2007 -- NYC

June 27, 2007

Diane and I took the kids to New York City for summer vacation in June 2007. This was the kids first plane ride and they loved it. I was more worried about it than they were. On the return flight we hit a bit of turbulence and I turned to Caleb and was explaining to him what was going on and he said "I know! I've been on a plane before!". Ok Mr. "This is my second plane ride".

Pics: Sydni and Diane; Jacob; Caleb -- all on our Continental flight.

We had an early morning flight and it was rainy but the flight was smooth. It was a direct flight and the kids enjoyed it all. They read and looked at movies on the flight.

Once we got to Newark and had our car pick us up, we were on our way to NYC. Jacob got car sick so he did not enjoy the drive in to town. Once we hit Times Square (where we were staying) they all got excited. We went to the new M&M's store and they had a good time getting all sorts of M&M paraphenalia.

Pic: Sydni with their M&M candy dispenser; Jacob in front of the stash of M&M's.

Pic: Sydni, Jacob & Caleb in Times Square waiting on the bus (the backpacks were gifts from the hotel -- filled with fun stuff for them to play with)

We went to the Toys R' Us store in Times Square -- the kids had been looking forward to riding the big Ferris Wheel ever since I came home with a picture of it from one of my business trips. They went crazy looking at all the toys. Sydni like going through the life-size Barbie doll house.

Pic: Diane, Jacob & Caleb on the TRU Ferris Wheel and Sydni in front of the Barbie doll house.

We spent most of our time in New York at places the kids would enjoy -- toy stores. In addition to Toys R' Us, we went to FAO Schwarz and the huge Build-A- Bear. At FAO Schwarz the boys made their own Hot Wheels cars (only have video of that) and Sydni made her own Barbie doll and met Barbie herself. The next time we go to New York, the kids want to "live" near FAO Schwarz. We also at in the soda shop there and had ice cream.

Pic: Sydni with Barbie

We tried to go to Serendipity 3 to get some frozen hot chocolate but the wait was entirely too long and we were tired and hungry so we instead went to Build-A-Bear and ate there in the cafe. Sydni got a bunny; Jacob got a penguin; and Caleb got a dinosaur. Jacob was so worried that the store was going to run out of the penguins because it was taking us forever to get there. Diane and I event made bears. Jacob has since claimed that bear but it still serves as a nice souvenir from NYC.

Pic: Caleb, Jacob & Sydni with their loot from Build-A-Bear

Another first was the double-decker tour bus that we took. We also went to the Statue of Liberty. We didn't get on the ferry to go to it because we wanted time to go to FAO Schwarz. One of the things the kids enjoyed most in NY was the Empire State Building. We went on the New York Skyride there which is a theatre type ride where you move around and feel like you are flying over New York. The LOVED it! Caleb took lots of pictures of the skyline. Sydni and Jacob saw a bit of it and then went inside to make sure they got souvenirs.

Pics: Jacob on the double-decker bus (it was hot!); Jacob, Sydni and Caleb on the pier in front of the Statue of Liberty

Pics: Caleb at the top of the Empire State Building

The boys became pros at catching cabs. Outside the Empire State Building they stood there with their hands up and yelling "taxi! taxi!". The cabbie who picked us up at the Statue of Liberty said it was the boys who got his attention. Diane and I were so busy talking he didn't know if we needed a ride or not but he saw the boys trying to hail him so he stopped.

Our trip back to Texas was long -- it was a late flight and we had a hard time getting from the hotel to the car. Our driver parked across the street -- in Times Square that is two streets over and with three kids and 11 bags (yes we had 11 bags at the end of the trip) we were in a pickle. Everyone in the city was trying to hail a cab at the same time but I finally tackled a cab and we made it on our way. At the airport, Jacob got stopped twice by security; once for having water in his backpack and then for having cleaner in his Build-A-Bear box. He also threw a temper tantrum in line because he and Caleb were already arguing over who was going to sit by the window.