NYC for Kids? Of Course!!! Part 1

Destination: New York City, NY Part 1
Date: December 2011

All six in front of the NYC Library
December 2011

I'm not going to lie, New York City vacation with kids is my very favorite destination at Christmas.  Now don't get me wrong, I love visiting NYC with my husband, friends, and have even done a trip with just my five sister-in-laws and mother-in-law but going with kids turns me into a kid as well. Last Christmas Trent and I decided to surprise the kids with a very sparse Christmas for the kiddos.  With only three small presents each we celebrated Christmas morning very quietly.  I could tell my older kids were wondering if we were really serious.  A book? A CD? A board game?  There were no iPods, or iPhones, no ride on scooters or things they knew their friends were getting, instead we were giving the gift of an adventure!

Christmas morning,  Ready to get downstairs!  Don't let Colton's faces scare you!
December 25, 2011

At first it all seemed like a gift of disappointment. --I'm actually not opposed to this gift either.  I have often been quoted as telling my kids that this is an important gift to learn how to receive.  But this certainly was not the case this year.

Clay on Christmas morning
December 2011

The two weeks leading up to Christmas I began to pack secretly for my kids.  Fortunately we have pretty mild winters here in South Texas so they didn't need too many of their winter clothes I was packing.  My oldest, Colton, hardly even wears jeans and so I asked him to please clean out his jean drawer so I knew what pants fit him so I could pack appropriately.  This turned out to bite him later when he told me he had tried on all his jeans and left the ones in his drawer that fit.  When I packed him and we arrived in New York two weeks later he only  had one pair of jeans that fit and I made him wear them everyday we were there.  Hope that teaches him! ;)

Bailey on Christmas morning
December 2011

Back to the trip and Christmas morning.  The kids unwrapped their presents at 4:30am we had a nice little breakfast at 5:30am and then Trent told them all to go get dressed for church.  It was Sunday but the kids were perplexed.  Why did Dad want them to get ready so early?  Little did they know we had a 7:30am flight we had to catch!

Just arrived in NYC
December 2012

Leah and Lexi loved the idea of going to NYC
December 2011

We were off.  We arrived at the airport in comfy church clothes we could travel in and set off for our fun in New York.  When we arrived at JFK there was still time to get in our waiting van to take us over to church at the Manhattan 1st ward. Congregation times can be found at www.lds.org We knew of all Sundays we couldn't miss going to church on Christmas Day!  It was an amazing visit to a congregation full of so much talent!  The singing, the testimonies it was a great way to start our visit in NY.  I should also mention that this ward meets in the temple building in New York so it is a beautiful location to celebrate the birth of our Savior.

Just finished church at the Manhattan 1st ward.  Could I look more tired?
NYC, December 2011

In Times Square with the kiddos.  Obviously fulfilling Lexis dreams
NYC December 2011

Since Times Square is my kids favorite place to be in the city we had made a reservation to stay at the Westin.  This however would not be my recommendation for future visitors.  I really thought this was a poorly kept property.  The service was great, the reservation counters and foyer aren't bad but the rooms were not up to my expectations.  I'm fine with a clean room, and a bed with soft linens but the rooms we got felt dirty and unkept.  I complained a few times but with the busy staff during the holiday season it really didn't make a difference.  My resolution was that we would never stay here again.  I think the Marriott in Times Square would have been a better choice.

Bailey loved eating on the street
NYC, December 2011

Clay reenacting this Home Alone moment
NYC, December 2011

We stayed in New York until New Years Eve.  It was a fantastic place to be during the last week of the year.  We hit so many fun places during our visit.  We started off our visit going to the Toys R Us ferris wheel in Times Square.  Though the store opens at 8am the ferris wheel doesn't start operating until around 10 or 10:30 (we couldn't get any of the employees there to give us a straight answer on this).  More info can be found at http://www.toysrusinc.com/about-us/times-square/

In Bryant Park enjoying hot chocolates for breakfast
NYC December 2011

Passing time while Dad buys our subway passes
NYC December 2011

From Times Square it is possible to walk to many of the locations we wanted to see, or ride the subway, even with six kids!  Plus it beats the traffic of the city sitting in two different taxis because that is what we would have to do with our little pack.  We loved walking over to Bryant Park www.bryantpark.org and having chocolate crepes and hot chocolate at The Crepe Cafe http://theholidayshopsatbryantpark.com.  From there just around the corner is the New York City library that is fun to check out and take a few pics.  These will be some of my favorite pictures of the entire trip!

