Rain, Wind and Lights

The ceremony in Boston was on Wednesday, September 22. On Thursday, Chuck, Beth, Sharaya, Ally and I drove down to New York. We dropped the three of them off at the ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Chuck and I headed on to the hotel.

After a little while Beth sent me the photo below and then texted, "What hotel are you and Dad are in now mothera" I could tell she was a little nervous. She was having fun with her sister and niece and she knew she was safe but she was in an unfamiliar place and didn't know where we were... I told her the name of the hotel and then, "You, Sharaya and Ally are on your way here now. We'll see you in a few minutes!" Her response, "Okay!"

We were on the 47th floor of the Millennium Hotel on 44th Street, just one block from Times Square! I don't know if you've had a chance to visit New York and see Times Square  but it really is electric. The place is just alive with excitement and lights and movement!

For our Anniversary this year, the girls had made reservations for us at Wolfgang's Steak House, and bought tickets for us to see a Broadway show! Something I've always wanted to do! We saw Come From Away, a play about September 11 when all flights were grounded and 38 planes landed in Gander, Newfoundland. The town of 9,000 people took in 7,000 stranded passengers from around the world. The story is truly phenomenal. And the play is about loving those who are different than you. I highly recommend you check it out, there are clips on YouTube, articles about the people of Gander... it's very inspirational!

This was the view from our hotel ~

 

 

When we left for the theater, it was in the mid to high 70s so we didn't think to bring coats or anything and it was only a couple blocks away so we walked. As we stepped outside the hotel we realized it was pouring rain. Pouring! By the time we got to the theater we were absolutely soaked! But we just laughed it off and enjoyed the evening. (Kinda felt bad for the people sitting next to us though!) 

 

The play was phenomenal. The personal stories, the funny situations, the way the town embraced so many people from all over the world... makes me want to visit Gander one day.

 

We spent one more day in New York before heading back to Philadelphia, but I'll write about that in my next post. Did you ever get caught in the rain? Have you ever been to New York?

Long Distance Celebration and a Big Ooops

We celebrated Beth and Sharaya's birthday's before we left for Denver and I ended up buying Sharaya something she already had (a membership to an art museum.) Ooops! I should have known better! She loves art! And the art museum actually contacted me to tell me she already had a membership. So they refunded my money and now I'm looking for another gift for her.

We were in Denver on Beth's actual birthday. We got a text from Diana while we were at the hotel and she wanted to have some donuts delivered for her. Beth ended up eating a donut for breakfast every day we were there! She loved it!

She turned around to show me what she got!

Here she's saying, "Thank you Chickenbutt!"

 

We went to Red Robin for dinner but they didn't sing, no candle or anything but that was okay. We all wished her a Happy Birthday and she got her sundae!

What do you do to celebrate birthdays? 

Are you low-key or a big party person?

A Pool Slide on Steroids!

It was 17 years ago today - April 19 - that we pulled back into our driveway after an eight-day seven-state road trip. We headed to Colorado to see Chuck's mom and sister but planned a few stops along the way.

In April of 2003 Diana was 12, Sharaya was 16 and Beth was 18. They were Road Trip Masters by this point. We booked a night at the Econo Lodge in Rapid City South Dakota for one reason and one reason only.

The pool.

Not only was it an indoor pool, but it had a slide. And this wasn't just any slide!

This was a slide to beat all motel pool slides!

I don't think Diana went on it but Sharaya and Beth had so much fun! We wish every hotel had a pool like this one!!

The next day we got up and headed to Mount Rushmore. Now I've heard people complain about it because technically it's only a bunch of rocks. But it really is fascinating, the enormous size of those faces, the passion Gutzon Borglum put in to all that work, as well as the beautiful scenery.

There is an interactive area with videos and models of the mountain, history, artifacts, and the gift shop. 

But once you head out to see the mountain and carvings themselves, everything changes. Behind a large amphitheater you follow a trail that takes you around the mountain, kind of winds back and forth giving you different perspectives of the carvings.

 I love a good zoom lens!

 They've even cut a path through the mountain.

 

One of my all-time favorite photos of my girls is of them at Mount Rushmore. I took it while they were trying to look through one of those tourist telescopes. I've been typing, then deleting, then typing and deleting, trying to explain why I like it so much. It's the three of them together, it's spontaneous, we're on a road trip, we're at a National Monument... I don't know, I just really love it!

 

Have you ever been to Mount Rushmore? Have you been to other National Parks or Monuments? Do you have a favorite?

Fun Photo Friday - Daddy's Little Girl