Santa

A full December calendar wasn't going to keep us away from seeing Santa.  The girls loved going to flight school, sitting on Santa's lap, and playing in the fake snow...I loved not having to sit on Santa's lap with them and seeing how cute they were giving Santa their wish lists.  Charley asked for a desk, stuff for Gabriella and a new iPod case.  Carter asked for gummies...just gummies.

Charley 6 Years 9 Months

iPhone pics last 3 months 

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving...the holiday that rarely features a picture of mommas...but this Momma is so thankful to have a table full of food and a beautiful family to share it with!

Surprise Weekend in NYC

According to Charley, our weekend in New York City was the "best surprise ever!"  Amma and I secretly planned for months to take Charley back to NYC in November.  We told her Friday morning when we woke her up super early that she was skipping school for a surprise trip, but we didn't tell her where until we got to the airport.  I actually told the lady at the Southwest counter to reveal the destination based on the fact that we were flying into LaGuardia.  Even at the crack of dawn, she was SO EXCITED to revisit her favorite place!!!

Charley has become quite the pro at traveling.  She watched a movie on her iPad, drank her Diet Coke, and even spotted the Statue of Liberty as we were flying into Manhattan.  We took an Uber to the hotel, and she quickly caught on to my love for getting to know the driver.  I typically start with the same questions "do you like driving for Uber?" "how long have you been driving for Uber?" "where are you from?", etc.  Before long, she was asking her own questions, and we never had a silent moment during the ride.  After checking in and layering up, we went to my favorite bagel shop,  Pick-A-Bagel" for a snack, and my mouth is still watering just thinking about that everything bagel with olive cream cheese.  We walked and shopped up through Columbus Circle to Century 21 and back towards Times Square.  We didn't want to turn in early, but our feet were exhausted and we were frozen, so we went to the movies in Times Square.  Unfortunately there really wasn't a kid-friendly movie playing, but I googled Daddy's Home 2 and a few bad words were the only concern.  Overall, she thought it was hysterical and anything inappropriate went right over her head.  When we got back to our hotel, she called Craig telling him all about our day.  I held my breath when she said she went to the movies, and when she said she saw Daddy's Home 2 he immediately said, "give the phone to your Mother!" hahaha

Saturday started with a subway ride to lower Manhattan to shop at the larger Century 21.  Charley was hilarious on the subway, and I was cracking up at all of her poses.  We didn't have as much shopping luck as we normally do, so we took the subway back up to Herald Square and had lunch at Smashburger.  We hit some shops along the streets, posed in front of the Empire State Building that was honoring veterans days with a red/white/blue top, and spent the rest of our night in Macy's.  We definitely "shopped until we dropped"...especially Amma.

We crashed after a full day of shopping and went to bed with great anticipation for sleeping in and going to the brand new American Girl Doll store that opened that weekend.  A little before 7:00 a.m., our sleeping plans were cut short when the fire alarm starting going off.  It took a bit to figure out what was happening.  Was the noise coming from outside?  Was it inside?  Who would pull a fire alarm this early?  And then we heard noise outside our door, and Amma went to check it out.  She was panic-stricken when she saw a smoke-filled hallway and said, "oh s***, there is smoke everywhere, we have to get out of here!"  Charley started bawling and didn't want to leave her doll, and I threw my shirt off and put on a sports bra before grabbing my coat, purse and glasses.  (I forgot to put on my wedding ring, but I couldn't stand the thought of being stranded in NYC without a bra...haha!"  Thankfully the stairs were right beside our door, because the smoke was super thick.  The stairwell was already full of people trying to evacuate the building.  Going down 32 flights of stairs with my shoes untied while holding Charley's hand surrounded by so many people made for such a surreal experience.  The stairs dumped us out on the street, and it was freezing cold.  Thankfully we had coats and shoes, because some people didn't.  We were allowed back in the hotel lobby, even though it was full of smoke.  Over 50 firefighters were making a plan of action to attack the fire that was found on the 4th floor in a banquet room.  Apparently it was an electrical fire near an elevator shaft, and the smoke had settled throughout the higher floors of the hotel.  I am so thankful the fire was manageable, and that no one was badly hurt.  We spent 3 hours in the hotel lobby huddled with a blanket before were were allowed back in our room.  

In the middle of the fire fiasco, my Southwest credit card was hacked and canceled.  We did some much needed retail therapy at the American Girl Doll store...curtesy of Daddy.  The new store featured a Create Your Own Doll station allowing girls to completely design their doll from head to toe...skin color, face shape, eye color, hair style, hair color, clothing style, back story and name.  Emma, who loves the city and dance, was designed and scheduled to arrive in Tennessee in 6-8 weeks.  

In preparation for the trip, I played a "which girl where" game with her a few weeks prior to see which girl she would take when traveling to different cities.  Mary Ellen was picked for NYC, so I made sure to have ME and all of her outfits and accessories packed and ready to go.  Mary Ellen stayed in the room on our first two days, but she did enjoy her visit to AG, Dylan's Candy Bar and to see School of Rock on Broadway.  The play was recommended for ages 8 and up and at age 6.5 Charley acts 16, so I decided we were good.  I had to tell her not to repeat a few words, but other than that, the show was fantastic and the kids actually played their rock band instruments.  I thought it would be helpful for Charley to see kids in a stage acting role a few weeks before Annie.

Charley posing with the "top of the Chrysler building" to send to Miss Angie.  (from Annie)

At the top of our "Must" list was eating at Ellen's Stardust Diner.  We tried every day, but there was a huge line every time we passed.  Monday morning was our last shot and perfect timing.  The Broadway themed diner featured aspiring actors and actresses awaiting their next big audition.  Each year, several of the staff make it on Broadway due to their exposure at Ellen's.  And if the entertainment and atmosphere aren't enough to impress, the milk shakes are the best!!!  It was the perfect ending to the perfect weekend with Amma and my big girl!