Rockefeller Center/Top of the Rock

     Time to head back to our NYC trip here on the blog. We headed out to Rockefeller Center for the Top of the Rock "attraction". We managed to navigate the subway a few stops away from our hotel then walked the remainder of the way.

 On the way there, we had some fantastic shots of the Empire State Building.

 SO many tall buildings everywhere!

 We also walked by Radio City Music Hall.

 The NBC sign Rainbow Room

 Rockefeller Center! No sign of a Christmas Tree yet, but I'm sure very soon there will be a big beauty standing here.

 The famous ice rink. I've heard this before, but the rink doesn't seem nearly as large or grand in person. I think it still must be a little magical to skate there at Christmas time with the tree and lights.

 The NBC news corner. Where the Today show takes place.

 The entrance to the building.

 We were heading up to the Top of the Rock. Destination- the 67th floor!

 Our immediate view once we left the elevator. The Empire State Building.

 Though we were clearly so high up, I never felt nervous or out of sorts being so high up. My theory is there are so many buildings that are also quite tall in close proximity that you don't get the same effect of distance from the top of the buildings.

 Since these photos get shrunk a bit here on the blog, not quite as impressive. However in the right side of the water area of the photo stands the Statue of Liberty.

 The New Years Crystal Ball. The white lights say 2012 with the ball sitting right above it.

 This window was a great spot for photos. Good thing John and I didn't remember to flip up the flash :/

 Outside a great view of the Empire State building and a kind person to take our photo together.

City shot where you can see the Chrysler Building sticking up toward the right side behind the MetLife building.

Up on a higher floor, 68th, we had a better view of the Chrysler Building.

 Central Park! It was gorgeous with all the fall colors, but the lack of sunshine made for some muted tones.

 Vic and John taking turns posing with Central Park in the background.

We then headed up to the highest observation deck, the 69th floor, and had some beautiful views and some serious winds.

 Central Park. My hair is a hot mess here- ha ha.

The Empire State Building framed between John and I.

It was wonderful seeing the city from that viewpoint and had a great time exploring the area. More NYC to come.

All in a Days Work

     We had a fun, yet busy as always weekend. Beautiful warm weather on Saturday allowed for lots of time outside. Pretty sure we mowed the lawn  for the last time this season- which meant JT was our big helper in mowing with his bubble mower and also playing with his cars and construction set in the dirt. He was one happy and dirty boy! Here are just a few photo highlights of our busy boy's day.

Cars, cars, cars! A part of everyday life here. JT will often line them up and sometimes like this, make some  unique configuration.

This boy just LOVES to get dirty and play in the dirt!

Nothing like a bike ride to wrap up the day.

JT had worked so hard that day that after a relaxing bath, JT fell asleep on the living room floor. 

All in a days work.

JT's Halloween Flashback

          Some of my  June Mom friends have been posting these colleges the past day or so of their sweet children over the past 4 years. I found out from one of my friends which site they were using because I just  had to make one for JT. The site if you are interested in is http://muzy.com/. Go check them out!

     He has grown so much in the past 4 Halloween's, that I thought it would be cute to get all the photos together. I'm sure the large majority of you have seen this photo on Facebook, which the site linked to, but I wanted to have it here for me to look back at easily. Enjoy seeing my baby boy growing up in a matter of 4 photos.

Halloween

     Halloween was a blast for 2012. The porch was decorated in the latest Pinterest style, our Jack O' Lanterns on the steps, a fog machine we scored last year in the after holiday sales, and some fantastic Pandora Halloween music greeted our trick or treaters. Several of the older kids even complimented how our house looked, which was sweet.

     JT, Courtney, and Lindsay were ready to walk the neighborhood and come back home with some sweets and treats. Each year, JT is getting more excited and understanding what this fun evening means. He decided early on that he wanted to be a dinosaur and there was no other choice as far as he was concerned. JT even hand selected which dino costume was "the one" when we browsed Amazon last month.  At last, it was time to put his best dino skills to use and go Trick or Treating!

 One of the rare shots of JT wearing his hat/head fully fastened. He had some major issues with it being strapped under his chin. JT simply did not like it one bit. He entertained me with a few photos though.

 JT the fierce dinosaur!

 I love his tail! JT would swish is back and forth. So adorable!

The other shot on my phone camera with the hat being fastened.

 Courtney and her friend Veronica were dressed up as skittles and Lindsay was a bag full of jellybeans.

 Photo time on the front porch. JT holding his tail and a little plastic pumpkin he got at the neighborhood party earlier in the day.

My trio ready to head out and have fun.

A few more Skittles came to join the fun. Courtney and her friends made these shirts to wear for their Halloween dress up day at their middle school. 

Me being temporarily clueless, I forgot to take a photo of the backs of the girls shirts. The best part of their shirts I think.

 Silly face shot.

 After going trick or treating, Lindsay now had to escape her costume. First she sat down and popped several of the balloons.

 Then she went wild and ripped apart her bag.

 Ah, much better!

JT went out for about half of the neighborhood. He was very happy with the treats he received. Though I must note a very sad thing. At a few of the houses the kids were offered a chocolate or non chocolate candy. JT said multiple times, "No chocolate, I want...(other offered candy)." Needless to say, JT's stash is safe from Mommy raiding it.

 Courtney and Lindsay had some huge amounts of candy to sort through.

 Both of the girls like organizing their candy into like groups. I guess to better visualize what exactly they have. They sometimes will trade if the other has more of their favorite candy.

 JT's favorite? Lollipops of course! They have been high on the list for over a year now and this was the first (and second) piece of candy he selected to eat after he got home.

A happy boy wearing dinosaur PJ's to end his fun evening of Trick or Treating.

Carving it up

     Going to take a brief break from the NYC fun. Halloween photos just can't wait to be shared!

     A few nights ago, we had our annual Pumpkin Carving evening. John and the kids had gone and selected some excellent pumpkins and we were all ready to have some fun.

 Courtney holding her perfectly round pumpkin.

 JT and Lindsay reviewing the templates for their design.

 John, the best Jack O' Lantern lid maker ever!

 The big reveal of the inside of JT's pumpkin.

 JT's reaction, "It's stinky!"

 JT scooped a bit, but declared it was "too hard".

John showed JT how he could pull the guts out of the pumpkin.

Love that I captured this shot!

Still super stinky according to JT. With that note, he was done and just observed from the sideline.

 Both Lindsay and Courtney had pumpkins that had sprouts inside! Never seen that before.

 Lindsay and Courtney worked hard to get the insides out.

 Time to put on the stencils and make some Jack O' Lantern artwork.

Courtney finished up first and snapped some of us working on our designs.

Our finished pumpkins!

Courtney used the most difficult template. It is a Graveyard scene with a Tombstones and 2 trees curving along the sides.

Lindsay made a giant eye. JT kept arguing the point that this wasn't an eye but in fact a duck.

I chose to make an owl.

John was voted best with his Dracula pumpkin. JT helped selecting this template- he wanted an "angry face". I guess that equals spooky Halloween.