NYC Exploration

A fantastic day exploring NYC with two of the finest nine year olds on the planet, Schmoogie, my love, and Siege, my nephew, wow, what a day.

Here are a few highlights:

*Jump on the LIRR to Penn Station (first train ride for Schmoogie).
*Hit the city sidewalks for several blocks down to the Empire State Building.
*Elevator, Stairs, Observation Deck. Giggles. Lots and lots of photos.
*Browse souvenir shop and enjoy two nine year olds relish in what will make them remember their experience most.
*Experience a new attraction at the ESB, the Skyline. A virtual tour of New York City, narrated by Kevin Bacon, the seats move, feels like you are in a helicopter, it was really cool.
*Hop on the F train ~ “the orange subway” and head down, or is it up to Rockefeller Center (first subway ride for Schmoogie).
*Watch the break dancers perform in the subway station. How do they do that??
*Arrive in Rockefeller Center and admire the ice skaters, the flags and the flowers.

*Truly marvel in all Rockefeller Center has to offer.
*Lunch/Dinner ~ or as the boys said ~ either “Linner” or “Dunch” .
*Giggle at the others having “dunch”, or a snack, or a cup of coffee, or a NAP! They thought this was hysterical! ~ You know, Nine really is Divine.
*Incident with the bathroom attendant, I guess she missed the lecture on manners at Bathroom Attendant School.
*Up to the Top of the Rock ~ Spectacular. Magnificent. Breathtaking.
*Stairs, elevator, escalator, giggles, amazement.
*Search for change for the binoculars and get up close and personal with the Statue of Liberty.
*Lots more photos
*Start walking to the big Toys R Us to ride the indoor ferris wheel
*A Mister Softy Ice Cream truck on the corner of 36th and 5th hits the spot!
*Grab a ride on a modern day rickshaw towed by a bicycle driver with the world’s strongest legs, or so the boys said anyway!
*Here we are at the largest toy store we have ever seen. Three floors of childhood magic, Mingling with Spiderman and Geoffrey.
*A ride on the Mr. Potato Head cart of the indoor ferris wheel followed by a round of Wii Bowling on the biggest television screen on earth, rounds out the Toy Store extravaganza.
*Hit the pavement in search of Penn Station.
*Board the train back home.
*Train ride occupation includes, singing of the silliest of nine year old songs ever, giggling the entire time, reflecting on the best parts of the day, checking out our souvenirs, awe and delight, and of course, stretching out our tired, aching feet.

Both Schmoogie and Siege thanked me for one of the best days ever, and I, had to thank them back.

We had an awesome day.

Peace.

Sing, Sing a Song!

My kids love to music, they love to sing. They sing everything from Barney to Beyonce. I love to sing too, but only in the car, alone, or privately to my boyz!

I don’t really care for my voice, it’s kind of, well, squeaky and high pitched. It sounds ok to me when I am engaged in normal, everyday conversation, however, when I hear myself on my answering machine, I cringe.

I do like to sing though, but because of my feelings about my voice, I have decided not to try out for American Idol…oh, and I may have exceeded the age limit!

I have always sung to my boyz. I have made up a bunch Schmoogie Songs, utilizing rhythms adapted from old songs, and have always sung your typical nursery rhymes and the like. My favorite time to sing to my boyz is when they are cuddled in my arms, you know, just about to fall asleep. I hum too, but I would much rather sing. I often sing out of tune, sometimes the wrong words, at times even on purpose, to get a reaction from the boyz. It’s fun for me.

The other night, while lulling my Noodle to sleep, he asked me to sing “Sunshine” to him. Of course I leap at the opportunity, but was quite tired myself, so I said, “OK Noodle, but only three Sunshine’s, and then we have to go to sleep. And please don’t ask me for more”.

I only know the first verse, but have been inspired to learn the remainder of the song.

Upon completion of my three stanza concert, he looks at me with those baby blues that melt my heart and says “Mama, can you sing the ABC’s”?

So I did, and then we fell asleep. I love to sing!!
Peace.