Family Time - in May

Austin decided to leave Boston early and return to Utah in May - so this is our last Sunday together in Belmont. Right after church we drove to the temple (just around the corner) and had Evelyn photograph our family.

I'm assuming you get my point about Ivy and cameras.

Spring

This picture DOES NOT do "Spring in New England" justice, but it's the best I've got. Besides the fact that I hadn't gotten a new camera yet so this was taken with the kids' camera, the picture was also taken from a moving car. From the sun roof to be exact. We were on our way home from church and I insisted on a picture of this gorgeous tree. My husband was willing to turn the car around, but not actually STOP THE CAR. He held the camera through the sun roof and snapped the picture as we drove by. Sigh. Here's where I remind myself to be grateful for what I get and not expect any more than that!

Baby Davey

Baby Davey is the cutest - and my all-time favorite Boston - boy! He was born just a few weeks after we moved here and he has just learned to say "hiiiiiii." I visit teach with his mom, and his big brother and Coop are friends. Because his dad teaches Sunday School and his mom is the YW Pres., I usually get him during the second and third hours of church. He is a DOLL! -- And he's the fifth boy of six children so you can imagine what his mother has to look forward to! I have a favorite baby girl here too. Her name is Clarissa and you'll meet her later. In fact, she is supposed to visit us in Utah around July 4! I always imagine Davey and Clarissa will get married, and their children will have the ultimate FAT CHEEKS!

Liberty & Ellis Islands

Last year Cooper received an interactive globe for Christmas. He has been enthralled by it, and quickly learned some world-wide landmarks like the Taj Mahal (sp?) and the Statue of Liberty! Since then he has been particularly interested in Lady Liberty. Obviously, we put that on our list of "must see while in NYC." Unfortunately, however, one must take a ferry to see the Statue - and Cooper is VERY nervous about boats and ferries. He has seen news reports and movies with sinking boats. So, he was anxious the entire ride, and even was willing to give up seeing the Statue - but we coaxed him and he did great! (Two days ago we went on another ferry to an island in Boston Harbor. Same story)

Waiting to boardthe ferry. It's interesting that Cooper is nervous ON the boat, but not AROUND the water. This mom, however, was a nervous wreck on the pier because Coop was leaning through the fences to drop rocks and sticks into the water.

Patiently waiting - for the moment anyway.

The ride over.

Ellis Island - A beautiful building, and so interesting!!

Inside the Ellis Building. Could spend hours there exploring and learning.


Lady Liberty. Of course we had only a dumb camera with us, and then that lost power on Libery Island. So, Richard was laying on the ground (to get the rest of us AND the statue in the picture) holding the cell phone to snap a picture. He still hasn't downloaded the pix, and I don't know how.

McKenna had lots of fun with Heather along on the trip with us.

Did I mention that Heather is one of NINE children, so she is VERY patient with all of our little ones. It was a blessing.

Central Park

Of course I've heard of Central Park, but never did I imagine it was so big! Covering nearly 500 acres, it is filled with beautiful architecture, fun playgrounds, sports fields, towering boulders, blooming flowers and shrubs, tall forests of trees, bronze statuary, and green expanses of lawn. Even more surprises await.

There are many paths and roads through the park, but most of them are "hidden" from view or are camoflauged into the landscape by tunnels and bridges and hills. A map is the best way to find your way around!

High atop this boulder was a pavilion that Coop couldn't resist - and Maia followed - and Ivy tried. Cooper ran and climbed all over the first rocky mountain we encountered. He came to an immediate halt when he came upon a couple making out. He hurried back to me with his cheeks bright red!

Down a hill at the end of a curving path is a 100 + year old carousel! It's been mainted for years by a family and is just $2 to ride!

It was like Mary Poppins! We ended the ride with an ice-cream from a cart. There are even sidewalk artists there! (But alas, not a nanny in sight other than the mom and dad!)

The main Mall is lined with bronze statues of famous poets - but the kids couldn't have cared less. Look at the trees - they're incredible.

The Water Conservatory of Hollywood films fame.

Just blocks away is Madison Avenue (see the reflection of buildings nearby). Ivy was very careful around the water. . .

. . . and so was her obedient sister. . .

. . . but notice there's no picture of Coop by the water. I needed BOTH hands and BOTH eyes to watch him as he scooted and reached as far as he could over the pond to grab the sailboats or watch sticks sink or touch a duck or . . . .

Nestled near the center of the park, built on a boulder above this pond is . . .

A castle!! Yes a castle, that looms above the foilage and surprises you as you make your way up the hill behind the pond.

We picked a perfect time visit - wonderful weather and everything was in bloom! Gorgeous colors and acres of blossoms.

My own sweet blossoms.

In the lap of Hans Christian Andersen. Gorgeous scultpures are everywhere, and Ivy had a particularly hard time passing any of the "oooh, cute" ones without petting, cuddling, and kissing them.

Case in point.

And again. She made it a tad difficult to "hurry" through the sightseeing when we had so much to do in so little time - but she taught us the real way to enjoy life in the moment.

Cooper's specialty was climbing to the highest point of each statue - no surprise there!

