2012 Summer Vacation - NYC

New York City!

Our decision to go to NYC was based on an "a-ha" moment I had as I realized I only had about 4 more summers to have family vacations with all of my kids home.  What?!  So, I asked the kids where they'd like to go and all 3 boys said that their first choice was New York City.  Well, I had to make it happen. I got on map quest, figured out a route, and e-mailed my proposal to Steve.  It still creeped up on us and we were making lots of plans at the last minute, but we had a marvelous time!  Our first day took us on a bike ride through Central Park.  

This "bubble man" was terrific.  He gave each child 3 turns with the sticks to form their own bubbles and then fit the 4 youngest INSIDE a bubble.

Balto - an endearing dog from a book the boys all loved

In preparation for the sites we'd be seeing, we chose movies to watch as we drove that all took place in the city.  This fountain is featured in numerous films, like "Enchanted" and "27 Dresses".

This castle overlooks turtle pond.  Totally cool!

Here we are on our bikes.  Yes, I am taking this picture with one hand as I steer with my other down this hill.  I'm multi-talented that way. :)  Emma and Lizzie got to be on tandem bikes with Steve and I.  That made the experience even more fun and memorable!

Biking was not the only way of travel...

We all got to know the subway system pretty well.  Here the kids were watching a movie on Steve's phone on a particularly LONG subway ride from Coney Island to the hotel in Long Island City.  My gratitude goes out to Kristy Glass who gave us pointers on where to stay to save a few dollars and which subways were safer than others.  We definitely experienced the safer and the not-so-safe trains.

Julliard

The NYC temple - first of 4 that we saw on our trip

Below, Evan is playing with an employee in KB Toys.  His job was to get proficient at playing with different toys and to teach kids how to play.  Nice.

Lizzie's excitement grew and grew to go to New York.  She couldn't wait to see the "green lady."  So, at every green lady statue, she had to pose for a picture.  So cute!

My Avengers!

Radio City Music Hall

Times Square

The Disney Store in Times Square is fantastic!  This mirror, when a wand is waved in front of it actually talks to you!  Lizzie enjoyed snuggling with Flynn Rider.  Who wouldn't?  That smoulder gets ME every time!

Mama Bear from Brave

Lizzie and another Green Lady--showing some leg. 

The M&M store was a blast.  Three levels! There was a machine that had you stand in a certain spot, it'd scan you and then identify which color fit your personality.  Hilarious!

A screen in Times Square videoing all the pedestrians.  We are by the bottom left corner of the number 2.

Toys R Us had an entire area 2 stories high devoted to Barbie paraphernalia.  Lizzie was in heaven!

Our 2nd day in NYC was focused on things to see downtown.  The 9-11 Memorial was our first stop.  Reverent and meaningful.  We had the boys watch a few clips about that day so that they understood the significance of it a little better.  I'm so glad we did that.  The 2 pools are completed; however, the museum is still under construction.

A block away is a church that stood as a hub for all the service men and women who helped in rescue and clean-up efforts.  It happened to be where George Washington attended!!!!

George Washington's pew.  Visited after his inauguration!

We all got to participate in a special bell ringing service and moment of silence for the victims in the shooting in Aurora, Colorado theater.  TV cameras and boom mikes were all over.  Pretty special.

This exhibit is of the patches that the servicemen donated.  You could still smell the smoke on them.

Wall Street

Can anyone see this bull and not think of the movie, Hitch?  It's also in The Sorcerer's Apprentice.

In fact, this fountain is where the climax of Sorcerer's Apprentice takes place.

New York Pizza.  Mmmmm!  I never thought I could like it as much as Chicago-style, but I have to say there's a time and place for everything.  Lizzie said the NY pizza was her favorite part of the whole trip!  It wasn't my favorite part, but it was delicious!

On Staten Island Ferry out to see "The Green Lady"

Much to my hubby's displeasure, we walked the Brooklyn Bridge in 95 degree weather. 

With time left in our day and our desire to do something fun for free, we headed out to Coney Island.  The amusement park was SAD, especially in comparison to Cedar Point.  We walked through it and weren't even tempted.  Instead, we let the kids set foot in the Atlantic Ocean.

As Steve stood in line to buy the famous "Coney dogs" for all of us, a storm of gigantic proportions blew in so fast, everyone headed for the train station and the attendants opened up the gates not even making anyone buy tickets.  It poured and poured.  I have never seen a cloud blow in like that.  I'm not one to ever be scared of a storm, but that one almost did it.

Our last morning in the city, we went back by Central Park and went through the Museum of Natural History featured on Night at the Museum.  What's great about this museum is that the admission price is  suggested.  I'm lovin' it!

Have you read Wonderstruck????  This is the exhibit that is woven through the story.

Gum-Gum

Feeling the need for good luck.

What a fun city to visit!

Summer Vacation 2012 - Cedar Point

The Bird family Summer Vacation started Sunday after church on July 22nd.  We packed our dinner and headed out of town so that we could be in Ohio rested up for our big day Monday morning.  We have heard about and watched specials about Cedar Point and the amazing roller coasters that they have there.  It did NOT disappoint.  Though the first ride had a 2 hour wait (but totally worth it), we figured out the rest of the park, and never waited longer than 20 minutes for any other ride.  I had done a lot of research and discovered the baby rider pass.  This was terrific!  Not quite like Disney's pass, but almost.    We had to visit guest services as a family and record all our information.  We were then handed a card with our name on it.  When Steve and the boys were getting off a ride, they'd hand it to the lead employee of the ride, he'd clip it to a board, I'd go in through the exit, claim the Bird pass, and ride immediately.  I had to go by myself, but I met lots of nice people.  After a few rides, Steve was already livin' high off of Dramamine and chose to bypass some of the jerkier rides, so we didn't use the pass on all large roller coasters.

