New York City!!

We were lucky enough to visit Claire and Dustin in New York City this past week. I have been dying to go there and it was more than I expected. We had so much fun! They live on the corner of Broadway and Wall Street, right in the middle of all the craziness! It was so fun to be able to stay right in the thick of things. We drove our car here which is about an 8 hour drive and left it in a parking garage that was completely over priced (most things in NY are). We almost died trying to maneuver our way to their front steps to unload our luggage!! Good thing Justin was driving because I would have freaked out. No one pays attention, they just go. And I'm sure they had no sympathy seeing our Idaho license plates!!

Our first day we went to the Manhattan temple. Claire was nice enough to watch Jack for us. It was different than any temple we have ever been to. You have to take the subway there and it is on a super busy intersection. It is so noisy and busy outside and then you come into the temple and it is completely quiet and peaceful. It really gives you the perfect escape from the busy city life you can't find anywhere else. It was the most beautiful temple I have ever seen inside. We have been lucky to go to quite a few different temples out here and this one was so different. The detail and the way they decorated it was gorgeous.

Me on the crazy busy street outside the temple.

We met Dustin for lunch and ate at the Grand Central Station. It made us think of the movie Madagascar where they escape from the Central Park Zoo and try to get on a train at Grand Central Station. It was beautiful inside.

Then we went to the top of the Rockefeller Center. You could see all of New York! The city is much larger than I even imagined. It's like you are in a completely different world...so fun!

I love these pictures with the Empire State Building behind us.

Me with Central Park in the distance.

Down at the South Street Seaport. You could see across to the Brooklyn skyline from here.

This is the view from on top of their apartment building. The big empty spot in the sky is where the World Trade Center would have been. It is crazy to think about that day and what happened while you are looking at the exact spot they would be standing. I am glad Claire and Dustin didn't live here at that time. They live only a couple of blocks away.

Time Square....that place is crazy! There are so many people and huge advertisements everywhere. We walked past the set of Good Morning America, The Today Show and the NBC studios.

Jack was not feeling good and had a fever the first day we were there. This is pretty much what he looked like all day. All he wanted to do was lay on your shoulder which Justin was loving. This is the only time he will just sit and cuddle with you. I felt so bad for him. Luckily he felt much better the next day and he was much happier.

We walked across the Brooklyn bridge. This was one of our favorite things that we did. This is the view of New York from the pier on the other side.

Jack was just loving being able to be out of the stroller and walk around. We were so busy going and doing and seeing that he didn't get to get out and play around much.

Such a cutie!

We rode the Staten Island Ferry and were able to get nice and close to the Statue of Liberty.

The Statue of Liberty poking out of the top of my head. :)

All of us at Central Park.

The big brass bull.

Ground Zero.

Dustin was so good with Jack! He held him and pushed him and carried his stroller up and down the stairs to the subway all weekend long. It was a nice break for us and good practice for him! :)

Saying goodbye to Claire. Thanks again for the awesome trip! You were great tour guides and excellent hosts!

It was definitely one of our favorite trips we have ever been on. We want to take advantage of being so close to the east coast while we are here and this was the perfect way to start!