The Charons

At the last minute we decided to head up to Kingman for the holidays. Thanksgiving always feels more like Thanksgiving when there is family around. Once we got there David and Scott tackled a stinky problem (the septic tank), then we went to eat the Traditional "all you can eat" Pizza Hut Buffet.

We really had a good time just relaxing, putting together a puzzle, four-wheeler rides and of course, Turkey dinner. Glad we got up there, even if it was for just a day.





I know, the pictures are kind of lame, I forgot to take pictures of our yummy dinner. Bummer.

So on the way home about 40 miles outside of Kingman and about 100 miles from the nearest town we had a major blow out on our back right tire. Last time I was in California my Dad told me I should replace my tire, but I was just hoping it would make it through the holidays, it didn't. whatever! So our two and a half hour drive turned into a 5 hour drive, ended with three tired little kiddies.

Our friends, the Crosby's invited us to go out to the Drive-In with their family. I didn't even know Glendale had anything like this. We packed the car with an air mattress, blankets, camping chairs and snacks, lots of snacks and headed down to the Drive-In! We watched Puss in Boots (kids choice). It was actually a ton of fun. We opened the back hatch of the van, and the kids watched while snuggled in all their blankets. I am sure we will be doing this again. Thanks for the memories Jodi and Dave. :)

Heading home this morning, glad to be returning home to my babies and sweet husband but so sad to be leaving New York behind. I can't believe how much I fell in love with the city, and it was such an amazing experience to have with my Mother! My Mom has always been a best friend and sometimes trips like these can make or break that bond but let me tell you, I am so tough sometimes and my mom handled it like a champ! Mom, I love you... thanks again, and lets do again... soon, oh, well... maybe when our pocket books heal from this last adventure ;)



my four square total for the week... :)

My last day in New York was spent in spectacular fashion, literally! My Mom and I split up and I headed to Penn Station, 34th street, home of the biggest MACY'S in the world. It truly was 9 floors of amazing! They had food all within the store on different floors, they had a whole floor JUST for Christmas ornaments! Knowing that I had NO room in my suitcase I had to be very careful what I feel in love with, I found a ring and some small knick-knacks. It was fantastic shopping at Macy's Flag ship store and seeing everyone getting ready for the Thanksgiving day Parade.


Next I headed next door to H & M. They released their Versace line and the place was a mad house.

walking back up 5th ave I spotted the 'hippodrome' It's a bldg on one of my favorite movies as a kid "On the Town".
We sung up back around to the Rockefeller Center to see the ice rink actually being used as such, instead of a swimming pool, which is how it looked on Tuesday night when we saw it. We grabbed a snack to hold us off until dinner, it was a nice relaxing afternoon.


We kept walking North heading back the the hotel, my Mom excited to see all the Christmas windows stopped and took a TON of pictures, I kept on going with my sights set on the Apple Store.. yup, you guessed it, my phone was dying and needed a charge. Here is the Plaza hotel, which is across from the Apple Store.

So while walking I decided my feet could use a break, so we found a Peddlecab and he for the bargain price of $40 took us on a tour of Central Park, it was fun to hear all the different stories, he was well informed in all things park.
These were the horse carriages that were passing us, so fun!
This is the Mosaic they made when John Lennon was shot, ironically enough he died right across the street from this memorial. Which is the bldg in the picture below.
Here's Brett, our "cabbie" He brought us right to the Shake Shack... YUM!
For those of you who know me, you know that nothing beats an In-N-Out burger, well, nothing by Shake Shack! This was honestly the best burger I have ever dug into to. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!
After our burger and collecting our luggage from the hotel we began the crazy journey to get back to Penn Station, to get back on the NJ Transit, to get back to the Airport Shuttle so we could be picked up by the airport shuttle and head for our hotel. Whew.. I am exhausted typing it and I was exhausted doing it in real life! :0

Here's a look at what I have been eating every morning at Zabar's :)

Hello Croissants, how are you? Oh me, I'm fine. Glad you can hang out on my hips :) I would have missed you otherwise!
So our morning started early on the 'Top of the Rock' at Rockefeller Center. And another bonus to being their early: Seeing Mario doing a cooking segment on Good Morning America :)

Lara Flinn-Boyle looked amazing, freezing, but amazing!
Here's the 'Top of the Rock' The view was AMAZING... obviously!


