Hungry for some pie?

Heather and Mike came out a week before Thanksgiving to hang out with us and explore the area. Their kids haven't been to NYC yet so it was fun to see their reaction when we came up off the subway. But before we went downtown we spent a few days here playing. Kevin's mom joined us on Tuesday. Just in time for the rubber-duckie-thrown-in-the-only-toilet-with-the-house-full-of-12-people-incident. We love you Peter!

Jillian had her own version of sardines. She would hide in her own spot even if she wasn't "it" and get upset if people didn't come and hide with her:)

Grandma with almost all the grandkids, minus Hunter and Mason

On the ferry to Ellis Island

Peter in his new outfit Grandma bought him after he fell in to the fountain and got soaked. Luckily it was unusually warm for this time of year.

In front of Rockefeller Square

"Peter's" fountain

The cousins watching a fun movie at the hotel. Mike got us some great accomodations at a really nice, brand new hotel just blocks from the parade route. We had almost the whole floor to ourselves with all those rooms.

Kevin and I had hoped to see a show but we missed getting our tickets by 45 minutes, they closed way early on account of the Thanksgiving holiday. So we decided to explore the city together. Grandma was gracious enough to watch the kids and we had a really fun evening. There were A LOT of people out and about that Wednesday night. We saw one of the bands that was to perform marching down the busy street playing their hearts out. They must have been from the inner city Washington, D.C. school we saw the next day. They had SO much pep and even the band was joining the dance team and grooving! It was really fun.

Kevin introduced me to Roxy's

Sometimes it's just nice to walk around alone and hold hands! They're usually full of other things these days:) Kevin also went the extra mile(s) to find me an Orange-a-Peel Jamba Juice! The perfect flavor to end the perfect night.

Up early and waiting for the parade. Gayle and Mike got up and snagged this awesome spot for us. Front Row! We joined them not too much later. We were really lucky that the weather was so warm. It was the perfect year to attend the parade.

I think someone was eating some powdered doughnuts.

Such a trooper! He fell asleep in our arms for the last hour of the parade.

What a neat Santa! Thanks Amy for these pictures!

After the parade we booked it back to the hotel, we had 20 minutes til checkout time. We made it, packed up our things and were on the train with all seven kids in under an hour. The Bailey kids were troopers tromping all around town and even carrying their own luggage to and from the hotel. We got home around 3 and ate Thanksgiving dinner around 7. Phew! We were too exhausted to eat much. I don't think anyone had seconds and we saved pie for breakfast the next morning. A friend of mine went and they spent the rest of the day in NYC, the weather really was gorgeous, shopping and playing in central park. Then they ate Thanksgiving dinner on Friday. It wouldn't have worked for us this year since everyone had flights home but if we do this in the future, that sounds like the way to go. That or catered dinner:) We were so glad everybody came to visit though. We sure would love it if the Baileys lived closer!