We took a trip to New York City to coincide with Gary's business trip.  My mom met us there to help me tour the city with the kids while Gary worked.   Here are some of the highlights from day #1.  BTW, We've been in the airport now for hours waiting for our flight.  The flight home takes 50 minutes.  We were supposed to leave at 4pm and be home before 5 pm.  We aren't scheduled to take off now until midnight.  Fun, fun, fun.  The result is that I have lots of time to blog!  You may get more detail than you bargained for!

Speaking of more than you bargained for....

 The Naked Cowboy

We got to New York, checked into our hotel in Time's Square and went out to check out the city.  We were greeted by the famous Naked Cowboy, who was posing for pics with your hand on his bum.  I declined.  Welcome to New York!  

Things that make you say "mmmmmm"  

Sam & Grace loved the M&M store in Time's Square.  Sam loved the giant screen showing the red M scaling the Empire State Building like King Kong, only to realize how high he was and get really scared!  We checked out everything in the 3 story store.   My mom met up with us and began her spoiling by letting the kids each fill a little bag with the M&Ms of their choice.  She thought the price was $1.99/pound, but discovered at the register that it was really $11.99/pound!!  They were the most expensive M&Ms I've ever had.  Thanks Grandma!!  

Give me your poor, your tired, your yummy chocolate yearning to be eaten....

 The Big Apple

The Grenwhich Debacle 

Our outing to the Villiage resulted largely in being lost, getting to things after they closed, and walking a ton for the privilege.  We finally settled on a restaurant (mediocre food at astronomical prices) for dinner.  Afterwards we posed while my mom took a picture and Gary said "Everyone say 'debacle'!"  I had to laugh!  

The Creperie!

Grace kept getting mixed up and thinking we were going to Paris (I wish!).  She was bummed that she wasn't going to get one of the crepes I'd told her about in Paris.  When we saw the creperie we knew it was destiny!  They were awesome!!!  Totally saved the night!  Nothing cheers me up like Nutella and raspberry!  

Subway surfers

The kids thought the night was okay since they could stand up and "surf" on the subways!  All those lectures on wearing seatbelts and sitting in booster seats went out the window in N.Y.  They loved it!

Lego Lover's Paradise!

Sam couldn't believe his eyes in the Time's Square Toys R Us.  They had the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building constructed from Legos.  They had tons of other displays including a life sized kid and dog getting ice cream from a cart.  Even the "big" kids had to admit it was pretty cool!  

Grandma continued the spoiling a few days later when she took him back to the store to pick out a Lego of his own.  She knows the way to this kid's heart!

We finished the night tired but happy.