Christmas In New York ~ part 3

We had dinner at our hotel because when you get a round table next to the windows overlooking Times Square you dine there!  And for this family that NEVER (and I mean never) eats out it was wonderful...


(sorry, I forgot to fix that crooked picture)

We dressed quickly and headed to Radio City Music Hall for their Christmas Spectacular (with the ... scream... Rockettes)





As we were walking up the staircase I over hood a woman say to her friend, "oh that would be wonderful... to have a daughter to take to a show like this."  It made me beam.  Because I knew she was right.



I wanted to remember every single second of this evening. The way her coat fit her almost teenage (ness). The way she wore little heals. The way the silver Barret fit her and her little red suede shoes. I soaked in the black fur on her Rothschild coat with the pleats in the back. And the white tights. Everything. The way Anna never let go of her hand until they were safely in their seats.





This was us in 2011 (can I please have my babies back?)





The snowflakes on the ceiling



Waiting for a show to start is the very best part.



I didn't take photos during the show because I put my camera down to enjoy it. Abigail sat on my lap (on the edge of my lap from excitement) the whole time. And she talked to me the whole time. She said things like, "here they go mama. They're going to do it. Here come the famous kicks." and "that HAS to be the grand finale (even though it was only the third scene) because that is so amazing."

And I watched my twelve year old giggling and loving every moment too. Scott and I were on either end of the girls and kept looking at them and smiling to each other. That night was such a gift to us. Not seeing the show but seeing our girls see the show. Pure romance. Nothing is more romantic than moments like that. Nothing.



And then after Scott took us out for dessert at a fancy hotel. It was a big day and the girls looked like this.



New York cheesecake (and a pot of tea)



Once we got back to the hotel they perked up a bit (jammies do that, don't they?)





Sunday was Anna's favorite part. She whispered to me, "Mass here was glorious." (St. Patrick's Cathedral)



And this is there, "I see American girl just across the street! Are we done with pictures yet???"



A bit of window shopping.





And we bought a few little gifts for little girls on our list.



Resting a bit in Rockefeller Center (where the giant Christmas tree and ice skaters are)



See the yellow behind this little tree? The Rockefeller tree isn't lit yet and this was covering it.



Watching the skaters. Someday we're going to ice skate there and someday I'm going to dine in that restaurant overlooking the rink.



We stopped for a bit to eat and then it was time to head home. Christmas getaway weekend 2015 all done. Until next year...

Christmas In New York part 2

This one is going to shock you.  I'm sure it will because I still break out into a huge smile when I remember this little part of our trip.  Still so grateful to God for putting this all together for our Abigail and our family.

Do you remember her EoE pen pal letter? (from this post back here)



Well, these pen pals had only just started. There were three letters that had gone back and forth between the two of them. I mean Abigail had not even begun to scratch the surface... she had so many questions to ask and so much to learn about her sweet new pen pal. (like what stuffed animal do you sleep with at night?) Really important questions like that.

On our way to New York out of passing the time in the car I was on my phone and came across an email from facebook. I'd long since deleted it from my phone and never go on the 'big' computer. But I didn't want to delete in entirely since it was facebook that allowed me to find Dane in the first place.

The email was a facebook message saying something like, "so Abigail said in her letter that you're going to be in NYC?? Can we meet you?? Do you have time??"

I think I broke out in a sweat right there in the car. Without saying anything to the girls I said, yes, of course! And we planned to text after our Central Park carrage ride.

After the the horse and carriage I still didn't believe that it was possible but a quick phone call and we had chosen a meeting spot. In a part of the park I'd never been in before.

We walked by the Central Park Zoo on our way.







While we waited the girls explored.





A small playground within the south side of the park. One that we'd never even seen before. One with a really fast slide.







We shed our coats because it was so warm.



All of our leaves are long ago gone at home. It was like stepping back into mid October.



Now, I don't have a picture of the girls meeting or even her sweet family walking through the gate to the playground. I had never met them before, never texted, and only had one quick phone call. I just didn't want to scare them away with my lens in their face.

But I can tell you that Abigail and Dane (don-A) were instant friends. Instant.



The walked holding hands. They chatted without breathing inbetween. They ran ahead (Central Park is Dane's park after all... she knows every nook and crany)



All the while her mom and I had so much in common and were quickly discussing the different EoE treatments, medicines, path of life that this disease has taken us on. I was was so grateful for her right away.

We had a snack at a lovely outdoor cafe next to the boat pond. (nope, never been there before... all of the local NYC residents were there) And then ran around the duck pond.



Isn't she just the pretties thing... that little Dane?



I learned so very much in such a short time from her mom about EoE. Like the dark circles under their eyes (darn, I already touched them up) and the furrows in their esphogus.



We explored a castle and the great lawn.

And before we knew it, it was time to say goodbye.



Her mom hailed us a taxi (cuz she was cool like that) and we all hugged.



We hoped in and tears filled my eyes. For this new friendship, for the One who set it all up, and for the blessings that come from places that are hard.



It was just plain old awful to say goodbye so quickly. But the sun was setting and we had dinner reservations and a show to get to. In the cab I hugged Abigail tight and say, "say thank you to God for his love shining down on us today."

Life is beautiful. And sometimes there are things we have to do as parents that are just so painful. Things we want to take away from our children. But He can turn ashes into beauty. And a beautiful life comes from a beautiful heart, not a perfect body. And for that lesson I am forever grateful.



(we love your Dane and can't wait to see you again)

Christmas In New York City

This weekend we had our 20th Annual "Christmas Get Away Weekend"  (more about how the Getaway weekends started back here)

Now in 2011 (four years ago) Anna was exactly Abigail's age this Christmas.  She was the third grader and Abigail was my preschooler.  Our Christmas Getaway that time was New York City.  We couldn't afford to stay over but we made a day of it.  (you can see the start of those posts back here) (okay, I just looked back... Abigail had baby cheeks and their coats... I miss those coats)

Ever since then I've wanted to do Christmas in New York again.  And go to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular with the Rockettes.  So we waited til it was just the right year.  And this was it.

We bought our tickets way back and looked forward to surprising our girls.  (that's back here)

We stayed at the Novotel (we love hotwire) and this is Anna on top of the building.  There was a patio overlooking Times Square.

(oh, and the very best photo I took on the whole trip was the very first one. Should have locked my camera in that hotel safe and been free the rest of the weekend)



I adore New York City. We are two hours from NYC and two hours from Boston. I am through and through a NYC girl. Don't know my way around Boston and only NYC gives me heart flutters every single time.

But Times Square, although really cool, it not my favorite part.



Can you imagine how much it costs to be at this hotel on New Years Eve? Can't imagine.





Right up there (where the Toshiba sign is) is where the ball drops



And this is as close as I'd ever want to get to that ball dropping night. I prefer my jammies and hot tea on the couch.



After checking out our hotel our plan was to walk to Central Park. Found this along the way. I thought it was perfect considering all that is going on in our world right now.



If you go to NYC, promise me you'll take a carriage ride through Central Park. We only do the Carriage ride at Christmas time. If we did it every time it would loose it's magic.



And it sure is magical







Yes, I bought the hat just for that photo.





The sun was just perfect making the trees glisten.







I know this next one is blurry but I had to take it, remembering our visit there for tea in April.





The horses name was Barney and our driver was from Ireland. And he was delightful.



So much more to share with you... tomorrow.