Winding Down

I finished the puzzle which means our holiday is coming to an end.

Scenes from New York

Michael captured a Facetime photo that wasn't near as bad as the last one.

Everyone indulged me in walking through the park on the way to our magic show matinee.

I'd received an announcement about The Illusionists coming to Utah in February.

I knew Marty and Nick would love it. That gave me the idea to see if there was a magic show in New York. As it turned out, it was the same performers, Holiday version.

It was incredible and left us all guessing and talking about how 

they did their magic the rest of the night.

After the show, we met up with Michael's parents for dinner at Becco in midtown.

Three homemade pastas -- all you can eat. Muy delicioso! 

Marty had never been in New York at Christmas so I wanted to take him by Rockefeller Center (although the tree isn't lit until next week), Saks 5th display and Bergdorf (didn't make Bergdorf).

Rockefeller Center

Saks Frozen Light Display

 The other must-do was a stop at Uniqlo. 

Michael's parents were such good sports to walk with us and endure shopping!!

We shut down the store, then took a subway to get churros and soft serve. Yum!

Matching Uniqlo Coats

Touring the Town

 The great thing about visiting New York, is we're not trying to see everything. 

Sometimes it feels like we've already seen it all, but then we remember we haven't, or that Marty hasn't been there at Christmastime!

After sleeping in until 11:00 every day (9:00 Utah time and we're on vacation -- so no judgment!) 

we decided to get out the door by 10:00 today, have brunch and take advantage of a full day.

First stop, Smith's, one of Courtney's favorite brunch/lunch spots -- blue cheese chips!

Also, Carine let us in on a little secret -- a peep hole down in the shared bathroom wash basins.

Take a peek and there's a video of an old-timey lady dancing. She's not too scantily clad by today's standards, and is good for a laugh. It's clever!

See the chip in the tile?

First stop was Wall Street to see the Bull. Haven't been there since 1997, probably.

On the way was the New York Stock Exchange, Federal Hall and Trinity Church (National Treasure)!

George Washington at Federal Hall

Trinity Church

Then over to Ground Zero Memorial and to the top of The Freedom Tower.

Dan and I hadn't been here since they were finished. 

Spectacular view from the top!

The Oculus

Inside the Brookfield Center and The Oculus.

Merry 1st Day of the Christmas Season!

Next stop was Chinatown for Dim Sum, shopping and foot massages.

Hungry Kids waiting for Dim Sum at Nom Wah Tea Parlor -- open since 1920!

$20 for a 30 minute foot massage is heavenly when you've been walking so much. They have tons of salons all over Chinatown. It bordered on the good kind of painful. Everyone came away very happy.

Courtney and Carine left to join Michael and his family for the Knicks game.

Dan, Marty, Nick and I went to Knives Out. I highly recommend it!

Super entertaining, family-friendly movie.

When we got home, we played Hearts and Double Ditto and ate ice cream. 

It's been a fantastic day!

NYC Thanksgiving 2019

Being on vacation and on East Coast time is really cutting in to our day! 

We all stayed in bed until 11:30!

Dan tuned into the Macy's parade though and we were just in time to see the Spongebob float that we'd seen being blown up yesterday!

Courtney brought over H&H bagels and juice for breakfast and then she and I took a walk around the reservoir in Central Park.

We had Thanksgiving dinner reservations for 3:30 at Carmines.

Our family, Michael and his parents and sister, Becca's friend (also from the show),

Carine, and Porter, Michael's roommate (and Nick's grown-up look alike!)

Do you see it?

After dinner we came back to our place to watch the Cowboy's game.

And then all went to the movies -- Ford vs. Ferrari.

In the middle, Christopher called. So it was good Dan and I had both seen the movie. 

We jumped up and headed out to the lobby to talk to him. 

He's doing great and was super happy.

Then we ran into Utah friends in the movie theater lobby.

Small world.

Vacation Time!

To be honest, I've felt like I've been on vacation since Saturday when we went to California!

(Also, I got all my NaNoWriMo done ahead of time so I could come to NYC without work to do.)

Can't wait to spend Thanksgiving in New York with my kids and meet Michael's family! 

(Except Chris, of course. Away, but not forgotten.)

We rented a brownstone on 87th street (right by Courtney's old apartment) so we could all stay together. It's a five story original with a garden. All those times we've walked by brownstones and wondered what they're like inside! So fun. Maybe I'll post about it later.

Today, Dan and I took a walk in Central Park then we grabbed the boys and walked down to the Natural History Museum to see if we could see any balloons for the parade. 

