New York Shenanigans!

Shenanigans

Definition: silly or high-spirited behavior

That's what New York was.

Total blast.

As was expected.

Humor me, and hang on for the ride.
Prepare yourself.
This is long.

Real quick!
Ryan's parents made a 2 day trip to Texas to celebrate
Christmas with the boys before Ryan and I left for NY.
Here are a few pics of the fun.
Then on to NY.
I promise!

Preston, Pop and T
Silly boys.
Please, Preston, whatever you do, do NOT smile.
Thanks.

The annual Boys' Christmas Scavenger Hunt!!

Pop always starts it off.

Each of the boys take their turn reading a clue.

While the adults standby for help.

This year was especially special because

Carter could read his clue without any help!

We're so proud of this smart little guy.

Once the clues are read,

the boys take off to their destination!

The surprise!

Pop and Grandma gave the family a projector for our media room!

It is awesome, friends.

Fo real.

It sounds just like we're in a theater.

 Lot's of fun will be had in here.

The best part, we can take it with us when we move.

More on that later.

Big plans on that note.

What was in the box?

Movie supplies of course!

I think they like it.

 Thanks, Pop and Grandma!

Please excuse Preston's bed head.

Okay, on to NEW YORK!

Lunch at Chicago O'Hara airport.

Let the vacay begin!

The view from Ryan's parents' house just outside of Syracuse.

Beautiful.

The back of their property is a snowy haven for little boys.

Ours loved it last year.

 Leaving for the Adirondacks.

Brrrrrrrr.

The ride was incredible.

I love that we were able to see parts of NY in addition to the city.

New York has some of the most breathtaking countryside.

I don't know why I didn't take any pics while in the Adirondacks.

Not smart.

I was, however, so intrigued with its history.

Do you know the story of the famous murder that took place there?

Carol told us all about it.

She read the book documenting the legend,

and graciously passed it down to me.

Awesome.

I'm 1/3 the way through.

I love reading the history behind places.

Makes it so much more.

More than just a city.

We stopped at local dives along the way,

ate dinner at a restaurant in the middle of no where, and watched as a

man tried to pick up Carol right in front of us.

She's a hottie.

The next day was Niagara Falls in Canada.

On the drive out, Carol had made plans for us to

make a stop "only 15 miles" off the route at the famous

MacKenzie Childs

It ended up being a tad off the beaten path in Aurora,

but HOLY COW was it worth the drive.

The grounds were out of this world.

The old family house still stands on the property

along with the barn where the products are made.

Outside the shop looking out to the Finger Lakes.

Love all the live garland.

The entrance to the shop.

Love.

She is famous for her black and white stripes and checks.

I'll take 2.

Look closely at the chandelier.

See the spoons?

She is a creative genius.

This table and chairs were to die for.

I want all of this, please.

Need a mini kitchen?

You'll have to shell out 5 figures.

Filing this away for next year.

As if I can duplicate it.

Okay, get ready.

This is a doll house.

A doll house.

Really?

Checkout the goodies hubby bought me:

and

Carol escaped with a few prizes of her own.

I think we're going to start collecting her dinnerware.

Love it.

After some power shopping, we hit the road to Canada,

not stopping until we set our eyes on this:

Are you kidding me?

It is absolutely so incredible.

Everyone should see this once in their lifetime.

It is too hard to put into words.

     

Hubby and I!

It was beyond frigid.

I think we lasted about 5 minutes outside.

Carol and I decided we were wimps because we

saw lots of people out as if for a Sunday stroll

showing no aversion to the chilly air coming off the water.

It's called acclimation, people.

And we're not acclimated to that nonsense.

Isn't this a great picture of Ed and Carol!

Love them.

After making our way indoors, I took another pic

to show the shear magnitude of Horseshoe Falls.

In the warmer weather, you can take a boat ride

right up to the edge of the falls.

No thanks.

Can you believe people have gone over the edge in barrels

and walked across on tightropes?

Crazy.

We ate dinner at the top of a revolving tower

overlooking the falls as well as downtown Ontario.

Incredible views.

So beautiful at night.

Dinner:

Salmon

and beef tenderloin

YUM

Next stop, the casino.

What a fantastic day.

You can laugh at the pic.

We did.

A lot.

The next day was spent reading and relaxing at Ed and Carol's

before a night of dinner and gambling

at Turning Stone Casino in Verona.

No pics.

I know.

We had the best time.

Carol and I found a bar to sit at

while the boys made us some money playing craps.

We girls had fun gossiping and trash talking.

Good times as always.

The men made out like bandits,

and then we hit the road back home.

We woke up the next morning,

and Carol and Ed drove us to the train station in Albany.

I love traveling via Amtrak.

The ride is beautiful.

As soon as we arrived at Penn Station, we dropped our

bags at the hotel, got a bite to eat at an oyster bar,

and shopped til we dropped.

So.much.fun.