Bella loved riding the subway
NYC December 2011

The kiddos are having fun riding the subway with Dad
NYC, December 2011

We love walking down Fifth Avenue and checking out all of the shopping.  The little girls also couldn't help but notice the few homeless people begging there on the street and it was humbling to see them strike up conversations and give them the few coins they had in their pockets.

The whole family on ice at the Rockefeller plaza
NYC December 2011

Ice skating with the twiners
NYC December 2011

One of my very favorite activities was the day we decided to ice-skate in Rockefeller Plaza.  http://www.rockefellercenter.com  I know it is kind of cliche and a total tourist trap but it was the most Christmasy place in all of New York.  We paid a little extra to get the reserved ice-skate time and avoid standing in line for hours.  We were able to enter down in the plaza and put our ice-skates on in a small heated room that served never ending hot-chocolate and candy canes.  Then when we finally got ice skates on all eight of us we headed out onto the ice.  About this time it began to sprinkle a little and we were all wet in no time.  It was a small rink and we lapped it many times but with the Christmas music playing, the crowds watching from above and from the restaurants below, and our noses turing red it all added up to a very cheery holdiay moment.  We took pictures, played tag and had fun like little kids.  It was my absolute favorite thing to do with my kids at Christmas time.

Brotherly love on the ice in front of the Rockefeller Christmas tree
NYC, December 2011

My favorite pic of the day, Lexi and Leah's sisterly love
NYC, December 2011

Bailey window shopping on Fifth Ave
NYC December 2011

What could be better than seeing the sights of NYC from Dad's shoulders?
December 2011

Another fun thing we had a chance to do was brunch at the American Girl doll store, www.americangirldoll.com.  My four girls and I, packed their dolls and brought them to New York just for this very specific activity.  It was so much fun!  We arrived at the American Girl Doll Store and had some time to browse the selections with a personal shopper.  I had called ahead and set this up only because the store was packed during this time of year.  This way the girls just pointed out what they wanted and the personal shopper took us around to a private room with some couches so we could check out in peace.  It was worth the tip we gave our helper and kept my peace of mind.

The girls and I enjoying our brunch at the American Girl Doll store
NYC December 2011

What little girl doesn't love feeding her baby doll at the table?
Bella, NYC December 2011

Even Bailey enjoyed hanging out with her little sisters at brunch
NYC December 2011

After making our purchases we went upstairs to the cafe.  Though Bailey felt like she was too old for this activity she loved it nonetheless.  They gave us chairs for our dolls and even served utensils for them.  In the middle of the table we had a box full of questions to ask each other like, "If you could travel anywhere in the world where would it be?" or even "What was the name of your first pet?".  I suspect these questions were for mothers and daughters who may have a hard time keeping a conversation going but my four girls and I loved the novelty of it all and went through every question laughing at each and every question and answer.

Leah had her doll go to the beauty shop to have her hair fixed
NYC December 2011

All four girls loved our day with their dolls.  Even Bailey reunited with her own doll Kit for the day!
NYC December 2011

The brunch was a delicious selection from Fancy French Toast to Eggs Benedict.  The whole sample menu can be found at http://www.americangirl.com/stores/pdfs/SampleCafe.pdf  We loved the experience.  Luckily the boys kept themselves busy at the NBA store across the street and the girls and I relished our time together.  Between the yummy food and fun shopping experience I would recommend this to any mother with a daughter between the ages of 4-12!  It was so much fun.

