Lego Mania

New York has too many fun things going on during the Summer that it is hard to choose what to do. But when I heard that a new Lego store was opening at Rockefeller Center, we had to go. They had tables set up on either side of the ice skating rink with bins full of red Legos so that the kids could build bricks to help to construct a 15 foot Lego apple.

Jack was so excited to get to build with Legos. He was really good at following the directions and making his brick exactly how the Lego experts taught him.

It was SO hot in the little tent. Claire as a trooper and worked diligently to create her part of the apple.

TA DA! Three little bricks made by my three favorite little people.


When they were done they took their bricks to the "Master Builders" to add to the apple. Here is a prototype of what the apple will look like. Each little brick on the prototype represents one of the kids big bricks on the big apple!

We went in the store for awhile to cool off and when went back to work. Closer to 5th Ave they had tables set up with only green Legos. They asked the kids to build plants to add to Rockefeller Center. The one with the red bricks was Jack's. A man from the New York Post was taking his picture and needed contrast in the photo. We stood there for over an hour building and the kids were in Lego heaven.

Lance was so excited about his creation. I was so excited that it did not fall on the way to putting it with the other creations.

The apple took 3 days to build. We missed seeing it finished but at 7:30 that night it killed me that we missed seeing it so we drove downtown and caught a glimpse. This is the view from 5th Ave as we drove by.

We drove around the blocks several times just so that everyone could see it. Here is a view from 50th , the taxis behind me did not appreciate what I was trying to do. Their horns added to the moment.

When we got home we had accomplished 2 goals. 1) See the finished apple. 2) Carry 3 sleeping children up to the 6th floor and tuck them in bed. Mission accomplished!

Our Little Red Lighthouse

There is a wonderful story by Hildegarde H. Swift and Lynd Ward titled "The Little Red Lighthouse and The Great Gray Bridge" It is a fabulous story about a charming little lighthouse that stands on the banks of the Hudson River at the north point of Manhattan.

One day while driving down the Henry Hudson Pkwy towards the city I noticed this little lighthouse tucked under the George Washington Bridge and was taken by surprise. The bridge connects New York to New Jersey. Months later while in a book store I notice the children's book about the lighthouse. I know that this was a perfect excuse for an adventure.

So today, on our second day of summer we hiked down the hill to meet our little red lighthouse. The weather was perfect! We wandered up and over the Henry Hudson Parkway, under over handing trees and along the banks of the Hudson River. A cool breeze was blowing off of the Hudson and we were able to find a spot of shade thanks to our little lighthouse and read the book, just to help the story come to life. Jack had me read it several times and would point out the landmarks around us as we came to them in the storyline.

It was one of those Mommy days when you think..."This is great!" Just as long as the kids did not fall in the Hudson or get hit in the head by the rocks they were throwing we were in great shape.

Lance asked to bring our binoculars to get a better look around. He loved playing I-spy with them. He found the Empire State Building, New Jersey, and a speed boat passing by, just to name a few.

Jack was doing everything he could to get into the gate. He got everything in but his head and as he tried to pull it through the bars he would giggle and say "Ow" every time his noggin clunked against the bars. Lucky for me he never got through. I was afraid I was going to have to call the NY fire department if he got stuck.

What a great day to bring a bit of literature alive. As I type Jack is thumbing through the book and talking about what he saw at the little red lighthouse. What a great start to a wonderful summer.

NY Summer

Before we went to California for the summer we made a plan. We started with 2 poster size calendars for June and July and made lists of all the fun city things to do. I was so afraid that I would miss the fun (and the kids too).

One of our favorite places to go is the American Museum of Natural History. Once it gets warm the sprinklers turn on just outside the Rose Center for Earth and Space. The boys loved splashing in the gutter outside of the Planetarium...amazing!

We also visited the Bronx Zoo and took in some of the sights that don't take place year round. The Monorail takes travelers across the Bronx river to see up close and personal animals that you can only see on the Monorail tour.

The kids loved playing "where's waldo" with the tigers, deer and other hidden animals. Some animals like the elephants they have no problem finding.

Our other favorite place in the Bronx Zoo is the butterfly exhibit. In the summer it does get a bit stuff in the green house. But the beautiful classical music, the tiny waterfalls and the flitting butterflies just capture the kids attention and they are at peace.



The boys can spend hours looking at the koi and waterfalls. They name the fish, try to touch them and watch as they play fishy tag.

Two of the "rules" are that you may not pick the flowers and you may not pickup the butterflies. However the kids have learned that there is no rule against the butterflies "happening" to crawl on your finger if it "happens" to be sticking out. Simple joys.

Taking a ride on the bug carousel is a must. The kids love to go around over and over again until I get dizzy and need to get off. With each ride they insist on choosing a different bug. Claire loves the ladybug.

A beetle, caterpillar and praying mantis are some other favorites to ride on.

Another NY city must is testing out the water from a cracked fire hydrant. Lance was so excited about the chance to see up close and personal how this wonderful thing worked.

He was so good (thanks to some coaxing) he did not get to soaked, but the possibility is still in his mind.

I don't know who was more warn out with our short NY summer, me or the kids. I did start a list for next year of some of the things that we missed or loved too much to miss out on next year.