Back to the real world...

After being off last week, I feel like my vacation should continue this week! BUT I am back at work. :-(

So we had a wonderful Christmas and hope that all of you did as well! We were in TN with my family and had so much fun with all the family. Details and pics to follow. For now it is back to work!

New York Day Four

Here is what we did.....

1. MET (art museum)...I did not last long since I was up in the middle of the night sick. Therefore John and I heading back to the hotel so that I could get some rest.
2. Dinner at La Rivista - great Italian place....to bad I had to take it easy b/c of my stomach. :-(
3. The LION KING - AWESOME!!!!
4. We all walked around Times Square for a little bit....John and Elaine headed back to the hotel but John and I continued...
5. ESPN Sports Zone.....desert and drinks.

Here are the pics...not many...do to me being sick.

12-02-08

New York Day Three

John, Elaine and I @ the tree in front of the New York Stock Exchange

So this is what we did.....

1. Battery Park
2. Ferry to Ellis Island (passing the Statue of Liberty) - tour & lunch (Leslie got food poisoning)
3. Fancis Tavern
4. Scottrade on Wall Street (just happened to pass it while in the Financial District)
5. View of the NYSE
6. Federal Hall - George Washington was inaugurated here and the Bible that was there.
7. Trinity Church
8. The Bull
9. St. Paul's - Small church by Ground Zero
10. Ground Zero - just looked around
11. Rest our feet in the lobby of the Empire State Building
12. Drinks w/ a trader that John does business with
13. Rockettes @ Radio City Music Hall ( I forgot my camera - Can you believe that!!!! I was not feeling very well at this point).

Here are the pictures.....sorry but it takes to long to upload them on blogger.

12-01-08

Day Two in NYC

I know that I said I would have this yesterday, but you know how that goes....

Day two in was raining so we decided it would be the perfect time to go to the American National History Museum. I was pleasantly surprise at how much I enjoyed it. The displays there were so lifelike.

I don't know who, but elephants are my favorite and fascinate me.

John acting like a monkey. Emma....I guess he really is a "monkey boy"

This tree was so cool. It was decorated with all origami dinosaurs!

Here is the album.....

11-30-08

Day One in NYC

We had such a wonderful trip. Here are the first of the pictures....Day One in the Big Apple.

We started VERY early. Our plane left St. Louis @ 6:00 a.m. This meant that we were up at 3:15 a.m. in order to get to the airport and everything on time.

John and I at the airport...way to early to be awake on a Saturday! :-)

We had to take a taxi from the airport to the city. Long ride, but the cabbie was interesting. He enjoyed country music and LOVED Kenny Rogers and Willie Nelson. So funny!! Once we got to the hotel we got settled in and then we were off to explore.

On our walk...

The Christmas Windows at Saks 5th Ave. They were animated and so fun!

Rockefeller Center...there were so many people there ice skating that we decided not to. The line was insane. The ice rink was actually pretty small. I was surprised.

We also went to the top of Rockefeller Center. Here is a pic of the Empire State Building from the top. It was pretty windy and cold, but so cool to see the city from up there.

After that it was on to St. Patrick's Cathedral. WOW! I could not believe the detail on this building! Such a great place to take pictures...

After the Cathedral we headed across the street to the New York Palace. We actually found this place by accident. They had a really cool courtyard outside with a few large Christmas trees and lots of lights. The inside was decorated for Christmas too.

John and Elaine out side New York Palace.

After dinner at PJ Clarks (YUMMY)....I actually had a crab cake sandwich and it was so good!!! We walked around some more. We made our way to FAO Schwartz. We had actually been there earlier in the day, but there was a line just to get in. Luckily it was much better in the evening! I was even able to play the Big Piano like Tom Hanks. :-)

After the toy store we decided to go on a carriage ride through Central Park. The weather was great...not too cold and clear skies. There weren't that many other people out either. It felt like we had the whole park to ourselves.

After the carriage ride we went back to the Plaza to have drinks at the Oak Room.

That ends day one in the Big Apple. Tomorrow...pictures from Day Two.

Here are ALL the pics from the first day....

