Flight Home

Even though it's always hectic on us when we go to New York we had fun seeing everyone.  It's always busy trying to divide our time equally and see and do everything we want but in the end it's all worth it.  We're so glad to share with Julia and Andrew where we grew up despite having to move car seats between different cars or all sleeping in one room and our stuff all over the place as our family of four invades one of our parents' house for the week.  As we were boarding our plane to head back to Georgia the pilot asked Julia and Andrew if they'd like to sit in his seat and have their picture taken. How sweet is that?  Julia was up first and she would never even think of touching anything...she just sat and looked around and smiled.

Now Andrew on the other hand put his hands on the wheel (technically called a yoke and no I didn't know that, I googled it) and pretended to drive the plane.  He also went to touch some buttons too...like I said he is ALL boy.

He even asked for the hat since he saw Julia had it on.  He clearly wanted the full effect of being a pilot.

Watching Chuggington on the IPAD to pass some time.

Andrew liked having a snack on the plane...yummy pretzels.

They both loved riding the train that's underground and takes you around the airport.  Andrew wasn't interested in getting off and would have rode that train all day if I let him.  I guess I know what to do if a flight of ours ever gets delayed.  It was fun seeing everyone but we were glad to be home.

A Few Random NY Photos

Andrew with my older brother Chris.  Both Julia and Andrew loved my brother.  He played with them so much and had them laughing and giggling all the time.

Grandma with Julia and Andrew while we were waiting for our pizza.

Hailey and Julia at Nana's house.

Picnic at Uncle Mike's House

On Sunday afternoon we enjoyed going to a picnic at Uncle Mike and Aunt Anne's house which is located right along a river.  It was a great setting for a picnic and fun was had by all!  I'm not at all surprised that Andrew ended up eating his lunch on Papa's lap...he LOVES Papa.

All the girls had fun too.  It's so funny that Leah who is the youngest is pushing the older girls.

Aunt Anne's daughter found this digger at a garage sale and all the kids LOVED it!  Andrew loved being a worker and was digging away.  Don't mind the shoes he's wearing...he switched with Julia because she wanted to go in the river but didn't have any water shoes.

Thomas is in the river with Julia and she's showing me how she's wearing Andrew's shoes. His brother Brian is right next to them with Molly.

Even Julia enjoyed the digger!

Thomas' Aunt Lynne wrote a book called Bennie's Forever Gift which teaches people about their relationship with God.  Of course we bought the book and brought it along so she could sign it for Julia and Andrew.

The book is a little longer so Andrew isn't quite ready to sit and listen to the whole story yet.

Looks like Andrew played corn hole just like he does putt-putt.

Uncle Paul and Andrew having fun!

Uncle Paul getting Andrew to giggle which for those of us who know Andrew well isn't that hard to do.  He's full of giggles!

Andrew snuggling with Papa...so sweet.

Even though I don't know what Andrew is saying to Papa I'm almost positive he was asking Papa, 'Can you see me?'  Thanks to Mike and Anne for hosting everyone!

Mass at Cathedral

Whenever we go back to New York I always like to go to mass at the Cathedral since Thomas and I got married there back in June 2001.  It's such a beautiful church and I love hearing the music on the organ since it brings back such great memories of our wedding day.  

Putt-Putt

I've been wanting to take Julia and Andrew putt-putting but there aren't any close to our house so we decided to go with their cousins while we were in New York.  Julia went last summer with Daddy while we vacationed in Hilton Head but Andrew wasn't walking yet so him and I stayed behind while he napped.  Of course Julia and Molly decided to get a pink ball and pink putter.

Julia trying to use the putter to get her ball in the hole.

Andrew giving it a try.

Julia using pretty good form.

This is how Andrew played putt-putt.

Tyler, Andrew, Leah, Julia and Molly.  Aren't they so cute?

Andrew really liked climbing on top of everything...he is mostly certainly ALL boy.

Just the girls enjoying a special after putt-putt treat...slushies.

Just the boys enjoying their slushies.

Tyler was such a good older cousin and watched out for Andrew.  Such a fun night!

Fun with Nana and Papa

On Friday we spent the day with Nana and Papa.  In the morning we went to the park with Nana and played on the playground and then fed the ducks.  After lunch we enjoyed some books and playing games along with running through the sprinkler before dinnertime.  What a fun day! 

New York State Fair

Since we haven't made a trip to New York in 16 months we thought a fun time to visit would be during the fair. On our first full day in New York we enjoyed the fair with my niece along with my brother-in-law and his family.  We arrived early and while waiting to meet up with my brother-in-law and his family we tested out the Footsie Wootsie.  As a kid I remember sitting there at the end of the day to revive my tired feet from all the walking we did that day.  Julia enjoyed the Footsie Wootsie too as it massaged her feet she just giggled.

Andrew wanted a turn and just giggled too.

Hey why not, let's do it again!  We were very proactive in taking care of our feet before they got worn out and tired.  Ha ha!

Had to visit the sand sculpture.  It's pretty neat to think it's made out of only sand.

Molly, Julia, Leah and Tyler.

My niece Chelsea and Andrew.

The girls all loved playing together.  Julia and Molly were born less than a month apart and it was sweet to see how much they loved each other.

Thomas wanted a photo in front of this sign.  Syracuse, New York is ranked as the highest amount of snowfall with 179 inches in 2010-2011 and Atlanta was down at the very bottom with only 2.5 inches of snowfall.  Very thankful we don't live in New York with all that snow...I'm much more of a warm weather kinda girl. The sign also says the biggest snow plow in the world is 32 feet wide at the Syracuse Hancock Airport.

Then we headed to the Dairy Building and got a cup of chocolate milk for 25 cents and looked at the butter sculpture and rode on this little cow ride.  Andrew was so funny and would wave as he would go by.  He's styling in those shades!

Now it was time for the girls to have a turn.

Finally we headed to the Midway for some rides.  The kids loved the rides best of all.

Some rides needed an adult if the kids weren't a certain height so Uncle Brian joined the kids on this one.

Andrew riding the tractor.

Julia was happy to get to ride the pink dinosaur.

Another ride that needed an adult so Chelsea went with the kids and held onto Andrew for me.

Ringing the bells on the horses.

They had kiddie bumper cars which was great.  We were at another amusement park a little while back and Julia wanted to ride them but wasn't tall enough so it was nice they had ones for kids.

Julia and Molly rode together and I rode with Andrew since he needed an adult and wanted to go on.

Andrew was definitely worn out and fell asleep while waiting in line to get some lunch.  Julia was exhausted too and fell asleep in the car on the way home.  We had such a fun time at the fair and it was fun experiencing it as a parent.  We had such a fun first day in New York!