The Children's Museum of Manhattan

Last week I took the kids to the Children's Museum. They had so much fun. There was a whole floor for Dora the Explorer and outside they had an exhibit called City Splash which was all with water. The kids loved all of it! Here are Tyler and Makenzie with Dora.

Makenzie didn't really help to make the walls on this bridge. She only liked tearing it down.

There was an entire section with firetrucks, subway trains, and MTA buses to ride on and pretend to drive and they even had costumes to dress up as firefighter or drivers.

The kids loved this exhibit outside! There was a river of water for the kids to sail these plastic boats down. Both Makenzie and Tyler put up a huge fuss when we had to leave, even after they played with it for 45 minutes.

Kenzie and her sand. This was a dream come true for her. Not only did it have sand but teapots to fill with sand. She loved to fill them up and pour them into the cups.

This was a cool exhibit. There was a giant lite-brite as you can see behind Tyler. I think I liked it more than my kids though. I was such a big fan when I was younger!

Kids will be Kids

I don't know if anyone has ever thought to count the number of ice cream trucks and vendors there are in the city. There must be thousands of them, maybe even a million! Sometimes it seems they are on every single corner...... literally. They hide out at all of the parks and playgrounds, which makes it impossible for you to really go anywhere with your children without them spying a truck and crying, "Mommy, mommy- can I have some ice cream?" And if that wasn't bad enough, once you give in during a weak moment you are now stuck with a huge cone with sprinkles that make messes on clothing, strollers, hands, faces.... pretty much anything it can find its way onto. Here is Makenzie with her prize- I know it looks cute now but you didn't see it after it was gone.

Makenzie and Tyler down by Mike's work. We went to visit him last week during lunch.

On the way to visit Mike we walked by a store called the Balloon Saloon. It was full of old fashion toys and of course, balloons. Once the children spotted the store, I knew there was no way I was getting by it without buying them some balloons.

One evening we all went out for a walk down Riverside Park to watch the sunset and catch fireflies. Here we attempt to get the kids together for a picture. It's near impossible to get them all looking and smiling at the same time. This was the best we could do.

Tyler has been waiting all summer long to play with Jackson's trike. It is Jackson's prized possession and near impossible to get away from him. We've been telling Tyler that once Jackson goes on vacation he can ride it all he wants. Now that day has arrived..... Ride Tyler Ride!!!

Shopping, Shopping and More Shopping

This weekend I went shopping on 34th street. Hooray!! This is what I have been saving up for. 34th street has Macy's on it and stores like H&M, Forever 21, Victoria Secret, Gap, and more. I felt a little bit bad for the boys who just followed around and waited while Makenzie helped me shop and pick out clothes to try on. But I didn't let it stop me from finding some fabulous outfits to bring back to Utah.

My new perfume I got off a street vendor for $20. I love it! These street vendors are hilarious because they act like you have to buy it now or you won't ever find such a great deal. They say they've got to hurry before the police find them and take away all of their goods. Mike's favorite was some guy yelling at the tourists, "Buy them quick, Don't think about it.. The cops show up and we'll all be going to jail". ha ha! The funny thing is that it seems to work.

Makenzie and I perusing through Forever 21's clothes racks. Makenzie was such a good helper. She liked holding my shirts for me because she thought they were pretty and wouldn't let me take my victoria secret bag away from her little paws.

Museum of Modern Art

Last week Mike and I went out to the MOMA- or Museum of Modern Art. It was so interesting. We loved seeing some of the famous works like Pollock, Picasso and Van Gogh (as you can see below). We were amazed at the amount of art that we just didn't get though..... like big steel squares on a floor or a black canvas that supposedly if you look long enough isn't all the same black. Or the art that looks, quite frankly, like my two year old could have done it. Oh well. It was a culturally enlightening experience.

Me with a Pollock masterpiece.

Mike and Picasso

Van Gogh- Starry Night (our favorite)

Baby Face

If I could stop time, I would. I am slowly realizing that my baby is no longer a baby. I adore her baby face with her kissable lips, chubby cheeks and long eyelashes. For me it's true that children are the key to a mother's heart.

Cousin Fun

The best thing about being here in New York is the opportunity my kids have had to get to know their cousins, Savanna and Jackson. These two, Tyler and Savanna, have become such good friends. They like to play princesses and dragons together (a pretend make-believe game that sometime lasts for hours) and chase each other around. I love this picture of them together- they are both so cute.

One night Alan put on some music and all the kids decided to dance around. The girls got on dance outfits and Jackson decided he really wanted a dance outfit on too. Unfortunately now every time the girls want to play dress-up, he wants to put this skirt on. Oops.

The kids in their pjs having a dance party!!! What fun!

Greg's Quick Visit

This past weekend Mike's brother, Greg, spent a day in New York City with Mike and Makenzie. They went to lunch at Grimaldi's, walked across the Brooklyn Bridge and then ran up for a quick tour of Times Square.

The Beach

This past weekend we rented a car and spent a couple days at the beach. Alan and Maline and their kids came and we had a blast. The first day we went to Sandy Hook beach in New Jersey and the second day we went to Jones Beach on Long Island. Both were fun although Jones beach was a lot more crowded.

Makenzie is such a beach babe. She wasn't afraid of the water or sand at all and had a blast trying out the boogie board and jumping in the waves with Mike.

Everyone gets their feet wet. It took Tyler half of the first day before he decided that the waves were safe enough to play in. He is so cautious and worried sometimes. He was afraid that the big waves would sneak up and fall on him.

Alan and Savanna play in the water

Kenzie spent a good hour helping Mike to build this big mountain of sand. She was so cute filling up her bucket with water and bringing it to Mike to pour on the mountain. Then she would help pat down the sides and try to make it all smooth.

Alan, Maline, Savanna and Jackson eating lunch

Yankee Game

Yesterday night we all went to enjoy a Yankee baseball game together. It was perfect weather and the kids loved all the clapping and music (and the treats). The Yankees won 8-0 which made it an even better game. Go yankees!!

Kenzie gets her first cotton candy ever.

She looks like she doesn't want to share.

Tyler loves going to the Yankee games. He's already been to one before this with Mike. He loves getting his own bag of crackerjacks and loves singing "take me out to the ball game".