Day 2 in NYC (Statue of Liberty and Ellis Isand)

 We bought subway metro cards the next day and thats mostly how we got around.  Headed to the Statue of Liberty.

 You can see the Statue of Liberty to the left of my ear.  This is right across the street from battery park.

Sitting on the top deck of the boat.

 Riding on the Statue cruise over to the Statue of Liberty.

 We had an audio tour and it was great.  It told us a lot about the building and planning of how the Statue of Liberty was constructed.  It was spiritual and made me love our country even more.

 Looking at the city from the Statue of Liberty.

 She is truly beautiful and what a sight as ships came through to America for the first time.

 This is the cruise we road from Manhattan to the Statue and over to Ellis island.

 Ellis island.  This is where everyone who came over to America checked in.  It was a beautiful building.  Everything in NY was built so long ago that there was a lot of construction on the buildings while we were there.

 This is where they came up the stairs, were checked in, and were asked many questions.  If you were a women and didn't have a husband already here working they would send you back on the ship you came on.  They also made sure you were not ill.

 We had an audio tour here as well.  This is what some of the luggage might have looked like when they came through.

 Then we headed to tkts to buy discounted broadway show tickets to Phantom of the Opera for the Saturday matinee.

 The Brooklyn Bridge.

 We had heard from some friends to eat at this place called Grimaldi's near the Brooklyn Bridge.

 We ordered a calzone but wished we would have gotten regular pizza.  It still was fresh Italian ingredients.

 Then we walked over the Brooklyn Bridge.  Only pedestrians and bicycles are allowed on it.  It took 13 years to build.

 Some pictures of Time Square.

 People were everywhere.   Craziness!

New York City, NY

Taylor had a conference in New York City so we went 5 days before and saw all the sites.  We never had been and it was awesome.  

 We arrived Thursday night at 10:00 p.m. to our hotel.  I thought I had gathered all of our belongings out of the taxi.  We went got up to our room and I realized that my bad tipped over and my cell phone fell out in the trunk.  Ahhhhhh!  What a way to start a trip.

 Our hotel was in Time Square.  Amazing lights.  People continued to stay out for hours.  It was only quiet at like 7 in the morning.

 This black surburban was picking up Ricky Martin from Evita.  He plays one of the characters in the broadway show.

Ricky Martin leaving.  Then we crabbed some delicious cheesecake at this place called Juniors.  If you go to NYC get the devils food.  We got the chocolate mousse cheesecake and it was really good too.  Wasn't a fan of the red velvet.  Which I love red velvet.

Cousins Play Day

This summer we have been getting all the cousins together to play.  They all play so well together.

More progress on the house

Paint makes all the difference!  (dining room)

(entry way)

We decided last minute to put stone under the island.  I think it was a great decision.  I love it.  They still need to retouch the paint where the cabinets were stained.  

This picture was edited but when it uploaded it didn't turn!  uhhhh!  (fireplace)  There was a problem apparently in the wall and stone fireplace.  They ripped part of the stone out and the wall.  Not sure what happened.   

Construction Birthday Cake

I made the cake from scratch friday night and then my friend came over on Saturday to help me put it all together.  It was very complicated.  My friend and roommate from college made this cake for her boy.   She found it on pinterest.  It turned out so cute.  Preston was dying to play with the dump truck.  

My favorite part of the cake was the inside! It looked like construction zones.  It was very difficult and took forever.  I had no idea it was going to take so long.  

Preston's 5th Birthday!

Water guns are essential in the hot Texas weather.

We celebrated Preston's Birthday on Sunday.  Taylor's parents, his sister, and family friend came out from Arlington.  

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He was so excited about his new bike.  His other bikes have been hand-me downs.

Callie's last week of school

Paige, Preston and me went to eat lunch with Callie since it's her last week of first grade.  It was fun to talk to he and she showed me all her friends.  

Callie and her good friend, Rylie.  

Memorial Day Weekend

Paige loves Mickey Mouse on Disney.  I found her a Minnie shirt and she loves it.  

At least I didn't have to leave my In-N-Out in California!  This location is in Arlington near my in-laws and their are 6 others in Dallas.  

For Memorial day we headed to Lake Arlington for the day for jet skiing with Taylor's family and friends.    Paige rode with Chase and told him she was done and then he came to pull in and she said lets go one more time.

Preston loved the jet ski.  He kept telling us later that day, "Thank you so much for taking me."

Then we went to Taylor's parents for lunch/dinner and swam.  

Paige jumping off the diving board.  kind of!

Brick and stone complete.

The outside of the house is a little flat for me but you can't have everything.  

They put all the doors on too.

They will do stone around the fireplace hopefully this next week.

The kitchen cabinets are in but not stained or painted yet.

So excited about this rounded staircase.  My favorite part of the house.  

Chocolate Torte Cake

I found this cake on my friend Summer's blog.  I made it for the party at my in-laws.  It was a hit!

 Chocolate Torte Cake

1 devil's food cake mix

1 cup sour cream

1 pkg (3.5 oz) instant chocolate pudding

3 eggs

1/2 cup oil

1 1/3 cups water

Combine cake ingredients and mix well.  Grease 2 (8 in) round cake pans.  Substitute cocoa for flour so you avoid white film on your cake.  Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes.  Let stand 5 minutes in pan then turn out on cooling rack.  Chill cakes before cutting and icing.  Cut each cake round in half horizontally with serrated knife, making 4 found pieces.  

Frosting

1 pint heavy whipping cream

1 (8 oz) block cream cheese, softened

2/3 cup brown sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. salt

In your mixing bowl, whip heavy cream until very thick.  I a separate bowl, blend together cream cheese, brown sugar, vanilla, and salt.  Fold cream cheese mixture into whipped cream.  Frost all four layers and keep in refrigerator until ready to eat.