Governor's Island

The day before the 4th of July we skipped downtown in search of flags and a ferry to Governor's Island. We're moving back west at the end of the Summer and I've got myself a little bucket list begging to be accomplished. I've heard for years that Governor's Island was a win and after spending a full and fabulous day adventuring around the place I would have to agree (and also wonder what's taken me so long to get there). There were no less than ten times during this trip that I turned to James and said, "Seriously? This is my new favorite place in NYC!" It's that perfect, promise.  

After a short ferry ride we found ourselves in line to get free bike rentals so that island adventuring could begin. There are bike trails around the whole island and Talmage was in ride-really-fast wonderland. This boy loves the city but really he loves space to be a crazy little boy.

Daddy took shift one with T and I took shift one with these two. Everett blew bubbles and generally entertained our little buck-tooth Quinn the whole time. I won the jackpot with that Quinny-baby. She got all her screams out the first six months of her life and since has pretty much been the best {busy} human being who ever existed. I love her!

I took round two with T, and of course took pictures! I haven't ridden a bike since I was serving a mission in Taiwan and it felt so empowering to be back in the saddle. Not to mention those views! And no one screaming at T for riding too fast (I'm looking at you Central Park)! I could have biked those trails for hours.   

Ice cream and free mini golf were next on our to-do list. The mini-golf course was eclectic and hilarious and pretty much impossible to play, but that didn't stop my littles from hitting the ball over and over and over again. Quinn wants to do anything the boys are doing, but this time she settled for climbing into stranger's strollers in search of snacks.

Since Ever Knight and Miss Quinn were too little for bike riding we decided to rent a Surrey and show them the sights. This was the funnest thing ever, especially since the kids were in giggle-heaven. It made me think that having a car is going to be so much fun because I legitimately like us squished together in a tiny space.

Quinny in the duck helmet though? I would seriously have paid 20 times what I did for a Surrey ride just to get a picture of that baby in that helmet. Dream boat, that one! Such a happy little dream boat!

Oh yes, and lest you think I didn't get five million pictures of all five of us on that bad boy, scroll on my friend:

The five Wigs with the city we all love (me most of all, let's be real honest!) I'm sure I'll fill this blog with sappy words soon, but for now let it be known that you have my heart NYC.

Ever has made a habit of falling asleep in random spots and at random times lately, but T hasn't done this in years. We really wore them out and seriously had the very best time!

Motab @ Carnegie Hall

When we first found out that the Mormon Tabernacle Choir would be performing a concert at Carnegie Hall James told me he absolutely did not want tickets. "Why pay to watch something I can see for free in Utah?" he said. So, I didn't buy the tickets in my shopping cart online. Now fast forward nearly six months to the week of the concert when the MoTab buzz is strong in our circle of friends and James said, "I really wish we could go see MoTab, do you think we can get tickets?" I resisted the urge to scream and reminded him what he had told me and we both let out a bummed sigh. And then the Ensign-worthy miracle happened! The day of the concert I got a text from a good friend who is currently calling Texas home saying that her Dad sings in the choir and had free tickets to that night's show. What, what! I quickly secured a sitter and I quickly told James the good news and we quickly ran over to one of the greatest concert halls in the world to see our people perform.

If I felt like I was a part of history that night it's probably because I was. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir has only performed in New York City eight times and the last time they sang in Carnegie Hall was nearly 40 years ago. Who knows when they'll be here next or if they ever will sing here again. They sang beautifully and I especially loved when they sang the pioneer hymn, All is Well. MoTab can do no wrong but they certainly shine when singing the hymns of Zion.

Dark pictures of us with that beautiful choir in the background. Our luck in being present at this concert was not lost on us. We are truly blessed. Thanks Diana for having such a great dad with a great voice (oh yeah, and for thinking about us when he offered the tickets!)

Coney Island on the 1st day of summer break

Talmage really wanted to go to Coney Island on his last day of school but since Daddy had to work we decided to go on Saturday when we could go together and have a family day. We had such a great time. The last time we were here I was pregnant with Ever and T had just turned two (pictures here) and it was so fun to be here again 4 1/2 years later, with three kids in tow. Talmage loved it just as much as he did when he was two, except this time I talked him into going on an upside-down roller coaster with me. I must admit, babies are cute and cuddly but it's kinda fun when kids can play with you too! Here are a few pictures from our day:

Quinny-girl is as fun as any ride and as sweet as cotton candy. She's such a good girl and was just happy as can be watching her brothers skip from ride to game to ride!

One more of this little lady because look at her teeth! Her first tooth was the top right (that came in the same day T lost his top right tooth), the second was her bottom left, the third was her top left and I think her bottom right is trying to break through. What a funny and adorable little mouth!

The boys on their first rollercoaster. They were so brave and loved it, though neither were quite sure if they ever wanted to go on it again!

They love the swings and I think they're the scariest ride in the world! These were Ev's fav by far!

