New York Day Two, part one

We did so much today I need to break this post into two parts.

We woke up bright and early and headed to the French Bakery across the street.

I had the Elephant Ears or Palmiers and Nathan had a Cranberry Muffin.

Then we got on the subway...our first subway!

 We headed right to Battery Park to see the Statue of Liberty.

We decided not to take the ferry because the museum and the statue were closed due to Hurricane Sandy, so we just walked around and saw the sights.

 Universal Soldier. Check out these flags.

I spy Greece!

The Statue of Liberty.

Us in front of the Hudson. No airplanes landed while we took this picture. ;)

It was so cold, but it was still 8:30. :)

This is a view of One World Tower from Battery Park.

Uncle Nathan and Nephew Phil. :) 

 Immigrants Monument.

I was getting a picture of this building when Stephanie and I were being dumb.

Oh man, I couldn't stop laughing. You know, when you can't stop and you can't breathe, and then it hurts and you STILL can't stop. Yea. 

and then Steph got an airborne delivery from an avian friend.

Theo helped her clean it up. She is going to KILL me when she sees I posted this. Haha.

Here is the bull from the financial district.

Then we went back on the Subway to see Ground Zero, and the 9/11 Monument.

What a hassle. You have to get a free ticket which is on one side of the world, then walk to the other side of the world just to get worse-than-airport-security-screened, just to walk right back to where you were.

UGH! 

There was no one near this particular section when Nathan and I walked up. 

How weird that it just happened to have 3 FireStation/Companies on it.

One World Tower, still being built.

There were 50 security/police on the premises. So strange for a memorial.

Oh man I love this picture for SO many reasons. LOL

Once we got there, it was soooooooo quiet.

Peaceful.

A little sad, and cool, and sad.

Then we parted ways. Nathan and I went on (because we didn't have kids) and had a walking lunch and visited Saint Peter's Cathedral.

 Cool Fact:

Look how the deal with parking:

 

I don't know about you, but this freaks me out a little. 

***

Then we hit the subway again and went to Times Square, we ran into Chris Cuomo!

 That story and pictures are for tomorrow! Plus we went to Shabbat and dinner with my family. Until tomorrow. :)

New York Day One!

I feel incredibly lucky that this whole trip actually happened. 

First off, I will forever be in my In-Laws debt for taking all 5 of my kids for the next few days so Nathan and I could come to New York ALONE!

Second, We got an amazing rate on airfare, hotel, and we just couldn't pass it up.

Third, and really, the biggest reason we are in New York RIGHT NOW is because my cousin Sam is becoming Barmitzvah, and it was time to see the whole family again.

***

Okay, on to today's adventure.

I packed the kids up and dropped them off last night.

Clearly, I have a problem.

Then, Nathan and I woke up, and our ride to the airport cancelled 30 minutes before we had to leave and my friend Tara took us to the airport, last minute, ON HER BIRTHDAY! 

Can you believe it? I have the best friends.

Anyway, we got on the plane and the pilot said we were going to Chicago and everyone was freaking out. HE was on the wrong plane! OOPS!

Nathan passed out thanks to Aquafina.

Then we made it to New York, Here is a friendly animated airport service hologram.

Then we picked up a taxi, and on cue I belted out "NYC"

We rushed into the hotel room, brushed our teeth and went out for Dim Sum with  my peeps.
I got a quick kiss from my adorable nephew, Philip.

Okay, "kiss" is a stretch. I got a smile - but, the feeling was mutual. :)

The place we went to had crystal animals from the Chinese calendar on the ceiling. This is a bad picture, but it was beautiful and fancy!

I got some time with my awesome Grandma who is a fantastic orderer.
She always picks the best food to eat!

After dinner, Nathan and I walked back and checked out the Temple, and enjoyed the crisp New York air...without kids. A great date night!

Did I mention my cousins are flippin awesome? Sam is so mature and cool. I found out that my Horn's are Basketball fanatacs...INCLUDING GiGi! Wha???

Aiden 9 and Sam 13.

It is amazing how nice it is to talk to my family without wrangling kids!

I am on cloud nine, great food, great people, great room, and ... its JUST the beginning!

Signing off, from Manhattan, NY!

Primary 2013

Bridget was thrilled to go to church. Since they have all been sick since Christmas, we haven't been able to take them out or do anything fun over break. The older 3 have been feeling much better, so Nathan took them to church so they could meet their new teachers.

Bridget helped Scarlett get dressed. She does this almost every Sunday. This year, we meet at 9am. 

YES! The best time slot!