When dinner rolled around,

we asked the concierge for a sushi restaurant recommendation,

and this is where he sent us:

Good times!

You can tell I've had a long day.

Cold sake makes everything better.

After dinner, we hit a local pub for some fun.

Love this handsome man!

The next day consisted of shopping, shopping and did I mention shopping.

We did New York City.

Along the way we stopped at Ground Zero.

I wasn't prepared for how it made me feel.

Brought back so many memories of that day.

Hubby on Wall Street!

The financial heart of our country.

It was pretty cool to see.

We had to stop and checkout this Home Depot.

How many Home Depots have you seen with a holiday window display

Only in NYC!

We considered doing one of the big parties on NYE, but that's just not us,

and I didn't want to have to get all dressed up

so Ryan took me took a wonderful dinner after a

long day of shopping...I'll show you some of my purchases in a future post...we went

back to the hotel to shower, and went to a now favorite spot by our hotel

to ring in the New Year Soladay style!

While there, we met THE sweetest newlywed couple from Germany.

Meet Kim and Jenny:

They were so much fun.

It was their first time in America, and we had a great time

swapping stories about our homelands.

It also fun introducing them to some American drinks!

We watched the hoopla outside the bar at midnight.

It's madness!

Don't gag, Sass.

                       

Back inside the bar, Ryan did his

usual picture taking mania before calling it a night.

I won't subject you to all that mess.

It was good though.

The next morning came way too early,

but we made it to Penn Station for the ride back to Ryan's parents.

Goodbye, NYC.

Until next time...

Carol prepared a fantastic last meal for us

that night, and we sat around the table trading stories from our week.

What an out of control FANTASTIC week.

Blessed, blessed, blessed we are.

We couldn't have asked for a better way

 to end an incredible year for our family

and begin another one.

Happy 2011, friends!

Holy Cow!

Annnnnnnnnnnd we're back.

Just like that.

Holy cow!

I cannot even pretend to fit it all in one post.

The past 2 weeks have been awesome.

For real, friends.

And do I have pictures.

Lots in fact.

New York was incredible.

We spent 4 days with Ryan's parents checking out places

like the Adirondacks and Niagara Falls,

and then Ryan and I took the train into NYC

for 3 days of New Year's shenanigans.

We had THE best time.

But...before I go there, I must first recap Christmas.
Picture quality = bad.

Bear with me for a few.

Christmas morning 2010!

Ready, set, open!

 No, my children do not have matching Christmas pj's.
They sleep in their tighty whities.
That's how we roll here.
I used to buy the cute matching pj's when they were little.
They would laugh at me now if I tried.

No time to look at the camera, Mom.

Carter trying out his "My First Shaving Kit".

Sweet boy.

We surprised Austin with an iPhone.

He thought he was getting an iPod Touch.

Excited teenager.

Poor little Lulu was a scared of all the screaming boys and wrapping paper flying.

She stayed close to Daddy.

Smart.

Our musical kid.

We just know there is music in this kid's future.

He also received drums and a guitar!

Carter.

My only child that still asks for toys.

It is so weird, friends.

It is so sad.

Our kids are growing up.

 Carter and Trysten had a blast playing with Carter's haul.

Later that morning, we drove out to my parents to celebrate with my whole family.

Their home always looks so beautiful at Christmas.

Thought I'd share a few of my favorite spots.

The family room.

Are there enough presents under the tree?

 And...I think they need one more stocking holder.

I love their majolica collection.

 My parents buy the musical Hallmark snowmen every year.

The grandkids LOVE them!

My mother has an enormous Santa collection.

 And some snowmen too!

The grandkids' table

There's my handsome man in the background.

Look at all their silver and crystal!

Can you imagine that in my home with 4 boys?

Not so much.

But it's so pretty.

The adult table.

The Teenager officially joined us this year.

I was so proud watching him pull the chair out

for my grandmother to sit down.

He can be such a great kid.

Isn't this room beautiful!

I remember this buffet in the foyer of my childhood home.

One of my favorite vignettes in my parent's home.

A collection of antique pipes and such.

My mother is so talented!

After I took all of these pics, I think I forget to pick the camera back up.

Nice.

It's always a little chaotic trying to wrangle all the circus clowns.

Good times though!

 I did manage to get these few.

Here's my precious niece, Alexis.

Really?

Any cuter?

Not possible.

And the leggings paired with blonde ponytail?

Love.

The grandkids.

Love every one of these awesome kids!

My sweet sister, the librarian, reading to Addyson.

What a great day with great family.

It comes and goes so fast.

I feel so blessed to have my family.

When we left my parents' house, we dropped my boys at their dad's,

and Ryan and I spent some precious

one-on-one time with Trysten.

Those times are so few and far between

which makes them so special.

The next morning,

we took T to his mother's house,

and head straight to the airport bound for New York!!

Come back tomorrow

for a post all about

the good times in the great state of NY!!