The roads were closed off, but lots of people were walking past the gates and police. We decided to also pass for a closer look and the officer said, "Are you going to the museum?" Dan hesitated. Then the officer said, "You're going to the museum, right?"

"OH! Yes! We want to go to the museum!" The officer welcomed us through with a big smile.

We all laughed and got an up-front view of the balloons without the crazy wait of last year!

We met Courtney at Jacob's Pickles and all talked and talked and talked.
The funnest part is that Marty talked the most -- which is kind of a new twist on things.
 After lunch we headed back to the home and talked some more and played Bang.
(Can't wait to play games on this trip with everyone!)

We met Carine for all-you-can-eat sushi
(but if you don't eat all that you order, you have to pay $1/piece that's left!)
And then to Mean Girls where we totally lucked out that Michael's sister, Becca,
was filling in for the lead, Regina, tonight!
Michael's parents also came to the performance to see her play Regina
so we got to meet them that night and also Becca took us on a backstage tour.
We finished the night at Amarino for ice cream and getting to talk to the Petersen family.

Our family with Becca, the star of Mean Girls tonight!

Michael's family!

Christopher Update

Dan talked to Chris for a few minutes yesterday -- 

Chris didn't have time to write, and I missed his call, but I did get this cute text:

Here's the update he gave Dan:

Chris loves his house. They were at the ZL's again this week and he said they have holes in their roof and it was raining this week so he's grateful to have a good roof over his head.

(Last week he said I'd be very happy to hear he cleaned the bathroom. 

He was certain it hadn't been cleaned since before he got there (at least six weeks ago.)

Hair was everywhere in the shower and it was disgusting, 

but he kept working until it was clean. And then he washed his hands seven times.

Yep, I was proud.)

His companion quit showering a few days ago and resorted to bucket showers because real showers are just too cold. Chris held out for a few more days, but yesterday made the switch because he can heat the water on the stove if he bucket showers.

It's been really cold (high 50's) so he's sooo happy to have the warm coat he and Dan splurged on.

Also, a friend advised us to get a sleeping bag liner because her son only had sheets in Mexico -- no blankets. Christopher said he's so glad he has it. He sleeps in it every night and stays really warm.

 Getting out of bed in the morning when its so cold is hard, he slept in a couple times until 6:45.

 (I'm guessing they don't have heat.)

Last week out tracting they came on a family -- a dad and his children. 

They were welcomed into their home and but when they were teaching, all the family cried.

Chris and his companion are under the impression they've just gone through a tragedy, but he doesn't know what. They are going back to teach them again.

Got these photos from last summer at Pagosa on the mom group text today. Cutest boys!

Holiday Season

It snowed all day today!

So excited to welcome in the holidays with snow! It's supposed to continue the rest of the week.

I normally don't turn on my Christmas lights until after Thanksgiving. But a few weeks ago, I noticed EVERYONE had theirs on. And it's so darn pretty I wanted to add our lights to the festivities! 

Pre-Thanksgiving

Mom and Dimitrios hosted "pre-thanksgiving" at their home this weekend.

I'm so grateful we could fly out and join them! 

It was a fantastic afternoon and evening spending time together. 

Visiting the horses--Lena, Bandit and Sugar; hearing the story of the broken redwood limb and its future as something cool that Dimitrios is going to make; the grapevine; the new kitten.

Playing Spot It with the kids; picking olives for Dimitrios to make into... olives; pomelos, not limes.

Chicken and Steak on the Traeger. Chicken Feet tradition. Olives of all kinds, cheeses, dip and bruschetta for appetizers. Spanakopita. 

Shannon, Zack and Chloe. Max and Dana. Rachel, Jeremy, Cooper, Dylan & Reese. Us. 

Mom & Dimitrios, Marge. Peter, Olga, Dean and Nate. Eric. 

A wonderful, wonderful day.

We checked into our hotel late, but still played one round of Double Ditto 

(thank you Marty and Lizzie for being willing!)

Woke up to this beautiful view.

We drove up to Rachel's (about an hour away) for church and then were going to spend an hour with them seeing their new home.

We were actually on time and sat down to get ready for the meeting.

Dan was confused as to why there were so few people at 8:57. 

Marty and Lizzie got back from the bathroom and had noticed chairs were set up all the way back in the gym. "I think it's Stake Conference!" 

Yep, it was. Well, we tried!

We bailed and went to Rachel's early, catching them in their pj's. 

So fun to finally see their beautiful home and family in their element.

And then we came home.

I'm so grateful we get to make these short jaunts to spend time with people we love.