Kim and Jack loading up to head to Pier 88.
Mandalyn and Maggie became pretty good buddies.
Dad and his three girls
My buddy and Me
Dad and his grand kids
Looking back at the Empire State Building
The Intrepid which is now a Sea, Air and Space Museum located at Pier 88. Check it out.
This is the water taxi we took to see some sites on the way to the National Memorial.
Not a great picture... but see that yacht? There's a really cool story that we heard about it. Wish I could remember it. Short term memory loss is the pits!
This part gave me chills. This very area... right there where the sun is shining down from above is where Captain "Sully" Sullenberger miraculously landed US Airways Flight 1549. Three minutes after taking off from NYC's LaGuardia airport a flock of birds flew into the plane's engine resulting in a total loss of power. 155 people were on board the flight. Somehow, someway... Capt. Sully landed the plane in a way that kept it afloat until help could arrive. From this picture it seems God's grace is still shining bright on the location of "The Miracle on the Hudson". The BBC did an amazing five part series on this story. To watch it, click here. Glory to God.
Empire State Building
Dynamic Duo on the water taxi
Golf driving range
This picture just makes me so happy these two have each other to share life with.
My big boy contemplating his view.
Sidebar: When we were landing in NYC, I looked out the plane window and said, "Hey buddy, there's New York." To which he replied, "Let's hear it for New York, New York, New York" in his best Jay-Z voice. Thanks Hubs for the hip hop education.
The new World Trade Center Tower under construction.
This is the only shot we got of the Statue of Liberty. Maggie was so excited, she grabbed my camera and snapped this one. Glad she did too, because we didn't get back on the taxi for the Statue of Liberty part. I love that it's right at her eye level, guardrail and all. She is super, duper, duper proud of herself for taking this picture. My little budding photographer/journalist.
We jumped off the boat and into Battery Park near Wall Street and to grab some dirty water hot dogs before heading to the memorial.
I remember being in New York to cover the Republican National Convention back in 2004. It was the year George W. Bush was up against John Kerry. It was also shortly after the 9/11 attacks. Spenver was still a little guy. Matthew and I were both working for News 9 and we were lucky enough to get to go together. Him as photographer, me as field producer. We were so busy covering this event and doing live shots for multiple stations and multiple shows with our crew, we didn't get to do much site seeing. But we did make it to Battery Park. I remember like it was yesterday how much this piece of art touched me. The reason why should be explained in the picture below.
For me, it was still as powerful to see as it was the first time. This time however, I had all four of the most precious people in my world right there with me. It made me once again realize the devastation that took place and appreciate all I have been blessed with in life.
I wanted to make sure I got a picture of the kids in front of it this time around. They don't yet know how meaningful it is, and how lucky we are to be Americans, but one day I hope they do.
It's a big world out there for this guy, but I have no doubt he's going places... big places.
Mr. Man chasing the birds.
Mr. Man using his lightening fast two-year-old legs to run to Daddy.
Spencer with some old piece of military equipment, cannon maybe? He was in love. He (8-years-old) also asked many, many times during this trip about the 9/11 attacks. Since we knew we were taking this trip, we let him watch some of the 9/11 anniversary stories on television. At that time Matthew and I did our best to explain the how's and the way's of the terrorist plot. We answered his questions as best we could... but jeez 'o flip, that was and continues to be a hard job. While we were at Battery Park we took the time to once again explain to him and the other kids how special the place that we were about to go visit was, and how we needed to be respectful and be on our best behavior.
This is one of the new World Trade Center towers. It's massive and as you can see, still under construction.
Sign at the beginning of the walk to get to the memorial.
Dad probably telling Spencer how his Dad (my grand father) used to work at the south tower. For years he lived in Long Island and took the train in everyday to work for the US Department of Customs and Border Protection. Grandpa used to approve the importation of sporting goods equipment into the country. Dad said he always had cool sports stuff because of the samples Grandpa McDonough used to bring home.
Maggie looking at the names of those killed in the south tower.
Photo of the south tower memorial. It's a huge, never ending waterfall, the exact size of and in the exact spot where the tower once stood.
South tower
This is a view from the North Tower Memorial looking back at the south tower. The grounds are very well put together... lots of benches, trees and people. It has a much different feel than the OKC Bombing Memorial. Both are equally amazing.
Proof for the little guy, he was there.
After the memorial, Dad asked the kids if they wanted to take the taxi back to the hotel or take the Subway. You can see what they chose. It was quite a fete getting 18 people and a jogging stroller through the subway turnstile... but after some cussing (that is people cussing at us) we did it. Those things M-O-V-E, by the way. Get on quick and get off quicker or you will end up in New Jersey in no time! Spencer was hilarious. He never took his eyes away from looking out the window. Every time he saw graffiti, he'd yell, "Man these New Yorkers are not very nice. Look at all that vandalism... gross!" Poor, sheltered child.
After a little break, we hit up Carnegie Deli for some pretty good food. I made Matthew stand in front of this giant pickle because at this point in the day, I was beyond tired and pretty much anything could make me giggle, including Ted and the giant pickle.
Sidebar: we sat at a table directly below a signed photograph of none other than The King, Barry Switzer. A little piece of home!
After grubbing we hit the streets again, posing for pics at Radio City Music Hall...
...and at Rockefeller Plaza. We missed the Christmas Tree lighting by three days. Darn the luck!
My sister's Kim and Katie took to the famous ice shortly after this zamboni did. Matthew, the kids and I had to take off for the hotel. Evan was DONE, actually - he was overdone, and then some. So we hiked it back to the hotel and called it a night. And now, I'm gonna do the same thing again. Look for more tomorrow if you want to. zzzzzz....
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