Every kid loves having a dessert thats on fire!!
Lexi & Bailey NYC December 2011

Clay's dessert looks delightful!
NYC December 2011

The last place I want to mention in this post is another eating establishment, Max Brenner's the Chocolate Man!  maxbrenners.com There are four locations in the US;  New York, Philadelphia, Boston and Las Vegas.  It really is a fun little place to eat.  Most items on the menu, even the savory ones, have some sort of chocolate flair added to them.  Whether its the waffle fries dusted with chili and cocoa powder to all the yummy desserts, my kids were in heaven.

Our table of delicious sweets
NYC December 2011

As a special treat Trent ordered a ton of desserts!  Our favorites were the Hazelnut Creme Banana Toffee Crepe, Urban Smores Fondue, The Euphoria Peanut Butter Chocolate Fudge Sundae, and the Chocolate Chunks Pizza.  More than a family of eight could even eat but it imprinted a memory of deliciousness that has kept my kids asking for more all year long!

Lexi was a regular at the hotdog stands around the city
NYC December 2011

There is so much more I need to share about our fabulous NYC kid experience and if I try and tuck it all into this post it wont do it justice.  So keep a look out for my next installment on NYC for kids so you don't miss a thing, and if you have anything to add please let me know.  This was our second Christmas trip to NYC with the kids and I know it wont be our last.  I would love to know of anything I may be missing!  The big apple truly has so much to offer!

Safe and happy travels!!!

Oh Little town of Bethlehem; Burnet Texas Live Nativity

Destination: Burnet, Texas, Live Nativity
Date: December 2012

The whole kit and caboodle, enjoying hot cocoa at the end of the nativity
December 2012

In December we love tradition.  I think tradition is one of the strongest things that binds us together as a family.  My kids love to bake cookies, pass out gifts to neighbors and friends, and decorate the tree together.  Everyone has a tradition that is worth passing on from one generation to the next.  One of our family's favorite traditions is visiting a live nativity.

Loaded up the van and headed to Burnet, about an hour and a half drive from San Antonio
We felt like shepherds following the star to Bethlehem
December 2012

About six or seven years ago a friend of mine told me about a live nativity that is preformed in Burnet Texas.  Though it is a little bit of a drive from where we live in San Antonio it is worth it.  It isn't just a live nativity with Mary, Joseph and of course baby Jesus, it is the complete town of Bethlehem!  Right in downtown Burnet is the town of Bethlehem that is dedicated to just the first two weekends of December for everyone near and far to visit. More info can be found at: http://www.fbcburnet.org

A home of wealthy townspeople in Bethlehem
Burnet, December 2012

The Burnet Bethlehem has everything I could imagine from the time our Savior was born.  The locals preform as locales of Bethlehem and act out roles like beggars, tax collectors, Roman guards, shop keepers, black smiths, the inn keeper, drunkards, to regular townspeople both rich and poor.  I can't imagine all that goes into planning and and carrying out this event.  Even the smells and sounds remind me of how it must have been in that ancient city so long ago.

Bella visits the woodworking shop in the town of Bethlehem
December 2012

A leper begging for shekels in the city
Burnet, December 2012

It is the First Baptist Church that puts together this function every year, and did I mention one of the best parts is that it is free!  Everyone is invited to come, remember, and respect the birth of our Savior.  I love how something so simple as this can bring so many people from different cultures, religions and backgrounds together as we all honor and try to imagine what it was like in that little stable so long ago.  What a great thing these fellow Christians have provided for my family!

