Lucky Day

The highlight this week was winning Wicked tickets!! This was my fourth, and T-mans fifth time trying for lottery tickets. They sell them for $26.50 amazing deal for Wicked. I was sooooo excited to win! They call about thirteen people each show and that night there were over 200 names in the pile. What is cool though is they told us Letty could put her name in, so she has been trying to get tickets as well :) (even though I told her she could go, she said she just wanted to win tickets) I guess as long as you can write your own name you can put it in. The Harrison's so kindly watched our kids while we headed out to our front row seats. I was worried it may be a bit close but it was really fun being right there looking in the actors/actresses eyes. We could also lean up and see in the orchestra pit! It was so fun, I love Wicked! It is my favorite Broadway. So now we have to try and win Tickets for the Harrison's so they can enjoy the front row.

I saw this cool building as I was waiting for Tim and my friend Campbell. I don't really look up very often which is a shame because I miss seeing spectacular buildings. I pretty much have to keep my head down so as to not have a serious stroller accidents along with stepping in all sorts of unmentionables.

Strolling in C. Park we see this large bull frog chillin' in the grass. I guess I'm always surprised to see creatures in the city, a bonus for walking around so much is that you see things you wouldn't otherwise. Shortly after we had been there a lady came along and decided to pick up this frog with her bare hands and carry it down to the pond... ( a rescue attempt)I thought he looked happy where he was but what do I know?

Conservatory Water. This little pond is where you see people sailing little mini sailboats in the movies. It's also a favorite spot for birdwatchers.

I guess this is what you have to do to retrieve your boat if it gets stuck.

The fun Alice and Wonderland statue. Letty had a grand time climbing all over it.

Had to eat a hot dog at Gray's Papaya! Not really anything special but now we know.

Walking along the esplanade in Riverside Park.



Hello New Jersey! Standing on Pier 1 at the beginning of Riverside Park around 74th.

Friday night date night with Letty. It was so fun to take my little Letty bug on a date.

She wanted to go and ride the Ferris wheel at Toys R Us. Although she was a bit disappointed we didn't get to sit in the My Little Pony car, but ended up in Barbie...she got over it quickly.


So we got caught in a torrential down pour. We had a great time running down the streets in Time Square, we pretty much took a shower out there. I think New Yorkers are afraid of water, you should see how often they pull out the umbrellas. Anyway, someone warned me about Letty getting wet...funny, but as you can she I don't think she minded. Although earlier she was a bit overwhelmed by all of the people as she said "mom I can't see where I am going." She was a little distressed but forgot all about it by the time we made it to the Ferris wheel. Times Square is overwhelming to me sometimes, I can't imagine what it looks like to her.

Had to take a pic of 2009.

It has become a tradition to eat take out with the Harrison's sometime during the weekend. We stepped outside from picking up our Thai and well....this is how we ended up. Rained on again this week! My bag almost ripped. :)

I think they were making a cake. I love pretend, as long as I don't have to be the baby or the dog all of the time.

Some Fun in the little Sun

The summers in NY are full of free concerts for kids in various parks around the city. On Tuesday we went to Madison Square Garden to see Elizabeth Mitchell (a favorite in our home). It lasted one hour which was perfect. We then enjoyed a burger at Shake Shack, so yummy. It was one of the few rain free days we had this week. I don't know if this is happening everywhere else but here it has been raining more often than not. I think it is unusual for this time of year.

I love the fountains here (Madison Square Garden)

Elizabeth Mitchell concert, she has nice, soothing rhythms.





Flat Iron Building next the the garden






A trip to Central Park to see the Reservoir. Apparently this lovely track around the reservoir is not for strollers. We were informed of this as we were taking pics. The man said we could cause someone to pull a hamstring and then would have to pay for the injured person while they were out of work....sheesh!! So kind ;) Lately I've been a bit bothered by comments and looks of an unkind nature that happen more often than they should. Although after today's lesson in Relief Society and realizing that others have met these helpful individuals (someone called them the "co-parents of NY"). It was just nice to here that I was not alone in receiving this kind of treatment. I will try harder to not let it get to me and to find more positive things to focus on. After all lots of people don't say anything, you just remember the ones that do. The lesson was a nice reminder and something I needed to hear.

Enjoying lunch in a little spot of sun after our stroll.

For a mere $39.99 a piece you can enjoy this Ostrich Egg. I didn't realize they were so readily available.

On Saturday night I returned a favor and watched a friend's children. The Harrisons and us were also swapping babysitting this weekend so Elle joined us as well which made a total of 6 girls. We had a good time, and surprisingly it wasn't as crazy as I thought it might be. Here is T-man in the middle of the girl party.

