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Summer Birthday Number 1

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Our little family has summer birthday's, and Miss Abigail is so proud that it is her birthday that kicks off the summer celebrations. This year she was talking about it for at least six months on what she wanted to do and how she was going to have a party and what kind of party she would like. This year she decided to take a few of her good friends and little sister, to Build-A-Bear Workshop, where to her wonderful suprize a pink unicorn was waiting there for her her to build. She had been asking for a pink unicorn for months, so if you could imagine my delight when I saw it there as well!!! She outfitted Princess Pink with fluffy white wings and magic glass slippers and has been a playmate pal for the entire summer, and thanks to Grandma and Grandpa has expanded her wardrobe and rests her princess head in a satin pink bed. She had so much fun at her bear party and I believe it will be a memory for life.

We also had a family party for her, which was quite exciting as well. She collects the Our Generation Dolls and Muga and Papa gave her a vanity for her doll to primp herself, which both girls have been enjoying this summer and aunt Carly added to the collection with a pink bathtub. I love the Our Generation Dolls, any of you with girls have to check them out at Target! She thought getting money from aunt Julia and uncle Dustin was the "coolest thing evvvver" and went to the toy store and picked out a game she has been eyeing. And her fascination with horses capped by an adorable outfit her cousins gave her, which she too wore most of the summer.

She had a very Happy Birthday, and is now planning for next year...oh what will it be like when she gets engaged? I love my little Abigail and the joy she brings to our home, here's to a great year my little love!

China Town

So far, the only picture I have from China Town, it was incredibly CRAZY place to visit. We stopped on Canal Street, and for those of you who know NY you know what we were after ;) We were hounded and bombarded and wow...but we came away with black bags full of goodies. Carly was able to get a picture of everything. It was quite extraordinary. I especially loved going through false walls to look at purses. I came away with a darling pink Gucci bag, matching wallet, a pink face Rolex and two pink china doll outfits for the girls. It was fun, afterward we took a cab back to the hotel and dropped off our things and went to a pizza place for lunch, it was a beautiful building that had once been a church, I think Katie got pictures of it. We then went back to get ready for Mary Poppins, which was the neatest play. The music was great, but the scenery and props were AMAZING! Afterwards, it was to the hard rock for dinner for fabulous and burger and shake.

City Tour

My aunt Linda lives in Albany and was able to take the train into the city to enjoy the day of sightseeing and fun food. We picked her up at Penn Station bight and early and walked to the Empire State building, we then went on a boat tour around the entire island oohing and ahhing over the terrific sights. After the tour we went to see the Manhattan, LDS temple and another walk through central park. After a refueling stop at Serendipity for frozen hot chocolate and an interesting pizza joint, with a bathroom for hobbits only and no electricity we went shopping and more sightseeing until the sun went down and back to Penn Station. We took cheesecake back to our room for dinner, we are on vacation after all. :D

My mom and aunt ready to tackle the desserts after working up quite an apatite from all that walking! I personally love frozen hot chocolate and this was...serendipitous!

Grand Central Station, a neat stop on our city tour.

The Empire State building hiding behind the fog, just outside of Penn Station.

On the Pier just after our boat tour.

look carefully, can you see what is reflected in Katie's sunglasses?

Giant Chocolate Rabbit and Dylan's Candy Shop, we had a great time looking at all the nostalgic candy. I walked away with mini candy bars with every combination thinkable.

The temple was constructed from an already existing building, we stopped at the small farmers market across the street where I bought Bart some maple syrup and almost bought an apple donut, until I saw the price tag.

Central Park

Check out those sandwiches...lol!

Central Park was breathtaking. We walked through the park after visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The greenery, the flowers, the distant sound of musicians and the artists selling their wares was just part of overall experience of this sanctuary in the city. Now one of my favorite places on earth. Maybe I will retire to a penthouse across the street from central park...oh now that would be the life!! : D

We stopped at the famous Carnegie deli, which was where we had the largest sandwiches on earth! And paid the price too..eek $22 for a sandwich and they only accepted cash. My advice, stop at the deli for the experience, and split one sandwich for 4 people. It was lots of fun, when the sandwiches came out we all literally gasped at the enormity and the people sitting next to us asked if they could take a picture of Carly and my Mom's sandwiches, mine and Katie's weren't that impressive.

Simply Wicked

One of my favorite part of the trip was seeing "Wicked" it was an incredible production with music that inspires the soul. During my favorite song, Defying Gravity I began to tear. All the emotions and excitement of where I was: On Broadway, in New York City and who I was with: My mom and sisters, on our first ever girls only trip came spilling from my eyes and raised me to my feet in applause.

After the show we packed up all our goodies and hopped in a rigshaw. Which was like riding a ride in Disney World. We were going so fast down the streets and weaving in and out of the cabbies. I couldn't contain my laughter as we could hear my mom squealing in the rigshaw ahead of us. I also couldn't help but close my eyes and grab my sisters arm, at several instances, as I thought for sure we were near death's door. It was incredible.