Next stop on today's To-do's... CHINATOWN, where I happened to buy my weight in purses! I walked around for awhile and came to this bakery... Looked yummy, but considering they were also selling fresh fish I didn't take my chances :)

One block you are in Chinatown, and the next block you are in Little Italy, nice switch.

After taking a cat nap at the hotel (much needed) We headed out to Lincoln Center to see what we could see... first i spy... Apple Store!
Next i-spy... The Mormon Temple, this one was a little harder to point out. I actually had NO IDEA it was the Temple, it fits into the surrounds so perfectly. It was lovely, and so quiet inside. Amazing!
At the Back end of the Temple there is a Folk Quilt Museum, the church rents the space to the museum for a dollar a month.. what a deal! They had a really great folk/jazz singer performing, kinda kicking myself that I never got her name. Here is the gift shop:
The fountains at Lincoln Center... what I know about these fountains? Not much, they change size and shape and my Aunt loved these fountains when she served her mission here.
Down the road a bit from the fountains is The CNN bldg, I was hoping to get a peek at Mr. Anderson Cooper, but no luck, I did however buy a can of nutmeg from the William-Sonoma store in the basement.

Here is a picture of the Chocolate Mousse I dived into after shopping and walking!

We ended up walking the whole night instead of riding the Subway, which was a lot of fun, when we walked home we spied a Shake Shack RIGHT BY our hotel... I know where dinner is tomorrow night!

We started Day 3 early, we had to pack in the day with Chad with as much as we could :) Here is me sitting in the hotel window, I wanted to show you my view, of everyone elses backyards ;)

Can't go to New York without planking on atleast something. And yes, I am going to load this onto the planking website ;)
Empire State Building... the whole time we were by this building I would sing Jay-Z and Alicia Keys, Empire State of mind..."I love New York, Concrete jungle where dreams are made of...."
After we saw the New York Public Library, The Empire State Building, Grand Central station and a bunch of different Cathedrols we stopped by Madison Square Park to see the imfamious Shake Shack! One of my other favorite movies, Something Borrowed shot lots of scenes at this very park. It was still early and I didn't want to eat a hamburger being that we were having pizza for lunch, so I got a Maple Butter Custard (amazing!) and some fries to share with my Mom and Brother.

After we finished our snack we took the subway to Brooklyn and walked under the Brooklyn bridge to eat the famous Grimaldi's pizza. Thanks John Stewart for the suggestion!

After Pizza, we fulfilled one 'to-do' on Chad's bucket list, and that was to walk accross the Brooklyn Bridge, it was raining and FREEZING, but still enjoyable! and the view was FANTASTIC!


When you get off the bridge it dumps you into downtown. City Hall to be exact, and lucky for us that was the day that OWS (Occupy Wall Street) was moving down to protest in front of City Hall, so imagine my surprise when we are walking off the bridge into the sea of blue uniforms! They had called in 10,000 extra officers to secure the area. Exicting! and a tad bit scary.

Here are the camera crews covering OWS.

The actual WALL street. Ya, couldn't get down there with all the barricades and police, but it was kinda cool to see.
After taking a gander at Zuccoti Park, that's THE park that protestors camped out in we headed over to see ground zero. Talk about one extreme to another.





The pools were amazing. Honestly, speechless. The way they turned tragedy into a memorial to honor those who lost their lives on that horrific day is just truly amazing. I felt honored to be there, among people who have lost loved ones.


After we left Ground Zero we had dinner at Pret-a-manger (It's french, and not it is not pronounced like it looks :) Then we headed over to see our Broadway show, "How to Succeed at Business Without Even Trying" It was AMAZING! I wish I could see it again!


After the show we headed back to Chad's room to say goodbye. Chad had to leave the next morning early, bummer. I ended the day on two good notes. 1. I saw Elmo (really not that exciting for me, but more for the kids :) and 2. I ended up the leader on Foursquare :) ha ha!