NYC sights

One of our first stops was to the M&M store in Times Square. Ben and Addie were so excited to see all the varieties of M&M's.

Really. More M&M's than one could imagine.

We found this cool walkway between buildings. You literally walk through a waterfall, and it's totally clear all the way around.

We stopped by the American Girl Store and Addie posed by Addy.

We went to FAO Schwartz and danced on the Big piano. (Video too)

We went to Central Park, after walking past The Plaza hotel and discussing how that's where Kevin stayed in Home Alone 2. When we got to the boulders in Central Park, we talked about the scenes in Elf (Buddy the Elf, as they call it) and Home Alone 2 that were shot in Central Park.

Then we walked back to Rockefeller Center to see the tree at night. We picked up our daytime pictures too. I will have to scan them in.

After an exhausting day, Ben couldn't even make it through when his dinner arrived. Literally, that's his food all waiting for him and he couldn't lift his eyelids enough to take a bite.

Funnily, but not funnily, when we left dinner I had to carry him out of the restaurant down three flights of steps and by that point he sort of woke up. I put him down to put his coat on and he was relatively awake. I said come on Ben and started to walk out the revolving door. Well Ben watched the revolving door and was still not fully awake and proceeded to walk smack into the revolving door frame, which was also clear. I mean a fully committed pace right smack into the door. It was so loud that everyone in the restaurant heard it and turned to see him. He had a knot on his forehead like nobody's business. It really hurt him. It was one of those parenting moments where I wanted to console him and make him feel better, but I also wanted to laugh because it was such a unreal experience. I've seen birds fly right into a window before and that's essentially what Ben did!

Friday on our way to Macy's, again it was a looong walk, we walked past this gorgeous courtyard and decorations. Ben said, "can we stop for a picture?" So I was happy to oblige.

Dylan's Candy Bar on 60th and 3rd Ave

Our waitress the night before asked if we had gone to Dylan's Candy Bar. It's a three story building of all things candy, created by Ralph Loren's daughter. We headed there first thing Friday morning.

This big fella is even dressed in foil!

The third floor is a cafe and ice cream shop. We got an ice cream treat and got to sit in this adorable cupcake booth! Look at this!

The table was made out of gumballs.

Ben was quite happy with chocolate all over his face.

Look at the adorable wallpaper, ala Willy Wonka, and the candy stairs! They are actually pieces of candy shellacked into stairs. The landing's logo is made from candy too. The words are created be licorice sticks. It's really a neat place and it smelled delicious!

Seeing Santa at Macy's on 34th Street!

After walking 30 blocks and 5 Avenues, we made it to Macy's on 34th Street at Herald Square! We were there to see the one and the only real Santa Clause!! We hustled and bustled through Macy's to the elevator and rode it to the 8th floor. We got in line and started waiting. It was a little Disney-esque, with divided sections of turning rope. It was really neat because all along the way were pictures of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade over the years, along with little facts. For instance, 1989 was the first year the parade was held in a snowstorm. There were pictures of the Rockettes over the years in various stages of kicks...

So my little Rockettes had to get in on the action too.

The hallways we waited in are usually closed to customers, except for the holiday season where they act as the line for Santaland.

In order to get to Santaland, you have to ride a train. Here's Addie and Ben in front of the train.

Here they are getting on the train. The bell above their head gets rung each time a new family enters! In the next section of the train, you could feel it moving and tracks beneath your feet.

Once we arrived, we got to see Santaland and all it had to offer.

We got to meet the real Santa!!! Ben asked for a Foosball table and Addie asked for some surprises.

This picture made me laugh. Just as they were saying goodbye, Ben started to get off Santa's lap, but Santa was still hugging! Just a funny moment that I captured on camera.

Overall, we waited less than one hour to meet the Big Guy and it was awesome! We each got pins commemorating our trip to Santaland too.

Hershey Park Christmas

We surprised the kids this weekend by going to Hershey Park's Christmas Candylane, which is just Hershey Park rides with Christmas decorations, Christmas music, etc.

The ride up consisted of Ben, Graham and Addie watching The Santa Clause.

The first stop was the astro ride. Ben steered my rocket and Addie steered hers and Brian's. Can you see the smile on her face? She had that thing herking and jerking like no body's business. Brian thought he needed the chiropractor after that ride.

Then they went on the swings

Then the tea cups.

We went on the train ride around the grounds.

And then went on the Pirate Ship. They LOVED this one.

Us grownups got to go on the Claw. Two of those people up there are Scott and me. That was really a fun ride.

We drove sports cars around the track.

And then we came home. A nice afternoon with great weather for fun.

In case anyone ever needs a gift idea for my kids...or just wants a gleaming endorsement of The Pirate Ship, watch below.

I love that I have two adventurous children, who go with the flow, are willing to try new things and like to have a good time.

Addie is a displayed artist

About a month ago we got a letter home from Addie's school saying that her artwork wasn't turned back to her, because it was either chosen as the "Monet of the Month" or for the local art loop KidsArt display. Addie explained that she hoped hers wasn't the Monet of the Month since that is only displayed at the school and the art loop is open to the whole city.

So fast forward a few weeks and we get a note saying hers was chosen for the art loop.

This is walking into one of art galleries, where the loop was occurring.

Just outside the gallery...very excited.

This is it! Her amazing collage.

It was hung up kind of high, so Brian had to give her a lift to get close to it.

There was a cake ornament decorating table for fun.

All of her school's artists with their art teacher, who looks like she is 20 years old. I felt so old when I realized she was the teacher!

Ben spent his time like this.... very interested in the art festivities. He even passed up cake to keep playing foosball!

Overall a fun event. It was really cool to be included with local "real" artists.

How we spent Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving watching the Macy's parade on the couch.

Followed by becoming elves...I helped Addie cut out the dinner table's place cards she created, so she decided I was her elf helper. Next thing I know, she's cut out these "ears" for us to wear as her elves.

Onkteb got in on the action too.

After eating a delicious meal, it was time for dessert---which was Addie's favorite meal of the day. In the days after, I swear she ate an entire pumpkin pie herself.

As you can see, she loved the Cool Whip on top too.

What Addie's Been Up To

Just a sampling of the fun....

It's interesting how when she's not singing, people are content to walk right by us, even with me ringing the bell. As soon as she starts, they literally stop and listen. People made comments like "I'm only donating because of her" and "How can anyone resist her?"

I look at it like this- people's money was in their pockets/purses and would have stayed there had we not given two hours of our time to stand there. It's really no big deal to help out like this.

This is surely a tradition we will continue each year.

Next weekend when we ring the bell at the grocery store, I'm going to bring a clicker-counter-thing-a-majiggy to try to capture how many people stop. Of those who stop, most give at least one dollar.