Quinny and Daddy just hanging out together. He loves that baby like I've never seen him love a baby before--this daddy/daughter thing is legit!

They weren't big enough to drive their own race cars but this pretend one sufficed. Luckily!

We're trying to set a record for riding every Carousel that ever existed, I think we're getting close.

Nathan's original hot dogs: the greatest over-priced hot dogs you'll ever eat. (But just in case you want to know my opinion, Gray Papaya wins for sure.)

The kind lady behind the counter split one order of cotton candy onto two sticks and I wanted to call her supervisor and sing her praises. Those boys LOVED having their own treat!

Me and my sweet baby girl!

The girl Wigs standing in front of the game where the boy Wigs each won a minion with their fine water-shooting abilities. 

The day was cold and breezy but I turned my head for a second and the boys were sitting in the ocean! They said the water was really warm but I was not about to test it myself! They had so much fun chasing waves and building castles.

A re-creation of a picture I took of this boy 4 1/2 years ago. Where has the time gone?

James loves him some funnel cake, which the kids called sugary french fries!

"Dat was so scawy. Dat was so scawy. Mom, do you see dat wide? It was weawy fun to do dat tummy fing but it was stiw weawy scawy!" said Everett when he saw this picture!

Ever fell asleep on the subway ride home, something we all wished we could have done. What a great first day of summer and great indication of the fun to come!

Silent Disco

What started as a simple Magnolia cupcake celebration for a friend's birthday quickly and surprisingly turned into silent disco clubbing at Lincoln Center. To say this was fun is the understatement of my life. This night has most definitely made the top five for my favorite ever NYC experiences! Basically this is how it works: they give you headphones that have switches for three different stations (red, blue and green) that link you up with three DJ's spinning music live on the stage and you can switch between them as you wish. You dance around hearing the music loud and crazy but when you take off your headphones it's completely silent and everyone is dancing to nothing. It is hilarious and was so much fun. It has been far too long since I've been dancing and it was so nice to just let go. There also may have been a train at some point during the night, just sayin'!

Another picture of my fun friends (and one husband for good measure!) 

I was wearing a hot orange shirt and whenever the black light came on I was literally glowing in the dark. It was absolutely hilarious! I would LOVE to do this again soon.

Seinfeld!!!

When I was a little girl my Noni and Grampa lived with us for a little under a year after their Sacramento house sold and before their Washington home was completed. I have so many vivid memories from that time in my childhood so I know it must've been just as wonderful as I remember. Four-to-a-room sibling sleepovers (AKA--four little bodies in an even smaller room so that N&G could have the other bedroom in the house) and a surprise disneyland trip and my personal dinner date with Grampa at Red Lobster and Noni talking my Mom into letting me shave my legs are just a few of the memories bouncing around my brain. But what I remember most from this era is that every night after dinner Grampa would request a big bowl of ice cream (his favorite at the time was Rocky Road--is it still?) and he'd sit in the family room and watch an episode of Seinfeld. We'd all watch it with him and I think I loved it, but what I remember now more than anything is being thrilled that Grampa loved it so much. He'd eat his ice cream and laugh deep from his belly and my little body would just want to burst knowing that this show and that ice cream and our house were bringing him so much joy. I can't think of Seinfeld without thinking of him.

Anyway, that's a really loooonnnnggg explanation of why when I heard that Hulu was releasing all the seasons of Seinfeld on their streaming site and were doing a promotional event in Chelsea where they were allowing fans to tour an exact replica of Jerry's apartment I knew I had to be there! This all went down on T's last week of school so things were quite crazy around here, but I saw the apartment and met the Soup Nazi and made the WSJ while I was at it! Not bad for a morning adventure, right?

I was seriously considering wearing an 80's dress and big hair that would've made Elaine jealous, but then I remembered school pick-up right after and decided in this case that boring was better. Jerry's kitchen was just as I remembered it being!

How many kids can you fit on Jerry's couch? Well, let's see. Almost a million! They were nice enough to clear the place out before letting us in--we didn't bug anyone else and we had full use of the sofa, win-win.

Ever Knight, you can always count on him to smile for a picture!

Pretending to do some stand-up after touring the apartment. Everett thinks he's pretty funny, Quinny's silly sounds are impressive and my stage fright behind a mic is impressive.

Everett had no idea why I bribed him to pose on this chaise, but George Castanza would've been proud! (He'd have been more proud had Ev taken his shirt off, but I couldn't get him to do it! Yes, I tried!)

"No soup for you! Well, Except Quinny...you can have all the soup you want!" Meeting the Soup Nazi was the most unexpected and greatest part of our adventure. #favoriteepisode

Heaven forbid we end an adventure without a treat. This time it was Banh Mi sammy's at Chelsea Market and then mini black and whites at Empire Cake. Oh, and of course a box of Junior Mints for good measure ;)