New York - Day One (Nov. 29)

Back to the Lou

We are all currently in the hotel lobby waiting for a car to come get us and take us to Newark airport. The trip is over. I think that John and I can both say that we LOVE New York.....even more than we thought we would. I thought that the fast pace, lack of sun shine from the tall buildings and crazy transportation would all be way too overwhelming for simple southern girl, but I LOVED it and already want to plan our second trip!!

There will be plenty of pictures over the next few days....well after I go through the hundreds that I took and edit them.

So for now....goodbye Manhattan, 5th Avenue, cabbies (yea!) and great food!

No we need the weekend for some R&R! :-)

We are in NYC!!!

Our first day was busy and wonderful!!! We did so much. There WILL be photos when we return, but for now I will leave you with a video from the Big Piano Show at FAO Schwartz!

Oh yeah....we also saw the most famous couple in the world within only hours of being in the city. That is right folks.....David and Victoria Beckham (and there adorable little boys). We were at the Plaza Hotel and there they were eating lunch. To bad their rough and tough body guards wouldn't let us take any pictures. Hopefully there will be more celebrity sitings! :-)

Our Thanksgiving

We spent our day lounging around the house. We did manage to go eat at Cracker Barrel for an early dinner. So we still got our turkey and dressing....although the dressing did not compare to Nana's. :-)

Why were we by ourselves on Thanksgiving you ask....well b/c we are heading to New York City tomorrow morning! That is right folks we will be in the big apple through Thursday w/ John's parents. We are so very excited.

Check back b/c I am sure that I will post at least once while we are there. Just to rub in that we are on an awesome vacation!

Putting Up a Christmas Tree

Here are the steps involved......


Unwrap all the ornaments. How is it that we have only been married 4 1/2 years and we have all these ornaments? Don't get me wrong...I would much rather have a full tree than any empty one. :-)

Put on all the glass ball shaped ornaments that serve as fillers.

Begin with the larger ornaments that take up more room.

Finally make your husband help put everything else on quickly....just to get it done!

More pics of the rest of the Christmas Trees later. I have 3 this year (well really 2...one is really small)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

Jess's Wedding

Weekend before last we went to Hendersonville for Jessica's Wedding. She is he 5th of the 6 of us from high school to get married. It was a beautiful ceremony and we had a great time catching up with old friends!


Bubbles....

John and I at the reception.

The 6 of us....Amanda, Leslie, Jessica, Niki, Jennifer and Andrea

Cutting the Cake

Coming tomorrow.....Christmas decorations!!!

Go Titans Go

While we were home last weekend John and I were also able to go to the Titian's game. They played Green Bay and it was a GREAT game. The Titan's won in overtime to continue their undefeated streak!



Outside the stadium before the game



The Introductions

The national anthem sung by Billy Currington - thought the flag was cool.

Just a cool pic I took while sitting in the 72 degree weather.
Yes we were sweating watching football in NOVEMBER!!!

Wedding Shower for Jess

John and I headed to Nashville last weekend for many reasons....one being Jessica's shower. Jess is the 5th of the 6 girls from High School to get married. We will be heading back next weekend for the wedding. It was great for us all to be together again. Only Jennifer didn't get to come b/c on of her little guys got strep throat! We missed you!


Jess opening her recipe scrapbook from all of us.

5 of the 6 (missing Jenn)

with MOM

Pumkin Patch

Last weekend we went to a pumpkin patch with another couple in our Sunday School class & their 3 little girls. It was a cool morning, but we still had a good time. And after we all went to lunch at Red Robin..

Giant mound of giant pumpkins. These things were huge and cost$50 if you wanted one.

John w/ our pumpkin.

Pumpkin Carving

So...you can't go to a pumpkin patch and not buy a pumpkin to carve. On the way home we stopped at Wal-Mart and got a carving kit. These things are AWESOME and so easy to use. See I made a ghost in a cemetery! I was proud. :-)

And of course I had to cook the seeds. The were the best I have ever had...YUMMY!!

Winery

A few weekends ago (yes I am behind in blogging) we went to Augusta, MO with some friends to a winery. John and I had never had this experience, and had a great time. The weather was perfect.

Us

Chad and Julie

The "entertainment". He did not entertain with his music ability that is for sure.

John in his "stuna" shades. Don't worry these really aren't his.