So in August, Jeff's parents surprised us with the news they were coming to visit! We were quite excited, though as I may have told you - we live in a small expensive box compared to our Texas friends. It has been maybe 3 months since we threw out the queen bed in Jaren's room leaving only his twin bed up. So - acommodations have very much been on our minds and amid all the other things going on I was very anxious to finish the household repairs & remodeling we had started. So I spent a bit of time painting early last week in the bathroom and Jeff feverishly cut trim with a mitre saw and put it up trim at 8:30 at night late last week.
We almost finished - the towel rod is in the bathroom closet as is the tp holder and the touchups on the paint and calking didn't get done, but it is much prettier.
We picked them up on Thursday night and raced to dinner and bed so we could be off to New York City by way of Philadelphia at first light. So much for that! I was up late with last minute things as usual and we did pull out by 11:00 which in the end was what I had figured. We did enjoy the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, a portrait musuem and saw Ben Franklin's grave. It was fun and enabled me to check off some things on my list of things to do on the East Coast!
Off to New York for our 4 star hotel (thanks to priceline). This time in NYC we got to visit Time Square - still dazzling, NBC Studio Tour, Grand Central, Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Empire State Building for sunset, ate dinner with Kristi, Noah, McKay & Lyla, ate at Katz's Deli (the only), walked through Herald Square in front of Macy's - yes THE Macy's, drove through Greenwich village and Central Park and past the Manhattan LDS Temple, spent the day at Liberty & Ellis Islands (Statue of Liberty), tried to drive by the stock exchange on Wall Street - but wouldn't you know it? Road Construction! Walked around Ground Zero at night and drove across the Brooklyn Bridge in the daytime! We took the subway to church, rode a taxi to dinner and generally walked a TON!
One of my favorite James moments was after the M&M store and James had Grandma's mini-bag full of mms and wouldn't say whose bag it was nor would he admit that it wasn't his- just that he was borrowing it, using it....and on. Pure denial with a straight face.
A favorite Jaren moment was riding with him on the ferry to the Sof L. It was nice just to be with him, not yelling, arguing, just looking at the sights as the wind blew through our hair. Occasionally as we walked he'd take my hand. He really is a sweet kid.
We had a great time being spoiled by Grandpa & Grandma Passey. I hope they enjoyed putting up with us. I had a sinus headache for most of the trip, was distracted by relief society, of no use in helping with James - he is more than I can handle these days (rambunctious boy) - and tired because, yes, we slept with James in a double bed masquerading as a queen! But the king bed always seems to small with James in it! We really enjoyed the luxury and pampering of the hotel, but it was nice to come home too. James is really not in a good museum/travelling stage. He is just too active. Friends at church call him a fireball; there are lots of good adjectives for him - but he says he is James.
We also enjoyed a fun day arranged by Grandpa in DC. We were able to tour the White House and the US Capitol through Sen. Orrin Hatch's office. I think the funnest thing was walking in his office and seeing Brian Yorgesen and calling Jennifer there. Who would think you'd run into old friends in DC? I definitely recommend the Staff guided tour of the Capitol - write your senator before you come to DC and make arrangements!
Real life today - laundry, dishes, vacuuming, school, nagging (oh, that didn't really stop), dogs, making my own bed....I'm already looking forward to going away again, without the kids.
