Where did June go?! These last three weeks are a perfect example of busy times! There has been trips to NY, visits with friends, multiple birthdays, and even a few fun adult nights! I love the color, fun, and excitement of summer, but I think there's a reason that people are happy to see autumn come...things slow down, get a bit more cool, and routines are established again. BUT...that's still a few months away! For now...it's summer!
Our flowers have bloomed so beautifully this year. We lost two daisy plants, but we gained a gajillion lilies, and now have a good idea for how things will look, year to year. I'm so pleased with all of our plants this year (annual and perennial) that I'm going to take pics so I can reference how things should look next year!
Enough of that plant stuff...here are pics from our trip to New York!
Our flowers have bloomed so beautifully this year. We lost two daisy plants, but we gained a gajillion lilies, and now have a good idea for how things will look, year to year. I'm so pleased with all of our plants this year (annual and perennial) that I'm going to take pics so I can reference how things should look next year!
We've had several very good strawberries from our plants this year!
Just one of our many lilies...we also have them in deep red, dusky pink, and we planted a bright gold one today!
Enough of that plant stuff...here are pics from our trip to New York!
Day 1: Thursday, June 15
Ready to take off from MSP
Our very scary cab ride into Brooklyn
Her place!
Amazing pizza for lunch...and her very first Coke. She loves it!
View from the 24th floor (roof) of our hotel in Brooklyn
Love these little art pieces throughout the city
This sculpture was very realistic
Amazing views into Manhattan from the 26th floor at the Ms. Foundation in Brooklyn. Thanks to my Aunt Steph for this access!
Heading out to Coney Island...and taking a break to read
Multi-generational pic...Ava, me, my aunt Steph, and my mom
Not too long until the Nathan's hot dog eating contest!
Yuck.
Amazingly yummy and simple dinner in Coney Island
Day 2: Friday, June 16
We opted to do a hop-on/hop-off tour so we could see Manhattan with ease.
Love the tall buildings
Patiently waiting in line for the bus to arrive...and someone didn't want to be in the pic...
Still waiting...
The Flat Iron building
The Charging Bull in the Financial District...can you see him through all of the tourists?!
I liked the colors of this building...lots of yellow
The rain let up, so we moved up to the top of the bus...such a better view from there!
Best photo bomb ever - clown-nose kid! 10 seconds later, the nose came off...
Beautiful ads on the buildings in the lower east side
The United Nations
The German Embassy
NBC / Rainbow Room
The American Museum of Natural History
The Peace Fountain: a triumph of good over evil
Cathedral of St John the Divine
Grants Tomb (ok, ok, the tomb is on the other side of the street...this was the view into the Hudson River)
New Jersey, maybe? We were coming into Harlem at this point
Hilarious! "Live Poultry"
And right across the street: "Krispy Krunchy Chicken"
The Apollo Theater
The Guggenheim
The Met
Back in Brooklyn...I loved these lights
And a little fella cheesecake from Juniors, for dessert
Day 3: Saturday, June 17
Back to Manhattan we go...
Steph giving Ava a tour of the subway system screens
Bunny ears x2!
We walked to the High Line for a leisurely walk in the sky
And then it started to rain (right as we got to the end of the High Line,) so we hustled over to Macy's, did some shopping, and then ate some lunch!
The rain let up, so we walked over to the American Girl store, where Ava bought a new outfit for Annie
This is a balloon...wow!
At Rockefeller Center
Closer to NBC / Rainbow Room!
Where are the Rockettes?!
We made the trek to Central Park, and took a break
And then we decided to do a pedi-cab ride through Central Park...what a great tour!
The fountain from Friends
Proposal Bridge in the background
I can't remember what this bridge is named, but it was where the Pigeon Lady was in Home Alone
Watch out, NYC...this little lady is on the move!
Day 4: Sunday, June 18
BIRTHDAY DAY!!!! Yes, this day, our little Ava turned 9 years old...we had a great day celebrating her!
Ava wanted to go back to Coney Island...so, we went!
