My New York Trip

Sometime last year, a few ladies from our church started talking about a trip to NY.  All I needed was a babysitter, so after I talked Kathy into coming out in March, 4 of us were still on board.  I went with Debbie, Lenette and Heather.  We had this planned for months, so you can imagine how torn I was when I found out Riley would come home from Iraq while I was gone.  He came home late Friday night and got a chance to wait for me to come home instead.

I am so glad I got to go though.  New York was freezing and the timing wasn't the best, but still, it was New York!  I love the girls I went with and have so many things to laugh about as I remember our trip.  Here's how it started...

Wednesday, Debbie and I met at Lenette's house.  Heather just moved up to Maryland, so we drove to her house first.  On the way, we stopped at Subway.  I got a veggie sandwich with some kind of vinegar.  It tasted great.  I had been craving one for months.  Maybe the vinegar, maybe eating while driving, I don't know, but something made me sick.  I threw up in my Subway bag and Lenette made me leave it on the side of the road.  We made it to Heather's and got to bed.  We started out early the next day after a warm bagel breakfast.  

Thursday in New York

Thursday we drove the last half from Heather's.  We took her posh BMW with the seat warmers.  My queasy stomach from the night before got me a ticket for the front seat.  I'm so glad Heather was driving!  On the way, we passed right through Allentown, where we'll live next, so that was neat.  We made it to the hotel just before 3.We decided to walk around and found Central Park.  We went to the Metropolitan Museum and saw original Monets and Picassos.  No wonder people try to steal them!  
We got to go to a session at the Manhattan Temple which was beautiful and quiet and warm compared to the bustling city.
I wore a stupid dress for the weather, so we took a cab wherever we could that night.  For the rest of the time we took the Subway.  That's me in the front of the taxi.  The people were very nice and we never felt scared.
The girls in the back.
After the temple, we trekked to Serendipity, the cafe from the movie, "Serendipity".  It was so cool to be in all these places from movies and TV.  I felt bad that my friends had to see my grumpy side.  I do not remember being so cold as we were when we walked to this cafe.  I think I scared Lenette.  Sorry.

Friday in New York

Friday was our site seeing day.  First we had our favorite breakfast at a little bakery/catering place near our hotel called Butterfield Kitchen.  They had the creamiest, warmest oatmeal.  It really helped gear us up for the cold!  Next we found the DMV so Heather could renew her license.  That lead us to Garrett's popcorn shop which Lenette recognized right away from Oprah's favorite things.  She talked us into trying the mix and we were hooked.  We walked to Little Italy and China Town which was so cool to see one side of the street total chinese and the other italian.
We stopped in FAO Schwartz and played on the big piano.  
Went to the top of the Empire State Building.
Didn't make it to the statue of liberty.  Don't know why I have this picture in here, but we want to go see it during our trip next year.  Wink wink!
Made it just in time for Wicked after making Heather run through the city.  It was so cool.  My kids like the song "Popular" that I downloaded from iTunes after I got home.

After the show, we hit Times Square just to look around.  Here are the girls with their smokey eyes, compliments of Sephoria makeup artists.  Then home to bed.  Big day.  

Saturday in New York

Saturday was our shopping day.  After our yummy oatmeal breakfast, we got right to it.  I think everyone got to go where they wanted.  My favorite was Anthropologie which was right by Rockefeller Center.  I could have spent all day there.  But, we had to get our second helping of Garrett's popcorn before we left.  The mix of cheese and caramel doesn't sound good at all, but is actually very delicious.  We also ate at a Japanese restaurant that day.  Mmm.  Loved my sweet potato sushi.  The food on the whole trip was amazing!  So many different kinds all at your fingertips.  And of course, Sunday was our driving day, all day.  That was the longest time I have ever spent in the car.  We learned a lot about each other!