New York!

For my 30th birthday, David took me to New York City! We didn't do it on my actual birthday because we thought that I would still be nursing then, so we went on December 3-6. It couldn't have been a better date to go. The tree at the Rockefeller Center had just been put up and the weather was low 50s and high 40s. We arrived on Thursday and immediately got ride to our hotel, which was the Roosevelt. The hotel was great and had breakfast each morning. Our room included 2 bathrooms and even a living room! It was walking distance to the Rockefeller Center, Times Square and Grand Central Station.

After getting our bags into our hotel room, we changed clothes real quick and walked to the Rockefeller Center and grabbed some salads. Then we walked around, saw the tree, the ice rink, and even ate a New York hot dog...which was just a hot dog. Then we went and saw the Rockets. I LOVED it. So much fun. I told David that if I had seem them perform as I was an eleven or twelve year old, I would have told people that was what I wanted to be when I grew up. I really loved the whole show. After the show we went to the Top of the Rock and took in the city for the first time at night. SO cool. And so huge.

On Friday we had a lot of things planned, so we got up and got moving. First on the agenda was Ground Zero and the 9/11 Memorial. We took the Subway there and left from Grand Central Station. Of course, David got the subway system all figured out and I could just enjoy the ride...love my husband. The memorial was really moving and isn't something we will soon forget.

David's assistant, who is from New York, suggested that we eat in China Town at a place called the Peking Duck. When we arrived we were skeptical. But it was literally the best chinese food we've every eaten. SO. GOOD.

After lunch we headed straight to Battery Park to catch our ferry to the Statue of Liberty. This gave us some really cool views of the city and we LOVED touring the Statue and Ellis Island. Such a great look-back at United States history. Riding the ferry was super fun as well.

On Friday night we had reservations at Harry Cipriano's, which was recommended by my friend from high school, Michelle Dillard, who currently lives in Manhattan. It was Italian and was delicious. We ate relatively early so that we could make it to Times Square and see The Phantom of the Opera. We had a blast. The music and acting and just general feel was amazing. We loved every minute of it. After the show we walked back to the hotel and grabbed some dessert from Magnolia Bakery and ate it in our hotel room.

Saturday morning came and we couldn't wait to go to the top of the Empire State Building. We got there early and avoided the majority of the lines. The view was amazing and we really enjoyed the museum component of it as well. The most amazing part of it to us was that they completed it only 11 months in the 1930s. Just astounding. After the Empire State Building we had lunch at Nobu, which was a sushi place. Very tasty. David also got a deli sandwich as we were walking around. We did a little bit of shopping (although we didn't buy anything), before heading to Central Park and renting bikes. We explored during the afternoon on our bikes and really enjoyed it. The craziest thing about the park for was while it definitely felt totally different than the city, you were still so aware that you were in a massive city. So many people just everywhere! I can't even imagine living there. On Saturday night we were really looking forward to a steak dinner at Wolfgang's and had a 9:30 reservation. We walked to the restaurant from the subway and bought the girls shirts before heading to eat. The food was fantastic and the part that we enjoyed the most was that we really felt like we were around true New Yorkers. There were people celebrating birthdays and on dates and it was so loud! New Yorkers are loud, and yet strangely quiet as they walk around each other on the street. It's a really peculiar thing and hard to describe. Constantly around people, but nobody seems to be talking. After a nice dinner we walked to another restaurant we had seen on the way and had dessert. We just felt so lucky to be on the trip and soaked in every moment of that night.

We were sad, but ready to get home to our babies on Sunday. Our flight didn't leave until 1:00, so we got up and went to Chelsea to eat breakfast on the Skywalk, which turned out to be really fun. How my husband finds these things and plans them perfectly I'll never know, but I sure do love him for it.

Turning 30 really wasn't so bad after all. ;)

Our kids did great while were we were gone and we were sure glad to see those girlies. Abigail stayed with Mike and Kathy for Thursday and Friday, then my mom picked her up on Saturday morning and she joined Emma at my parent's house for the last day and half.