December 2013

This year we only had a few of the kids and grandkids here for Christmas Eve. We had a turkey dinner and then we did the usual opening of the new pj's, and has a short program with songs, stories, and of course the live Nativity. We drove to see the lights at the Temple. Then they all went to their own homes and for the first time in 42 years we were here alone without any little kids sleeping here. I missed them on Christmas morning, but we Skyped with everyone who wasn't here, and then went to Jessica's and watched them open gifts.

 Brad's Family opening PJ'S

 St. George Temple

 Performing Jingle Bells

 The Nativity

 Reading the Christmas Story

 Doug's Favorite Present

 Ali

 Lilly

 Sam

 Mandi

Quiet Christmas Eve

Leaves,Leaves,Leaves!! December 22nd, 2013

Every year it seems we have more and more leaves to clean up. We had a little extra "help" from the grandkids this time. They loved jumping in the piles! After all these years here in St George it is still hard to believe we don't rake the leaves until December. We even had a rare snow storm here and had to wait for it to melt so we could get to the leaves.

Children's Museum - December 21st, 2013

We took Jessica's kids to the Children's Museum while they finished their  kids shopping. The museum just opened a few weeks ago. The kids loved all the different rooms. Ali is a little old for most of it, but she went into a sewing class. They were teaching the girls how to knit using a knitting loom. (?) There is a post office, grocery store, automotive shop, airport, music studio, castle, science room, bank, fire station area, acting room with costumes and a stage, a farm area, etc. They had fun dressing up. Everything is hands on, and they can play and use their imagination. The best part is that it is free admission.

 Lilly & Mandi with pilot Sam

 Fireman Lilly

 Singer Mandi

 Shopper Lilly

 Princess Mandi

 Knight Sam

 King Sam & Queen Mandi

 Knitter Ali

Singer Ali

New York City - Day 5 - December 18th 2013

We got up early and took the hired car to LaGuardia Airport. It was actually the first cloudless day. A bright sun was shining, and it was good to see it again. It was fun spending these past few days with Tonya. We had a lot of fun, and experiences we will never forget. I snapped a few pictures on the way to the airport of random things. We were able to sit together on the flight from NYC to Denver. in Denver, our flights were at gates right next to each other, so we waited together. They were supposed to leave within 5 minutes of each other, but Tonya's got delayed, so I left before her. It was hard saying goodbye to her. But I will always treasure this time together. I landed in Vegas and Stephanie and Doug picked me up. Now back to real life….. You can see all my pictures here: You can see all Tonya's pictures here:

 Fountain in Central Park

 FAO Schwarz

Airport

 Flight Home

Hard to say goodbye….

New York City - Day 4 - December 17th, 2013

We crammed as much as humanly possible into one day. We got up early and walked 10 minutes to Central Park. It was snowing hard and was windy, but it made it so perfect for Christmas time.  We couldn't stay long and we were getting cold so we rented a Pedicab. It was one of the highlights of my trip. It was scary going through the traffic. It was nice and warm in the little enclosed cab. He dropped us off right in front of Radio Music Hall. Then we went to the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular. And it was the whole reason I wanted to come to NYC. I have always wanted to see them here, and secretly wished I could have been one. ( we had our picture taken with one of them, and seriously I came up to her neck) It was a fantastic show. There was a Nativity Scene that is the prettiest I have ever seen. I loved every minute of it. We ate a slice of New York Pizza at at a small cafe with all the local businessmen on their lunch hour. We had to stand at a counter next to the window. It was fun watching all the people out in the snow. It is so pretty when it is falling on all the trees, etc. The next thing we did will always be special to me. I will be forever grateful to Tonya for doing this. I would have never done it. She found out where the hospital was located that I was born in. ( before I was adopted I lived in NYC for 2 weeks). We got on the subway at Grand Central Station. Totally different experience from yesterday. We were stuffed in like sardines. You couldn't move or see above all the tall people. The farther we went, the worse it got. Tonya started getting claustrophobic and wanted off. An older lady was next to us and heard us talking and tried to help us feel better. They had changed the route and we were not sure where to go and a nice guy told us where to get off next. The old lady got off and told us to not use our phones for directions, and to keep everything in our purses, and hold on tight to them or they could be snatched from us. After taking a taxi (and getting kicked off) we found the hospital. It was a strange feeling to see where I was born, and to think about how my life would have been so different if I had not been adopted, and had been raised in NYC. (I am eternally grateful that I was adopted and raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints)

Central Park

Pedicab

Waiting for Rockettes

Rockettes

Hospital where I was born!

That night we took a water taxi out to the Statue of Liberty. The lights on all the bridges, and the skyline was beautiful, but as we got closer to the Statue, I was in awe! I had tears streaming down my face. It was a very spiritual experience to see her up close. The statue is magnificent.(I had a hard time getting a good picture because the boat was rocking and my hands were shaking from the cold) I will have the beauty of it forever in my mind!

Statue of Liberty

Freedom Tower

Bridges

After this, we took the subway back to Time's Square. We saw where the ball will drop on New Year's Eve. That is the most lit up place I have ever seen. You can see all my pictures here.

Time Square

New York City - Day 3 - December 16th, 2013

We didn't set our alarm, and jumped out of bed at 9:30. We must have jet lag. We got ready and went on a bus tour of uptown and downtown NYC. We sat on the top of a double decker bus. It was freezing cold and windy, but we wanted to see everything. The architecture of the old buildings was so beautiful. We saw the Empire State Building, and also the new 9/11 Tribute Center. We went in to a beautiful old Church. We tried to get on a ferry to the Statue of Liberty but missed it by a few minutes. We saw it from a distance, and hope to go tomorrow. We spent awhile at Macy's and rode on the old original wooden escalators. We went shopping near Time's Square. I took my very first ride on the Subway. We had to transfer 3 times to different lines. I'm glad Tonya was here to figure it all out. I would have been lost. The one thing I noticed about NYC that was new for me was...even though it was a sunny day, we rarely saw the sun because the buildings are so tall and close together, that you are always in the shade. It made me appreciate where I live. We can see the sun all the time. We have not been eating much at all because we are going, going, going. So tonight we walked to a restaurant called Becco's. It was yummy Italian food. It was the most crowded place I have ever eaten in. People were inches away, and standing everywhere waiting for tables. Then we ended the night by walking  around Times Square. I got some good pictures of where the ball will drop in 15 days for New Year's Eve. We wanted to take a taxi back to hotel because we are worn out, but couldn't find one so we walked back through Rockerfeller Center to our hotel. People must never sleep here. It is a crazy busy place.

 Subway

 Cynthia on Double Decker Bus

 Largest Post Office in USA

 Empire State Building

 Flat Iron Building

 Freedom Tower (9/11)

Trinity Church

 Macy's

Wooden Escalators

Becco's Restaurant