Seth & I will be celebrating our 10th anniversary on Tuesday and, to celebrate, we decided to take the family to New York City. In the past, we've been lucky enough to make the trip alone (thanks Mom), but we decided it would be fun to try making the trip as a family. A small miracle occured along the way-we didn't have to stop at any bathrooms. That's progress, people. 
Here's Katie-cakes on the subway. She kind of reminds me of Randy in a Christmas Story-she can't really put her arms all the way down.
Nate could put his arms down, he just didn't want to. Here we are catching a train down to Battery Park to take the ferry out to Staten Island. The kids love ferry rides (it was the only thing they talked about after we visited Boston) and I wanted them to see the Statue of Liberty.
I hate to say it, but my kids are wimps. Kylie walked from the subway station to the ferry, only to collapse in the elevator. She wasn't alone; Kaitlyn collapsed as well, but not as photogenically. Maybe it was the 10 pounds of winter wear I had them dressed in.
Our gift from our French friends.
Does this island look like it belongs somewhere remote and peaceful? This island is just off Staten Island, but it seems so out of place. On every side you find all of the industrial trappings associated with a busy harbor with this little gem in the middle of it all.
Our little geographer in the making. He loves maps, just like his dad.
A serendipitous moment: the unexpected tree at the Stock Exchange. We ended up liking this one more than the Rockefeller Tree.
Just another day on the subway. Kylie's got her careworn New Yorker face on.
Free hugs, get 'em while they're hot.
"All aboard to Santa Land!" The kids loved our conductor and this place, the decorating is so extensive they leave it up year round. I also loved it because the line moved rather quickly for the biggest department store in New York City on the last Saturday morning before Christmas.
Decisions, decisions...
The man himself. This is the first year that my kids didn't treat Santa like he had an extra eye or a communicable disease.
Like I said, the Wall Street tree was better and less crowded.
One of the things I love about Kylie is her ability to surprise me. When I asked what she would like to see in New York City, she replied, "Balto." I thought she'd give me a generic answer, but instead she taught me something. Me, "What??" So she (a second grader) explained to me (age unknown) about the dog that saved the town of Nome, Alaska.
The kids came to life in Central Park. All of the whining ended, no one needed to be carried and it started to snow. Although they enjoyed the things we took them to, in the end they just like climbing big rocks and running around best. I guess Olmsted knew best.
"The enjoyment of scenery employs the mind without fatigue and yet exercises it; tranquilizes it and yet enlivens it; and thus, through the influence of the mind over the body gives the effect of refreshing rest and reinvigoration to the whole system." --- Frederick Law OlmstedCentral Park's designer
