As you read in the post before this one we took our first family vacation across the country to visit Jim’s family in NJ. The kids did great on the flights, they actually slept for 75% of all four flights. This is huge especially since Payton has been a non-napper since age two.
Our first morning we got an early start and this early start happened after a very late night. Brayden has slept exclusively in his crib since three months and sticks to a schedule. He was really thrown through a loop when there wasn’t a crib for him to sleep in and even more so when he was forced to cuddle with the three of us. Thank goodness that March Madness began because he finally fell asleep watching basketball as we streamed the SDSU game through our laptop.
We quickly got out the door and Miss Payton learned real quick that when mommy and daddy tell you it’s really cold out and that you should wear a jacket it truly means it. She reassured us that she was fine until we walked outside and that cold air whipped her in the face. We quickly found her bundled in her coat and her sweatshirt covering her head. We thought we could cheer her up with her first Dunkin’ Donuts experience but she stayed super chipper by hiding and eventually falling asleep as we drove to Grandmom and Grandpa’s house.
Our only plan for the day was to visit the Statue of Liberty. We, well, really meaning me, was not prepared for how cold it truly would be on Ellis Island. Thank goodness for my mother-in-law and her planning because she had gloves for all of us and hand warmers. It was really neat and even emotional taking the ferry over to Ellis Island. I imagined what it was like for my great-grandparents as they embarked from Norway. It was more emotional looking at the city from the distance where the twin towers used to stand. I have seen it numerous times but never from that angle where all you had was Manhattan as your skyline.
The kids had a great time, Payton wouldn’t listen to me at all which was irritating but I let it go. She held onto her Grandmom’s hand and engaged in conversations that I am sure they will both cherish.
Brayden was the only one really cooperating as I forced my camera in his face the entire day. I can’t blame Payton for ignoring me. It’s annoying.
When we finally got to the statue it was so darn windy and as we exited out onto the platform the wind scared the bajeezus out of the kids that they grabbed right onto daddy and nestled into his neck as we took the walk around. The rest of our time on the ground was spent chasing Payton around, her giving us sassy looks and testing my patience. When we left the New Jersey port (which, if you are ever considering going to the Statue of Liberty I recommend going this way vs. New York) we headed to lunch at one of the grandparents fav Tex-Mex restaurants. It was super yummy and nice because my sweet Payton reemerged. I guess she was just really hungry! Like mama, like daughter.
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| Our view from the platform. |
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| Brayden would throw the leaves and watch them whip in the wind. It was so fun doing this with him. |
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| She would not let me take a picture of her at all. Very unlike her because she loves posing. |
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| Daddy was explaining the skyline and what the freedom tower meant. |
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| cold. tired. hungry. |
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