The New York City

There is no slowing down the Drzewiecki family.  Yesterday we decided to brave a family trip into the city.  The New York City according to Ellie D.  She got pretty excited when we told her about our special trip into the city. 

Clearly I am feeling pretty well since Zack was only 10 days old.  Not sure how this recovery has gone so much better, but it just has.  Our good friends the Houses were coming into NYC for a wedding and it has been since March 2011 since we saw them last.  So with only a single afternoon available for a visit, we thought it was worth our while to trek down to see them. 

We loaded up the car and headed down to the southern most part of NYC to their hotel.  Ironically enough we had stayed in that same hotel about 3 years earlier for my friend Erika's wedding.  So we were at least familiar with the area.  We hung out in Battery Park the whole afternoon.  For September 7 it was pretty hot and humid for NYC.  No fall weather here yet.  We had a great little visit there, especially once we discovered the fountain park.  Declan, Ellie and Kurt had lots of fun playing in the water while Joyce and I hung back.  Our visit with the Houses ended at about 5:30 pm, so not wanting get in the car at the height of Friday traffic we decided to grab dinner at the W hotel that was next door.

But on the way to the restaurant we realized we were walking right by the entrance to the World Trade Center Memorial.  Feeling like we really needed to make the best of our trip we veered off and into the Memorial.  It was beautiful.  There is little you can say about the WTC site.  I will always remember that day, the same way our parents generation will remember where they were when Kennedy was shot.  While the memorial isn't finished quite yet, I feel like it is going to be appropriately done. 

We had dinner and headed home.  40 min door to door to the southern most tip of the island, no traffic and a fantastic family trip to the New York City.  Can't wait for our next visit.

Ellie D enjoying her ice cream in the park.

Declan Hercules House in the flesh!

Kurt and DH

Mommy and her kids

Declan had no fear of the water sprays!  Fortunately Kurt was willing to get his shorts wet.

Ellie eventually caught on and took her skirt off and ran around.  Fortunately she was more scared of the water spurts so neither one of us had to go in.  Especially because I didn't bring any change of clothes for her.

Joyce and DH

Milk coma

The sphere that used to be in the WTC plaza

Flirting in the hotel room

Declan putting on his threads for the rehearsal dinner. 

Two of the new buildings that are almost complete

The South pool.  The sound of the water falling down is very peacful.  The pools are very large and incredibly beautiful.

The names of all who died are inscribed around the pools.

There is also a nice green space and park in the memorial.  Right in the background of this pool is the museum that is being built.