Saturday, August 16, 2014

NYC Road Trip

On our bucket list for this summer was a road trip down to NYC to see Uncles and friends and very tall skyscrapers.  Summer was very quickly getting away from us, so we picked a weekend, braved the traffic and went on down!  The boys love everything about NYC, but were especially excited about the sightseeing we were doing this trip.  Bronx Zoo, Intrepid (and the Space Shuttle!) and lots of rides on the subway.

We arrived late Thursday night to the very gracious Russ and Ed who insisted it was okay it was nearly midnight...  Then up early Friday to meet up with Toni, Will and Madeline at the Bronx Zoo!  The last time Nathan and Maddie saw each other, they were teeny tiny infants...


The original front gates to the zoo.

Alex Nathan and Madeline check out the exhibits!

Reptiles were a favorite.

Well, hello!

The Bug Carousel was a fun way to start the day.  Nathan picked the ladybug of course, and Alex just wanted to be next to Nathan :)

All in a row!

Alex giving the turtle some love.

Cool architecture all around...

And lots of pea hens (female peacocks).

We had lunch by the baboon exhibits, and they showed off their flowing locks by running around!

Alex's favorite, the giraffes!

Nathan all ready for Ice Age 4-D.

Alex, Nathan and Maddie checking out the Koi in the Butterfly House.

Alex (and Will) photobomb!

Alex as a Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly.

Nathan insisted on looking very bored/depressed for this photo.

Monorail! Monorail! Monorail! (Simpson's reference)  All around the Asia  Exhibit, a great way to see those animals.

The last part of the day we went on a dinosaur safari.  Nathan loved it (parents weren't so impressed).

Animitronic dinosaur!

Look out!

Alex walking in the tracks of dinosaurs.

Back at Russ and Ed's, we spent lots of time just enjoying their space.  Coloring, eating on the roof deck, helping them tend the garden, acting as alarm clocks at 6am...

Nathan and Alex doing some craft time in the dining room.

Nathan helping Russ prep dinner on Friday night.

Saturday morning breakfast on the roof deck.

Playing ball on the roof deck...

Michael taking a nap on the pergola.

Until he was joined was everyone else!


Saturday morning we went over to see the Intrepid, a floating museum on a decommissioned aircraft carrier.  The boys were so thrilled to see so many planes/helicopters/space shuttles up close that they had read about and seen pictures of.

So big!

Nathan was so excited to see the Blackbird.  He had read all about it in a airplane book at home, and he and Michael had built a model of the plane.

Can't wait for Blue Angels in September 2015 in Brunswick!

Nathan's favorite of the day, the Polish tiger airplane (his nickname is Tiger).

Inside the Space Shuttle Pavilion.  It was amazing to see it so up close.

Alex and Nathan as space shuttles.

A picture of the piggyback of the space shuttle to NYC recreated in Legos.

Heading up to the Captain's Bridge.

Driving the carrier!

Checking out the exhibits down below.

Learning how to fly a helicopter (Michael and Nathan also built a model of this helicopter).

Last item to check out was the Concorde.  

On the way home we stopped for some amazing ice cream.

On our way out to dinner!

Ed teaching Nathan about Chinese characters.

Nathan and Daddy on the way home.
Sunday we had a super early trip to the Empire State Building planned, but we decided to cancel.  We joked that everything in NYC costs $100, and we had had enough be adventures.  We hung around the apartment for the first part of the morning, and then headed out to Central Park to meet up with my friend Mary and her daughter Eris.

Russ and Nathan on the bus ride down.

Eris, Nathan and Alex enjoying their $0.25 boxes of candy (apparently a uniquely NYC experience).

Nathan going down the big slide at the playground.

Nathan and Alex loving the slide!


Such a fun weekend!  Thank you Russ and Ed for being such great hosts!!



Birchcrest 2014

Summer means the annual Savage gathering at Birchcrest.  We were lucky to have great weather this year, so mostly spent our time just hanging at the cabin, swimming, boating and doing cannonballs!  We were short one family this year, the Schobels couldn't make it so soon after Fred's surgery, they were missed!

