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!