We then headed to the Museum of Natural History (where the movie “Night of the Museum” was filmed) to find out we were 30minutes early so we decided to check out Central park while we waited. While in Central park decided he needed a restroom- and this country boy was told by ME that he could not go in the bushes – we needed to find a public restroom.  Which is no easy thing to do in Central Park.   But after following a trail for 10minutes we found one.

The hunt for a bathroom- and how a 15year country boy looks after getting scarred by a little squirrel.

Walking back along the trail Cole was not paying much attention and a squirrel jumped out from the bushes and you should have seen him jumped.  Boy did Cora and I laugh at him.  Who would think a country boy would get scared by a little squirrel jumping out at him.  LOL

The kids playing around in Central Park.

We finally found the “Dumb Dumb- gum gum” statue from the movie!!!

After walking 1000 miles in the Museum of Natural Histroy we then walked across Central park and to find a place to eat and then go to our next destination “Guggenheim Museum”.  Of course we got a little lost and probably walked 5 miles out of our way (my feet felt like it anyway). We found a restaurant called 3 Guys which turned out to be a pretty good place to eat. The boys were not at all impressed with the Guggenheim Museum and I was told they would not be going to any more of those  ”artsy” museums EVER.  LOL (I guess they don’t appreciate modern art).  Cora and I enjoyed the Guggenheim and could have spent another hour there.

The boys “not so” patiently waiting for Cora and me to finish touring the Guggenheim.

We then did a little shopping at American Girl, NBA store, and NIKEtown. I had to stop at the Apple store again. Went to the super fun Dylan’s Candy Bar and Serendipity (which specializes in deserts). We then just happened across the Wu Liange Ye Chinese restaurant in midtown Manhattan where we decided to eat our dinner.  It was yummy!

Made it home around 9:30pm ready for an early rise the next day- our feet were about to fall off!

Please don’t try to jump the line- because the S.W.A.T. team will hunt you down.

Yes- the Statue of Liberty is larger in real life.  It is just small in these photos.  LOL

We toured the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty and then boarded a ferry to Ellis Island for a quick tour. It was around 12noon when we finished both islands.

The boys learned a great deal of history listening to the audio tour, they even mentioned Omaha, Nebraska in the presentation.

This is the Ellis Island building- many, many thousands of immigrants passed through these doors.

We caught the subway back to our hotel and found a Verizon store. I bought an extra battery for my Droid phone (because the GPS was eating all the battery). Von talked with one of the salesman and found a great place to eat lunch. The Bread Factory. The kids and I had stir fry (made right in front of us) and Von had a deli sandwich. We then headed to the hotel and changed clothes for the Broadway show “The Lion King”.

Did I mention we did a LOT of walking while we were in New York.  It was very tiring.  Thank goodness the weather was nice.

The Lion King was fantastic. It has amazing customs and singing. After the show we headed to 5th avenue for a little shopping. Cora found her favorite store  “Little Mis-matched” and we bought some socks, shirt, skirt and tights. We then went to the Apple store and played with the new iPads.  I have a map of our home in Nebraska on the iPad I was holding.

It was dinner time- we decided to head back to Times Square to eat. I used the Droid search feature and found a great italian place called “Carmines“. We asked a couple of NYPD officers were they would eat- they said it was number three on their top restaurant list.  Buy the way the NYPD are almost considered celebrities in New York.  Everyone loves them on Times Square!  We only had to wait 40minutes and had some of the best lasagna we have ever had. It was served family style. Loved it. While we were waiting I went outside and watch the finale show of “Lost” on the ABC Times Square screen. Very cool.

Got back to the hotel around 10pm- crashed!

We left Omaha at 7:30am on a 50 seat commuter flight. All was well until Cora without any warning got sick. Yikes- she really felt bad about it. I don’t think I will be able to eat donuts for a while. I had pre-arranged for a private car to take us from Newark to our hotel in midtown Manhattan. It was very cool when we went in the Holland tunnel- it felt a little strange going under water.

I really liked the Fairfield Inn and Suites on 5th Avenue- the rooms were small but the location was great and made up for the lack of space. They also had wonderful guest services- one of the boys plugged up the toilet the first day (BOYS!!!)- the janitor arrived within 5 minutes of me calling for help. They also were fast to get us an extra blanket- for Cole- he slept on the floor (not really supposed to have 5 in a room).

