The Stubblefield Family: November 2012

Leading up to Thanksgiving Jared had been talking about the Macy's parade. We decided that we didn't have enough money to stay over night and get a good spot, so we'd pass and watch it on tv. But that Wednesday a friend of ours, also a patient of Jared's, told him that she had a cousin who lived in NYC and that they were heading up that night to stay over and stake out great seats. They agreed to save us seats as well and before I knew it we were on our way to the parade!! : )

My sweet kids in the train station in New Jersey, very, very early on Thanksgiving morning.
This booth seemed so iconic and lovely, ready for a Christmas movie.

On the train into the city. The first visit to NYC for all of us!!
(No worries, I wore my beanie the rest of the day! : ) Oh dear, morning Mama...I had only slept 2 1/2 hours...getting everything ready for this last minute excursion! : )

After arriving in the city we tried to meet our friends with no luck. The city was crawling with people. The trains were full to overflowing, leaving us waiting for the second or third train to even get on. The streets were quickly being blocked off by police barricades and we were completely unable to make it across town. : ( Never fear, Jared always has plans B-Z on the back burner for times like these and we ended up here...

52nd St. & 6th Ave

At first we had a pretty sweet spot. A great view, with police protection. See how we could just look right down the street onto 6th Ave? It wasn't a huge window, but it was a window and we were pleased.The police officers were keeping everyone on the sides of the street so emergency vehicles could get through if need be. Keeping our view clear.

But right before the parade started, the police officers left and the masses crowded in. : ( We lost our view. We tried to stay where we'd been told to be and there was no signal that things were changing. We were bummed, but never fear, Dad was there. A week after his neck surgery (still recovering and still so painful for him) he was lifting each kid in turn up on his shoulders, so they wouldn't miss the parade. Have I mentioned what a good Dad Jared is? : )

And then this guy showed up....

Meet Elder Long, or what you can see of him : ), visiting the city for the parade, while serving a New York State Mission. He and his wife, who happened to be from CA, also just happened to end up standing right beside us. Seeing Jared's efforts, Elder Long immediately pitched right in and Hannah and Ben saw a lot of the parade from his shoulders, taking a lot of weight (and strain and pain) off of Jared...literally. It was such a sweet blessing and it touched our hearts. We had been feeling quite family-less this Thanksgiving Day and Heavenly Father reminded us that He knew right where we were and that we were a part of his family, complete with a kind Grandma and Grandpa to join us, help us and love our kids at the parade.

Well, you know already know that these cute kiddos were there for Macy's 86th Annual Thanksgiving Day Parade....look who else was too : )...

Santa Claus!!

This little ornament buzzed around the street seemingly on it's own. It made us smile.

Macy's Balloons that said, "Believe," the theme of this year's parade.

There were also bands, celebrities...I'm pretty sure we saw Kareem Abdul Jabar, Whoopi Golberg and Jimmy Falon...clowns, dancers and lots more!

While the kids were enjoying the view from up top...this was my view for a good part of the parade. :( Oh, this Mama's abs could only hold up our growing baby for so long without rest. My stomach started cramping and I sat down on our bags to relax my muscles. I was so sore the next day from all the bag and kiddo lifting and parade standing. But it was all worth it!

After the parade it was time to eat. Jared quickly came up with a gluten free and holiday worthy option and we ended up having turkey, mashed potatoes and green beens at Speedy's Deli...lots of yummy, healthy, fresh cooked food there. Then we headed over to see the Empire State building...

My little thug bug. : )

There she is, the great Empire State Building! Thanks to Jared for this perfect pic!

...and then we packed our little brood back on the subway, back on the train, back in the car and drove home. They were asleep in the car for most of the way. What a totally unconventional Thanksgiving, but such a memorable one!! I love these wonderful, spontaneous adventures, of which Jared is king! : ) I'm so glad we got to share our very first visit to the Big Apple as a family and in such a great big way!

My two little Super Heros and a go-go dancer! : )

For a while, everything "Super" was Caleb's favorite!! He loved costumes, masks, capes, his super jammie hand-me-downs (previously Ben's Christmas jammies from the Runyans...thank you x2! : ), having his Daddy fly him around the room etc....but he especially loved "saving" people! Even still he will ask me to "petend you falling so I can save you." : ) A brave little protector I have on my hands! : )

Hannah with her friend Noa. Ben's friend Jack is the black angry bird behind him. : )

He's an "Itty Bitty Super Guy" : )

The trunk or treat was postponed a week due to hurricane Sandy this year. But we still got to costume and candy it up. The youth group put on a little hot dog supper and carnival before the trunk or treat. Up above the kids are strutting their stuff in the costume parade. They also got to do crafts and go fishing for prizes. Caleb wasn't quite sure about all this dressing up (at the church) and being out in the dark stuff (whenever we are out after dark he rides with his car light on : ). But he could see how excited Hannah and Ben were for everything and when he realized that people really were going to give him candy he was all in and got quite in the spirit of candy collecting. : )This was our first big activity in the Lititz ward. The kids loved hanging out with their friends from the old Lancaster 2nd Ward and Jared and I got to meet and visit with some new friends. A happy night of begging was had by all! : )