Christmas in New York City!

December 27, 2008

This year GrandMom and Pops Riecks came to New York City to spend Christmas with me. It was a lot of fun showing them around the city and doing all sorts of special stuff with them. Of course we spent the most time outside on the coldest days, but that is how it works out.

On Monday we went into Manhattan and saw the trains at the CitigroupCenter. I loved this! Apparently this is the last year which makes me really sad. You should definitely check this out if you have time.

We then walked over to Rockefeller Center and looked at the Christmas tree. We also got to see the ice skaters. I had seen them before with my teachers at school but I was able to get so much closer this time. I liked seeing Santa Claus skate.

We then went to go look at the windows at Saks. I have seen these windows in the daytime, but I've gone from a side street. I've also seen the windows at night when the "snow show" is on and the windows light up. I was very confused to see the windows during the day from the front and to not see the snow show. I got very upset when the show didn't start. At that point we decided it was time to head home.

On Tuesday we went to the Bronx Zoo. Last year I went at night and saw lights. But this year there are no lights (reducing carbon emissions) but there are still plenty of animals. My favorite animals were the monkeys, but we also saw the sea lions, the reindeer, ducks, cranes (they were very loud), a snow leopard and the polar bear. We also got to watch someone make ice sculptures. While we were eating there were Christmas Carolers. It was a lot of fun.

On Wednesday we did some family stuff (I'll write about that later) and we did see some pretty Christmas lights. We also went to see a large menorah in Riverdale.

Thursday and Friday were also family days.

On Saturday we went to the New York Botanical Garden to see the Holiday Train Show. I had so much fun. Every time a train came by I assumed a"train-watching pose" so that I could better see the trains. Mommy really liked looking at all of the buildings that were made of natural materials. She made a pointing of showing me the ones that I see on a regular basis (Rockefeller Center, Van Courtlandt House) and some other ones. We then went to see a puppet show of the "Little Engine that Could". I really enjoyed that.

I hope GrandMom and Pops enjoyed their visit to New York City at Christmastime. I hope I didn't wear them out too much.

Balloons!

November 26, 2008

Tonight was a lot of fun! For the second year, Mommy and I went with my friend Max and his Mommy and Daddy to see the balloons get blown up before the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

I really liked the Dora balloon, the Kermit balloon, as well as the one in the shape of a pumpkin, and the one in the shape of a star. The balloons were big!

Spoiler alert for the parade! There are three new balloons this year, a Smurf, Buzz Lightyear, and Horton (from Horton Hears a Who). It was really crowded but we all made it through.

My favorite part was probably getting to ride in a taxi cab to the train station.

I can't wait to see the parade on television tomorrow. I'm also looking forward to seeing friends again!

Lunch with Friends

November 23, 2008

Today we had lunch with some of Mommy's firends. Mommy was in shock when she realized she has been friends with some of them since 1995. She feels this is a long time. They all worked together at Trail Blazers.

We went to lucnh at a fun place called Dinosaur BBQ. I had macroni and cheese and french fries. Mommy had barbecued chicken and Daddy had some cat fish.

Mommy's friends also had children so there were 4 of us under the age of 3! (Somehow I was the oldest!) But we had a lot of fun.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Nov. 15, 2008

My Daddy had a birthday this week! I sang him the happy birthday song several times and gave him a card. Hopefully this weekend Mommy and I will make a cake.

Here are some pictures of me hanging out with Daddy this week!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Children's Museum

November 2, 2008

Yesterday I had a fun adventure. I went with Mommy and my friend Sam and his Mommy to the Children's Museum of Manhattan. This was my second time, but I was a lot bigger this time and a lot braver!

Sam and I first went to see the Dora and Diego exhibit. We had a lot of fun driving Tico's car.

We then went to the third floor. We both loved playing with the fire truck. We were able to dress up as fire man and take turns driving the truck. There was also a bus we could play with.

There was a really neat climbing thing in this room.

The best part of the museum was the sandbox. (Mommy didn't take pictures!) Sam and I played there for 45 minutes. We had so much fun. We also did a really fun painting.

After the museum we went to get something to eat at a restaurant.

I had a good time with Sam!

Halloween 2008

November 1, 2008

I really like Halloween. What's not to like? I really like pumpkins, I like dressing up like a train, and I like candy!

Two weekends ago Mommy and I picked out my own pumpkin. Then last weekend we were at a mall where there was free pumpkin decorating so I now have two pumpkins. Daddy wouldn't let me take a bath with them the other night, I don't understand why. Mommy doesn't think I would react to well to permanently carving the pumpkins so she says we will wait until next year for that tradition.

I decided I wanted to be a train this year for Halloween. The only costume that was my size and still had the appropriate hat was the "James" costume from Thomas and Friends. However, I call all of the trains Thomas, so Mommy and Daddy decided I could be a "Red Thomas".

We had a "Fall Festival" at school. I had a lot of fun decorating a cookie (and eating it of course) and making a painting using an apple for a stamp. I also had fun decorating a pumpkin.

On Halloween I went trick or treating. Even though there are a lot of houses in our neighborhood Mommy decided to start small this year so we went trick or treating in our building. It was a lot of fun and I got some candy. (Somehow it has all disappeared though?) Who knows.

I like Halloween.

Birthday Party!

October 2008

A few weeks ago I got to go to a really fun birthday party. My friend from school, Max B. was having a party at Appleseeds. Since we were going to go to Brooklyn after the party Daddy came with us. That means I have a lot of pictures to share! I think Max had a good time at his 2nd birthday party. I had a good time!