New York! New York!

Where to begin, the whole trip was just amazing! As soon as we got back we wanted to go again. We did everything! On Sunday we started out slow ( I think we slept in until 10!) and then we took the train to Grand Central station-wow! It was absolutely beautiful with an hourly light show that looked like snow flakes falling from the ceiling. Then on past the public library and to Bryant Park to walk through the shops and watch the ice skaters.

Then we went on to Rockefeller Center to meet up with my cousin Michael and his wife Rachel who took the train in from Philadelphia to have dinner with us. I had never met Rachel, and Scott had never met either of them. It was so fun getting to know them better. We ate at TGI Fridays and then continued on to Starbucks. We didn't want them to leave, and I don't think they wanted to leave either! We just had such a wonderful night!

On Monday we started our day by attempting to go the Met, but it was closed for the day for a special event. So we wondered through Central Park. It was GORGEOUS! Even with it being winter, with the trees bare with hardly any flowers, it was breathtaking. And the views were amazing! This is us on the green lawn and then at one of the many ponds-the view was breathtaking!

Then it was on to the Museum of Natural History. We had a great time looking at all the dinosaur displays, the space section and all the different cultures.

On our way out of the museum though, we received a phone call from Scott's mom with the sad news that Scott's grandpa had suffered a brain aneurysm and had passed away that morning. It was definitely a hard night, with many phone calls made, flights changed to make it to Arkansas in time for the funeral and then flights switched back when after much thought and prayer Scott knew that his fun loving grandpa would want us to stay and enjoy the rest of our trip. It was not easy being so far away from all of his grieving family and feeling very sad and alone. But Scott shared memories, and I shared the few memories I had with him and we found joy knowing that he was now with his Lord and without pain.


On Tuesday we took the Circle Line boat out past the Statue of Liberty and on to Ellis Island.

The history fan in me was just overwhelmed. So many stories and testimonies and junk galore! As a die hard collector of junk (aka basically anything old and cool like trunks, doors, windows....etc) I wanted to take everything home!After watching the gorgeous sunset fall behind the Statue of Liberty we tooking a stroll through Battery Park and came across the Sphere. It used to be an art piece in front of the World Trade Center. As you can see, it too suffered damage. It was moved to Battery Park with an eternal flame lit on the 1 year anniversary of September 11 attacks. We then made our way to ground zero.

I've never been to New York before, and it's been 5 years, but I cried like a baby.
To stand where two buildings stood and have a gaping hole in their place was overwhelming.


To look up and see the buildings that still stand;

some that survived, others

that have had major renovations.....I just could contain my emotions. They have completed the subway system that used to run beneath the towers. Outside of the train station ,right at ground zero, are pictures of people, firemen and policmen carrying or aiding people through the rubble. The captions would tell their name and that after carrying the person to safety they then went back into the buidling, never to be seen again. As an American I felt pride, grief, sadness, anger and optimism. We can move on, we can rebuild, but we must never, EVER, forget.

And not to take away from the day....
but that night we went to FAO Schwartz....
and I MET TIM MCGRAW!!!!
Nobody but Scott believes me because in the process of the day our camera broke!
(we actually have a reciept for Best Buy for the next morning to prove that we went and bought a new camera) but I had my big camera on my back, and my camera phone in my pocket....I just didn't think about it. He was buying dolls for his daughters at the section where you can pick their hair color and eye color and clothing. And I stood there like for a minute trying to decide if I should saying anything. But as he walked away I walked up and told him I didn't have a camera but I wanted to shake his hand. So he smiled, shook my hand and said "nice to meet'cha" and then walked away. He was alone ( to Scott's dismay, he was hoping for a Faith sighting) and we could tell he was trying not to make a scene. But it was sooooo cool. I turned into a teeny bopper, sweaty school girl in a matter of minutes. And as I walked away my stomach was literally in my throat.

Wow, I'm such a dork. (But a very excited dork=)

After such an emtional day, Wednesday was the perfect next day. It was by far the coldest day we had, with rain and slight winds, I think it was in the upper 40's-so still nice compared to most New York days in December=) We started out the day at the Empire State Building. There was zero visibilty that day, and we were literally in a cloud. How appropriate for people in Bakersfield to be "fogged out" in New York!=) It was freezing at the top! But the wind would blow and move the clouds around, so we didn't the get the whole city scape but we still got to see great views of the Flat Iron building, Bryant Park and lots of other things that you can't tell what they are because you're 86 stories up!It was then on to Scott's favorite building, the Flat Iron Building.

We lasted in Macy's long enough for Scott to use the restroom. It was so insane! The people, the flowers, the multiple floors. How does anyone actually accomplish shopping in that store?
Then we went to Rockefeller Center! Even though we'd already been there, the tree is still overwhelming anytime you see it! And to ice skate in Rockefeller Center was just surreal. You see it on TV and in movies and to be right there was so cool!

We then headed to Time Square to eat dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe and to see the Lion King! What a great day!

Happy Anniversary! Thursday we celebrated 4 years of marriage!
It was such a relaxing day too. We started by getting Starbucks, some fruit from a street vendor and then enjoying a peaceful morning wandering around Battery Park.

Then we caught a brief lunch and then off to the Rockettes! It was such a fun perfomance!
We then walked up and down 5th avenue looking at all the fancy shops and window displays-and the people! My goodness it seemed like everyone was on 5th avenue at the same time. Scott surprised me by taking me to Tiffany and letting me pick out a ring that I've loved for a long time. That was so fun!

Then we took a ride around Central Park in horse carriage which was way fun. Our driver was Irish and very informative about all the buildings and he pointed out lots of spots that have been used in movies (which I loved!)


This was our horse Leo. I got to feed him a carrot!
We finished off the night with dessert at Serendipty! Yum! And totally worth the wait!


Our last day we had just the a little time to play around before we had to catch a cab to the airport. We started out on the Brooklyn Bridge which I think was Scott's heaven=) He took so many pictures of the gears and the wires and the enormous bolts. Blame in on his profession.=) I just enjoyed the sights and how excited Scott was.

We then caught the subway back to the upper east side and on our way to the Met I saw the cutest little bookstore. It reminded me of a combination of The Shop Around the Corner from You've Got Mail and the Travel Bookshop from Notting Hill. Too cute!

And our final outing was the most confusing. We tried navigating the Met. Yeah, spend the money to get a guide. We spend the entire 2 plus hours wandering around aimlessly. Even with a map we walked in multiple circles and couldn't figure out how to get where we wanted to get. So we saw lots of stuff, but nothing we wanted to. Oh well, next time!


All in all, even with sad news, broken cameras, getting lost, and things being closed it was so much fun exploring such an incredible city with my best friend.

Now....where should we go next......