Six Girls in the City

THE GIRLS
Mother In-Law: Paulette (a.k.a. Mom) - back right
Sister In-Law: Tonya - middle right
Sister In-Law: Lindy (and baby boy to-be: Caleb) - front left
Aunt In-Law: Suzanne - back left
Cousin In-Law: Jen - middle left
Me: Barb - front right

THE CITY
New York, New York

THE SITES
We all met in the Big Apple for four days of girls therapy and a whirlwind of sight seeing - with more than 700 pictures and what seemed like 700 miles on foot - this was no spa trip!

THURSDAY

• Thurs. midnight: flew out of Vegas - 1st Jet Blue experience...loved it! Got all the snacks I wanted, enjoyed extra leg room and a cool nighty night package for my red eye flight complete with ear plugs and eye mask.

FRIDAY

• Arrived at JFK airport - met Tonya, Lindy and Mom.
• Caught Air Train to Subway
• Took 1st subway ride to Times Square - love public transit
  
• Changed clothes in the Doubletree hotel lobby bathroom, splashed water on face, ready to go
• Eat Breakfast/Lunch at PAX Whole Foods - yummy turkey brie sandwich
• Toured Madame Tusauds Wax museum - took too many pictures of self & fam with wax celebrities
• Shopped on Canal Street - went into scary back room buildings, up five flights of stairs to purchase knock off Dolce & Gabbana, Coach & Louis Vuiton purses. Loved it.
• Toured Little China
• Eat portabella mushroom and spinach crape at cute deli on the street
  
• Ran & walked blocks to catch boat ride
• Took Circleline sunset boat tour on the Hudson. Loved it. Took great pictures of the Statue of Liberty and city.
  
• Took limo back to Doubletree - took picture with Benifer, our limo driver (yep, that was his name...he gave us his business card) Times Square pedestrians thought celebs were arriving...
• Eat warm cookie from Doubletree front desk.
  
• Went to bed tired and happy.

SATURDAY

• Walked blocks to NBC Today Show. Too late to be on air.
• Bumped into line of men outside Radio City Music hall waiting for NFL draft picks - took pictures with drunken happy football fans
• Toured St. Peters Cathedral - lost group
  
• Bought hat and black pashmina shawl from street vendor - talked to him about his grandkids and business.
  
• Took pictures in Rockefeller Center
• Toured the MOMA - got dizzy on the elevator
• Took Central Park carriage ride - loved it, but it was too short
• Grabbed lunch at McDonalds - not first choice, but we were slammed on time. Fries are always good though...
• Went to Legally Blonde musical - LOVED IT, LOVED IT, RECOMMEND IT (except one song...)
• Watched Tonya & Jen haggle for watches on street corner
  
• Almost paid $100 for a baseball cap - funny story will tell later
  
• Took NBC Studio Tour - fun
• Walked back to Doubletree - sick to stomach. Missed out on night bus tour & soup at Olive Garden. Instead watched Sweet Home Alabama in hotel and took nap.
  
• Rest of crew came back. Told stories.
  
• Went to bed tired and happy.
  

SUNDAY

• Caught tour bus to Empire State Building
• Got stuck in Empire State Building elevator for 15 min. on way up - but met nice London couple, took pictures with them, refused to ride same elevator on way down...
• Took the NY Skyride - simulated movie ride over NY city.
  
• Experienced NY Pizza - yum, good bargain $7
• Got on wrong subway going to 9-11 site, went to Brooklyn instead.
  
• Visited 9-11 site, spoke to fire fighter raising funds on street side. very humbling. awesome to realize enormity of event and impact.
  
• Walked blocks to Bodies exhibit - loved it. So amazing. God is great.
• Picked up snack on South Seaport Street
• Took bus cruise - drove by Grand Central Station
• Went back to Doubletree - dressed up for night show
  
• Went to Grease, the musical - it was just good. liked Legally Blonde better.
  
• Eat hamburger at Ellen's Stardust Diner - where Broadway hopefuls sing and serve you. Fell in love with "Sparkles" voice, took picture with him...
• Walked to the Late Night with David Letterman marquee, took photos, read instructions to get standby tickets.
  
• Walked back to hotel, listened to funny family stories
• went to bed tired and happy.

MONDAY

• Rain - bad hair, bought five dollar umbrella from street vendor.
  
• Eat big breakfast.
  
• Bought souvenirs for family.
  
• Toured Trump tower
• Drooled at Tiffany's, took pictures
• Walked blocks in rain, went uptown saw Central Park again. Decided not to go to the MET - too wet.
• Eat lunch at Jeckel & Hyde Club - not as fun as we thought. $5.00 charge if you split a meal, $2.75 /person entertainment fee...not very good food. Spooky atmosphere, probably more fun at night if drinking...
• Ran blocks to get in standby line for David Letterman...took 1/2 block cab ride because we were lost...didn't end up making it to the show...
• Met back at Doubletree for nap - everyone but me was sleeping...and snoring...
• Went to movie in Times Square - Baby Mamma, loved it, laughed a lot.
• Walked around, soaked up as much of the city as we could, looked for roasted nut and pashmina vendors, but it was too wet...
  
• Eat salad at PAX.
  
• Eat warm doubletree cookies, packed suitcase, set alarm for 4 a.m.
  
• Went to bed tired and happy.
  

