I have been dying to get the pictures of our NYC trip up on the blog so that I don't forget the details but once we got home it seems like there is never any time. One reason is because Lizzie nows climbs on ANYTHING! Chairs, tables, counters, bathtubs, sinks and windowsills - she will climb up on them and there is a 50/50 chance that she will also fall off and require first aid! Then there is Annie - she has a sudden infatuation with butter. She would prefer to go in the fridge and grab a hunk to snack on but has also recently found it gratifying to draw on the front window with it and make soup with it in the toilet. I know, I know, you are thinking that we are terrible parents who never supervise our children but that isn't necessarily the truth. In reality we just have really smart, really manipulative, really sneaky little monkeys for children! Even Sweet little Ellie is getting in on the action. Yesterday she stood under the table and accepted items from Annie which we later found them "cooking" in the play kitchen in their room! What's a girl to do?
My pictures are all in the wrong order so if you are really interested in the timeline of the whole trip - you are pretty much out of luck. If you are interested in the fun, chaotic, at times torturous episode of NYC - Harding - Wheeler Style than read on!
How lucky are we? Auntie Meg took the babies overnight while Grammy and papa took them during the day on Sunday and Monday so Auntie Meg could sleep. When we returned on an early train at around 5 p.m. on Monday I learned that Ellie, in particular, had been pretty sick while we were gone so I called the pediatrician and killed three birds with one stone and took all of the babies in to check out their never ending colds. As it turns out the Kasey Harding Wait and See method of parenting sick children is not 100% fool proof. Lizzie had an ear infection in each ear and a sinus infection. Annie had the start of an ear infection in one ear and a sinus infection. Poor Ellie had ear infections in both ears and a terrible sinus infection that had even the doctor making faces. I felt terrible and, in typical Kasey fashion, started crying at the prospect that I had let my babies suffer unnecessarily. Our wonderful pediatrician (Who talked Auntie Meg's ear off because she has twin 2 year olds!) said that the ear infections were not old and sinus infections are hard to diagnose in babies. True or not - I allowed myself to be comforted!
Grammy and Peter studying the books that Peter got at the Ground Zero Memorial Museum - we stayed very close to where the twin towers once stood and actually chose it because of Peter's interest in the World Trade Centers and the memorial they are building. When we got home he could not wait for Grammy and Papa to see everything!
Grammy and Lizzie could not get enough of each other!
Molly missed her babies!
Molly girl fell asleep on the train on the way home - she couldn't figure out why her neck hurt later in the day!
Annie also relaxed on the train ride home!
Peter and Molly loving the taxi ride! Especially since it was POURING rain!
Annie and Daddy - happy to be out of the rain!
Molly and Mommy on the train ride to NYC - I told you the pictures were out of order!
Annie was not sure how she felt about her first train ride!
Grand Central Station!
We got to Braodway and found a little place to get something to eat - the kids found some great snacks!
Molly refused to share her chocolate dipped canoli!
Annie can not wait for her 1st Broadway Play - how cute is she?
Just to give you an idea of how far away our tickets were - we could see everything and hear the music so it was still wonderful!
Sleepy girl can't even get through the 1st song without falling asleep!
The H-W kids at their first Broadway Play!
Mary poppins may be my new favorite play - it sounds cliche - but it was magical!
Daddy and the kids in Times Square
Funny faces in Times Square!
Annie and I hung out in Times Square while the kids did some walking and shopping at the stores around the square. She danced, sang and had a blast!
We even saw Mickey mouse!
Peter loved the skyscrapers! 
Sunday night we found this authentic Irish Pub - Bob said it was the best Shephards Pie of his life - other than mine, of course! The kids loved Susan - our Irish waitress with the beautiful brogue. 
Annie asked for water 10 times to avoid going to sleep! 
Our Bathing Beauties!
molly - girl was so busy swimming under water that she did not give me much of a chance for pictures. 
Peter jumping in the pool!
Notice over Ann's shoulder the awful weather that was awaiting us when we went outside!
