New York Trip - Day 4

Monday started with a five hour guided tour through the main attractions of NYC including Central Park, Rockefeller Center, Empire State Building, St Patrick's Cathedral, Soho, Little Italy, Chinatown, Wall Street, World Trade Center sites, and an hour New York Water taxi ride around the Statue of Liberty. 
After a recommendation, we decided to have dinner at Jekyll and Hyde Club. It was interesting to say the least.  Luckily my sisters and I were able to make the most of it and we had a lot of laughs. It's not something I would do again or recommend to anyone but at least we tried something new. 
We spent the evening on Broadway watching a classic, The Phantom of the Opera. By the end of the show we were pretty beat and ready for bed.  

This was classic.  Our tour bus driver dropped us off across the street from Central Park. Apparently you can't stop there. The driver sort of laughed and didn't seem phased by it.  I guess it happens a lot. We were pretty amused and sort of felt bad for the guy.  He was just doing his job.  Nothing like bike cop vs. tour bus. 

 Strawberry Fields is the section of Central Park named in honor of John Lennon.

I'm not a huge Beatles fan but it was fun to learn a few fun facts about John Lennon and Yoko Ono who lived in New York across from Central Park for many years before his death.

 St. James' Cathedral.

 I love 30 Rock!

 This is the flat iron district named after this building.

 Empire State Building from the ground.

This building isn't as impressive as the Empire State Building...unless you're a Seinfeld fan.  I took this picture for Ricky and Aunt Natalee.

 Waiting in line for our Water Taxi.  I was a little hesitant about taking the tour but I think the Water Taxi ride made it all worth it.  I loved being out on the water and I think we had better views of the Statue of Liberty than if we had gone to the island.

 We had beautiful views of the New York skyline from both the Hudson and the East River.

 New York

 This is where the Titanic was supposed to dock but as we know it never made it back.

 Ellis Island

 Lady Liberty

This sculpture was inside one of the World Trade Center tours.  It was damaged as you can see but after the clean up it was moved to this location in Battery Park. 

Wall Street.  

I was so sad that we couldn't go into the Stock Exchange. Prior to 9/11 you could walk through a portion of it and see all of the screens and the traders.  It's too much of a security risk now...so sad. 

This is the World Trade Center site.  It's come a long way since I saw it back in 2003. 

The memorial site will open in 2012.  Unfortunately there wasn't a lot for us to see when we were there. 

Jekyll and Hyde Club was pretty much a hole in the wall dinner theater. 

Good thing we made the most of it and will have some fun memories from that night.

I've seen Phantom before but it was fun to see it again.  I love Broadway shows - especially musicals.

Inside the Majestic Theater

We got to walk right through Times Square on our way back to the hotel.  There's nothing like New York at midnight!

Philadelphia/New York - Day 3

The weekend convention ended Sunday morning with breakfast at the hotel. At noon we said our goodbyes and then Calee, Talicee and I hopped on Bolt Bus for the two hour drive to New York City!!!

After checking into our hotel we headed south a couple blocks to Times Square!  I could sit there for hours and people watch.  There's nothing else like it.  We took in all of the usual New York sidewalk entertainment and grabbed some dinner before heading to bed.

 Times Square

Calee had these sunglasses and I tried them on and loved them.  I needed some new sunglasses so I thought a new pair would make a great NY souvenir.  First stop, Oakley store in Times Square.

This billboard was really neat.  It had a camera down in times square and the picture was projected live onto the screen.  It was like playing "Where's Waldo?" but you had to find yourself.

 We are on the far left about a 1/3 of the way up.  I'm in a pink shirt and I had my camera to my face taking pictures. 

 Never a dull moment with the Naked Cowboy around. 

 Nothing like a cheap knock-off.  Who knew Mickey Mouse was really 6 feet tall. 

Gotta love the street performers although I was hoping for better. 

We strolled through the M&M Store, Hershey's Store and everything else Times Square shopping had to offer. 

Philadelphia Trip - Day 2

I spent Saturday touring all of the historic spots in downtown Philadelphia. First stop, Liberty Bell. I went on to see a Free Quakers Hall, the home of Betsy Ross, the burial place of Benjamin Franklin, and the State House (known as Independence Hall).
After seeing all the sites important to our country's history, I was on to the other impressive attractions Philly has to offer. Lunch, the must eat place is Pat's! Or is it Geno's? That's the great debate.
This trip, we chose Pat's. Apparently it's the origin of the Philly Cheesesteak sandwich. The original location of the man who made the first Phillysteak. Some debate that Geno's, which is located across the street from Pat's is better. It's still open for debate. I just know that Calee and I waited 45 minutes in a line that wrapped around the building in order to get a taste.
My opinion...it was good...but not the best I've had. Still glad we went and tried it.
With full stomachs we needed to walk off some of our lunch so we headed to the perfect place...the stairs of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Also known as the famous Rocky Stairs.
The evening was filled with shopping and late night talks in our hotel room. By the end of the day I was exhausted. It was fun but packed day. Lots of great things but I sure missed my sweet husband who stayed home with our boys while I'm on my girls trip. Thank goodness for cell phones and picture texts so we could easily stay in touch.

 I love the old buildings.  This one is the court house...

 and this is an old church. 

 Free Quaker Meeting house.

Burial place of Benjamin Franklin and his family. 

 I learned a lot about Betsy Ross by visiting her house.  She was pretty impressive. 

This was believe to be her bedroom that she made the flag in.

 She made the flag in hiding so that she wasn't accused of treason. She also is the one that convinced the general that  the stars on the flag should have 5 points instead of the 6 originally requested.  It was easier to sew that way.

 I toured the mint although the operations was closed because it was Saturday.  They make mostly coins and presidential and other medals at the Philadelphia mint. 

The Declaration of Independence was signed in this building on July 4, 1776. The Independence Hall was also the site were the American Flag was first unveiled in 1777. In 1781, the Articles of Confederation uniting all thirteen British colonies were ratified here. And in 1787 the US Constitution was drafted in this building.

 Michaela, Me and Calee outside Independence Hall. 

 This is where the Declaration of Independence was signed. 

 Michaela, Calee, Ryan and Greg

 Michaela, Calee, Ryan, Greg, Sarah and Greg

 Pat's King of Steaks

 Geno's Steaks just across the street.  Their line was just as long. 

 Simple menu.

 Landmark at in front of Pat's. 

This is it! It was great but not worth the wait.

 Downtown Philadelphia

 The Philadelphia Museum of Art and the famous Rocky stairs. 

 It was just Calee and I on the afternoon adventures.  It was fun for just the two of us to spend time together. 

"Rocky Balboa: The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place It will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me or nobody is going to hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard you hit, it is about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward, how much can you take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!"

Philadelphia, PA - Day 1

Day one of my 10 day trip wasn't all that exciting.  It was a travel day. It started with a 7:00 am flight to Philadelphia, PA. After a layover in Cleveland I arrived in Philly at about 5:30 pm. I got my car and and headed to our hotel in Valley Forge where I would join my mom, Michaela, Calee and Talicee for the first night of the Triplet Connection National Convention.
My mom has been in the triplet connection since shortly after our triplets (Calee, Michaela and Micah) were born. She's been the convention director since 1989 - (I think). I've been to a bunch of conventions over the years but since I got married and have had kids of my own, I don't go very often. The last one I went to was in Phoenix in 2006. It was really fun to see my moms staff and their kids who we've grown close to over the years. 
After a few hours of visiting it was off to sleep at about 1:00 am. 

 This is a few ladies from y mom's staff and their multiples. 

Mom and daughters