Monday I ran around like a nut. I subbed in for the B team (skipping my C clinic) and then Diane and I lost on line 6. Ugh. It stung and was humbling. I spent the afternoon packing up and getting organized. Tuesday I spent the morning volunteering at Ellie’s school for the teacher dessert buffet. Now that I have one under my belt I can run it better next time. Then, I picked up kids from school early, Phil ordered a Lyft and we headed to the airport. We surprised the kids for an early Christmas gift (and Birthday gift for me) and spent the week in NYC! We got in and settled at the hotel by 7 and went around the corner for pizza. Early bedtime then up at 5:15 to walk to studio 1A to see the Today Show. We didn’t make it on TV but Al Roker fist bumped Abby and Hoda was blowing kisses to Voss. Super cool experience. We got bagels (so much cream cheese!) then walked through Central Park to see the prep for the parade, blowing up balloons and assembling floats. Neat-oh! The girls and I saw the Rockettes while the guys went to FAO Schwartz and the Nintendo store. Ellie said that was her favorite of the trip. It was an amazing show! I didn’t realize it was so much more than line dancing; camels, donkeys and fairies! We stopped at ChickFilA (Marly was thrilled) on the walk back to the hotel. Another early bedtime and then all of us up at 5am. We found a spot on the street by 6am. It rained THE. WHOLE. TIME. Phil did have to get in a fight with a guy who tried to push Marly out of the way to take our spot. That was rough. Phil found a hotel close where he could duck in for breaks, change Voss’ socks, get coffee and hot chocolate and thaw out. Ellie did go back to our hotel at one point to change shoes. Marly and I stuck it out the whole time! Unfortunately we were in a “silent zone” close enough to Macy’s to mess up the live broadcast so the bands had to stop playing and singers stop singing. The good part is that we still had plenty of action to see everyone primp before the camera. The parade finally got to us around 9:30 and ended around 11:30. It was surreal. I’m still pinching myself that we were so close! Yes, it was cold and wet but I loved it! I grew up watching the Macy’s Day parade on TV. It was so neat to actually be there in person seeing it up close. I’m still pinching myself that it actually happened. Tension was high when we finally got back to the hotel. We were exhausted. Hot showers for all, clothes hung to dry (that hotel hair dryer worked miracles for our shoes). We went across the street for a Thanksgiving dinner of hot ramen. It was perfect! We got in bed and watched Elf. Marly and Abby did a late McDonald’s run. It was a good day. I am so thankful! We slept in on Friday morning then got delicious bagels at a place around the corner. We took the subway to Battery Park and stamped our National Park passports a few times. The kids did the junior ranger program at Castle Clinton then we walked to Federal Hall for a stamp. By then it was time to board the ferry to take us to the Statue of Liberty. We climbed the stairs to the bottom of her feet then took our Christmas card photo. We got junior ranger packets for there then took the ferry to Ellis Island and got packets there, too. How amazing that America used to be such a welcome place. Sure there was discrimination back then, too but still a vibe of welcome. We had dinner at Mustang Harry’s, a guys night kina pub. Phil and I went out for a date night cocktail at the bar next door to our hotel. Saturday we slept in again. We found a French bistro for pastries then hit the public library and Time Square. I think it got even colder. Marly loved all the stores. Ellie and I divided and conquered and hit box offices trying to find last minute show tickets. I scored at Back to the Future and got $40 tickets! We had lunch at Carnegie’s deli (after waiting about an hour) then went to the show. It was cute! It was just based on the first movie. Interesting to see what they chose to take and leave. The older girls and I walked back. The younger kids and Phil took the subway. We beat them by 15min and ordered the pizza at our corner pizza place. Sunday we got up and went to mass at St. Patrick’s. It was so special to celebrate the first Sunday of Advent with the archbishop of NY. He gave a great homily about needs and wants, inspired by a convict he celebrated Mass with in a prison. We walked along the gorgeous upper east side, had lunch at Smash Burger then walked across Central Park again to the Natural History Museum. My friend, Nate hooked us up with locals tickets. So much taxidermy but I loved all the fossils! We took the subway back and had BBQ for dinner. Snuggled in bed for the rosary and Back to the Future marathon. This morning we slept in and back up, checked out and had egg sandwiches at a local corner store. We walked along the High Line. Phil and Marly went ice skating. It was just too cold for the rest of us. We hopped on the subway to the 9/11 Memorial. We stumbled upon an underground mall. Ah, this is what the locals do in the cold! We met Phil and Marly back at the hotel then took the train to the airport. It’s been an awesome week! Not perfect, there were some knock down drag outs and crabby attitudes…but still really good. We are now at JFK waiting to board our flight. What a wonderful way to kick off the holiday season!
Here are the pics of the week.
Here are the pics of the week.
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