New York City for New Year's!

We took the girls to New York City with some of our friends over the New Year.  With Gabi unable to ski this season and a commitment to high school winter sports starting next year, it seemed like the year to do it!  We are so glad that we made the decision to go for it!  We had an amazing time and created lots of fun memories!

New York bound!

We made it!  Ready to start our adventure

Grand Central Station all decorated for Christmas.  We stayed close to GCS and the Chrysler Building.  It was easy walking distance to Rockefeller Center, Times Square, and 5th Avenue.

After arriving, we checked out the light show Saks 5th Avenue and Rockefeller Center.  Everything was so festive!

Rockefeller Center Christmas tree...so pretty!

The next morning, we headed via Subway to Hudson Yards and the Highline Trail.  We saw so many neat pieces of public art, ate so much good food, and just enjoyed being in the city.

The Vessel

St. Patrick's Cathedral

Lego Store on 5th Ave

Empire State Building all lit up for the holidays

Riding an old school wooden escalator at the Macy's flagship store

We were so lucky to be able to see "Hamilton" in New York.  To say that it was amazing, was an understatement!  It was one of the most wonderful things I have ever experienced...so much talent in those writers and performers!  Thinking about it still gives me goosebumps!

Ready for the show!

On New Year's Eve, we met my good friend Susie for a jaunt around Central Park.  Susie and I grew up together in Iowa.  She has lived in and around the city for almost 20 years.  It was so good to see her and her family! :) I just wish I had gotten a picture of us all together!

We found the finish line of the NYC Marathon!

After our tour of Central Park we headed to see the Statue of Liberty.  Here are the girls on the ferry!  It was overcast, but we were still able to see her beauty!

This was the point we realized that we might be wearing the kids out with our crazy sightseeing adventures!  Kevin is still up for a good time, though!

After the ferry ride to see the Statue of Liberty, we walked around the financial district to see Wall Street, the Freedom Tower, and Trinity Church among many other things.

After experiencing the craziness of Times Square the night before, we decided not to go down there on New Year's Eve.  We watched the ball drop from our hotel while playing cribbage and "trash" among other shenanigans. :)

On New Year's Day, we went on a tour of the 9/11 Memorial Museum.  It is amazingly done.  I would highly encourage anyone to go visit.  It is a sobering couple of hours, but we all really enjoyed the experience.

This is the last thing taken out of the World Trade Center site.

In front of one of the infinity/reflecting fountains with the names of all that died around the perimeter.

Maya took this photo with her phone...isn't it beautiful.  That is the Freedom Tower in the background

Inside the Oculus near the World Trade Center

Donut Snack!

We ate at Katz's Deli...Gabi's cheesesteak was bigger than her face!  She got through about half of it.

We went to see "Wicked" on Broadway on our last night in New York.  It was amazing!

We very gladly wore our masks during our entire trip and proudly showed our vaccination cards upon entering any indoor location.  New York has it figured out!  However, when we got back our car after getting off the airplane, the kids couldn't help but find a different purpose for our masks...snowball slingshot!

Jacob stayed with my mom and dad while we were in New York.  He had a great time and didn't seem to miss us at all!  He got to go swimming and out to eat at fun places.  He was able to ride his scooter and play at the park lots too.  My parents were so kind to keep him so we were able to take this trip with the big kids.  We promised that we would take him someday when he was bigger!  This picture was taken on New Years Eve.  He tried so hard to stay up until midnight before crashing at 11:45 on "Big Bob."