This weeks activities

So in the week and a half since we have been partakers of the "good life" we have been on many adventures. In fact we have many each and every day! We are so close to everything that it is a breeze to walk to everything, but we also like the buses and the subway!

We love the Pier, and our Place, and our View! Truly it is a spectacular spot!

We have done a lot of walking at Central Park, and yesterday we were there for the filming of a new Cover Girl commercial, which was taking place at The Mall. We have checked out the happenings at Belvedere Castle which was a lovely little place, listened to Norwegian Wood being sung in Strawberry Fields and climbed in some trees there, did some rock climbing throughout the park, walked around the Met and viewed the art for sale outside by all the (mostly oriental) vendors. We went to a picnic for our Stake at the Ross Pinetum, where there were a lot of missionaries and a few members of the Stake- we only met a few people there before we took off. There is just so much to see in Central Park alone that it is hard to wrap your head around all that is offered here! And we have spent 2 different days in the park and not scratched the surface. The kids are dying to rent a row boat so we can float through the algae!

Let's see...we have spent some time checking things out in Times Square, shopping, the night life, the views of all the awesome buildings.

Toys R Us was the first thing on Eli's agenda and he was well pleased with the massive Lego's of the Chrysler and Empire State Buildings, the Statue of Liberty etc. He was able to make his Lego purchase in NYC and that made him very happy. He prays about getting Lego's everyday anytime we say prayers, he actually volunteers to say prayers all day long and will hardly let anyone else say them! He is really hoping for some more Lego blessings I think!

We spent some time at the New York Public Library; it is quite a handsome building- of course Zach wanted to get a library card right then-but alas, that is on today's agenda at our branch which is the Lincoln Center location. This, by the way, is very close to us; Julliard, the Lincoln Center and the Temple are all together just a few blocks away. We walk there in a jiffy, not to mention Columbus Circle and the statue of the woman from Enchanted which is in the mall there. Last night we went traipsing way downtown to the famous Strand Bookstore where we could easily spend a lifetime looking at books- what a blast! Admittedly I would prefer to be there in the day time, but we make do since we wait to go on some outings until Joe is done with work! We are being spoiled to death- our hearts are oozing with gratitude!

Back tracking a little

So the week before we made our move to NYC we spent a week in Utah for Great Grandpa Millis' funeral. It was a wonderful opportunity to spend time with all of our family members. The kids had their first plane ride ever to SLC and they loved it- now they are officially seasoned flyers! On the first flight we were bumped into the first row of first class- what a way to start out. The pilot invited Eli to come and sit in the Captains chair for a photo opportunity.

We also had the chance to go up to the mountains to go snow sledding in July, a Carter family
(4th of July) tradition for years and years. Now my kids have been able to experience that as well and I think they really enjoyed it-not to mention the fact that the mountain flowers were in bloom.

The Organ

Eli came with me to stuff a few more items in the back of the already packed 53' trailer.

Here he is anticipating New York City and the toy store with all those Legos.

These pictures are from inside the cathedral. You could take the Statue of Liberty and stand her in the crossing of this building and it would not reach the ceiling.

The scaffolding should give you an idea of height.

There are 61 steps up to the chamber. They are beautifully constructed of Gustavino tile, with an antique glaze.

I am shooting from the front of the chambers, 40 feet up. This will soon be filled with half the organ. The other half, will go on the south side as soon as this chamber is piped and the scaffolding is disassembled and moved.

We have arrived!

We have now been in New York for 6 days and we have been celebrating every minute! I knew that we would like it, but in fact we really love it. Joe has been working since Tuesday and looks forward to an adventure in "the city" every night. We have become familiar with our new favorite grocery store called Fairway- we frequent it regularly and find that the small isles and crazy check out lines are a tight squeeze for a family of six. We haven't had any rude comments, with the exception of the lady in Times Square that told Joe that he practically took her leg off with the stroller....oh yeah, and the lady at Fairway who jumped out in front of Kaija with the stroller and blamed her for running over her foot. Other than those little mishaps most people think that our children are wonderful and well behaved, which they are!

The kids have adapted to city life very well, besides the fact that their feet are tired right when we set out on our adventures each day- truthfully mine are killing me, I haven't found that perfect pair of shoes that I have been searching for just yet.

The sheer movement of people here is just amazing- with every form of transportation-reminiscent of Japan for me. Joe thinks I am overzealous in trying to keep everyone on the right side of the sidewalk- but I have a system already and it works! So three cheers for feet and the opportunity to use them!