Wayne and I went to New York City!! We were able to cash in on a perk of the job (flyer miles and hotel points) and take a free 3 day, 4 night trip to New York. We stayed just around the corner from Time Square. It was great!
Day 1We got to New York around midnight on a Tuesday night, so we decided to stay close to the hotel on the first day. So we headed over to Time Square. (We walked most everywhere to get a feel for the city.) We saw NBC studios and Rockefeller Center so we decided to see that first. We headed up to the Top of the Rock and got some great views for the city.
It's really incredible to see huge Central Park right in the middle of this bustling city.
We touched the top of the Empire State building
(actually Wayne was stabbed).
Then we walked around Rockefeller Center and waited to take a tour of NBC studios. It's tiny! I was amazed at how small all the sets are.
We did a bit more walking around, in Central Park and around the city. Then we did some research for the best New York cheesecake and found a place a few blocks from us that was rated at the top.
It was very good as you can see by our greedy eating.
That night we headed out to get a feel for the night life. And I can definitely vouch for the fact that this city NEVER sleeps. There was at least as much activity during the night hours as the day, if not more. It was incredible.
I tried to explain to the boys all the screens on the sides of buildings that are like big TVs. They thought that was pretty cool.
Day 2On our second day we headed down to southern Manhattan. We went to ground zero (which is now totally under construction) and saw the firefighter remembrance wall.
and flag.
This is right around the corner from a fire station and as we were leaving a fire truck pulled out and many people stopped, waved, or saluted the firefighters.
On to a highlight for Wayne, Wall St.
In front of the New York Stock Exchange.
We didn't realize they were no longer giving tours, so that was disappointing.
We then got in line for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
This is a musician playing some sort of symbol and he was very good. Wayne gave him some money and he said, "You must be an American. I will play something patriotic." And he played America the Beautiful.
We look kind of piddly in front of Lady Liberty.
We decided not to stop at Ellis Island since it was late and we wanted to beat rush hour on the subway.
The boys have a book about tug boats, so we had to take a picture of a
real tugboat pushing a little barge.
They loved it.
Me so excited to get on the subway and off my feet!
Later that night we went to see The Lion King on Broadway. We had great seats about 7 rows back almost directly in the center. It was very fun.
Day 3This was our last full day so we tried to see the last of the stuff we thought was "do-able" in a day (again, on foot). We headed over toward the Empire State building by way of Macy's.
It's HUGE!
We decided to head to the top of the Empire State building so we could say we had done it, but the two hour wait in muggy, crowded lines, really wasn't worth it. (the views from Top of the Rock are better) So we've been there, done that, but never again.
Before we left for New York, Parker was very excited at the idea that we were going to see
skyscrapers. He said, "They might even be, like, seven stories high!" I laughed and said, "Probably higher." To which he replied, "10?" So we took a picture of this to show him that we went up 86 stories!
He was quite impressed.
After the ESB we walked many LONG city blocks to look at the USS Intrepid and this is what we found.
So far our day was
not quite working out so great. We decided to spare our feet and took a cab back into mid- Manhattan. From there we went to FAO Schwartz--a childhood dream come true.
The soldier at the front door...
leaned in a little too close for Wayne's comfort.
Solidier made totally our of Jelly Bellys.
And of course the BIG piano. They let people on to play it, but there were a couple kids in line and I didn't want to wait. FAO was cool, but not quite as impressive as my childhood mind had imagined.
We also walked down and saw Trump Tower and some other things before we headed back to the hotel to change to go to the temple that night.
This was probably one of my favorite things we did. The temple is tiny right across from the Lincoln Center in Manhattan. It shares a corner of a block with a normal meeting house. You have to be in New York to really appreciate the noise there, but it was amazing that as you walk through the doors of the temple, it really is peaceful and QUITE! The noise disappears and I think Wayne and I even jumped a little walking out and again being assaulted by the traffic and people. The temple itself is beautiful inside, with a lot of intricate woodwork. It was a wonderful way to end our trip.
Our month started out with a spiritual high! General Conference was amazing and touched me more than any has ever before. I truly felt that many talks were written specifically for me. I often times find myself feeling good about conference, but also overwhelmed and tired at the thought of what I still need to work on or do. This time was different. I felt uplifted and inspired and excited at what changes we should make. It was amazing and gave me the boost I needed to not only get through the month, but also the next 6 until Conference comes again. 
I'm so grateful to know that there is a living prophet on this earth. As well as Apostles and other General Authorities who are inspired and directed to tell us what we need for our time. 
He thought they were fun.
Happy Birthday!
and Aiden 
always happy for a party.
He LOVED it and didn't want to get out...even for more presents. He also got books, a caterpillar alphabet pal, and a push popper. 
He had gotten out of his bed, was playing with his laundry basket and had fallen asleep behind the door. Funny kid!
Parker and Aiden excited to get carving.
Wayne decided to break out to big tools for his pumpkin.
Brenner happily watching from the corner--he and his dad were having some issues.
I carved Aiden's pumpkin from his design, 
Wayne carved Parker's.
Aiden, Parker's and mine. Wayne's was still a work in progress.
All done and proudly displayed on the front porch. Can you see the boys?
Parker's pumpkin,
Aiden's pumpkin,
my pumpkin
and Wayne's pumpkin
Can you tell what it is??
The school was having their annual Harvest Party (Halloween party), and even though I decided not to haul all the kids, some other friends took the two older girls and Parker. 
Abbey the beautiful witch 
and Ashton the Spa treatment.
They went sliding forward, 
backwards, upside, 
and sideways.
And they all loved it!
We also ate candy corn and watched a movie. It was lots of fun!
My cute children (for a few days).
It's really incredible to see huge Central Park right in the middle of this bustling city.
(actually Wayne was stabbed).
Then we walked around Rockefeller Center and waited to take a tour of NBC studios. It's tiny! I was amazed at how small all the sets are.
It was very good as you can see by our greedy eating.
I tried to explain to the boys all the screens on the sides of buildings that are like big TVs. They thought that was pretty cool.
and flag.
This is right around the corner from a fire station and as we were leaving a fire truck pulled out and many people stopped, waved, or saluted the firefighters.
In front of the New York Stock Exchange. 
We didn't realize they were no longer giving tours, so that was disappointing.
This is a musician playing some sort of symbol and he was very good. Wayne gave him some money and he said, "You must be an American. I will play something patriotic." And he played America the Beautiful.
We look kind of piddly in front of Lady Liberty. 
They loved it.
Me so excited to get on the subway and off my feet!
It's HUGE!
We decided to head to the top of the Empire State building so we could say we had done it, but the two hour wait in muggy, crowded lines, really wasn't worth it. (the views from Top of the Rock are better) So we've been there, done that, but never again.
He was quite impressed.
So far our day was not quite working out so great. We decided to spare our feet and took a cab back into mid- Manhattan. From there we went to FAO Schwartz--a childhood dream come true.
The soldier at the front door... 
leaned in a little too close for Wayne's comfort.
Solidier made totally our of Jelly Bellys.
And of course the BIG piano. They let people on to play it, but there were a couple kids in line and I didn't want to wait. FAO was cool, but not quite as impressive as my childhood mind had imagined.
