Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Back to New York for Amy's Wedding!

We were so excited to take the boys back to New York for our cousin Amy's wedding! The last time we went, the boys were only 9 months old. This time we stayed for four nights (3 in Long Island and 1 in the city), and it was our first trip without pack 'n plays, which meant the boys were sleeping in the beds with us! They, of course, loved it, and on the flight home, both told us they didn't want to go home... they wanted to go to a hotel. :)

After flying with the boys all the way to Hawaii last summer, the two short flights to New York felt like a breeze! But, of course, we are still forever thankful for lollipops, pretzels, and modern technology...


On the second leg of our flight, Bryce fell asleep during takeoff... with Bear safely secured in his seat belt. :)



After a successful first night of sleeping in hotel beds with the boys (Bryce slept with dad and Ben slept with me), we decided to spend the morning at the beach. On the way to the beach, daddy decided to give us a tour of his old high school that was interestingly built out of an old mansion!


This picture was taken by Ben! :)


We found daddy's old locker...


After a tour of the school, we headed to the beach. The boys weren't too happy when they discovered it was a rocky beach, rather than a sandy one...



After a quick dip in the ocean, they decided to just hang out on the bench and eat candy with Gabrielle...


And make silly faces at the camera...


After the beach, we stopped for lunch at Friendly's. Sweet Gabrielle came prepared with a movie for the boys...


It was way past their usual nap time and the boys were getting deliriously goofy...


After a yummy lunch and a long nap, we went to Amy and Mike's rehearsal dinner/backyard barbeque at their house. Our two little water monkeys loved the diving board!


The whole time they swam, the boys were shivering and their teeth chattering because of the cool evening breeze. After about a dozen jumps off the diving board, Ben finally had enough and cuddled up with oma for warmth...


The boys finally got to meet their cousin Chase, who was born only 8 days before them!


The next day, we got dressed up and headed to the big event...



The beach front wedding venue was absolutely beautiful, and the kids enjoyed playing with the sand while waiting for the ceremony to begin...


Our overly dramatic Bryce (on the right) was pouting because Alivia was using his bucket and shovel. Ben was just avoiding the camera!


It was almost time for the ceremony to begin and the wedding party started to gather...


In the meantime, the boys got to enjoy some quality time inside with Aunt Pat...


All the guests were asked to take their seats. And, out came oma in her gown ready to officiate her very first wedding!


Amy looked stunning in her gorgeous gown...


The kids quickly got antsy so we pulled out the lollipops...


It was a beautiful ceremony...


The boys and flower girl were finally given the okay to get dirty...


Exhausted from dancing, these two cousins settled on playing games on the iPad...


The celebrations went from morning to evening, and the little ones almost made it to the end...
 

The next day, we headed to the city and went straight to the Central Park Zoo. The boys were very disappointed when we told them that Melman, Alex, Marty, and Gloria were not going to be there... because they had gone back to Africa. (All you Madagascar fans would know what I'm talking about!)


Since Alex wasn't there, the seals performed for us...


We stopped for a snack break while waiting for the rest of the family to arrive...


Oma, opa, Aunt Beth and Brie got there in time to see the seal lions getting fed...


Me and my handsome men...


It looked like Uncle Eric was having a serious conversation with Bryce...


I usually avoid buying the over-priced pictures taken of visitors at the entrances of parks. But, I couldn't resist purchasing this one...


 On the way out of the zoo, the Royal Prince had his hands AND cup held by Gabrielle and mommy...


Uncle Rich, Aunt Nadia and baby Claire met us at the park, and we all stopped to grab a bite to eat...


A very tired and heavy little boy wanted to be carried...


Mommy's arms got tired so Gabrielle took over...


Ben and daddy sat and watched the sail boats... notice daddy's hand securely holding Ben's to keep our little fish out of the water!


Mommy, Bryce or Ben? (can't tell which one!), Aunt Alisha and the girls in front of the Alice in the Wonderland sculpture...


We were all so excited to meet baby Claire for the first time that day!


The boys outside of F.A.O. Schwarz...


On our last day in the city, we spent the morning in Bryant Park before heading to the airport...


We were meeting with mommy's childhood friend, Darlene, and her family for lunch. And, while we waited, we ate peanuts and sat on The Southwest Airlines Porch...



 A couple of pics from our last trip to New York... look how little the boys were!





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