Grandma in town

Grandma treated us to a Broadway in NYC.  We are so very lucky!  

It's always a debate about whether to drive in or take the train.  There's traffic and tolls and parking with driving and then the train is more expensive, but maybe a little less stressful.  I somehow got on a wrong highway (cause there's only like 500 around there) and then after getting out of the Lincoln Tunnel I was in a lane that led me back to the tunnel and I couldn't get over because of cones.  It took me a full hour to go back through the tunnel and through the tunnel again.  It was very stressful, but we made it with seconds to spare before the show started.

I couldn't find a babysitter for Lily so we ended up taking her with us.  I was a little nervous that she would make noises and bother people, but she did fabulous.  And the show was a hit, we all loved it and it was fun to hear all their favorite parts and lines afterwards.

 We also spent a day at the Liberty Science Center.  Rachel had been there before on a field trip so she loved telling Tommy about all the cool things.  Does it get any cuter than this?

I like his style of rock climbing

This rubik cube event was going on inside and it was fascinating to watch hundreds of hands going a million miles an hour and how fast they could solve these things

 Walking the beam with no fear

 Ah Jake, he's such a fun dad

 Good job Lily

 I know what they're thinking, "The sun is in my eyes...do you have to take another picture..."  But what a great view!

With Grandma in town we also went to the pool and we hoped to go to the beach but the weather was very cool for end of July (which my mom was really loving).  We celebrated her birthday while she was here and the kids really enjoyed that.  And we had to take advantage of a night out with a free babysitter.  So Jake and I spent a lovely evening downtown.

Upstate NY

When I asked the kids at the beginning of summer what they wanted to do.  High on their list was visiting our friend's farm in upstate New York.  It was such a highlight of our last summer and they really wanted to do it again.  What a great weekend it was!  Very relaxing and yet we were never bored.

Picking raspberries in the backyard.  I would be surprised if there were any left.  Rachel is crazy about them.

New this year was their RTV.  We took lots of rides through the orchards.  It was so scenic and SO beautiful!  The kids LOVED it!!!

Throwing rocks in the lake...never gets old

Watching the cherry picking machines do their thing...very cool!

We still had to pick some by hand though

Sweet cherry season was over, so we picked sour cherries...they made great pies!!

Lots of water fights

Playing school

Very cheap, very big, and very delicious ice cream

Painting rocks...acrylic paints and this girl aren't the best combination.  But she is very creative and she enjoyed it.

Sodas Point.  The kids love swimming in the non-salty lake water

Emily made us a cherry pie

and a blueberry pie!  Oh my she spoiled us!!  They were amazing

Jake's best friend Nathan.  We were trying to think how long it's been since they've seen each other.  I think we figured it to be 10 years.  We played lots of the ladder ball game, and one time it got stuck in the tree.  The tent back there also reminds me that Jake and the kids slept out there one night, I can't remember exactly how it went, but it only lasted one night :)

A hike along the bluffs

Slip-n-slide...The kids did this for hours.  There was a good competition going between Jake and Nathan for who could have the best slide and roll.  Nathan's Korean dinner roll was the winner.

Lighting paper lanterns in the sky

So fun!!

And s'mores!

Few people can make Jake laugh to tears.  Nathan is one of them.  The kids have never seen it and it was hard for them to understand why he was crying.  It was hard for me to understand too, cause it was all in French.

Lots of great memories and good company...we'll probably do it again next year.