4 Year Old

Before we moved to NY Lance was looking forward to his birthday. We told him that he was going to have his party at the Empire State Building. What 4 year old would not be thrilled. Almost everyday (and sometimes twice a day) he asked if it was his Birthday. When the day finally arrived he could hardly stand the excitement.

As we walked through the building (and the line), to go up the 86 stories Lance jumped around with excitement.

It was a hot and humid day in the city but Lance did not seem to mind. He loved walking around the observation deck and seeing how small all of the cars and buildings looked.

Lance and Claire took turns pointing out each of their favorite places, and correcting each other when they called a building by the wrong name.

During this fabulous view Jack was enjoying his favorite pass time in the city...sacked out in the Maclaren! Nana and sleeping Jack enjoyed the view from the air conditioned indoors.

When he did wake up I snapped a quick shot so that he would know years later that we did not forget about him.

Ah, the face of a 4 year old that only a mother could love.

Our next stop was Toys R Us. But we thought that no birthday in NY would be complete without a trip to the official Yankee store. Along with the trip Lance got his very 1st Yankee cap...GO RED SOX!

At Toys R Us we rode on the 3 story Farris Wheel. The boys rode in the Buzz and Woody car while the girls rode in the Potato Head car. The building was almost warmer than outside but the ride hit the spot.

Jack had a love hate relationship the the HUGE animated T-Rex.

On our route from Toys R Us to the Subway and then to the Shuttle we got caught in a down pour. The step to the Subway were a rushing waterfall. Since it was hot as all get out, the kids did not mind.

Lance lived it up with jumping in the puddles. We were all soaked to the bone!

After Jack's nap he was ready to get as wet as the rest of us!

PB& J anyone?

Our Kitchen is BEAUTIFUL. Hard wood floors, granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances and sink, and beautiful cabinetry. The only think that they forget it that Jack is living here and not place will be the same. Right below the cabinet that we use as a pantry are our dish drawers. Two drawers that are washing machines that let you wash a smaller amount of dishes with using less water, each with it's own handles...or in Jacks eyes, ladder rungs!

Every morning at the crack of dawn the sun streams into our floor to ceiling windows and fills the room with light and heat. This is Jack's cue to get up and get into trouble. His new trick eating the peanut butter straight out of the jar.

Like a monkey caught with his hand in the jar, Jacks whole hand is plunged into the community jar. (We have gone through many jars this week!)

I am not sure what he enjoys more, eating gobs of peanut butter or the bubble bath we give him afterward to get the peanut oil off of his body. Needless to say, I am off to Target to find a cabinet lock. That should keep him out, for at least a week!

Sightseeing

We decided that we needed to see as much as we could before Matt and Claire started school. So on one of our adventures we went to Battery Park to see the Statue of Liberty.

It was amazing to see the Statue of Liberty with my own eyes. Claire commented on how beautiful she is, "That green Lady". It was fun to talk about freedom with the kids and let them in on how lucky they are to live in America.

We took a breather and ate lunch in the park. It was a warm day, but the kids enjoyed playing with these chimes that were built into the ground. Poor Jack had to jump really hard to make it work, but he did not mind.

We all got into the fun. The amazing thing was that no matter the combination that you stepped on, the chimes made beauiful music. Sitting on a bench in the shade, enjoying the music and having the Statue of Liberty in the background, unbelievable.

We took a stroll to the finicial disrtict and caught sight of the NY Stock Exchange. The building was under top security, but what caught my eye was our flag that was proudly displayed.

We took a tour of Riverside Church, where Columbia was first established. The woood work and craftmanship of the church was amazing. When we went in they were holding Mass and the sound of the organ fill the building.

The cenetery surrounding the church and many historical markers. One of them being Alexander Hamilton. What to treat to be so close to history. On 9/11 a huge tree was ripped from it roots in the cemetary and fell to the ground. The tree fell in such a way that none of the historic grave stones were harmed. That was such a testimony to me of the Lord's had in the simple things.

After seeing more sights Matt (with the help of his handy dandy book) found us a fun, kid friendly restraunt. Kitchette. Great home cooked comfort food that hit the spot after so much exploring. To top it off everyone was able to pick a treat. Claire chose a dog shaped cookie.

Goofy Lance, a bananna cookie.

And Jack a red velvet cupcake.

Matt and I shared some chocolate goodness thing. Goffy!

Natural History

One of the first places that we HAD to see was the Natural History Museum. We all thought that it would look like the movie (Night at the Museum). Despite that is was nothing like it, it was amazing.

I have never seen more Dinosaur skeletons in my life. The boys loved looking at all the different Dinosaurs and getting as close to them as they could. Lance was trying to help Jack get a better look.

They did have many hands-on displays. We were all able to feel a real Dino egg and a Dino skull. There was also a fun ramp that Jack loved to run up and down, yes he is 2.

With all of the skeletons around us there was also a rotunda that was peaceful that overlooked Central Park and the skyline. Claire and I had fun people watching those that were on the street below.


Of course we had to find Rexy, he may not be in the entrance of the museum but he was a big hit as the kids called to him from across the room.

At the end of the day we grabbed hot dogs from a cart and played in a sprinkler in Central Park. I can still not believe that we live here...amazing.

Really here?!

Driving across the George Washington bridge was surreal. To the right of the bridge is the city skyline and it looked like a movie back drop that I had seen a million times. But this time we were calling it home.

We first had to drive to Columbia to sign our lease. While Matt and Claire signed papers I took two very wiggly boys to a park across the street. The humidity was high and so was my anxiety about really being here.

When we walked in to our apartment it felt like this was just another hotel that we were going to be guests at. We were lent furniture until ours came the following Sunday. Some that that never changes is the call for cereal in the morning.

The heat and humidity was getting to all of us. Thanks to our friend we were introduced to our neighborhood park, complete with sprinklers.

I think that Lance and Claire were just so excited to get out and run.

Once Jack woke up, he joined in on the fun.

Kirtland

After another whole day of driving we took a pit stop in Kirtland, Ohio. The Sister Missionaries there were wonderful and gave us a tour that matched the attention span of 3 little kids that have been in a car for almost a week. We started in the Newel K. Whitney store. In the entrance of this store is where Joseph Smith approached Newel and told him that he knew that he had prayed for him to be there, so what did he want Joseph to do?

On the second floor of the store was where the School of the Prophets was held. It is also where many of the revelations given in the Doctrine and Covenants were received. Above is the original table that was in the room where Joseph would record revelations. The Sisters shared the story of the Brethren being told about the Word of Wisdom. After Joseph share with them about the need to end tobacco use, they each threw their pipe into the fireplace.

We also went to the sawmill where the logs were cut to build the Kirtland Temple. The boys were captured by the wheel under the mill that ran the saw.

Next to the mill was a beautiful patch of flowers that Claire was so excited to explore.

Our little family walking through history.

We were able to take a tour of the Kirtland Temple. Without missionaries, the tour was very factual and not quite as Spiritual as others. However within the Kirtland Temple I felt more personal pondering and testimony building. I recreated in my mind the Spiritual experiences that were witnessed there, the truths that were restored and the blessings that were received.

Foundations were laied in Kirtland that helped the Saints to push forward during hard times. Truths were reveled that helped to build the kingdom and keys were given to further progression. All of this, in a humble city in Ohio.