Over the kid's shoulders you can see where they are rebuilding some buildings and making a memorial for 9-11. The kdis were so touched by the museum and all of the stories that they heard. one story I have never heard was about the "Band of Dads". A group of 9 men from one Friehouse all had sons missing in the WTC on 9-11 so they called themselves the Band of Dad's as they participated in the search and rescue. Only one of the Dad's was able to find his son's body and bury him so his grave has the names of all of the 9 Friefighters sons that were missing and a memorial was held for all of them together. I tried to keep it together for the kids but this is not a museum for the weak at heart. It was crushing to watch some of the footage and hear the stories again of fear and loss! 
Annie eating the hugest tomato - she wanted me to take a picture for Papa because they share a love of tomatoes!
Molly and Peter enjoying their Juniors Burgers - we were so hungry that anything would have tasted good but the pickles were amazing!
Grammy and Peter studying the books that Peter got at the Ground Zero Memorial Museum - we stayed very close to where the twin towers once stood and actually chose it because of Peter's interest in the World Trade Centers and the memorial they are building. When we got home he could not wait for Grammy and Papa to see everything!
Grammy and Lizzie could not get enough of each other!
Molly missed her babies!
Molly girl fell asleep on the train on the way home - she couldn't figure out why her neck hurt later in the day!
Annie also relaxed on the train ride home!
Peter and Molly loving the taxi ride! Especially since it was POURING rain!
Annie and Daddy - happy to be out of the rain!
Molly and Mommy on the train ride to NYC - I told you the pictures were out of order!
Annie was not sure how she felt about her first train ride!
Grand Central Station!
We got to Braodway and found a little place to get something to eat - the kids found some great snacks!
Molly refused to share her chocolate dipped canoli!
Annie can not wait for her 1st Broadway Play - how cute is she?
Just to give you an idea of how far away our tickets were - we could see everything and hear the music so it was still wonderful!
Sleepy girl can't even get through the 1st song without falling asleep!
The H-W kids at their first Broadway Play!
Mary poppins may be my new favorite play - it sounds cliche - but it was magical!
Daddy and the kids in Times Square
Funny faces in Times Square!
Annie and I hung out in Times Square while the kids did some walking and shopping at the stores around the square. She danced, sang and had a blast!
We even saw Mickey mouse!
Peter loved the skyscrapers! 
Sunday night we found this authentic Irish Pub - Bob said it was the best Shephards Pie of his life - other than mine, of course! The kids loved Susan - our Irish waitress with the beautiful brogue. 
Annie asked for water 10 times to avoid going to sleep! 
Our Bathing Beauties!
molly - girl was so busy swimming under water that she did not give me much of a chance for pictures. 
Peter jumping in the pool!
Notice over Ann's shoulder the awful weather that was awaiting us when we went outside!
Over the kid's shoulders you can see where they are rebuilding some buildings and making a memorial for 9-11. The kdis were so touched by the museum and all of the stories that they heard. one story I have never heard was about the "Band of Dads". A group of 9 men from one Friehouse all had sons missing in the WTC on 9-11 so they called themselves the Band of Dad's as they participated in the search and rescue. Only one of the Dad's was able to find his son's body and bury him so his grave has the names of all of the 9 Friefighters sons that were missing and a memorial was held for all of them together. I tried to keep it together for the kids but this is not a museum for the weak at heart. It was crushing to watch some of the footage and hear the stories again of fear and loss! 
Annie eating the hugest tomato - she wanted me to take a picture for Papa because they share a love of tomatoes!
Molly and Peter enjoying their Juniors Burgers - we were so hungry that anything would have tasted good but the pickles were amazing!So we had a memorable trip to NYC - the kids loved it but we all agreed that some of our other cities we have visited defintely remain at the top of the list over NYC. That being said - it poured the entire time so I don't think the kids got the entire picture of the bustle and fun of NYC. We were all happy to get home to the babies and see what was ahead for school vacation! So far we have had a pajama day and not much else - everyone is still under the weather. We are hoping to get to see "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" this weekend and do some yard work but we are all looking forward to Easter at Grammy and Papa's!
GNM - ILY!
