The two left top and bottom pictures are in the Medieval Hall and have all kinds of flags and suits of armor. Very interesting!
The two right hand pictures are in a courtyard area that has been enclosed to connect two old buildings. Under all the windows is one of the cafes in the MET.


Here are pictures from the MET. And all you mom's out there need to go to the www.metkids.com website. It has awesome kids stuff.

The crocodile is stuck with knives, forks, scissors, etc. that have been confiscated at airports.
The front of the MET.

The skyline pictures from the top of the building overlook Central Park. The glass sculpture has fake dead birds at it's base and apparently has some kind of explosion every day at noon.

Metropolitan Museum of Art...My mom is in town visiting and we are really having a nice "catch-up" time. Haven't seen her since she helped us move in April. John watched the kids all day yesterday so mom and I could take the train into Manhattan and spend the day. We had all kinds of grand plans but once we got to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, we found ourselves there all day (including a ladies lunch in one of the METs cafe's). We felt like real ladies who lunch...WOW! The museum is so amazing and everyone who goes there can find something that just takes their breath away. And the artisans/craftsmen of so many years ago really are staggering. They had none of the tools of today but yet their work is still so beautiful and in astounding condition. And they have a fabulous musical instrument display showing right now that is very cool. Plus, in the American wing there are original paintings of George and Martha Washington that we have all seen in textbooks while we were growing up. You should see the picture and detail of Washington crossing the Delaware...AWESOME!

Ok, here are some pictures of the MET. I will try to give a little information about what you are seeing...

7th Wedding Anniversary...Today is John and I's anniversary. We've had a fun day at the beach with the kids and are ordering in greek food for dinner. Tomorrow night, Katie (the babysitter) is coming over to watch/play with the kids while John and I go out to dinner by ourselves. So, all in all, sounds like a bang up way to celebrate. Lucky us!!!

Wild West Birthday Party...Kids and I went to the birthday party for my friend Renita's little boy, Robert, yesterday. He turned 1 yrs old. All the kids got straw sheriff's cowboy hats and red bandanna's. It was a cookout and the kids had fun running around the backyard. It was nice to mingle and meet some other grown-ups.

*side note: it has been very interesting...so far, of the 2 birthday parties we have attended here in NY, no one opens their presents at the party. The gifts are just put to the side and opened later. I don't know if that is a coincidence or how things are done here. I had just never been to a kid's party where they didn't open their presents at the party.

Interesting Morning...Well, to say it has been an interesting morning is an understatement. The kids and I got dressed and ready to go to church like normal. We headed out the door and went downstairs to get in the car. It was then that I realized I did not have my car keys! In fact, I had grabbed a complete set of wrong keys. We were locked out of the house! Yea...how fun! Luckily, I had 1 spare car key so I drove to church but was too stressed out to stay because I knew I needed to get ahold of my landlord or figure a way it. Well, I drove over to my landlord's parents house where I dropped the rent check last month. They were home and had the complete set of Andrew's spare keys. They gave it to me so I could try them all (approx 50 keys). Luckily, on the second try, I got in the house and drove the spare keys back to them. It could have been a much bigger pain so I am grateful that it worked out so simply. But needless to say I was pretty stressed for a couple of hours. Not a good way to start the day.

Hear Ye, Hear Ye Princes and Princesses...We went to a royal birthday party today at Princess Issabella's house on the next street over from us. Issabella turned for years old. There were 7 kids there. It was a nice size group. It was very fun and had a royal theme. The kids went on a treasure hunt where they were given clues to find the treasure chest which was filled with gold coins, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, etc! So cool! Then we did crafts where the kids decorated their own foam swords and crowns with glue and jewels...mom's had fun with this one, too! Then we ate lunch and had a pink cake decorated with cupcakes and upside down ice cream cones as towers. The moat, drawbridge, and water were made from gum drops and rock candy. It looked really easy to make and so cute! The kids really had a great time! Good thing, too, because we have another birthday party tomorrow afternoon for my friend, Renita's son, Robert Jr. It'll be a late afternoon cookout. They are the ones we had a playdate with last weekend. Anyway, fun, fun, fun!!!

Lunch and the Playground at Central Park

Our trainride into NYC pics

Trip to Manhattan...John and I took the kids into Manhattan yesterday to play with Jayme and the kids. It was Julia's first trip into Manhattan and also her first time on a train and subway. She had a ball! We took the Long Island Railroad into Penn Station and then the subway up to Central Park. We had lunch with Jayme, Macy and Griffin in the park and then went and rode the carousel. Then, we headed over to the boat pond to rent remote control boats but the rental dude was "out" so we headed to one of the playgrounds in the park that has a fountain for the kids to play in so they could cool off. It was lots of fun!

Then we went to Jayme's apt to relax and nap. Then we went to Madison Park for Shake Shak burgers, fries and shakes before jumping back on the train to head home. Overall, it was a fun and successful day but we were sure pooped by the time we got home...ha! It's hard work having fun!

WE GOT A NEW BED!!! WE GOT A NEW BED!!! EXTRA-FIRM, EXTRA-FIRM!!! YEA!!!

Little Man...Jacob woke up this morning complaining of a headache and tummy ache. After further investigation, he has a low grade fever. Gave him some tylenol and rest time and some breakfast. Says he feels fine now but still has low grade fever so we will be having a nice, quiet, inside day at the Elliott household.