TUESDAY

• Got up at 4 a.m., left Doubletree with Lindy at 4:30 a.m.
• Walked blocks with suitcase to nearest subway. hauled luggage down subway stairs. no ticket machines, so hauled suitcases upstairs walked across street and down subway stairs again. Got blister on hand from luggage.
  
• Took E train to JFK - 45 min. ride took 1 hr. (express route does not run that early)
• Bought Air Train ticket, caught train, exit terminal 6, run to check-in and security, walked on flight just in time.
• Fitful sleep on flight back, forgot neck pillow in checked luggage. Drooled and woke with a crooked neck. eat snacks and water, enjoyed extra leg room.
  
• Arrived in Las Vegas 9:30 a.m., met Greg at baggage claim.
  
• Came home to a picked up house...and a made bed (thanks Greg, I did notice)
• Slept a few hours. Picked up Cole.
  
• Spent night with family. Happy to be back, but so glad I went. Great trip (next day did laundry and washed cell phone in washing machine)...
• Went to bed tired and happy.
  

Thanks to Tonya and Jen for making all the arrangements and especially to Tonya for the buddy pass on Jet Blue. I had a great time. I will post more fun travel pics soon.

A Walk on Saturday

Last Saturday I was about to venture out on my own for a morning walk, but Cole and Greg decided they wanted to come along. Since I had a hat on Cole insisted he have one too. We rummaged around until we found the only hat that would fit his head.

Occasionally we'll walk to the horse stables by the house. So, Cole insisted that we go visit the "horsees" and that he bring his stuffed horsey along too.

Greg caught these pics of Cole riding his horsey in his PJs with his fishing hat. Typical Cole.

"need you"

My heart just melts. Every time. And I wish I could capture the moment forever.

"Need you" comes his two-year-old voice with pleading eyes and up-stretched arms. "Need you Mommy." It starts soft and comes louder and louder and follows me around until my attention is gained.

"I need you too" I respond as I pick him up. Sometimes it's just a whisper, sometimes an exclamation, and other times a quiet thought.

I hope; no, I need to remember and keep the sweetness of our exchange forever in my heart. I need to remember the moment almost as if I am capturing air to save for a time when I know I will need a breath.

I know as time goes and he grows the outward expression of his needs will become more subtle and less dependent. And this is what I hope for, but can't bear to think of: the journey of his independence. And yet, it has already started... In fact it is part of my responsibility to teach him and help him grow into it.

I have been accused a time or two of thinking too far ahead. Of taking on worries that do not need to be worried about just yet. And although I know it, I still do it. I reason that it comes more out of preparation than fear. That somehow if I can prepare, my heart will weather better.

But today, I resolve not to think of tomorrow, but to treasure this moment so deep that it need not be recorded to be remembered.

Between American Fork and Mapleton

I can't believe a week's gone by. Last weekend we took a quick road trip to Utah. It seems like it takes me a week to recover after we've been gone. I still haven't gotten to laundry yet (I decided to blog instead). And, it was just last night that I finally worked up enough umph to unpack. Does it take you that long to get back in the swing of things after a long weekend?

Anyway, we spent last Thurs.- Sun. going back and forth between American Fork and Mapleton. We had a great visit with Greg's folks and my sister. We even squeezed in breakfast with Greg's sister Tonya and her family before conference on Sun.

And, best of all I had Chick-fil-a twice...(Greg's still whining because he didn't get any)...I also picked up two jars of salsa from my sis. She's so great. On our way out of town we stopped by her place and she had made fresh bread, soup and cookies for us to take home. She rocks!

I got some good shopping in too and took in my first bead show. I loved it. I must admit it was a little overwhelming to see so many beads, have so many ideas and so little cash-o-la. Anyway, we had a great time and now I have new beads to add to my collection and hopefully make into some jewelry soon.

Greg went skiing at Sundance with his Dad and his retiree ski buddies. (They kicked Greg's butt). He also paid a visit to Cabella's to drool and almost came home with a pontoon fishing boat.

Cole spent time with his cousins and Abby, my in laws dog. He loves Abby. Every morning he woke up and wanted to play with the dog. I'm glad he likes Abby and I'm even happier that Abby lives at my in laws. Don't get me wrong, I like dogs...other peoples. :-)

Here's some pics Greg took on his iphone. I forgot my camera.

Here's Cole riding in cousin Lexi's Cadillac (Lexi loves the camera)

And a couple of photos of Cole with Tonya's boys (Boston and Carson) when they visited LV for the Monster Jam the last weekend in March.





Besides being cold (I'm such a wimp now), it was a great weekend. Thanks Mom and Dad Childs, your basement suite was great!

The Tough Part

I've been remiss in posting because I've been having a little pity party for myself and just couldn't think of any fun posts. I didn't want to dredge up all the ugly feelings and doubts I've been having and I just couldn't think of anything sunshiny. After moping around and being miserable for a day, I finally got some sleep last night and slept in this morning. That's right, no morning walk...but it was actually good.

I've been having back issues since Cole was born. It seems no bed is right and at about 4 a.m. every morning I wake up with an achy back and have to move to the recliner or another bed. Anyway this coupled with some recent disappointments kind of threw me into a funk (again). These last two years I've found myself there a little too often. Its weird how life is...its tough and it can make you crotchety if you let it. The tough part isn't enduring it, because you can choose to lay there and moan and you'll probably make it. The tough part is getting up, getting out and making yourself look for the light and the lovely. Anyway, the fog is lifting, I still can't see the path, but at least the air is a little lighter this morning.