At the end of the day, we celebrated with a wonderful birthday dinner out in Brooklyn. We met some of Steph's friends, as well...a lovely way to end the day!
A red velvet birthday cake for our sweet girl
That's a chicken in the middle of the cake. Don't ask. It was also accompanied by "Happy Birthday" sung completely in chicken squawks!
Modeling her sparkly pizza purse...Steph for the win of the gift!
Day 5: Monday, June 19
Time to head home...we had fun, NYC!
Just kidding! Bad storms along the East Coast kept us in NY for an extra night...ack!
While we were waiting for luggage to come back off of the plane, Ava told the female state trooper that her hat was cute. And her partner let Ava try his on! LOL
Back to our friendly hotel in Brooklyn...with this extra night, we had a chance to try out the hotel restaurant on the 24th floor. Even with rainy weather, it was fun!
The restaurant made a kid-friendly version of nachos, just for Ava!
It's a bit drizzly out there. Glad we didn't have to fly out in it.
Day 6: Tuesday, June 20
Look at that beautiful weather...let's walk to the Brooklyn Bridge!
A fantastic art piece: "Descension"
Down by the East River, on the Brooklyn side
Cooling off from the heat!
There she is: Lady Liberty!
Waiting for the transfer to La Guardia...but this time, we made it home!
Cathedral of St John the Divine
Grants Tomb (ok, ok, the tomb is on the other side of the street...this was the view into the Hudson River)
New Jersey, maybe? We were coming into Harlem at this point
Hilarious! "Live Poultry"
And right across the street: "Krispy Krunchy Chicken"
The Apollo Theater
The Guggenheim
The Met
Back in Brooklyn...I loved these lights
And a little fella cheesecake from Juniors, for dessert
Day 3: Saturday, June 17
Back to Manhattan we go...
Steph giving Ava a tour of the subway system screens
Bunny ears x2!
And then it started to rain (right as we got to the end of the High Line,) so we hustled over to Macy's, did some shopping, and then ate some lunch!
The rain let up, so we walked over to the American Girl store, where Ava bought a new outfit for Annie
This is a balloon...wow!
At Rockefeller Center
Closer to NBC / Rainbow Room!
Where are the Rockettes?!
We made the trek to Central Park, and took a break
And then we decided to do a pedi-cab ride through Central Park...what a great tour!
The fountain from Friends
Proposal Bridge in the background
I can't remember what this bridge is named, but it was where the Pigeon Lady was in Home Alone
Watch out, NYC...this little lady is on the move!
Day 4: Sunday, June 18
BIRTHDAY DAY!!!! Yes, this day, our little Ava turned 9 years old...we had a great day celebrating her!
Ava wanted to go back to Coney Island...so, we went!
At the end of the day, we celebrated with a wonderful birthday dinner out in Brooklyn. We met some of Steph's friends, as well...a lovely way to end the day!
A red velvet birthday cake for our sweet girl
That's a chicken in the middle of the cake. Don't ask. It was also accompanied by "Happy Birthday" sung completely in chicken squawks!
Modeling her sparkly pizza purse...Steph for the win of the gift!
Day 5: Monday, June 19
Time to head home...we had fun, NYC!
Just kidding! Bad storms along the East Coast kept us in NY for an extra night...ack!
While we were waiting for luggage to come back off of the plane, Ava told the female state trooper that her hat was cute. And her partner let Ava try his on! LOL
Back to our friendly hotel in Brooklyn...with this extra night, we had a chance to try out the hotel restaurant on the 24th floor. Even with rainy weather, it was fun!
The restaurant made a kid-friendly version of nachos, just for Ava!
It's a bit drizzly out there. Glad we didn't have to fly out in it.
Day 6: Tuesday, June 20
Look at that beautiful weather...let's walk to the Brooklyn Bridge!
A fantastic art piece: "Descension"
Down by the East River, on the Brooklyn side
Cooling off from the heat!
There she is: Lady Liberty!
Waiting for the transfer to La Guardia...but this time, we made it home!
It was an amazing adventure, and so glad we could check New York off of Ava's bucket list.
More to come on the fun times that we've had since we've returned home!
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