Griffin Updates: NYC or Bust!!

On Friday morning we played hooky from school and hit the road for New York City! One of my best friends in college had organized a group of family and friends, dubbed Team Mopsy in honor of her mother, for the 9th time to participate in the annual Parkinson's Unity Walk in Central Park. Having not been able to make it for the past few years, I was so excited to do it again and bring the whole family this time. The drive up and back went so smoothly and the girls were such angels. If all road trips are this easy, Aron might get his wish for a x-country family road trip one day! Not likely...

Heading towards our final destination, we excitedly tried to point out the impressive skyline to Hadley. In Washington, D.C., buildings can't be taller than the Washington Monument, so this would be her first real exposure to sky scrapers!

She wasn't feeling our excitement.

All settled into our hotel, we set out to pound some pavement. First stop was to buy 2 rock hard "soft" pretzels. So gross, but Harper ate hers, naturally.

Quick side stop to check out Rockefeller Plaza

And before going into FAO, we had to take a picture in front of the cool Apple store entrance.

Off to explore every kid's favorite toy store. I'm pretty sure every kid was actually there at the same time.

Doing her best to knock into every display possible

Showing the leopard some love

$200 for another Ariel doll. Not a chance, Hadley.

There was no question about whether we'd stop to tickle the ivories on this iconic piano.

My 2 little peanuts barely weighed enough to make the keys light up.

I did not have that same problem.

Proving that she does NOT eat everything, she adamantly declined to try one of my mussels at dinner.

Her loss.

Way past her bedtime, but no one is telling her.

Nor is anyone telling Mommy that she has food in her teeth.

Nice.

And the delirious shenanigans begin.

And continue until we roll ourselves out of the restaurant and head back to the hotel.

Harper was more than happy to strip down and get in her pj's...

...but there was one thing Hadley just had to do first.

Earlier in the day we stopped by the American Girl store to pick up Hadley's birthday present. Yes, I realize her birthday isn't until November. No honey, we will not be keeping it from her until then, because that's just mean. But I WILL be reminding her that it's her one and only birthday present from us...daily :)

"Um, so where's my doll?"

Stealing hugs from Hadley's American Girl doll will have to do for now (i.e. the next 4 years).

Bright and early on Saturday morning we headed up the street to the Empire State Building! This was the first time there for all 4 of us. Hadley, who is very afraid of heights, did a great job, although she had a hard time grasping the fact that everywhere she could see was still NYC.

It was quite windy all the way up there!

In the "taxi crab" on our way to meet up with Team Mopsy at Central Park

Such a fun mini KKG reunion with my Dickinson girls

Daddy pulling double duty for a photo opp

The big finish!

Next stop: Dylan's Candy Bar!

Next to the American Girl store, this was definitely the highlight of the trip for the girls.

Up the super cool, or terrifying if you ask Hadley her opinion, candy staircase to the cafe.

Harper made a beeline for the glass case of baked goods at the top of the stairs...completely missing the GIANT gum ball machine.

Yeah, that one.

Gum ball table and a giant milkshake. It's good to be Hadley.

We should have gotten 2 milkshakes.

Candy time!

Harper just barely dodged her first public temper tantrum when we would not agree to buy the Jolly Rancher "bye bye bag."

Oh sweet heaven.

And the rice krispie version for Harper and Daddy

With windburned cheeks, bellies full of pizza, and bags full of candy, we slowly made our way back to the hotel, shopping along the way, before heading home.