New York Holiday

We have had a fantastic first few days here in New York (apart from spending a couple of extra hours in the airport looking for lost luggage... poor Micah. His bag still hasn't been returned, but should be sometime today!). It was Nathaniel's 3rd birthday on the day we arrived, but by the time we got to the house, the poor little guy was already in bed! We celebrated his birthday the next day at a fantastic kids place on Long Island, called Orly's Treehouse.

Little kids (and big ones too!) got to play with all sorts of fun toys and with a pirate and princess theme, making treasure boxes was a big hit. Even Micah joined in on the fun!

Pizza for lunch and yummy birthday cake finished off the afternoon...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NATHANIEL!

The next day little boys, Nathaniel & Gabriel needed a resting day at home, so Micah and I and his parents took the Long Island Rail Road into Manhattan for an afternoon of sight-seeing! We got into Penn Station... And walked down to Greenwich Village. Being the nostalgic tourist I am, I marvelled at some gorgeous buildings and enjoyed viewing the part of New York that is named after my home for the previous 2 years! I must admit though, I prefer the Greenwich in London over the Greenwich in NY!

We had soup and sandwiches at a great little cafe for lunch, and then took the subway back uptown.We got out at Central Park and though the sun was shining, it was a bitter cold 24 degree day, with the wind chill making it feel even colder.

Central Park is beautiful when covered in white though!

One can't go all the way to NY without wondering through Time Square...

And we just had to see Rockefeller Center and the Christmas decorations there!

The Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center... lovely music was playing and people were ice-skating below it!

Yesterday we braved Toys R Us and did a little Christmas shopping with Scott, Daphnie and the boys, then to wind down, we went to a fantastic garden center called, Hicks. It had a great Christmas display area...

And what would that be without Santa Claus waiting at the end, ready to listen to every Christmas wish!

It just so happens that this particular Santa has come a long way to sit and listen to children's Christmas wishes. No, he isn't actually from the North Pole. He is from Depot Bay, Oregon - over on the coast! Apparently he registers with a Santa company every year and this is his second "season" being Santa in New York!Lastly, we had to visit Dancer and Prancer, Santa's reindeer. Nathaniel was enamoured... he didn't want to leave them! They were pretty funny creatures. One was white and the other was brown. The white one (not sure if he was Dancer or Prancer!) had quite the itch and kept trying to show his his backside! Cheeky reindeer! We hope you are enjoying the holiday season as much as we are. Merry Christmas!