The tax collector staying in character and quizzing his subjects
Burnet, December 2012

Lexi, Bella and their cousin "T" can't help but heckle this Roman solider
Burnet, December 2012

After waiting in line from twenty minutes, to two hours and twenty minutes, we were let into the gates of Bethlehem. (I've been in lines that were short to lines that wrapped around the downtown of Burnet but either way its still worth it!)  Once inside we were welcome to roam around the city at will.  Peeking our head into windows, going into buildings like the synagogue, or watching the tax collector reprimand the towns people for their lack of funds, it is all intriguing.  Even as we walked through with our children, my kids saw the child actors with their parents lending to the realistic atmosphere of the city.  The townspeople even whispered that the Savior had been born and the magnificence of such an event.  It all led up to the last area of Bethlehem where we walked through the stalls of real camels, donkeys, sheep, and goats to finally come across the stable where Mary, Joseph and the Savior of the World, Jesus Christ, lay in his mothers arms.

Bella negotiates the price of chickens from this woman in the marketplace
Burnet, December 2012

Visiting the synagogue in the town
Burnet, December 2012

Lexi makes chariot rides look like so much fun
Burnet, December 2012

After running through this amazing little city my kids fell silent as they came across the swaddled babe and a hush came through our group as they could feel the spirit of this activity.  Once we left the stable we were ushered out a long walkway that had the significant verses of scripture describing Christ's birth, and then out to a refreshment area where First Baptist Church members served us hot cocoa and cookies.  Though this activity is free there is a place to make a donation at this time.

Real camel in Bethlehem city
(Sorry for the terrible pics!)
December 2012

Leah gets locked up in the city square
Burnet, December 2012

In all,  I love sharing this tradition with my children and think it is one of the most important things I can do with them during this time of year.  Watching a great Christmas movie is fun, or seeing fun lights in towns that glow this time of year is entertaining, but this activity helps bring my children unto Christ like no other.  So if you asked any of my kids what their favorite Christmas tradition might be, I'm sure at the top of their list would be a trip to Main Street Bethlehem!

Mary, Joseph and our Savior were portrayed by these actors
Burnet, December 2012

 Tips on making this the best trip it can be:
*Take jackets and warm clothing!  It doesn't matter how warm it is in San Antonio it ends up being much colder in this part of Texas.
*Take hot cocoa and a picnic dinner to enjoy while waiting in line
*Be respectful of your surroundings and quiet to invite the spirit of this activity once you enter Bethlehem
*Make a donation at the end so we can all enjoy this activity for years to come!

Lexi and Leah enjoying the refreshments at the end of the city tour
Burnet, December 2012

Love how this brings my kids together
December 2012

On another note.... I have my first free give away for any of my readers out there!  Once the folks at Navy Pier in Chicago, read my recommendations on visiting their cool park they sent me some passes to  ride the ferris wheel, play some mini-golf, ride the wave swinger, or lighthouse ride, with no expiration dates!  If any of ya'll are planning on visiting Chicago or want to gift these to someone who lives in that area post a comment and then I'll have my kids pick a name out of a hat to decide to gets these 8 free vouchers!  Yeah!!!  Goodluck!!
And of course, Safe and Happy Travels!

Snowed In, In Utah; But We Didn't Become Cannibals

Destination: Utah Ski Slopes of Sundance
Date: December 2010

Our family picture taken the day before my sister's wedding and our stay up at Sundance.
Kids ages at this time are Bailey, 12, Clay, 8, Leah & Lexi ,6, Bella, 3-1/2, and Colton, 14.

Recently, Utah received its first snow of the season.  As so many friends and family have posted so many beautiful pictures of snow covered lawns and majestic mountains, it reminded me of some great trips we've taken to the beehive state.  Our last snow vacation was actually during one of the biggest snowstorms/blizzards Utah has seen, Christmas 2010.  We flew all six kids up for my little sister "C"s wedding and after that beautiful event was over we had no idea what was in store for our ski vacation.

My sister "C" and her new husband "D" with a few of my little ones (including the crier)
 standing in the freezing weather of Salt Lake City during Christmas.
December 2010

Had to include this pic of my beautiful sister "C" as a winter bride
December 2010

On December 28 my little sister and her handsome husband were married in the Salt Lake City temple. My kids were beyond excited to get to Utah and celebrate both Christmas and this wonderful marriage with  all my family and friends.  Since I'm not from Utah it is kind of strange to have such a large circle of friends up there, but fun nonetheless.  We set out on our trip on Christmas morning after all the hoopla of presents was over and flew to Salt Lake City on Christmas day.  Yes, we are those people... the ones the airlines and pilots wish would stay home for just one day so they wouldn't have to work.

