Well, more accurately, Staten Island.
Shawn had to work in Staten Island last week (not trying to be mean, but literally one of the dirtiest places I have EVER been! YUCK!) and since it's supposed to only be 5 1/2 hours away I decided to join him for a few days. He flew out on Monday and the girls and I woke up early on Wednesday Morning to drive ourselves over. It took us 8 hours to get there with all the potty breaks and traffic (no accidents for Piper! Woo hoo!), and then on Saturday we all drove home together and it took us almost another 8 hours to get home. New England/ New York traffic is nuts. Seriously. I hate it.
Anyway, on Thursday I ventured into the city (NYC) alone with the girls. We drove to the Staten Island Ferry (getting on and off with 2 girls and a heavy stroller was actually a nightmare) but the ferry ride is free and the girls LOVED it! It's about a 25 minute boat ride to NYC and you pass right by the Statue of Liberty and see the beautiful NYC Skyline as you come in. It's pretty cool. I walked around the city with the girls all day just sightseeing and such. We had to duck into some narrow cafes to go potty. We had to hail cabs. We had to weave in and out of millions of pedestrians. The girls had to plug their noses more than once at the smells we'd sometimes come across, and plug their ears at the loud construction. But all in all, it was a really fun day. I love NYC. I really do.
We found a cute playground with sprinklers and a big sand pit and stopped to eat lunch there and play. Being in the city, the playground is all gated up so that was kind of crazy. You see and hear traffic and horns blaring the whole time you play but it was worth the experience. Of course, I've been to NYC plenty of times (the last time being when I conceived this current baby in my belly) but we haven't taken the girls in 2 years and let me tell you- IT IS EXHAUSTING! Especially alone. I am much more accustomed to the simple life when it comes to kids. Every muscle on my body was screaming at me at the end of the day. I was dead tired. I didn't even make it to 9pm that night before I passed out. The girls are each 35 pounds and that stroller is really heavy too- not to mention my purse, which, if you've ever picked that up is probably another 30 15 pounds. And me being extra tired because I'm pregnant plus pushing 80+ pounds in extremely humid 90 degree weather was tougher than I anticipated. I planned on spending 2 full days in the city with the girls but there was no way I could do it again when I woke up on Friday. I slept 10 hours the night before and still woke up feeling utterly exhausted. I just can't do things as easily when I'm pregnant. I've never had the luxury of being an energetic pregnant woman. So we went to Staten Island's South Beach instead to play in the Ocean and a park nearby. Later that night we went to Coney Island with Shawn and he was able to eat at the original Nathan's (where they do the hot-dog eating contest each year). He's always wanted to go to Coney Island and eat there so he was really excited. Coney island looks pretty much like every other big boardwalk. It has lots of rides and lots of beach shops. Also lots of restaurants. It is a fun place and I'm glad we got to go!
Looking at "The Green Statue"
Another item worth mentioning is Lucy was lucky enough to attend a Kid's Kamp a couple weeks ago. Our community puts together a 5 day Kids Kamp annually for kids 4-10 for 2 hours each night. There was lots of dancing, playing, crafts, and snacks and she'd come home tired but so excited to tell me all about about "her foxes." (The group she was in was called the Foxes). It was my first time dropping her off somewhere other than just a family thing where I didn't stay in the same building as her. It was kind of a big deal for me, even though it probably sounds silly to everyone else....Anyway, she had so much fun and is BEGGING me to let her go to school now. She got a taste of independence and wants more of it! We think we may have found a preschool for her but we're trying to figure out if she can start a month late since September is so busy for her and she will be gone for 2 1/2 weeks in Boise. We will see. I hope it works out. That girl is a little social butterfly and I know she'd be in heaven in preschool!
Also this month we set the tent up in the backyard so that the girls could sleep in it. We made it feel like real camping with 'smores and a campfire and such first. It was fun :) I lasted half the night on the air mattress with Shawn before my hips were burning and begging for my soft mattress inside so I trucked it upstairs to sleep by myself. Hey- at least I tried! (If you don't know, I have MAJOR hip problems when I'm pregnant....fun stuff).
Finally, we went to the beach again 2 weeks ago and taught the girls how to boogie board. Piper didn't really get the hang of it. She tumbled beneath a few waves and was done. Lucy, on the other hand, LOVED it. Even I went a few times (gotta do it before my belly gets too big!).
And now? Woo. I'm tired.....
Good night world.