I scurried them out to take a picture before they headed off. It was so, so, cold!

Yay! 3 kids in Primary. Scarlett was just SQUEALING with excitement!

***

Lucas, CTR 6, Brother Phillipps (till they move)

Scarlett, Sunbeam, Jessica Tillapaugh. (which is a little weird since I knew her in the Singles Ward)

She didn't care, she was happy to be in singing time!

 Bridget, CTR 5, Sister Breeden (again)

The kids came home and talked my ear off. They were so excited about their new classes.

For the record. Lucas has never had a girl teacher...he is pretty happy about that. :)

I am no longer in Primary. I wasn't released, and I wasn't given a class.

I assume I will find out what that is all about in 2 weeks.

Juliet will be in Nursery alone, until June when Mason joins her. 

That will be so weird. Having no kids on our hips!

Happy New Classes!

Ringing in 2013!

Last year, our city did fireworks and a cool show. This year they didn't so we thought we were off the hook, but our street for some reason decided THEY needed to ring in the new year, so it was loud for a good 30 minutes at midnight.  Our kids ALL woke up and checked out the fireworks and then went right to bed.

This morning they rushed to get ready so THEY could ring in the new year the Witte way.

Mason has been hearing about this all year, since last year he was in the NICU.

He was SO excited to start.

What mommy? Not yet?

These next few just crack me up...

They all really got into it.

 It amazes me how fast they grow up. I can't believe we have little big people now.

Then we tried to get one more good one but it was only 10 degrees out.

 I don't think Mason has ever been this cold in his life!

But, we still got a smile. :)

We came in, got the color back in our cheeks, and talked about our goals from last year:

Last year HERE

2012 goals

Less Waste, Recycle More (as a family), and Strengthening Relationships

errr, not so much - but 100% on relationships!

V - Start Specials at Home, relinquish control when it comes to family things, haha.

I did a good job on both.
N - Complete AAS, Backyard and Front Yards. Start Specials at Home

Nathan finished his AAS and AGS, worked on the yards, and did specials!
L - Complete Kindergarten and finish the ENTIRE Ready Freddy series.

Yes to both!
B - Finish 3K move on to 4K and continue being a GOOD 4 year old.

Yest to both (mostly on the 2nd one) ;)
S - Not be a terrible 3 year old, work on volume control.

Tried really hard on #1, much better on #2
J - Keep smiling, and to keep the blue eyes, and move to a toddler bed.

check, check, check
M - Come home from NICU and stay home. Grow, Feed and pack on the pounds. Also to stay healthy.

check! check! check!

***

Then we talked about what we wanted to do this year.

2013 Goals:

Enjoy Nature's Gifts

Spending and enjoying the outdoors as much as possible.

Trying to not be "plugged in" as much.

V - Continue Specials, Less Processed Foods for the fam.

N - Finish year 3/1 (of 4) of BS in IT. Finish basement.

L - Complete 1st Grade, and Year 1 in Piano. Try out for the Baseball Team and Swim Team. 

On to 2nd Grade. Most importantly, read the BOM cover to cover...alone. (meaning not with the whole family but with mom or dad each night)

B - Complete PreK/4K, have a great Kindergarten year. Try Jazz and summer sport of her choice.

S - Move on to 4K, have a great summer, work on writing.

J - Keep the blue eyes, Potty Trained, Have a fun summer.

M - Stay healthy, learn to talk, get into nursery!

While Nathan was making the waffles, the kids all shouted out what they wanted to do. Of course Lucas, the over achiever had a lot of things on his list. Haha.

After that, it was time to eat! I love when things are timed perfectly.

 Juju didn't care to toast, she was HUNGRY!

Even Mason enjoyed the waffles. I love that he eats regular food now. :)

We had a good day until my sister broke my microwave. I blame her because I was talking to her when it broke. It popped and that was it, it just stopped working. So, now we wait and shop around for a new one.

For dinner I made baked sweet potatoes and the kids favorite, chicken fingers.

I abhor the nasty store processed ones, and these are DELICIOUS! I make them all the time.

So flavorful and crunchy and juicy!  This is where my "goal" started.

I am going to try extremely hard to not do prepackaged/processed foods. Not like we eat an excess of this stuff, but the homemade is SO much better for you and waaaaay cheaper. 

We are also fasting from fast food for the whole year. Meaning no drive thru's, nothing. It may be convenient  but so are PB&J's. This will be especially fun when we road trip this summer. Wish us luck!

Good Luck to you and your goals, we are going to try really hard to achieve/complete ours.

Here is to a healthy, happy, 2013.