New York City With Hailey and Cody

When I first got my job as a flight attendant with Southwest Airlines I told Hailey that when she studied the United States in 5th grade she could pick a state for us to go visit.............of course her choice was New York City. Sooooo a long time in waiting but we finally got to take our trip. At the last minute we decided to ask Cody to come with us. After his trip to Ireland this past summer we knew that he would be a good navigator for us........and he was!

It was so exciting to be able to share with Hailey on her first plane ride. We left for the airport @ 4:30 am..........when your flying standby you learn to be there early!

We had a layover in Las Vegas...........loved seeing her face as we walked through the airport.

We finally arrived in Long Island, New York @ 6:00 pm

Nana & Hailey after a long days travel

Almost tooo tired to eat :).......but since we love food, we ate at the restaurant at the hotel we were staying in.

Yum, we were starving..........the nachos were the best!

A little TV before going to bed

Finishing dinner and watching TV.........when you get this tire EVERYTHING is funny!

They still have conductors on trains :) How cool is that? Both mornings we took the Long Island Railroad into New York City. It took about an hour & fifteen minutes.........great experience!

OK where do we go from here Cody?

Nothing like a New York Bagel first thing in the morning

After maneuvering our way through the crowds of people @ Penn Station we finally found our way to daylight!

Our first experience had to be the Empire State Building................

and boy was it cold at the top!...................

but the view was breath taking!

Nana & Hailey moment :)

What a view.........wish it would have not been so cloudy :( ..............

but Hailey could still get a feel of how high we were ;0 ...............

and how much higher the building still was above us :)

Then to Macy's! What a awesome experience.................these escalators are all wooden .........sooo cool........if they could have only talked, one could only imagine the history!

The whole 9th floor of Macy's was nothing but CHRISTMAS!

Sooo festive :)

Leaving Penn Station this is how the steps looked.........this was after the morning rush and there weren't so many people. When we were there in the morning you couldn't even see the steps.

You could always find Hailey with the birds and animals

Nothing like a Hot Dog from the vendors in New York City! Absolutely fantastic!!

Autumn in the city...........

Lunch on a park bench @ Battery Park

New York City as were heading to the Statue of Liberty

Now it was time for a Ferry ride :)

Breathtaking..............

and sobering :)

The view from Liberty Island

You could always find Hailey taking pictures

and Cody too :)

and more pictures :)

Loved spending the time with my son too :)

Photographers will do anything for a good picture :)

The ferry we rode is in the background

Arriving @ Liberty Island

Another view of New York City

As you could tell, the sun finally ran most of the clouds away........turned out to be a beautiful day!

Amazing shot of the underside of the Statue of Liberty

Nana & Hailey

Once in a while we would recruit someone to take our picture :)

Ground Zero

The Memeorial Wall @ the Brooklyn Fire Dept.

Very sobering

Day 2.........waiting for our train to go back into the city

Uncle Cody was always a Big help!

Time to catch what was called the Path to take us to New Jersey so we could find "The Cake Boss"

We found it!

Notice the sign on the corner............."Carlos Bakery"

Waiting in line in the freezing cold for @ least a hour!

Hoping it would be worth it!

Almost our turn to go inside :)

You got a number when you went in, that would allow you to purchase something

Sooooo many cool choices..............but no prices :$

Yummmm

We picked the one in the right bottom corner to take all the way back to California..........we soon called it our "million dollar cake"

Here's our number...........when we first got in the were on # 14............so yes, we had to wait a hour inside of the bakery!

But finally we made our purchase............

found a park bench around the corner.................

and savored the moment!

It WAS worth it :0)

Our shopping in Time Square............Hailey found the Sweatshirt she'd been looking for :)

Cody was always taking someones picture for them :)............

then we would ask them to take a picture of us :)

R & R in Times Square

Hailey wanted to visit the Hard Rock Cafe

The city was coming to life as the sun was going down

The Empire State Building turns red @ night

Finally we had to have some authentic Pizza from the true Italians before ending our trip............and it was soooo good :0

We had the time of our life.............yes, Hailey got to experience true Jet-Lag...........but she still didn't sleep on the plane ride home the next day...............she loved watching out the window and I loved watching her...............

Hailey, thanks for the memories that I will always cherish, and Cody, thanks for being such a fantastic tour guide and protector :)