We invested in a Metrocard and we hit the subway to go to the Brooklyn bridge. We wanted to go to Brooklyn and eat at a local famous pizza place called Grimaldi’s. Our first subway trip did not turn out so great- we got on the wrong train (after getting directions from the hotel desk) and ended up two stops in the wrong direction. We asked for directions and had to get on two different trains to finally make it to our original train we were supposed to be on (including one cross over exchange). But this experience did teach me how to read the subway maps- and I learned to study the map myself and not asked the person at the hotel desk for directions.

We arrived at Grimaldi’s VERY hungry. Only to find out it was an 90minute wait.

We decided to wait because a local New Yorker told us it was the best pizza in New York and he was standing in line. The kids loved his New York accent! And after we got our two large pizzas and Calzone- we decided it was the BEST pizza we had ever had!

We then walked across the Brooklyn bridge to Ground Zero and toured around for 30minutes before catching another subway back to Rockefeller Center.

We had reserved tickets to go to the “Top of the Rock” at 7pm. We made it up there just as the dusk hit and watched as all the city lights started to come on. It was beautiful!

Cora- touching the top of the Empire State building.

After Rockefeller Center we walked to Times Square. Wow- that is a fun place to be on a Saturday night. We finally made it back to our hotel at 10pm-dead tired after a fun first day.

Tomorrow I head out to Kansas City on my “I’m with the band” tour. LOL. My son is in the high school band and they are taking a trip to preform in Kansas City- of course I had to volunteer to be a sponsor when I heard they would be spending time at Worlds of Fun. I hope the kids can keep up with me.

The following weekend we have our local high school graduations. I think we have seven invitations and parties to attend… YIPPEE— love those cream cheese mints!!

The following Thursday my oldest son gets out of high school and we will take off for Omaha, to watch the our high school students compete in the Nebraska State Track meet. The following day we jump on a plane and head out to NEW YORK CITY for a family vacation. I CAN”T WAIT!! The last time I was in NYC was in high school. I got a room in midtown Manhattan and look forward to exploring the city with my husband and kids. I can’t wait to see how the kids respond to the subway system. And how my daughter handles all the shopping on 5th avenue. Look for us on TV on the 25th- I got tickets to watch the Good Morning America ABC show. Love Robin Robbins!

We get home to do a little laundry and then- we travel to South Dakota over Memorial weekend for three days of kids rodeos. I have missed the last two rodeos (due to my work schedule) so I am looking forward to spending time with them.

Oh MY!!!!

If you create a digital layout using my kit you can upload it to their website to be entered into a contest for a free Bamboo Tablet. I actually own three of these tablets and use them on all my computers. I can’t imagine trying to edit photos without the help of my tablets.

So hurry over to the PenScrappers website, download the kit and get creative. And be sure to check out all the other designers’ projects. It is amazing the talent they have working on this project.

Verizon sent out a notice that all voice mail boxes would be updated this past week.  So I decided to record the outgoing messages of all my kids. I really enjoyed listening to Cole’s voice.  He sounds so young (I guess he was).  Now his voice is much deeper and more manly.  I am really glad I saved this… some day this will be fun to play to  his friends.

Cole’s Voice Mail – age 13 (7th grade)

My middle child was a little more lucky and received his phone in 5th grade.  We bought it when he traveled with the High School Varsity Wrestling team to the state tournament last year. Since we were not traveling with him we decided it was time for him to get one.  He hardly ever has it on him. But I have noticed he does get a ton of text messages….  (mostly from girls). He voice has not changed yet and still sounds the same as this recording.

Cade’s Voice Mail- age 11 (5th grade)

My youngest was the luckiest and received her phone on her 10th birthday last year. She did use it a lot for about 6 months and now just takes it along when she knows she will be away from me. She has the least use of texting of all three kids.  I am sure this will change over the next few years.

Cora’s Voice Mail – age 10 (4th grade)

Yes I am still frustrated with Blue Cross Blue Sheild.  I have not pre-existing illnesses, no history of c-section and yet they do not want to allow me on a healthy family plan. I am the “poster child” (or “poster women”) for all women over 40. I exercise daily, an the ideal body weight, don’t smoke, rarely drink a glass of red wine. Yet they want to find a reason not to consider me healthy.

Shame on you BCBS!!!!