Quick Jaunt up to New York

It's been spring break right now, so I have been drowning in children.  In addition to my five, we've got two extra boys in the house, and I suspect a couple neighborhood girls will be knocking on the door any minute now.  It's hectic and crazy and sometimes it makes me want to tear my hair out, but I also kind of like it.  At least, I like NOT getting up early to make lunches.  And I like seeing kids running around being kids.  And we don't have a whole lot scheduled, and I like that. 

So, yeah, spring break.

We haven't just been home for it-- the kids didn't have school the previous Friday, so we packed up and drove to New York Thursday evening.  I did all that myself (I'm getting good at that, actually) so we could pick Craig up from work and go.  This had two advantages: one, it forced Craig to actually leave work, something he's not super good at.  And two, it meant we didn't have to wait for him to drive home, since we would just be doubling back toward his school anyway.  We drove and drove and drove, stopping only once for a bathroom break.  I had packed sandwiches and snacks for everyone (I used an entire loaf of bread!!!!!) so we wouldn't have to stop for food.

Just as we were driving over the George Washington Bridge, the fuel light came on.  Oops.  Turns out you just can't make that drive on one tank of gas, even if you topped off at the Costco right by Craig's school.  So then we frantically found a gas station and filled up (again) ten minutes from Leah's house.  Oh, well.  We got there around 11pm, which was still really good time.

Friday we'd planned to take everyone into the city.  I figured that was the best day to do it-- the kids' cousin Eliot would be in school, so they wouldn't miss playing with him.  And hopefully things would be slightly less crowded than on Saturday.  (But it's New York City, so you just have to assume that everything will be crowded.)  Unfortunately, Friday turned out to be a day where it POURED rain all day, and it was about 40 degrees outside.  Lovely.

We got all ready anyway-- Tracy was there with us for a few hours, and Rachael was going to meet us at the Museum, so there was no going back, as far as I was concerned.  As we were packing up, Brian (my brother-in-law), spoke up, "I might regret this, but do you want to just leave Colton and Camille here with me?"

Say, what???

After the offer was on the table, I just couldn't say no.  The idea of only dealing with THREE kids (ages 6-10) and not needing the double stroller was too wonderful to refuse.  We hurriedly explained nap times and rushed out the door before Brian could change his mind.

We stopped at Levain Bakery first (and got a cookie for Brian, too!) and then headed to Rachael's apartment.  We were picking up Tracy, but my kids wanted to see Rachael's place, so Craig found a parking spot (!!!!!) and we went in and visited for a few minutes.  Then we drove to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

I love that place.  I mean-- it's kind of an awful maze, where there are too many doorways so you always feel like you're missing something.  But I still love it anyway.  I ran around squealing in delight at all my favorite paintings, giving little mini art history lessons to the kids and anyone who was within earshot.  I just love it.  I've said it before on this blog, but there is something so good for your soul to look at beautiful things.  And some of these paintings have become so familiar to me that they feel more like old friends that I get to pay a visit to.  It was a joy to see them all again.

Ryder immediately made himself at home on Rachael's bed.

Bentley liked this Nile Crocodile

Kendra, of course, liked the Sphinx

Notice Bentley walking like an Egyptian.  The Bangles would be so proud.  Don't look at my hair.  That's what the rain did to it-- I really do have the naturally straightest, lamest hair in the world...

We heart George Washington

We took this picture as an homage to the following pic from a few years ago....

Kendra's reaction to the following painting

I can't really blame her for that face...

A very battered print of this hangs in my living room-- it's so fun to see the actual painting!

Ryder showing that he's scared of the tiger

Me pointing out the hidden angels in Joan of Arc

About an hour and a half after the kids began whining, we finally headed out.  Into the pouring rain.  We walked to the Shake Shack and actually managed to get a table, where we devoured our burgers, fries, and concretes.  So good.  So so so good.  I'd wanted to swing by the MoMA, also, since it was free Friday afternoon there.  But the kids had had it, and it didn't seem worth it to fight the rain and the crowds just to make my kids even more miserable.  So instead, we walked in the rain back to where Craig had parked our van-- for only $70 a day!-- and drove back to Leah's, grateful that we weren't messing with trains and subways.  And extra grateful that we had only had to drag three belligerent children around, rather than five.  And a double stroller.

It was nice to get back to Leah & Brian's (where Colton and Camille had been having a splendid time playing with Theo) and change into some dry, warm pajamas. 

At the Shake Shack.  My kids are weird.

Craig also pulls weird faces.  So I guess we know where the kids got it from!

Nothing like a lightsaber and a bottle

The next two days we mostly just hung out with Leah and Brian and their kids, and Rachael and Ian and their baby, and my cousin Jan.  My old college roommate, Suvi, came Sunday morning and it was kind of amazing to see her again.  I think it had been fifteen years since we last saw each other?  So there was a lot of catching up to do! 

We also got to attend Eliot's piano recital, which was great.  And everyone took turns going out in the rowboat on their lake (Kendra LOVES the rowboat and went out every chance she got)...  It was just a really nice trip.  I'm so glad my kids have fun cousins to play with.  And I'm so glad I have awesome sisters to visit!

Kendra gets bundled up in Leah's vest and Brian's hat to go out on the boat in the cold

And again on a warmer day

Leah getting snacks for the boys

Camille gives a piggy back ride to Curious George

Jan, playing with Camille

I love it when my kids get their knees dirty.  I feel like I'm doing something right as a parent.

Eliot and Ryder, two peas in a pod

So many fun things in this basement!!!!

The return trip was easy breezy.  The kids were used to being in the car AND we figured out to put Bentley further away from Ryder, so that reduced the amount of whining by probably 70%.  We made one long stop for lunch (and gas!!!) in Delaware and other than that just plowed on home as fast as we could.  We had a couple narrow misses with DC traffic, so that was lucky.  It was good to be home!

An old toll booth on display in Delaware

Camille makes herself comfortable to travel

The kids are back in school tomorrow!  Maybe I'll finally clean my house!  Maybe...