Some fun things

During the days, me and the little boys usually make a trip to the grocery store, since our fridge is mini and our freezer is mini and we have to carry our groceries, it's easier to make often little trips. 

But we also try to do some fun things.  We loved story time and got a couple pictures of the cool straw buildings we made.

 We always love riding the SUBWAY.. it never gets old.

 They had a winter festival in the park right by our house.  They had free skiing and snowboarding. It was about a 10 foot little area to ski down, and rather than wait in the line, I told my kids to just remember that we live in Utah and we'll go skiing all next year! :)  But it was fun to see all the people.

 Sledding down the ice hill, was a hit for everyone!

 

There was a bunch of cool ice sculptures and we bought the best apple cider and donuts I've ever tasted!  We brought the juice home and finished the night off watching Mr. Popper's Penguins.  Such a fun new york city movie.

 

NY transit museum

First of all.. I have to gloat about my sweet Craiglist purchase... A NEW STROLLER.  These BOB strollers are like $400 bucks and I got my second hand one for just $30.  I bought a cup holder, grocery hooks and a rain cover for another 30 bucks and I'm city ready!  It has been so nice to have this stroller.  It's like the minivans of Utah.  How can you live without a nice one!!  The joovey sit and stand was KILLING me.  Now I can load the kids, groceries and talk on the phone while I push this beast with one hand.  LOVE IT.. Ahh, the simple pleasures of life. :)

 Our subway ride to Brooklyn was great.  The boys had friends and window seats.  It kept them entertained and sitting the whole ride.

 The museum was really fun and we lasted about 5 hours.  It is a little boy's heaven.  Trains and electric exhibits galore.

 They got to run in and out of old subway cars and try driving a few.  It was a great day in Brooklyn.

Unfortunately, the whole museum is underground and I didn't have cell service for hours.  Apparently, Luke got a head ache at school and since the school couldn't get a hold of me, Taylor had to leave work and come and get him.  BAD DAY TO BE OUT OF SERVICE.  So, I hope this is just a one time thing for Luke.  I'm a little nervous about him and school now!!!

Natural History Museum

Well hello Mr. President.  I never realized what a big man Abe Lincoln was.  It's cool to see life size anything, I think. :)

 I think we will be spending a lot of time here at this cool place.  We only saw the dinosaur exhibit last time and it took us over an hour to walk through.  So fun.

 

I need to work on my picture taking.  Why is it ALWAYS blurry.  Ugh.

 I don't know why my kids can sleep ANYWHERE, but I sure think it's cute.

 We are in love this this cute little guy.  We have some friends that live here and they have THE CUTEST LITTLE BOY.  Taylor couldn't get enough of him.  He was picking him up every time we turned around.  Cute little James.

We made it!!! NYC

Okay, so 1 week down.  We didn't do much but we are still alive... that is a feat in and of itself if you ask me!

 The plan ride was a piece of cake.  Just a 1/2 hour longer than riding to SG and they can get up and use the bathroom and get drinks and treats.  They were in heaven.

 You will notice that Sam really loves to make this face in his pictures... it's been that way for about a week now and every picture is the exact same... Funny kid.

 So, we loaded all our stuff into one taxi minivan.  That means 4 of us were double buckled, Nate was squooshed in the back and Taylor was quite comfortable in the front seat. :)  I would have bet 100 bucks we wouldn't have all fit... but we did! and we made it to the apartment in one piece.  Sam isn't really sad, he just was almost asleep.  The picture below shows what he looked liked about 10 seconds later.

Actually, the kids were all pretty pooped and slept most the ride into the city.

 So, this is it.  12 bags and 2 carry on's and we are here in NYC for 6 months.

 Jake and Luke LOVE looking down the banister to the 1st floor.  We are on the top floor (12A).

 This is the bottom looking up.... artistic photography from Jake. :)

 So, the first day it rained all day.  I thought we were all going to die in our 1200 square foot apartment.  I wanted the boys to be quiet, so they watched so much TV and IPOD games they about killed over.  It's hard not to bother neighbors next door and underneath when you are raising boys like mine!

 But, Wednesday, it was a balmy 50 degrees and we were in heaven.  We went to the park and explored about 1/50th of it and spent 2 hours.  They love it and I know it will entertain us for hours in the future.  We are so lucky to live across the street.