 This girl had the hardest time.  She is our daredevil and could hardly go on any rides, except for the ones in the kiddie-lands.  Disney does a better job of allowing older toddlers on some of the more adventurous rides.  She got quite discouraged.  Fruit snacks stopped working around noon, but she stayed in high spirits and enjoyed having Mom and Dad as her riding buddies.

 Did I say Lizzie was a daredevil?  Evan and Emma accepted any challenge as well.  In fact, Emma ASKED to go on this.  Evan took a little convincing, but Carter refused.  This pendulum-type ride took them nearly upside down.  Emma and Evan are on the far left.

 Can I get one of these in my backyard?  He may learn a lesson or 2 if we used this in reality.

 Oh, yeah.  Here's my "sassafras"--tongue sticking out and all.  Lizzie, when in the mood, has the ability to crack everyone up around her.  I can't imagine life without her!

Here we are.  This was towards the end of the day before we split up to ride those favorite rides one more time and go to the dance party/fireworks show.  What a blast!

Varsity Scout Camp

Steve and Braxton got to go to Tomahawk Scout Camp in northern Wisconsin.

The food was less than desirable, but the camp was gorgeous and the activities were a blast!

Riding the ATVs was Braxton's favorite event.

The climbing wall

Horseback riding

The whole crew (L-R: Braxton, Brother Collingwood, Steve, Nate, Riley)

 A perfect day to go sailing.

 Steve (my mountain man) looks like he was even enjoying himself--of course, I was home tending to 4 children and running the house. wink! wink!

 My favorite picture of the week!

 The ropes course was the final activity and it kept them busy for a while on the last day.  Definitely harder than they thought.  Interesting that the boys took different approaches to tackling it, but they all did it and learned that they can do HARD things.

SCOUT CAMP!

Steve is our ward's scoutmaster and had the privilege of going to Camp Napowan for his 5th year.  Because he has gone multiple times, he knows the camp--its schedule and layout, and has figured out how to help the boys be as successful and efficient as they can.  Four of the 7 boys earned 11 merit badges during the week!  Unbelievable!

 To avoid doing swim checks on Sunday, they drive up EARLY Saturday morning, get set up, do swim checks, and play.  For the last 2 years, this handsome man pictured above has coordinated us hanging out with a group from Arlington Heights for some added fun.  He is also Steve's partner in crime.  Luckily they get along because he and Steve got to be the leaders of this scout camp as well as varsity scout camp that was held a mere week after this one at Camp Tomahawk four hours further north in Wisconsin.  

Water balloon launchers - they can leave a welt!

Evan is working with the "Mayor" in leather working.

The boys work, work, work at night around the campfire, weaving baskets, writing reports, etc.  This is the secret to earning so many badges.  Utilize every minute!

Early morning observations for Environmental Science

Flag Raising ceremonies

Rifle Shooting

Digging for minnows (not a merit badge, but added to the fun)

Public Speaking

More working around the campfire at night

Canoeing

First Aid

Waiting to jump in and turn clothes into life preservers...

Steve's Policy: When you finish a merit badge, you have to raise your hands in the air and declare to the camp "I just finished  my _____ merit badge!"

One of the greatest things about scout camp is that these boys learn they can do things they never thought they could.  I believe scouting is one way young men these days learn how to do hard things.

Troop 68

Steve was so proud of these young men!  As we were going through the hundreds of pictures he took and he was talking about each shot, he would get emotional and then I would get emotional.  What a unique moment to see the love my sweet husband has for these good boys.   The week, of course, didn't go without challenges.  Three boys got sick and one (my son) threw up all over the tent.  To everyone's credit, the boy who got his sleeping bag creamed didn't yell or get mad.  Everyone was kind, polite, supportive, and worked hard.  Steve's planning on doing it all over again next year!

Youth Conference

Who's Your Hero?

 Steve and I got to be a "ma" and "pa" for a group of young men and women from our stake.  Now, I love being a mom and mothering, so to be given 12 terrific and fun teenagers and be told that I get to mother them for 48 hours, was a blast!  I had phenomenal kids, too.  We had older ones who were leaders and engaged the younger ones.  We had funny, calm, sweet, smart, humble, and strong kids.  They were a terrific mix.  Our first day, we got to be taught by "King Benjamin" who introduced the theme of "Who's Your Hero?".  We got to have devotionals, listen to speakers, sing, dance, act, learn about Indexing, mark a set of scriptures (Braxton has already given his away to a girl learning about the gospel now), and have a testimony meeting.

 Team building exercises were actually quite fun.  Here's a spider web where the kids had to help talk each one through the labyrinth.  We actually got 4 kids through!  Only group there!

 Some of our girls were hula-hooping maniacs!

 This was no challenge, just our kids wanting to do something together.  Do you see Steve 2nd one from the right on the bottom?  Oh, yeah!  The Birdites ruled!

I miss these kids.  We got to have the 5 boys sleep at our house.  Grandma Bird took our own kids, so that they wouldn't be a distraction.  We were up for hours eating ice cream, solving riddles, telling stories and jokes, and having a great time.  I wish we could have had the girls, too.  I needed another day with them to feel like I was ready for the Youth Conference to be over.  

I have seen a few of my "kids" since then and love it when they yell, "Mom" from the other side of the store.  I know it's ridiculous, but I really fell in love with these kids faster than I thought possible.  One of the most awkward moments, but funny moments was when the DJ at the dance had the kids find their "parents" and dance around them to Bruno Mars' song, "Amazing".  I think my heart grew 2 sizes during that song. :)