Popular and Pooped Out, Part 3: New York City trip
On Friday, we traveled to New York City for a whirlwind Spring Break trip with my parents. We blew the boys' minds by taking them to the Museum of Natural History and I took the opportunity to do my April DITL (extra long because I included one and a half days worth of photos)
DITL community link here
Update: First place!
My parents traveled down the night before and we drove to the Amtrak station in Poughkeepsie. Both boys love trains and loved taking a ride on this one along the Hudson.
We got in at Penn Station, took a quick subway ride closer to our hotel, and stood in the long check-in line. We were staying at The Palace because Jake found a super-cheap deal online and part of their schtick is to call all the children staying there a "Prince" or "Princess". The boys each got crowns and positively glowed with happiness.
But our room isn't ready yet, so we adjourn to the bakery on the first floor and have a quick snack.
Finally, our room is ready and it is BEAUTIFUL.
There is a wide window ledge and the boys waste no time in climbing up to explore and take in the view.
St. Pat's cathedral under construction
We head out to meet up with Jake's cousin for dinner in Little Italy.
While walking toward the restaurant, I spy this sign and am slightly disturbed. All the other signs for these type of fire hydrants in other areas of NYC I saw that weekend said "Split hydrant" or "Two connection".
After dinner, we treat the boys to Little Italy gelato. They decide that this trip is going to be awesome.
We say goodbye and head back to the hotel.
The boys go down to sleep and we head down to the lobby bar. Because we had such a hassle checking in and our room wasn't ready, they gave us a credit for drinks and we decide to use them up. Jake gets a Manhattan and Mom has a Cosmo.
In the morning, all is quiet. Jake sneaks out to grab some coffee to fuel the adults before our busy day starts.
This sleepy boy climbs up into my bed and talks to me about his dreams.
It is gearing up to be a great day!
The adults slowly wake up while the boys run around like crazy.
They've decided that sticking their tongues out is the new greatest thing. *sigh*
On our way out for breakfast, we stage a photo op by this (dry) fountain.
Check out of our room and ask the hotel to hold our bags for the day.
Stop to smell the daffodils
Entering Rockefeller Plaza
The Easter decorations are still in full bloom and they're gorgeous.
Family NYC trip, 2015!
The boys spy the Lego store and do some window shopping.
Breakfast is bagel sandwiches
Again with the tongue out
At this point, Jake leaves us to do his recon work for his upcoming school field trip. Since his legs are longer and he walks a lot faster than the rest of us, we decide to meet him at his ending point: Times Square
And we take the boys to the M&M store
Jake finds us and we hop on the subway
The wall tiles at our destination are absolutely beautiful. We try to point them out to the boys and get them to wonder about why the mosaics are happening (we haven't told them about our surprise destination), but they are more interested in the train departing
Finally, they understand. "It's the Museum of Natural History, across from Central Park!"
Their faces when walking in are priceless
Because THIS is what we walk in to see
Checking out the carnivore skeleton
I spy Teddy Roosevelt in each of the paintings on the four walls of the main entrance.
Taking a look at the map, we decide to head to the 4th floor and work our way down. The boys were literally running up the stairs, chattering excitedly.
They were not disappointed. "Look! Mammoths!"
And our main objective... the dinosaurs!
They were so happy.
When the museum gives you a transparent walkway, you crawl on it to see the dino bones underneath
Absolutely incredible.
We stop for a snack before visiting the reptiles.
Then it's downstairs to the "Hall of Biodiversity". Dad stops to chat with Teddy.
"Bully!" he says.
By this point, I have stopped counting the number of times I was amazed. It is an incredible museum.
And then we walk in to THIS
I have the boys stand underneath the giant whale to get a size perspective
We're all getting a little hungry, so we leave the museum and discuss lunch options
Walk a few blocks to find this bistro where boys can color on the paper table coverings
The adrenaline from the museum excitement wears off, and he literally falls asleep while eating. I haven't seen him do that since he was a baby!
Both boys perk right up when we tell them we're headed to the park for some playtime, but they still coerce Jake into carrying them.
Central Park = rock climbing
Head to the hotel and grab our bags from storage, then it's back to Penn Station to catch our train.
Frozen yogurt
Suddenly, our train goes from "On Time" to boarding at the track furthest from where we're sitting, so we make a mad dash to get on board. Once there, this guy finished a crumbled PopTart.
And promptly falls asleep.
After the train, we hop into our car and head home.
All in all, a great trip! It's good to be home.