Spring Break 2011 - New York City!!

We had such a wonderful week in New York. Get ready for some major pictures because we did soooo much! Here we are on the flight to NYC. So excited about our trip and about seeing Meme and Gee! We got bumped to another flight so they put us in first class...Quinn especially loved all the special treats she got on the plane.

...and off the plane into her first taxi!

We ate lunch at a deli right when we got there...they had so many choices! We had soup and Q had pancakes and bacon.

Times Square!

There were a few firsts for me too...this was my first corned beef on rye...it was delicious!

The Petrossian...the building is stunning...just look at the details! And they serve caviar with everything! On our way to see Eloise at the Plaza! But first a quick trip over to....

Dylan's Candy Bar! It is a super cool candy shop that Quinn has been DYING to see...a very special treat for the birthday girl...today is the day! Dylan's had all their Easter stuff out.

Now to the Plaza...

...and here is FAO Schwarz...amazingly big toy store. A NYC institution.

These FAO toy soldiers are made of jelly beans!

Then back to Times Square/Theater District to see The Lion King. It was a birthday present for Quinn, but all of the adults enjoyed it immensely as well! The costuming, choreography, voices, etc...wonderful!

Quinn at the Top of the Rock.

At Rockefeller Center, statue of Prometheus, Ice Skating Rink.

Then we went over to the Museum of Modern Art. Quinn really loved Jackson Pollack. The flag below is Jasper Johns.

We went to Grand Central Station. The constellations on the ceiling were amazing!

Look how beautiful this ticket station is! The whole place is made of marble.

And we had to stop by the New York Public Library. Here we are with one of the lions out front.

The Statue of Liberty!

Quinn and the view of NYC from the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty.

Quinn filled out an activity book about the Statue of Liberty and she got a badge that says she is a Junior Ranger for the Statue and Ellis Island. The picture below is the grand hall of Ellis Island. Visiting this area is was so moving to me. Just to put yourself in the place of these people who immigrated here and what they must have been thinking while going through all that was required of them.

We went to the Museum of Natural History and it was really HUGE and very interesting!

Quinn loved seeing this, especially since one of her fave movies is Ice Age.

After such a busy day filled with walking, we treated Quinn to a ferris wheel ride at Toys R Us for being such a trouper! This ferris wheel is 3 stories high, as is the toy store. We got the Little Tykes bus.

Before we left Times Square I took a picture of the New Years' Ball. It says 2012 because they are filming a movie right now...New Years Eve I believe it is called. A follow up to Valentine's Day.

Afterwards we picked up soup from the Seinfeld Soup Man. It was delicious! I got lobster bisque and quinn got chicken gumbo. We all enjoyed it so much!

St. Patrick's Day, we took the subway (had to have this experience in NYC!) up to the Metropolitan Museum of Art...we took the 6! Quinn had just bought her 6 shirt the day before so it was perfect timing.

Here we are with Rembrandt's Self Portrait. And below is Van Gogh's Cypresses.

Then we enjoyed the St. Patrick's day parade. We saw lots of bagpipes and drums and dancers.

Afterwards we walked through Central Park and enjoyed the ducks, ice skaters and beautiful weather.

This was our last day in NYC and Quinn thought that Bun Bun should see some of the sights. So here he is at Starbucks, where we started our mornings.

This is the view from Columbus Circle. This is the floor where Masa is located.

Bun Bun taking in the sights of Times Square. Below, Quinn is at the top of the Empire State Building. We laughed forever because it was really windy on one side and everyone's hair and scarves and dresses were blowing everywhere. So funny to watch!

We spent some time on Madison Avenue. This was my favorite stretch though! 57th St...between Madison and 5th Ave. Dior, Chanel, Burberry, Miu Miu, Yves St. Laurent, Vuitton...and the list goes on.

Quinn especially loved the windows at Louis Vuitton...so imaginative!

We went to the Central Park Zoo and saw a red panda, sea lions, polar bears, snow leopards and many more. We also fed a cow and some sheep at the little petting zoo. It was an absolutely beautiful day and people were out and about in the park enjoying the weather.

Dinner...with a Shirley Temple....and our last trip to a deli!

Quinn enjoying her Starbucks in the airport on the way home. (It's a milk peppermint steamer!) She is wearing 3d glasses below to read her puppies book on the flight home.

We are so thankful that we had the opportunity to do this. When I look back on all that we did, it seems mind-boggling that we could fit it all in! Quinn had so many life experiences and learned so much...it really broadened her horizons. It was such fun to spend time with Meme and Gee and they knew so much about the city it made it all so comfortable and fun. An unbelievably special week!