Gracie and her favorite friend Elle. I love these little girls!

Monica babysat on Saturday night while we ate some yum yum Cuban food at a local restaurant and then went to Times Square to see the Broadway "In the Heights." It was a great show to get a local NY feel. It it about Washington Heights and the Barrio. T-Man enjoyed the Latin flavor.

Just a random pic. Our sad attempt to have Gracie use a spoon more. We usually just put food on her tray. If she could speak I think she would say "I was born with hands, why on earth would I use this akward little stick to eat?"

Festivals and Fun

The beginning of this week we went to the Museum Mile. One day a year for three hours all of the museums along the Upper East Side are free. Attractions, sidewalk chalk, and food. Above is the Guggenheim.


Inside the Museum of the City of New York. It was fun to compare "then" and "now" especially geographically.

Enjoying a free tambourine.

After the Museum Mile, Monica and I headed downtown for girls' night out with Chloe, and Erin. The restaurant was decorated in tons of Tintin (plates, books, and wall decor) awesome!



While waiting for the subway Letty and I spotted yet another city rat. When the train came he just scurried under something for cover. Letty was very concerned he would get ran over. I personally wouldn't have minded. :)

Candy anyone? Our view from inside of Jamba Juice (our date treat).

On top of the world! okay on top of the Empire State Bld. We enjoyed a date night on Friday. My friend Campbell babysat (so nice).

Saturday was spent at the South Seaport Kids' festival. These amazing bubbles looked like compressed bubble bath. They held their shape and drifted up, up and above the buildings.

At Pier 17. The festival location. Such a beautiful part of the city. The lovely person taking our picture forgot about the babes.

Here is one including Gracie.

Enjoying a free concert (everything there was free, so nice) Gordon from Sesame Street was the host (can you believe that guy still is on that show, I mean really he was there when I was little)?

Some of our favorite story characters "brother and sister bear"

Gracie and Elle weren't as excited. When I sat them on the bench they both freaked out! Babies and large stuffed animals don't mix.

Another fun visitor. I love festivals!!

Friday for lunch we met T-man and then went up to his building. It took us 20 min. to get through security, sheesh! But man what a view! Floor 35 of 3 World Financial Center.


One of the sweet moments of sisterly love.

A NYC Saturday

Saturday we enjoyed a packed day of sightseeing. First, Letty and T-man also enjoyed going to the Ballet for Young People (thank you American Express) where they got to see snippets from Swan Lake and other dances. Letty drank it up!

Next was a trip to the Tenement Museum (no pics) which is actually a tour. We visited a tenement building that has been restored. The building had been closed and pretty much in a time capsule until 1985. We visited a typical 325 sq. ft. apartment which housed 10 people. The mom and dad shared a twin size bed with the baby. Six boys slept in one room sleeping on crates, chairs, and the floor and the only girl slept on the kitchen floor. An actress represented a 14-year-old girl who was a Sephardic Jewish immigrant from Turkey speaking Ladino a mix of Spanish and Hebrew. It was very educational and a neat experience.

The day wouldn't be complete without a visit to Chinatown. Our experience was complete with merchandise packed street fronts (similar to an outdoor market) and pirated DVDs. In addition you couldn't get more than 10 steps without hearing someone mumbling under their breath (Rolex, Rolex, Rolex). We have now truly experienced New York.

We have really enjoyed having the Harrisons live so close (friends from BYU) Monica and I enjoy our daily adventures together. T-man and Mathew enjoy great discussions to and from work on the packed subways each day. NYC is more fun when shared with friends.

This blog has pretty much turned into a photo gallery, so enjoy:

Gracie spends most of her time in the stroller, so when we get back and she can't walk we'll know why.

Eating in Chinatown. Not the best meal in the world but then again T-man was not completely convinced that eating at a Malaysian restaurant was a good idea after his recent trip there.

Helping herself to some cereal.

Kornets pizza on our block. The biggest slice you have ever seen! And the cheapest per square inch in NYC.

Lovely Riverside Park

Still one of Letty's favorite things. Carousels...she enjoyed the ride. As for my opinion, it was rather dark in there and I couldn't completely enjoy it since it smelled strongly of urine (much of NYC does).

I actually don't know the name of this fountain but it is awesome! It is in Central Park.

As Monica and I are making our way to the Park we look over and see this, so we hurried across the street just in case.

New York City fire department, hard at work. I was surprise how quick they came.

Need I say more?