School and NYC

First day of school! Brielle is in middle school and now goes an hour before the other kids. She's been a trooper so far with the early schedule!

As is custom, while the kids were in school, Brandon and I went to HersheyPark! We did our favorite waterpark rides and got yummy food and I got a "brave badge" for riding Candymonium! 

For Labor Day Weekend we went to NYC! We stayed on Staten Island and took the free ferry over and back every day. That was nice to not have to deal with city traffic and parking and expensive hotels/parking fees. And it was fun to see the city view from the water and pass by the Statue of Liberty every day! 

Eating gelato in the Metro transit authority building. It was delicious! Carter's mango sorbet was probably everyone's favorite flavor.

We also visited the 9/11 memorial fountains, it was very moving

Central Park giant sand box

Climbed to the top of a rock in Central Park!

Nintendo Store!

LEGO store!

Delicious Chip City cookies

Fountains near Rockefeller Plaza

This chandelier is made to look like the Rockefeller Tower upside down!

View from the boat

Cool Lego creation

Fun splash pad area

Roller Skating at the Rock

Iconic NYC landmarks in Lego 

Statue of Liberty!

Cool Skyscrapers everywhere!

FAO Schwartz

Yummy NY pizza

We met up with Eric's family for a few hours! It was great to play with cousins!

Resting as we journey along the HighLine park

Fun Statue of Liberty sculpture at the HighLine. Every few weeks the artist changes the face to that of an immigrant and the display sign tells their story

At Battery Park we got to ride this undersea carousel. We all sat in giant fish shaped seats and they glowed and changed colors as we went around!

This kids also climbed to the top of this big climbing structure at Battery Park

Harry Potter store! The Butterbeer was yummy!

Cool Butterbeer bottle light fixtures above the bar

Empire State building

Brielle had to create a project about one of her passions. She chose baking and then we made a video of her baking these rainbow cupcakes!

Brielle is 12! For Breakfast she requested Strawberry Lemon scones! For dinner we went to Red Robin. A few days later we had some of her friends over for strawberry shortcake and a movie (Mitchells vs. the Machines). Brielle is a good kid and great big sister. Her favorite things are sleeping in, hanging out with friends, baking, reading, Legos, cereal, and dance.

Carter is enjoying first grade! I got to go with his class on their field trip to the apple orchard!

The video shows the carousel, Carter's "magic show", the empire state building elevator ceiling show, and other highlights from our trip!