 Notice Sam's face .... again!  :)

 The day couldn't come fast enough that we enrolled the big boys in SCHOOL!  PS 87.    They were nervous and excited to start.   The classroom demographics are not much different from Utah, living on the UWS is kind of like living in Springville in the sense that there is not much diversity among families here.  My boys were both shocked that the kids used the Lord's name in vain so much, but besides that, they felt pretty comfortable.

 Here is the street shot of the school. It's the red building.  Crazy huh?  Just right there on 78th street in between houses. 

 So, to break up the weekend cold, we took the boys to the jewish community center to swim.  It was really nice and fun.

 They could have played there for hours...

 I just think Taylor looks awesome in his swim cap (it's a rule there that you have to have a swim cap to enter).

 All tuckered out!  It's a common theme around here.  We are getting plenty of exercise by walking everywhere.  People here put their kids to bed around 7 or 7:30.  NOW I KNOW WHY.  They can not function on the normal 8 or 9 hours of sleep they are used to at home!

Taylor took the big kids down to time square on Saturday night.  He didn't get any pictures, but the boys LOVED it.  They took the subway for the first time! Went to the M&M factory for a treat and walked over to the rock a feller center and took a cab home.  I'll get more pictures of our apartment and the city as the weeks go by.

This has probably been the longest week of my life..... but we did it.  I think it will be much easier from here on out!

Happy Birthday Felice.. We miss you already!

Felice left us on January 1st.  We thought it would be best to start the new semester in her new house and also Luke and Sydney were moving into our house.  So, as sad as we were, we said goodbye.

 Little did we realize, well I think we did, the new family ARE AWESOME!!  Felice isn't going to think about us for 2 seconds.  They planned a huge party for her complete with her favorite "american" chinese foods and chocolate cake.

 She had about 8 friends from the neighborhood and ward stop by to celebrate.  She has NEVER had a party so we really wanted to make sure she got one this year!  She loved it.

 Sorry the pictures are all blurry... I am not the best photographer.  We ate yummy food and played bingo with cool prizes. 

Felice finally gets a sister and has been really branching out with the Boyers (the new family) to meet some new church friends and go to church on a weekly basis.  She's even been working out at the church at 6am twice a week (this is the girl who won't wake up till 11 or noon on the weekends!!). She is finally coming out of her shell and we can't be happier.  We felt all along that she wasn't getting the total American experience, but now I think she will.  It was so meant to be to know the Boyers and I think they are excited to have her as well.

Sam's Early Birthday with Utah Friends

Since Sam has a birthday just 2 weeks after we get to New York, we decided to have a party here in Utah first.  It was a hit.

 For the invites... we handed out "white sugared donuts."  We are having a White snow party you "DO NUT want to miss.  So clever, I know. :)
 We were lucky to have Grandma in town helping me pack and she made the cake for Sam.  He loved it as you can tell by his facial expressions...

 We played pin the carrot on the snowman (all my boys helped grandma make the snowman picture).  For some reason that was the highlight of grandmas visit for them all.  They LOVED helping her color the poster.  SO funny the things that entertain.  Usually, I can't get my boys to do anything artistic in the house.

 Opening presents is always a top priority during parties.

 Here is Sam with all his buddies.... L2R: olivia, Chase, Beckham, Jaya Ella, Brydger, Nate and Carson.  We are gonna miss all these play buddies for sure.

Above is a video of playing the Snow Pop game... popping white balloons tied to their ankles.  Best party game ever!  And below is a little action of the sledding..

 And then the best part of the party was going sledding in the "SNOW".  The kids couldn't get enough and just kept taking turns

 Look at all those cute faces....

Taylor was a sport to drive them around for an hour.

 Only one small casualty... Beckham face planted and was a real trooper!  He must have hit an ice patch, because the whole side of his face got scratched.  DANG IT!!!  I guess I should have known there would be at least one injury. :(

All in all -- a great day for the Samster.  He is such a fun kid to have around.  He is really shy in new situations and loves to have friends, but mostly likes to play at our house.  He is really smart and doing well in preschool.  When I say well, I mean the teachers love him because he pays attention and is so well behaved.  I wish he was a little more at home, but I can't complain as long as he is good with others, right?  He loves to learn to read and will practice any time I am willing to help him!  He learned to tie his shoe 4 months ago and is a pro now.  Taylor thinks Sam might end up being our biggest and strongest and most athletic child... we'll see.  :)  He loves to hang with the big boys and seems closer to Luke's age than Nates.  He is 5 going on 10 for sure!  We love you Sam.