Cutting down our Christmas Tree

So today was the bid day to cut down our Christmas tree!! We went to the Jones Family Farm in Connecticut (about an hour drive from Rye) and it was awesome. Before we left Denver, I got the December issue of Country Living, and this tree farm was one of the feature articles. Perfect!! I already knew where we were going to to get our tree!!

We've been cutting down our tree for the past few years in Denver, and we've been used to having the Charlie Brown-esque type trees. So our beautiful, full Colorado Blue Spruce from the tree farm is taking a little getting used to, but it is beautiful!!

So if you are ever in southern Connecticut around Christmas and you want to cut down your tree, check out the Jones Farm! They even put your tree through a bailer and it comes out all wrapped up in twine....super cool. Then you can check out their barns and winery. Even more cool.

Daddy's little helper. Unfortunately the saw we brought with us didn't do the job. Our tree saw is in storage in Denver. So after a trip to Home Depot and $20 later, we got the job done.

Moving according to kids

Wouldn't it be great to have no worries just like kids? While I'm running around the house doing some final unpacking, list making, and getting my exercise going up and down my 3 flights of stairs. I left the kids in the front room to play with a couple boxes while I ran upstairs for a minute. I came down and found this...

I think I'll be vacuuming these pieces up for days!!!

Grand Central Station

I LOVE Grand Central Station. If you ever get to NYC, you have to just go and sit. And watch.

Jasmine has been found!!!

By the way, we have been looking EVERYWHERE for Jasmine. She is the last princess we've been searching for!! We finally found here. Where? The Disney Store of course on 5th Avenue. I think I may have been more excited than Ava.....

First Trip into the City

Today was a big day. First, we all bundled up and got on the train in Rye for our 45 minute train ride into the City. The kids were super excited to ride. Our fellow train riders probably got tired of hearing..."we're going to New York City!!"

Once we got to Grand Central, it was only a 25 block walk to Redeemer Presbyterian Church on the upper east side. It was SOOO cold, and Tyson would not keep his gloves on. Argh. The church service was great, but no kids in the sanctuary, so we were in a room in the basement with a giant screen of the upstairs service. There were lots of other kids there, so the kids were occupied.

After church was the BIG event for us. The "New York City zoo".... as Ava calls it. The Central Park Zoo. We even bought a membership! Now please know that I think the zoo is great, but the kids were most excited to go because we've been watching Madagascar. I know Hollywood doesn't always get things super accurate, but the Central Park Zoo doesn't have a lion, hippo, giraffe, or a zebra. Whassup???!!!!!

We had a great time despite the lack of animals we were expecting. We definitely be back! I think the favorite animal of the day was definitely the polar bear.

There is a children's zoo next to Central Park Zoo which was amazing. It was a cross between a petting zoo and a butterfly pavilion. Love it!! Ths kids even got to feed the goats.

This goat had some serious skill. At one point, I thought he was going to jump over th fence for some munchies!

This is one of my favorite pictures of the day. This was inside the butterfly part of the children's zoo. They had these cement lilly pads going over a little stream. After I took this photo, I had to run and help Tyson across. I realized it was a disaster waiting to happen.

Christmas in November

So when you've been without your stuff for two months, it is like Christmas when the movers finally bring all your stuff! I don't know who was more excited...me or the kids. The past two months have been great living at my parent's house, but I certainly missed my things. The kids have had an absolute blast seeing all their toys again...especially because they have their own playroom. A playroom I think is a must in our future houses. It keeps their rooms so neat!!

So most everything is unpacked, and rooms are functional, but there is still a lot to do. We get to go to IKEA and shop shop shop!

My first mail in NY!

So we've only been here less than 12 hours, and I already have my first piece of mail. Isn't family wonderful?? Thank you Joanne ! It was a welcome to your new home card, and it has a place of honor on my hallway mirror. I'm sure it will stay there for quite a while.

PS. Mail here comes about 10am, so you have to be quick to catch our mailman.

See you later Colorado!

So today was the big day. The flight to NY. Wow, this day has been coming for a long time, and for so long it seemed so far away. Not anymore.

So it took two cars to get us to DIA, and a couple luggage handlers once we got there. We had the four of us, our 50lb dog, golf clubs, two (very large) car seats, a double stroller and 4 suitcases. Lets just say we tipped our luggage guys VERY well.

It was a sad parting, but knowing we'll be coming home someday helped....not to mention that the grandmas are coming to visit in 4 weeks. :) And yes, the picture is of our mothers. Aren't they cute??!!! I'm sure they are sad that we, their children, are moving, but I imagine a number of the tears are for the grandchildren.