Team Teal: NYC

This summer we planned a surprise birthday trip for my mom. She turned the big 6-0 on December 14th, and we planned to take her to New York City the weekend after her birthday to celebrate. We told her about the trip on her birthday, and she was so excited to go! Unfortunately she got very sick that week, and our tickets and the hotel room were already paid for and were non-refundable. Since none of us had any idea how sick my mom actually was, and because she insisted that we still go without her, the three kids went on the trip without my parents.

Jonathan, Sarah and I left on Thursday night and got into NYC around midnight. On Friday we got up early and went to the Today Show. When we were sufficiently freezing, we went to Dean & Deluca for coffee. We also explored Rockefeller Center and the enormous Christmas tree. We were wandering around, trying to decide what to do next, when we saw Matt Lauer about 5 feet from us on the sidewalk! As huge Today Show fans, this was the best experience ever! The only thing I could think to say was, “Matt! We love you!” He stopped and looked right at me and said, “Thank you!” Then Jonathan told him happy birthday, and he said, “Thanks, guys!” What a nice guy! I think he probably loves us, too.

Next we went to the top of the Empire State Building, saw Madison Square Gardens, had a famous Nathan’s hot dog, and wandered around mid-town. We went back to the hotel after that for a nap and to wait on Jonathan’s friend, Charles, to meet us. That night we went to a yummy Japanese restaurant and to a couple of fun bars. We were so happy to have Charles there to show us around! He lived in NYC for about 3 years previously, so he was a great asset to the trip.

On Saturday we went to the Statue of Liberty where we got to go all the way to the top of the crown. It was an amazing view, but a very scary climb both up and down. Yikes! We also went to Ellis Island and saw where thousands of immigrants were introduced to our country. Next we went to a famous pizza place for lunch, Lombardi's. Then we split up – Sarah and I hit China Town and SoHo for shopping while the boys went to Central Park and Yankee Stadium. Sarah and I found some GREAT deals and had a blast shopping together. We even saw a fun Christmas parade in China Town and bought her a Coach purse from a green Dodge Caravan on the side of the road. Great memories!

When we got back to the hotel that evening, we learned that New York City was expecting to get between 9-14 inches of snow and that the airport had already shut down for the weekend. We learned that the earliest we would be assured a flight out was Thursday – Christmas Eve. We tried everything we could think of to get out of New York, and we finally resorted to renting a car in Newark, New Jersey and driving back to St. Louis. After our travel plans were finally set, we set out for a two block walk through the snow to a sports bar for dinner and so the boys could watch a football game. The way there wasn’t so bad, but on our way back it was incredibly cold with the wind blowing and snow everywhere. I guess that’s what it’s like to be stuck in a blizzard! I have never been so happy to be inside.

Sunday morning we were up at 5:30. We dragged our luggage through the snowy streets of Manhattan – past Ground Zero – to a subway station. From there we took a subway to Newark and caught a taxi to take us to the Newark airport. (Side note: our taxi driver was a Jamaican man who kept sliding all over the road. He would say, “I don’t like this. I don’t like this at all!” We were trying to be sympathetic, but we just really wanted him to take us to the rental car place! It was so funny.) From there we rented our car and began our 15 1/2 hour drive back to St. Louis. We went through New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana, Illinois, and finally Missouri. Whew! Definitely not the ideal way to get back from New York, but another great memory. The best part was that we all got along the whole way and still liked each other when we got to our house. :-)

Here are some of the many pictures we took from our trip. Despite missing our parents and the interesting trip home, we still managed to have a blast. I love NYC!

WARNING: There are a LOT of pictures…

With our beautiful signs at the Today Show

Oh, Christmas tree! Oh, Christmas tree!

In front of the tree at Rockefeller Center (or, as Jonathan called it, 30 Rock)

Sarah and I in front of Rockefeller Center

Sarah and Jonathan “posing” with Matt Lauer in the NBC Store

View from the top of the Empire State Building

Sarah and Jonathan at the Empire State Building

Sarah and I pose next to a replica of the Empire State Building

Sarah had the brilliant idea to bring mom and dad along…as “Flat Ed and Flat Sus.” They went everywhere with us!

Sarah and I at dinner

Out at a bar…nice bunny ears, huh?

Flat Sus and Flat Ed having some cocktails

Lady Liberty

At the top of the Statue of Liberty’s crown

Sarah posing with a torch that was taken off the Statue of Liberty

This picture is just ridiculous…we made everyone around us on the ferry laugh!

At Ellis Island near the “Kissing Pole” where many families were reunited

Eating pizza at Lombardi's

Part of the Christmas parade in China Town

At Bloomingdale’s (a.k.a. heaven)

I had to include this picture because we were at a sample sale in SoHo. I’ve always wanted to go to a sample sale! Confessions of a Shopaholic, anyone?

Sarah says this is her favorite picture. It doesn’t even do the “blizzard” justice, but I’ve never been so cold in my life! Now I understand why people don’t survive blizzards. Brrrrr!