First up, our time in the water!  We only had one non "water worthy" day, so this was a lot of our time...

Watch out for the little cousins!

Lynn brought her paddle board, which was a big hit.

Chillin' with Brooks.

Alex fishing with Casco.

Corbin getting ready to try out the water skis.  He managed to master getting up and cruising all around the lake!

DSLR selfie!

Christopher went out for a solo kayak trip, Mom went after him :)

Brothers checking out the conditions for the day before jumping in!

Lynn took a few photos for me too, me taking Christopher and Nathan out for a ride.

Cannonball!!! (Nathan's version)

Donuts!

"Mom! Mom!  Take a picture of me under water!"

Brooks not so impressed :)

Rinse and repeat x1000.

Getting his surfer moves perfected.

Taking Alex for his first tubing ride.  He wasn't so sure.   

Nathan loved every minute of it, especially "rolling off at the end!"

When we were on the lake, we were enjoying each other's company in and around the cabin.  Talking, playing games and just being silly!

Something very interesting in the sky for Ed, Karl and Russ.

Alex showing Russ, Corbin and Ed his game of "Uno Moo".

Andrew showing Nathan "Minecraft" and starting a new obsession for him.

Just a good picture of Russ :)


Brooks being silly for the crowd!

Lynn leading the boys in a rousing version of "Crescent Laaaaaake!"

Carrie playing football with Tyler and Alex.

Lynn reading to Brooks and Alex.

Ed telling Alex "5 more minutes until dinner!"  Alex was very excited for the tasty pasta dish they made.

Enjoying eating outside in the summer!
Christopher and Nathan being silly in the hammock.


Finding super secret places to play!


Have stick, have rock, what else does Tyler need??


Cousins <3 td="">


This year marked the debut of the "Crescent Lake Gremlin".  The boys looked forward to the afternoon when he (she??) would come to visit and leave a special little treat!

Corbin found a note from the gremlin!

The note...

Today was popsicles!

No shoes, no shirt...  No problem!!
This year we took an idea from the Hamptons, and did a day trip to Storyland in New Hampshire.  It is an amusement park that is especially geared towards the littler guys.  We took Christopher with us, and met the Hamptons there, and had a great time!


Mimi leading the charge through the gates!


Group cousin shot!

Alex enjoying the balloon ferris wheel.

With my boys!


Mimi prepping Christopher for the roller coaster...



Playing in the "Loopy Lab" where vaccuums/air shot foam balls everywhere.  Alex loved laying on the ground and watching them fall.

A fun water fountain...

Andrew cracking up the little ones at lunch.

The required jail shot at Storyland :)

Fun on the carousel!

A well-deserved treat near the end of the day.
Bedtime rountine was a little more fun with cousins, aunts and uncles to pitch in and share it with.

How many cousins can the bath fit??

Ed reading to the boys.

Losing control at the end of the book...


Then out like a light...


Random shot of the duck family.

Nathan snoozing on the boat ride to visit the other cabin.

Enjoying a breakfast at Danielle's.  It was too quiet at the cabin after everyone else left!

Michael had a meeting in Portland on Monday, so we decided to stay in Brunswick for a few days, after we had to leave the cabin Saturday morning.  We took the boys to the "Giant Steps" on Bailey Island, then down to Lands End (not the store in Sears).

Enjoying the beautiful coastal Maine views.

Group shot by Mimi :)
Enjoying the hike along the path lined by Queen Anne's Lace.


The Queen Anne's Lace attracted a beautiful butterfly.



Down at Lands End, the boys try and lift a boulder.

Mimi enjoying the view.

The boys checking out the whirlygigs.
While Michael went to his meeting on Monday, the boys and I hit Frosty's, and then the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum in Portland.

Frosty's!


Playing in the "kitchen" at Frosty's to cook up the doughnuts!


Ticket to ride!

Enjoying the (torrential downpour) view.

Inside the museum, driving the train.

Nathan's favorite part of the train cars, the bathroom.

Choochoo!

Their favorite part, the train tables, of course!

Another wonderful week at Birchcrest, so many great memories, and such a special time for the cousins.  Until next year!