Day 1 - New York City

After 17 days on the road, we are so happy to be back home. No more crazy New Yawk drivers, 8 straight hours of sitting in traffic, dry skin, chapped lips and eating out. But it was fun- crazy, exhausting fun...but fun.

We flew the red eye to JFK via Hawaiian (it's brutal, but we'd rather do one long flight than two). We had been tracking the crazy East Coast weather for days and knew that the day before we landed the airports were closed due to a blizzard. I was hoping and praying that enough snow had dumped down so that we would still see enough to play in...and boy did our wish come true! The temperature was a nippy, 18 degrees and snow was everywhere. Not a light powder, but like a foot or two. In all my years of travel, this was definitely the most snow covered/cold weather I've experienced. While I loved the beauty of it, after a few day of slipping on it, getting muddy pants and hopping over puddles...I was over it. :-)

We stayed at our favorite hotel (Country Inn & Suites), which provides a 6 min. train ride to mid-town and a view of the Manhattan city lights at night. As soon as we checked in, Ryan was begging to play in the snow...so we bundled him up and took him to an empty vehicle bay across the street from the hotel (we're such classy folk) that was filled with snow.

His first snow angel!!!

For my fellow Hawaiians...it REALLY does look like an angel!!!

Look at the smile! Look at that backdrop! (Other parents let their kids play near dumpsters, right?)

Iconic NYC cabs covered in a foot of snow!

Our first visit is always a walk over the bridge to Dylan's Candy Bar, it's become a family tradition. Ry had his first chocolate fondue that day.

Even though we've snapped this same shot basically every year at Dylan's, I love it! It's so vibrant. If I were a millionaire, I would so have one of these in my living room (but with gummies, screw the jelly bean junk).

I was dying when I saw their Peeps Easter display. Dying. And I don't even eat Peeps, I just find them cute and delicious looking.

Our next stop was about a 15-20 min. walk from Dylan's, which is typically our family's second destination to hit when we're in the city...FAO Schwarz! For the last three years, we've taken Ry upstairs to the Big Piano, where he gleefully runs back and forth. Unfortunately for us, the fourth time was NOT the charm. Ry was over it. He halfheartedly ambled across it a few times with a bored expression on his face. :-)

He got over his disappointment of the big piano once he discovered kinetic sand, however! Before the trip was over, he had two sets (one he won at Dave & Busters, the other his godmother ordered for him once she realized how much he liked it).

I asked Rich for the limited edition, blinged out FAO Etch a Sketch...but that cheapskate said no, that $1500 was 'ludicrous' for a $20 toy. 

Our harpist, overcome with emotion, singing his heart out...I believe the classic tune he selected (also a family favorite) is entitled, "Baby Got Back." It was haunting and riveting...I cried.

We ended our night back in the snow so Ryan could freely get wet without walking around in wet clothes all day. In the same vehicular bay. Next to the dumpsters. :-)  Parents of the Year!!! Our poor, special gangsta snowman was improvised with three rocks and stick mouth since we didn't want to dig through 4-5 inches of snow to find any more rocks.