights and they seemed to keep him in a rather good mood.

We took in all the sites (or as many as we could squeeze in) over the 6ish days that we were there. We did a 2 day bus tour where you can hop on and hop off at any stop, a boat tour that circled the Statue of Liberty, visited ground zero, explored Times Square nightly, did a carriage ride through central park, went to a mets game, and saw the musical Avenue Q (which I highly recommend - it was hilarious!). As you can tell, our days were packed with activities but I still managed to get a little shopping in. Mostly for myself though....

Grady exceeded my exceptions as he was quite content to be lugged around in the stroller or baby bjorn. I am not going to lie to you... there were rough days and moments I wanted to go back to the hotel and cry. But these were very few and far between. My mood depended 100% on Grady's mood and behavior. There was really only once morning he was really cranky and we got through it without shedding any tears (well I did anyhow, Grady had plenty of tears).

Overall it was a great trip and I think that Grady loved New York and was sad to come back home where he is stuck alone with me all day!

I hate to admit that since we got back Grady has not been a very good sleeper. We had him up to 6 hour sleeping in his crib at night before we left and now I am lucky if I get 3. I hope he gets over this soon as I am becoming a walking zombie! The thing with babies is just when you start to get used to something it changes. And so here we are with a sleepless baby once again and trying to work through it and figure our little man out. On the brighter side... he is napping really well during the day. You know me - always the optimist!

As most of you have likely already seen... I have posted some pics from the vacation on the photo link. Enjoy!