New York and the Rest of November

I'm procrastinating on the Christmas post. So. Many. Pictures to go through.

So you get the rest of November instead. The rest of November brought rain...

and earthworm hunts,

 a good dose of mud...

and puddle stomping (in no clothes of course. It's how these boys do things).

It brought puppy snuggles... 

...a family photo...

...and plenty of this goofy grin!

And November brought a kid-free trip to New York. Such fun!

It was freezing in New York while we were there and windy! I don't think I've ever been that cold in my life, but it was way more fun to walk and see than it was to drive. So freeze, I did. :)

...and so did Nathan. It was one of the few times I've ever heard him say he was cold.

While we were there, Nathan and I and his parents went to see the 9/11 museum. I had tried to prep myself for what I would see as best I could, but it was sobering to walk through the museum, to say the very least.

One World Trade Center.

One of the reflecting ponds that sit on the two sites where the twin towers used to be.

They are surrounded by the names of those who lost their lives and it was staggering to see names covering the entire memorial, all the way around, on both ponds.

The museum is filled with pieces of the towers and everyday items from the people that were inside (shoes, credit cards, etc.). So everyday, and yet so, so sobering. It's not as if we don't know this, but so much loss of life.

On the other side of this wall was the Hudson River. They have since reinforced the wall, but it never gave in when the towers came down.

Survivor's stairwell.

A portion of the spire from the top of one of the towers.

It looks tiny in the picture when it was on the building.

A part from the motor in one of the tower elevators.

Much of the museum you are not allowed to photograph, which was nice to just be able to walk through and think. Although most of the museum was pretty heavy to go through, they did a great job honoring the resilience of New York and celebrating the lives that were lost, the lives that were saved, and the great things that have gone on since, and because of 9/11.

The rest of the trip was more lighthearted. Work, and a bit of sightseeing. Among my favorites:

Grand Central Station and its amazing painted ceiling.

FAO Shwartz and their "toy" soldier

Rockefeller Plaza partially decorated for Christmas

And of course, the Cronut Trip. 

What is a Cronut you may ask? Let me tell you...

Our last day in New York was a completely free day for me and Nathan, so we did what all sane Cronut loving (wait. What?? Am I a Cronut lover??) people do.  We got up bright and early (like really bright and early) and went and joined the rest of the crazies in line for a Cronut at Dominique Ansel's bakery....the very place where the Cronut originated. 

If you don't know what a Cronut is, not to worry, neither did I (the horror, I know). It's essentially a glorified donut. Part donut, part croissant, and filled with the tiniest bit of tasty filling. I don't think we would have ever gone to get one, except that my sister Christi had asked us each and every morning of every day of our trip if we had gone to get one yet.  It wasn't until the last day there that we realized his bakery was only a short walk from our hotel. How could we not go??

Freezing was the theme of this trip, so it came as no surprise that it was pretty chilly standing outside at 7am as well. 

Fortunately, it wasn't windy...and they serve you hot Madelines while you endure the freezing cold! Winning!

Our friends in the never ending line.

Eventually though, we got to go in....this lovely (nasty?) baguette said we were the last ones allowed through the door.

Inside though, just meant a warmer line. Not a Cronut. ...Yet. They let groups of fifteen in at a time, so once you've stood outside forever, you stand in another line inside forever. So ridiculous...and even more ridiculous that we took part in the crazy.

Cronuts!

There were plenty of other tasty creations there as well and, in fact, for anything other than a Cronut, you could walk straight up to the front and just order. There were two lines...one for Cronuts (out the door) and one for anything else. We were two of the dummies in the endless Cronut line. When in Rome, right??

Eventually, we got those lovely Cronuts.

Only one flavor per month...ours was Caribbean Rum Raisin. 

Not at all a flavor I would have ever chosen, but pretty tasty none the less.

On our last night in New York and after filling ourselves to the brim with Cronuts that morning, we went to see The Lion King on Broadway. Such a fun date night and a great way to end the trip!

Of course by the end of the trip, I missed these little faces a ton and was happy to come home to hugs, kisses, and plenty of free-willed snuggle time (a novelty in this house!).