New York!

Our very good friends from college moved this year out to Nutley, NJ. We miss you Danna! Feeling up to a new adventure we decided to go to their house for Thanksgiving this year. Although we missed family it was really fun to break the mold and do something different. We LOVED NY and spending time with them! We thought we saw a lot but looking back...yeah I think we barely scratched the surface.

Day 1

Starting in Lower Manhattan...the NY Stock Exchange

and a Tiffany and Co. It was FREEZING btw. We knew the layer up the next day. There are no heat rests when wandering the streets of NY. 

Wandered down the other side and found some amazing old ships. 

The detail was awesome. 

Went to the 9/11 Memorial. Was so far away when it happened it was truly just humbling to be there and see where it all happened. My teachers didn't want to play the footage so I really enjoyed being part of it. Right smack in the middle of buildings. Must have been utter chaos. This is a piece of the wreckage someone had carved into art. 

The future museum. 

Ran over to see how close we could see the Statue of Liberty...you definitley have to ride the ferry. Put that on the to-do list for tomorrow. 

And found the bull from Hitch. There were SO MANY people trying to get pictures with it. This asian lady was practically rolling all over the thing. lol

Although this was the first time we entered the Subway it wasn't the first time we rode it. We figured that out after...

My NY pose for the ?Brooklyn Bride?

Made out way through Chinatown. They had some dried stuff I've never even seen before! So entertaining. Then we figured out the Subway and saw Rockefeller Center. For me this was the true NY magic. The hustle and bustle and Time Square are unlike anything I've ever seen. And gearing up for Christmas the shops and everything looked amazing!

The scaffolding on the Christmas tree. My family watches the tree lighting every year. It was fun to see it unfold the few days we were there. 

Let me just say too...the ice skating rink is TINY. Nothing like it seems on TV.

Our first NY hot dogs. SO GOOD!!!!

Minions were EVERYWHERE

TIME SQUARE

More amazing Christmas decor across from Radio City.

Can't forget those hot dog stands. We ate those A LOT.

Take 500...people don't stop and wait for tourists to act like Rockette's. 

And the world's most expensive/ DIVINE cheesecake ever!!!!! Perfect way to end our day.

DAY 2

Had to start out our morning the true NY way..eating a bagel, with a square slab of cream cheese from a food truck of course! 

And then decided to ride the ferry to Ellis Island to see the Statute of Liberty.

Lower Manhattan

It is truly an American icon and was really awesome to explore. We just did the self guided tour at the base. To go up in the crown you have to plan months in advance....opps

But it was still really cool. B found a coin that is the thickness of Lady Liberty and we learned it hasn't always been green. It's what copper does to protect itself and we noticed after a lot more green on many older buildings throughout NY.

The gift shop of course had torch handles. COOL

And we went to where the immigrants actually checked in. That would have been SO stressful to stand in line with all these random countries. Many didn't know if they'd even get to stay because they might have a health issue that we couldn't fix and get sent back home. 

And Cake Boss opened a store in Time Square so we bounced up there and got a cannoli and a lobster tail! I've always wanted one but Hoboken was kinda off out beaten path. 

We took it over to buy our WICKED tickets! I've always wanted to go. In fact if I died without seeing Wicked on Broadway I would have been a little devastated. But my wonderful hubby bit the bullet for us and we were off to see it in just a few hours. Not of course before enjoying out Cake Boss treats and dancing around NY. 

SOOOO Excited! Words can't describe!

The Time Square steps. 

And we also really wanted some true NY pizza. We found a place that Oprah and her friend Gayle love. It was FANTASTIC! Pizza you can only dream of! AND LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THOSE SLICES!

Got back to the Gershwin for WICKED! It was amazing! Dare I say life changing! Everything I hoped for and more. Loved it loved it loved it!

DAY 3

Anna's YW Pres. and family were headed to see the Macy's day parade. They offered to take us and we are SO GLAD we went. Again, family tradition EVERY year to watch the Macy's Day Parade. The streets were PACKED and we thought we'd just be in the crowd that was until...someone was on the corner giving away two tickets in the bleachers. We had a place to sit and it wasn't with the everyone else crowd! It was so exciting to see all the floats and celebrities. I'll never see that many again I'm sure. It was really neat. Note: the Rockettes and Broadway stars don't hoof it the whole way. They just show up at center stage. 

The days prior to this. These girls were in the matching jackets EVERYWHERE in NY.

Poor Spider-Man...got caught on a post. They almost didn't fly the balloons because it was a little windy.

And on our way back we saw where they do the ballets, right across from the Manhattan temple btw.

DAY 4

Had to go see Parson's for my sister Hanna. It's her dream school.

And found the future crocs store.

Saw the United Nations

And the Christmas tree ready for the lighting.

And went to the top of the Rockefeller. What a NEAT place!

360 degree views. Shows you how truly huge everything is.

The light room would find you and follow you around when you walked to the other side. 

Swarovski Crystals all over the place.

Amazing details.

And back underneath...the Swarovski Store

And that was our NY Experience. November 2013. Before we left it was cutting it close to pregnancy test. But I didn't want to be disappointed so we waited till we got back. What did we find out the morning after we flew back?! We're EXPECTING! Baby #1 July 30, 2014. Could not be more thrilled, excited and ready for this baby! It was a very happy/ emotional morning. :)