Mixed Nuts: Catch up - Trip to NYC for Arlington's Birthday

Quotes

"There is no better way to thank God for your sight than by giving a helping hand to someone in the dark." - Helen Keller
When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me." ~Erma Bombeck
You may never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only choice.- Unknown
Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow' ~Helen Keller
Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.
Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."- Dr. Seuss
"Life is 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you react to it."
"God doesn't give children with disabilities to strong people: He gives them to ordinary, everyday people, then He helps the parents to grow stronger through the journey. Raising a child with special needs doesn't TAKE a special family, it MAKES a special family."Author Unknown
I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go – Abraham Lincoln
Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. ~ Benjamin Franklin
There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as if everything is a miracle - Albert Einstein
The journey of a 1000 miles starts with a single step
Sometimes in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives you a fairy tale
Where there is great love, there are always miracles - Willa Cather
The Difficult we can do immediately, the impossible takes a little longer
Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness
There are two lasting bequests we can give our children. One is roots. The other is wings.
Be the change you want to see in the world
Don't tell God how big the storm is, tell the storm how big Your God is..........
Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it
Fall down seven times - get up eight - unknown
Despite our differences, we sink or swim together
Life may not be the party we expected, but while we are here, we might as well dance
"The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones." -Confucius

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Catch up - Trip to NYC for Arlington's Birthday

Almost two weeks ago now (hard to believe) Mat and I took Arlington to NYC for her 9th birthday. It was just the three of us, and we had a great time. We took the train into the city (it is about a 4 hour train trip from Mass. with lots of stops) and spent two nights in the hotel on Times Square - the location couldn't have been more perfect.

We arrived in the city late Friday night, so we just took a taxi to the hotel and went to sleep. Saturday was a busy day. We started with breakfast at Jamba Juice and then walked around for a bit before TKTS (discount tickets for Broadway shows) opened up. We already had tickets for Lion King for Saturday night, but we wanted tickets for an afternoon show. It was a holiday weekend, so unfortunately our top 3 choices (Spider Man, Phantom of the Opera, Blue Man Group) were not available. So we saw Sister Act, which was pretty good. Arlington really liked it.

After we got our tickets, we went to the American Girl store so Arlington could burn some of her birthday money. (thank you to all of the relatives who donated to her NYC birthday trip!) She bought the "girl of the year" Makenna, and the doll also attended all of the broadway shows with us.

Before the show we had time to eat a hot dog off a street vendor (yes you must do this when in NYC - they really do taste good), visited the Disney Store, the Nintendo store, the giant Toys R Us, and the M+M store.

After the first show, we had dinner with my cousins Kirsten and Alissa Wyatt who live in the city. Arlington loves getting to see these two ladies every time we visit the city. They gave her presents (thank you girls) and doted on her before it was time for Lion King.

Lion King was as awesome as I remember. It truly is a show like no other. And Mat and I have seen quite a few on Broadway. Arlington had a great time during the whole show and was still wide awake at 11pm when we were walking back to hotel. (don't worry - we didn't have to walk far).

Sunday morning we had a quick breakfast and then went to the Empire State building - Arlington's request. That girl is a thrill seeker and wanted to be somewhere high. It was the first time I had been up there since 9/11 and it was weird, and sad to be able to see past where the towers used to stand. You could see where the 9/11 memorial and the new tower were being built. It was a really clear day and we could see really far, which Arlington enjoyed.

After that, it was time to go home. Mat was going back to Massachusetts by train, and Arlington and I were going on to Pennsylvania with my parents for a week (along with Finley and Cainan).

It was a fun weekend and I was glad we were able to do this with her. Arlington is a great big sister, and she has to deal with because we devote so much time with Finley, so it was time to give her a chance to be with us by herself.

And she took full advantage by talking non-stop for 3 days.

Enjoy the pictures!

Arlington played on my computer on the train ride