All the kids during this holiday season
December 2010

Christmas morning 2010.  These kiddos are dying to get downstairs and see what Santa brought
December 2010

We arrived in Salt Lake around twelve in the afternoon, just in time for one more round of opening presents with Nana and all the aunts, uncles and cousins.  Three days later we got dressed and ready for a beautiful temple marriage and reception at a little chapel down in Provo Utah.

Since I have so much family that lives in Utah we began our trip by staying with my mother, however due to the wedding that also meant that lots of other out of town guests would be staying there too.  So we decided in an effort to alleviate the house of eight guests, we would check out of my moms house on the day of the wedding and go up to Sundance.  We rented a house up near Robert Redford's swanky resort through the online website Vacation Rentals by Owners. vrbo.com

A previous ski vacation in Utah
March 2008

We thought it was a perfect plan.  During the chaos of the wedding day we fulfilled all of our duties as extended members of the wedding party. (No I wasn't asked to be a brides made but I found out the color of the brides maids dresses and wore the same colored dress. So I looked like a bridesmaid. :) A little presumptuous I know, but my sisters and I are like that.) Then after the wedding reception was over we ran to the grocery store and bought a few items to get us through the next three days.

A different Utah ski trip in March 2006, Colton & Bailey posing with cousins

As we drove up Provo Canyon towards Sundance we could see a few flurries of snow coming down.  We didn't think much about it, and continued forward.  When we arrived at the beautiful little house in the woods the kids were so excited to explore our new home we rented for the next week.  We also brought along my nephew who was seventeen.  So all nine of us unloaded our rented Suburban, put away the groceries, hung up our fancy clothes and settled in for the night.  Little did we know the small flurries we had seen on our way up would turn into a full fledged blizzard as we slept.

The view from our second story deck door
December 2010

Trent posing with our wall of snow
December 2010

The next morning we woke up and readied ourselves for a day on the slopes of Sundance.  We had brought up all of our ski clothes that we usually leave in huge duffels at my moms house in Orem.  Once everyone had on the correct sized thermals, gloves, hats and all the paraphernalia that goes with skiing we headed out to the truck to load up.

Ok... we Texans don't know much about driving in snow!
December 2010

Colton and Trent worked very hard shoveling snow to get the truck back in the garage
December 2010

When we opened the garage door we could see about a foot of snow packed in front of the door.  Since neither Trent nor I grew up in snow, and live in a part of Texas that doesn't receive snow fall, we decided to put the truck in four by four and try to drive right through this drift.  I guess it isn't too shocking that we didn't get far.  Our suburban got about three feet into the snow and stopped.  There was going no further, snow this depth is impossible to drive through.  Little did we realize that since the drive way begins to go down into a slope the snow was much deeper the further we got down the drive.  Now with our ski clothes on our only goal was to get the truck back into the garage.  Our day on the slopes was abandoned.

Colton tending the fire
December 2010

The funny thing about this trip was as soon as we got back into the house and out of our ski clothes, the power went out.  Losing our heat quickly Trent, the kids, and I all began searching the house, and the perimeter of the house for firewood.  There was none!  We couldn't believe it.  The owners had big metal racks where firewood should be sitting, but no wood.  Even inside there were built in benches around one side of the fireplace that looked like wood was stored, and again it was empty.  Our only supply was the three small pieces that sat in the unlit, pristine fireplace as decor and one box of starter logs we had brought up with us.  We had no choice, we had to light it up.

Bailey staying warm and quite stylish during our power outage
December 2010

Leah and me snuggling to keep warm
December 2010

We closed all the doors that led to the fireplace and grabbed out all the blankets and began to burrow ourselves in.  Then we called out on our cell phones to see if any of our family outside of the canyon could tell us if any snowplows were coming to our rescue.

