CHRISTMAS IN NEW YORK! DEC 2012

There is nothing quite like being in New York at Christmas time.  Roger and I went last year and knew that we needed to take the kids to see it.  We really wanted them to have the "New York" experience.  We were a little pressed for time since we had taken the kids out of school so we tried to get in everything we could.

We flew into La Guardia on a Friday and did a seminar up in White Plains.  Saturday we drove down and dropped off the car.  We stayed just outside of New York city. (in Astoria-Fairfield Inn with Free Breakfast) We had some 2 free night certificates that were not good for any of the hotels right in New York, but this hotel had a free shuttle to the subway and it was just a short ride into the city.  With rooms at about $400 a night at Christmas time,  Free was great!

We tried to go ice skating but it was too packed!

 We had a great time looking at all the windows!

Yummy Street Food!

We took the Subway everywhere we went!  Cassidy was a little nervous but the kids did great!  We bought a 7 day pass so we wouldn't have to keep getting tickets each time we got on!

At Battery Park before we got on the boat to go over to the Statue and Ellis Island

Statue of Liberty!  The rangers do free tours every 1/2 hour

Sydney was studying all about Ellis island at school.  She was a great tour guide!

Of Course the Disney Store in Times Square was a highlight for the Girls

TIMES SQUARE!

Our kids are big fans of the today show!  We got up extra early to get here.  Syd got her picture taken AGAIN with Ann--the second time this year!  We even recorded the show at home and we where able to watch ourselves when we got home!

Natural History Museum to see Dum Dum.  If you go there, you can go to the front desk to get a list of where everything is in the movie (Night at the Museum).  They also tell you what is really there and what is from a movie set!

 

Rockefeller Plaza--ice skating below

And Finally, no trip to New York at Christmas time would be complete without seeing the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall.

San Deigo October 2011

Well I am a little behind in updating this.  Once the holidays hit--forget about it!  I get sooo busy!  So these next adventures might have to be the cliff notes.

In October we decided to take the kids to San Diego over UEA!  It is the perfect time for a little bit of Sun!  We rented a cute beach house in Mission Bay.  We found it on www.homeaway.com.  It was very reasonable.  Although it ended up being a little cold we did some fun things.

There is a Visitors Center in Old Town San Diego.  It takes you on a recreated tour of the Mormon Battalion.  The kids loved it.  Very hands on!

Of course we also found a "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" restuarant.  That is our new thing to do--we look up great places to eat before we go and try something new.  We had a lot of GOOD Mexican food there and downtown San Diego.  Fun times!

 

 They let Robbie dress up in what a member of the Mormon Battalion who have worn.

The kids got to pan for Gold at the visitors center

Washing clothes the way the pioneers would have.

 The house we rented included bikes.  The kids had a great time riding up and down the boardwalk on the beach cruisers.

October was "kids free"  at Wild Animal Park.