Balto the hero dog was far more fun to see than any old poet! Of course we took turns with each one on his back - and Ivy kissed him before she climbed down.

It so happens that our trip corresponded with Maia's classroom study of Alaska. Each child had been "assigned" and was following certain teams of mushers in the actual Iditarod. She was enthralled with the whole thing (especially because she had seen real mushers in Vermont) and checked online each day to see what place her mushers were in. The Alaska study, of course, included the story of Balto. We took this picture and sent it to school with her to show her friends.

Balto the dog is even fun and "cool" enough for the teenagers - especially the dog-loving one.

My favorite picture in Central Park!!! Alice in Wonderland kept us occupied for a LONG time.

If they had stayed under Alice's mushroom much longer they would have been asleep. It was a FUN day in Central Park.

World Trade Center

The place that topped my NYC sightseeing list was Ground Zero. Although we couldn't get as close as I hoped (nor are there any monuments in place yet), I was struck by the atmosphere of reverence and unity.

Perhaps the best "view" we got was coming into the WTC stop on the subway. It was eerie knowing that that was the place where so many had arrived that fateful morning. The train literally brought us into and through Ground Zero and we could see through the windows the construction crews at work on the scarred site. When we got off the train we were in the station and once we exited the station we were "outside" the high wire fences surrounding the site.

Directly across the street from Ground Zero is a beautiful church (St. Paul's I think?) - reknown for many reasons. George Washington worshipped there (his pew is still in place) when he lived in NYC as the first president of the U.S. Most recently, it became the headquarters for the rescue operation of 9/11. Inside its walls, food was served to thousands, dozens and dozens of cots held the weary rescuers, aching feet and small wounds were treated, candles were lit on behalf of the dead and missing and injured, and thousands of prayers were offered to the Lord. The inside of the church still serves its original intended purpose, but it is also a museum of sorts, with many displays and momentos of 9/11, to include hundreds of the heartwrenching notes and pictures that were posted on the outside fence during the time of tragedy. Although we took one picture (with the bad camera, and bad lighting) I couldn't really bring myself to photograph more of it. Pictures cannot describe the feeling there.The churchyard was home to hundreds of old gravestones, and dozens of beautiful trees. It also holds the stump of an ancient tree - a tree that was blown from its base by the blasts of 9/11. That tree did not survive, but its massive and sturdy body stood between the WTC and the church and served to protect the church from ALL damage. Not a broken window, not a cracked stone, nothing.

Outside the fences of Ground Zero. The land area was extensive and the excavation deep. It was hard to convey the significance of the extent of damage to the little ones. At least they'll remember they were there.

Below are a couple of miscellaneous photos. I'll still add more about NYC later.

We met a movie star (in the glasses, on the right!) at Times Square. Her big brother tells her she looks like a bug.

A little of the traffic. We actually stayed across the water in New Jersey (my husband always wants the $ deal!) - and the first day of sightseeing we took public transportation. Returning home that night we spent THREE HOURS on the subway, PATH train, busses, and shuttle. We arrived at the hotel at midnight. The next day we drove the car and paid the $48 to park all day long. Richard was sure we could find cheaper parking somewhere else and I said we would pay $100 to park if we needed. Otherwise, I'd rather drive home each night (3 1/2 hours each way) and sleep in my own bed!! -- I am grateful, however, that Richard did all the driving. Interesting note: signs were posted all over reminding drivers about the fine they'd receive for honking their horns. A nice tradition they should start in Massachusetts!!!

A Little Bit of New York

I LOVE NEW YORK CITY!! This was a great place to visit - and I would love to go back. Maybe next time, with no kids. It takes a while to move en masse and I was continually counting children to make sure I had them all. While Austin didn't go, McKenna's friend Heather did. She was fun to have along on the trip - because McKenna argued less with Tessa!!

Empire State Building of course. Coop bought himself a King Kong souvenir here.

A view from the top.

Another.

It was very chilly up on top, so the kids headed inside quickly. I thought it was fascinating to walk around and see the view from each side. I could have stayed much longer! That's Heather by the way.

Snuggling to keep warm.

Down on ground level again - in Times Square. I took this picture for Martha specifically. Or maybe she still has her poster from our Raintree days?

We were in NYC on Maia's birthday - and she is our baby lover so OF COURSE we had to go to the American Girl Doll store!!!! It was a blast! Cooper and Maia bought the "twins" that Maia had been wanting for ages. Ivy got her very first Bitty Baby. She named her LukeLeah (do you think she watches too much Star Wars with her brother??)

Here the dolls are getting their hair done. We checked Maia's baby Sammy into the hospital to have some "repairs" done. (Maia got her when she was 3 and she has been loved heavily since then.)

Trying to decide which outfit she's picking for Sammy - mom's buying her one for her birthday!

That is a good daddy. Willing to carry two full American Girl Doll bags through Times Square, NYC. He doesn't let his ego get in the way of making his little girls happy!

Coop getting his caricature drawn. The artist gave him lots of muscles! Notice LukeLeah on Ivy's lap in the stroller.

At the wax museum in Times Square.

Down time at the hotel

Ivy with LukeLeah, Maia with her new twin (under the covers) and Cooper with his boy twin "Coop."