I think everyone has a touch of ESP on something that allows them to sense things...especially children. I think Jacob is particularly in tune to that. He constantly amazes us with things he says or predicts. Yesterday, we pulled up in a cab to a apartment building to pick up another woman to take to church. As soon as we got to the building, Jacob said he thought the elevator was broken. I told him maybe so. The taxi driver said we ought to listen because he found children usually knew what they were talking about. We waited about 5 minutes and when the woman came out, we left. A couple of minutes later, the driver asked the woman how she was and she said fine except the elevator in her building was broken and that was why it had taken her so long! WOW!!! That has happened on multiple occasions and it just amazes me. It was a building we had never been in.

Little Girl...Miss Julia, as usual, is a bundle of energy and always full of surprises. She insists upon calling friends and strangers "Sweetie", "Honey", and "Sweet Heart". Most people think it is very endearing. Our taxi driver yesterday loved being called sweetie.

St. Mary of the Isle Festival...John, Jacob, Julia and I went down to the St. Mary of the Isle Festival last night. It was really fun! It was a street carnival put on by one of the catholic churches in town to raise money. It had all the traditional carnival stuff like rides, games, food, etc. BUT, the hilarious thing was inside the church hall, the also had GAMBLING and sold BEER!!! Hilarious! You had to be 21 yrs old to go inside. John accidentally took Jacob inside before we knew what was going on and someone stopped him and said Jacob couldn't be there. I have never heard of a thing and I bet that is where they made their big money. The kids had a great time on the rides and then of course, we topped off the night with funnel cakes right before we went home. It was a beautiful night and so nice that we could all go do it together.

Super Duper Play Date...Well, the kids and I had our first playdate today with really New Yorkers (well kinda...Renita was originally from Chicago about 15 years ago). We had a great time! We went to Renita's in Atlantic Beach for pizza and swimming at the beach. We even got invited to her little boy, Robert's first birthday party next weekend...a bbq...should be fun! The two mom's that were at the playdate besides me were Renita and Jayne who I met at Toddler Time at the library. They were both lots of fun and very nice. The kids had a ball! And Renita just had her third baby, Sophia, 3 weeks ago! I couldn't believe she was already so up-and-at-'em!

The other funny thing John and I have observed around here is that people really want to know what your astrological sign is. They don't put a lot of stock in all the newspaper columns but they do think there is something to it about people's personalities and how they get along with others. I think it is hilarious! I am an Aries and apparently we can be difficult and people are always amazed I am an Aries. They said they would never guess that and I didn't act like an Aries (fire sign). I always knew I was a little odd...ha!

Date Night...John and I left the kids last night for the first time ever with a babysitter instead of family. We had DATE NIGHT!!! WOW!!! It went so well. The kids had a great time with Katie and she said they were really good. Jacob is already ready for her to come back. John and I went to The Inn for happy hour and appetizers and then walked down to Caffe Laguna for dinner outside. It was SO yummy! I had lobster ravioli. I had never even heard of that but it was delicious. It was fun to sit outside and have a nice leisurely dinner and just watch people going by on the street. And we were actually able to have adult conversation. It was a very nice, relaxed evening. The first of many...

LB Arts and Crafts Festival...Here is a picture by the city of Long Beach from the Arts and Crafts Festival that took place on the boardwalk this past weekend. We didn't make it all the way down there this time but they are having another A & C Festival in August so we are hoping to go. It looks like lots of fun and we've heard they had great booths, great food, and great entertainment!

A Few More Pic's from yesterday...

A Day with Friends...Our friends, Jayme, Chris, Griffin, and Macy came to Long Beach yesterday to play with me and the kids at the beach. They are our friends that moved to Manhattan last November. Unfortunately, John had to work so he missed out on the fun but since they will hopefully come back soon, then he can join in next time.

We spent 4 hours at the beach just playing in the surf and building sandcastles. Then back to the house for clean-up and naps. Then we took a stroll down to the boardwalk so they could see it and then walked over to The Cabana for dinner. The kids got to play at the park across the street while we waited for our table to be ready. Then Jayme and family took the train back into the big city. It was lots of fun!

That Girl's a Ham...Julia the Ham or as we call her - "bug girl" strikes again.

Prince of the Remote...As of last night, Jacob now has a Mickey Mouse television set complete with Mickey Mouse ears as speakers in his room. It is not hooked up for tv reception but he will be able to play V-Smile and watch a video without his sister's constant attention/assistance. But since last night was the christening of the tv, Jacob and Julia snuggled up in his bed and watched Garfield together. It was very cute and they had such a good time together.

Shaving Queen...Julia LOVES to shave with her Daddy! She is amazed and excited and nervous all at the same time. She wants shaving cream on her cheeks and hands and of course, to help her daddy do his shaving. It is quite a spectacle.

Point Lookout Community Church...You all have heard me go on and on about how much we like the new church we are attending here in NY. Here is the picture of the church.

Night Time Fun...4th of July night we went next door to our neighbor's cookout for hotdogs and burgers and a little mingling. It was fun! Then we headed to Point Lookout to watch the Fireworks show in Jones Beach. It was a fun night! But 4 days of 4th of July fun and we are EXHAUSTED!!! We need a break from all this fun...ha! Think today may be a quiet, rainy day so it'll be nice to just have a quiet day.