homegrowing

We awoke Sunday morning well rested.   We ate, packed up, checked out, and stored our luggage until we returned from our outings.

We visited FAO Shwartz Toy Store.  Crazy.  We had to filter through a fenced area and had to  wait in line.   A wait to go in.   I considered not going in, but I’m glad we did.  For one, we needed to warm up.   And, the Biggies and I had fun.  We locked arms and tunneled through people.   It was a memory maker! The Littles were all sleeping in the stroller, so Irv pulled off to a corner and gave us 20 minutes to explore.  We had just enough time to hike to the Lego area, observing all the fun departments on our walk there.  We saw the big piano from the movie Big.   Hunter was able to try a toy demonstration, the Wave board… which was cool.  They climbed up this tower for a pic.

Next, we headed to Central Park.   I am always amazed how the buildings block the sun.  After hiking in the cold, we were sun seekers….   Irv found a great rock cluster where we camped to picnic and absorbed the sun.  The boys had fun climbing the rocks.

We ended the day at the “Top of the Rock”, where we viewed the skyline from the 67th floor of the Rockefeller Center.

Leaving NYC was interesting as our GPS had us driving in the middle of the Hudson River!  THanks to the iphone, we made it out!   The drive home was long, as the Littles were at their limit of sitting in strollers and carseats!

We stopped at our half-way point in Clark Summit, to stretch at our favorite park.   When we pass through here in the summer, we bring our bathing suits & towels for the splash pad.   Apparently, we have a new winter tradition….

Knowing Irv’s plans, I commented….  “My adventure tank is very LOW.”

But that didn’t stop my fun hubby!

A quick run into Walgreens, a lighter and strater blocks later …. we were toasty by the fire.   We picniced and Irv did family Bible.  The pink metal Bible is mine, not his.  (It was easiest accessable at the bottom of my purse.)

Isaiah had his first snow experience here as well!

We arrived home around 11pm.   Exhausted.

I am so glad we made this trip.   With a large family, I’m learning to expect details, meals, and transitions to be a bit chaotic.   Excessive planning helps a lot.   Keeping NO EXPECTATIONS  helps me not get disappointed.

Having my sister-friends with me made it extra special.  Apparently, they have many “memories” as well….  thanks girls!

Irv and I agreed on the way home, “The trip was wonderful,   but we don’t need to make it again any time soon!”

Passing by multiple NYC corner food stands….

Me: “Honey, can I get a pretzel?  I can’t come to NYC and not get a pretzel.”

Irv: “You’re taking your life into your own hands.  You can.  I’m not.”

So, I got my pretzel.

I shared…. with those willing.

I’m taking a poll.   Would you take a bite?

ving would, but allergies...

My own pretzel tasting photos were  nostrils, so I’m sparing you the view.

Doesn’t it look yummy?!    Adding yellow mustard, even better.

Would you take your life into your own hands and try my pretzel?

Would you eat from a NYC corner stand?

Have you?

What would you purchase?

Do tell.

Those Nuts-4-Nuts smelled good, and I saw chestnuts roasting on an open fire!

It did make me sing the song….

Are you singing it now?  I’m singing again.  Every time I read that, “chestnuts roasting on an open fire”, it makes me sing again.  Wierd.

Immediately following Hunter’s meet, we drove 45 minutes from N.J. into N.Y.C.   While we are not big city-folk,  NYC is a wonderful educational and cultural experience.   We were blessed to find a hotel  near Rockefeller Center  that had both a suite to accommodate our party of TEN at a reasonable price, and  could park our Salis-bus.   There’s nothing like  pulling over to the edge of the street to unload…  there’s no pull-in driveways in NYC!

view from our room on the 14th floor...

After changing rooms due to being a smoking floor and allergies, we ordered pizza.  It was the only meal we had to purchase the entire weekend, as I had packed much food.   We all got dressed in layers, snow pants, gloves, hats, etc to adventure out into the city.  (It did take me two days to pack for this trip, ha!)   The concierge gave us 9 umbrellas, as it was rain / sleet, but thankfully about 40 degrees.

our triple stroller, two side-by-side and one on the top!

We ventured to a bakery at the request of Mrs. Upper Crust,  down Fifth and Sixth Avenues for viewing Christmas window displays,  and then parked ourselves in the middle of Time’s Square to take it all in.  It was so bright, I forgot it was dark outside!   The crowds were minimal for this time of year due to the rain….. a wonderful perk.

We walked to Rockefeller Center, enjoyed the Tree, skating rink, and the sites.  At times, the crowds were unbelievable, and we were locked arm-in-arm in order to not get separated.  Everyone had a buddy (big-little) at all times that they had to be touching / holding hands.  Irv plowed a path with the stroller, the buddies followed, and I was the caboose!   (I overheard someone comment,  now that’s a barge!)

The housekeeping staff were kind enough to share their dryer with all our wet outerwear.  We warmed up, tucked in, and rested up for our next day’s adventures….

Our family participated in the Read-To-Ride program this year, and earned 4 free tickets to Darien Lake Theme Park.  We prayed for more tickets so we could take my dear sister-friends the McO’s, and we were blessed with enough tickets for everyone!  Yeah, God is so good.

Enjoy this photo-flashback, of our Darien Lake family adventure from the beginning of August…

wet people

silly peoples

Scrambled peoples

beautiful people making funny faces

brave peoples

serious peoples

splashing peoples

bumper car-ing people

in love peoples

tired peoples... (closing the park at 10PM!)

What a lovely day.

Taking our family places can seem daunting when I know the preparations and needs of all the Littles to be “out and about”.  Between food allergies, naps, nursing, and little legs running to and fro,  it can appear best to always stay home.

Now, I do believe home is the bestest place to be -  but outings are nice too.  This summer, I have learned that we can go just about anywhere and have a super blast of a time.

Yes, there are a lot of preparations. Especially, with needing 1-3 meals while out.   And then there’s the swim suits, diapers, changes of clothes, pajamas, sweatshirts,  nebulizers, Epi-pens,  strollers (yes, often plural), sunscreen, first aide kit, nursing cover, sun hats, special blankets and pacifiers for naps, shoes (we do forget those often), occasionally toys / books / school work, and I am sure I am forgetting something as usual!   Oh, and the fun additions of grandmas and friends!   We love a crowd.

Usually, I comment on how I am prepared enough that we should just stay a few days, wherever we are going.   Be warned if you invite us over – he he.

Being well prepared, coupled with my desire to make the most of a day if we go through the work to prepare – leaves us with big adventures and long days.    I just love it.

And for the fun we have while we are away from home -  I’ve learned that it’s all about expectations!

We can have fun in what-ever,  when-ever, and where-ever.

“…for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”  (Philippians 4:11b)

(Not meaning NY! But, that would apply as well…)

We traveled to Roseland Water Park for a fun family outing.

Isaac loved the water playground.

While laughing out loud, I captured these photos.

Isaac was mesmerized by these water catching things.  He maneuvered them to flow into each other, and had different toys float from the red, to the blue, then on to the yellow.   After  30 minutes, he decided to climb in and explore further.  Typical.

I looked up, and noticed Isaac so proud that the lifeguard was coming over to congratulate him on his new discovery.

Life guard:  “Excuse me little boy,  you can’t sit or climb in those.  You need to get down.”

(Lifeguard thinking: Where are this kid’s parents?)

Once Isaac realized he was being scolded…

Isaac’s non-verbal thinking:   “You can’t see me.  You’re not there.  I don’t see you.  I don’t hear you.”

Then dad showed up.

To rescue the lifeguard from precious two-year-old antics.

He wasn’t budging!

Ha!