Oh Christmas Tree!

On Sunday we went to the local tree lot and got our beautiful Christmas tree. We also took the opportunity to take some family pictures in front of the tree. Emma and Ian did a great job posing in front of the tree together



But when it was time for a family shot, they were a little less cooperative...


85 pictures later and we got an okay shot

and one more of Ian getting ready for his first Christmas

Where's Ian????

Ian is on the move, just not the direction he quite wants to go

Where's Ian????

Do you see him???

He started out playing beside Emma....backwards crawling anyone?

Christmas in New York City Part 2

On our last day in New York City, we got up early to try to get on TV! Emma and Dan succeeded in getting in the background of the Today show while Ian and I were not in quite the right spot. The panning camera stopped right before it got to us. I tried to get a few pictures of the anchors, but they weren't the best....

This is Ann Curry signing autographs

and this is the back of Al Roker talking to the star of "Chuck"
On the walk back to the hotel we saw some more cool decorations

After a quick morning nap for Ian, we headed out to Central Park to go to the small zoo they have

We made it just in time to see the sea lions being fed

They were quite the performers

We also saw this cute Mommy and Baby monkey. Emma kept asking where the big sister was....
The children's zoo had some fun places to play

After grabbing some lunch from the Boat House cafe in the park, we made one more stop before heading off to the airport...

FAO Schwartz Toy Store
One of the highlights was the "Big" piano form the movie "Big", Everyone got to play on it



The store also had a create your own muppet area...


We had a great trip and would recommend this time to visit to anyone....Not too crowded, not too cold, and lots to see

Fall Portrait Slideshow

Our fall portrait pictures are up! The website is : www.shannonmontez.com/McCloskey if you are interested in seeing them. It is going to be really hard to choose which ones we get because I like so many of them :)

Christmas in New York City Part 1

We are having a great time exploring New York City! The decorations are up and there is a feeling of Christmas in the air. We have been filling our days with lots of adventures, so much so, that Emma has come back to the hotel and taken naps both yesterday and today!
Yesterday, we started the day by going to the Statue of Liberty...

Emma on the boat ride to the Statue

SInce we were using the subway (with not a lot of elevators) we left the stroller behind and Ian rode in style

Our view of the statue form the boat
When we first started planning our trip, Dan got us tickets to walk up the top of the crown. Ian was not allowed to go, so we took turns climbing the 356 stairs to the crown of lady liberty

These are the final stairs to climb; a narrow spiral staircase in the form of a double helix

Emma and Dan climbed up first while I stayed with Ian

She made it!

Daddy and Emma with a view of New York in the background

After I came back down, we headed out to the observation area on the top of the pedestal

Emma and Dan pose after making back to solid ground
After lunch at the New York Google office, a little walking in the rain, and a good nap, we headed off to our evening entertainment.... The Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular Show

One of our favorite scenes was this one of the Rockettes as Toy Soldiers

Santa explained how he can be in more than one place at once by multiplying himself

Emma and Ian both enjoyed the show. Ian made it through the show, except for about five minutes where I took him for a walk

Part of the finale
After the show, we headed over to Rockefeller Center to see the Christmas Tree. It is up, but not being lit until tomorrow night


We ended the night with take put in our nice hotel suite overlooking time square
First thing on the agenda for today was a trip to Macys to visit the "real" Santa. Because I misread the opening time, we ended up being about 1/2 an hour early. This gave us time to check out the windows all decorated for Christmas

One window let you write a computer letter to Santa

Another Santa window

The walk through Santaland is amazing with lots to look at
We made it to Santa in record time (about 5 minutes) and although Ian did not smile, there were not tears either

After seeing Santa, we headed to lunch for one of our favorite New York treats at Serendipity III

Outside the restaurant

Waiting outside; aren't we excited!

Emma needed to get in on the excitement

Finally! The frozen Hot Chocolate!

Some of the decorations in the restaurant

Emma licking her straw clean to make sure we did not leave any
After lunch we walk back to our hotel through Central Park

The Plaza Hotel in the background
Where Emma and Dan got to go Ice Skating!


Emma was a little unsure on the ice and did not last very long, but she still had fun!
Dan is now at a taping of The Daily Show and Emma, Ian, and I went dinner at "Old McDonalds" as Emma calls it and then we walked to Toys'R'Us and rode the Big Ferris Wheel... No pictures of this... Juggling the kids and the camera on the streets of New York City by myself seemed a little too crazy.
We leave tomorrow evening to head back home but I am sure we will pack a little more into our trip before we head out.