Our stove top served as more counter space since it was inoperable, Trent made a great chef though
December 2010

Believe it or not this turned out to be one of our families greatest adventures.  Right up there next to Guatemala 2009!  There we were... snowed in, very few groceries, no firewood, and no electricity.  I had to begin taking down and use the cast iron pots that were hanging on the walls in the kitchen as decoration.  Luckily we found a can opener and began making tomato soup, grilled cheese sandwiches, fried eggs, bacon all over an open fire in the fireplace.  As you may have guessed our firewood didn't last long and our only option was to start burning either the huge pine furniture that adorned the house, or the extra siding the owner had in the garage.  We opted for the siding.  We knew this was expensive firewood but we also knew we had no other choice.  We couldn't freeze to death!

We played every game they had in the closet
December 2010

Bella was not happy I asked to take her picture during her iPod time
December 2010

The power was out at the house for forty-two hours.  At one point we did walk the mile-and-ahalf down to the resort to find out when the snowplow would make it up to our street.  We could see and hear him working all night but every day for three days we looked out to find the snow was still six feet deep on our street.  He finally showed up the morning of the our fourth day.  It had been a long four days and we all had cabin fever.

Part of our house when the snowplow finally arrived
December 2010

So happy to see this guy show up, we all danced and cheered as he pushed the snow away
December 2010

The wall of snow left behind in the wake of the snowplow
December 2010

Colton and Trent walking down to the resort to find out some information
December 2010

The funny thing about the electricity being out, or being snowed in, is that we had lot of fun playing games, doing mini-preformances for each other, and telling funny stories.  For those days we were stuck in the cabin we laughed so hard, and tested our skills at cooking over an open fire and keeping warm.  At night it was the scariest because we never found any flash lights or candles in the house so we had to use iphones, and iPods as flashlights then take them out to the truck in the garage and charge them.  We had a great time coming together as a family and though it wasn't the ski filled days of fun we thought, we still played in the snow and bonded like never before.  We had been tested and we came through.  It really was a vacation we will never forget.

Clay Clay exhausted after one day on the slopes
December 2010

Bailey and Colton taking a break on the slopes
December 2010

In the end we got in one day of skiing.  I highly recommend Sundance because it is a smaller resort.  It is very close to the Provo area where BYU is located and it is beautiful.  The ski instructors for the kids are mostly college students who are very kind and professional with the kids.  If you're child is lucky enough to get one of the more creative instructors they will take your child through the candy forest where the tree elves will throw candy to the child if they can keep their skis in the "french fry" or "pizza" formation, depending on what the instructor is asking.  We've put our kids in ski school at least ten times at Sundance and have always had a positive outcome.  We even make our older kids do at least one half day of ski school every time we go, just so they can brush up on their skills.

Playing in the snow...not everyone is having a good time
December 2010

The slopes are well taken care of, and there seems to be a few challenging slopes for even the most proficient skier.  I would definitely recommend Sundance to anyone.  www.sundanceresort.com  The resort also has some great restaurants, a small general store, and a gift shop.  This crazy trip to a house up in Sundance wasn't our first time staying in the area.  We have also rented other homes in the area that are managed by Sundance, and I think that those homes get the first priority to the snowplow before the homes that aren't. Either way I do realize that storm of 2010 was quite a doozy.  But looking back on it now I wouldn't have traded that experience for five full days of skiing.  It really turned out to be... that fun!

Leah and Lexi on one of our ski trips in
March 2006

As a recap however, I would definitely make sure that the owner of a cabin like this keeps a good stock of firewood.  When we arrived at the house I should have checked for emergency supplies like flashlights, and candles.  I also should have found out what the emergency plan was for snow fall this deep.  Just having the phone number of the snow plow would have made a big difference.  So that's my two cents on cabin rentals.  In the end the owner gave me a 50% discount for our hectic week and was very empathetic to our ordeal.
Safe and Happy Travels!