Day 3 in NYC

 This is Heidi Klum in the green dress.  They were filming her show called project runway.

 We ate lunch at Ellen's Stardust diner.  They are known for their burgers and fries and milkshakes.  We had a sandwich and it was pretty good too.

 We were seated on the second floor.

 All the waitresses and waiters sang while serving tables.  It was cool to watch.  They would pass the mic off to the next person.  They are all aspiring singers on Broadway.

 Our waitress

 Off to the Saturday matinee to see the Phantom of the Opera.

 I don't know how but we ended up with front row seats.  It was amazing.  We could practically touch the actors and actresses.

 The famous chandelier that falls.  The singing and music were so uplifting.  I had seen the play when I was 15.  Taylor had not.

 This is out front of our hotel, the Crown Plaza.  It was a great hotel and in a good location.

We walked around this place called Chelsea Market and it was so cool.  Then we ate at a restaurant, Dos Caminos.  They had the most delicious tomatillo salsa and guacamole.   We had the steak fajitas. I am dreaming about it.

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.