That One Time There Was a Ferrris Wheel In Times Square!

Last summer was the best and I swear we ventured out all over the city more than actual traveling. That's what happens when you live near a city where there is so much art, pop up shops, installations, museums, parks, playgrounds, and great places to eat! While walking through Times Square we stumbled upon this Ferris wheel on the day we took our family photos and it was worth every dollar! It was so cool to see the views of times square from above and just the ride itself was relaxing. So far this summer we've done a bit of adventuring and hope to travel more too. Maybe stay close to home. It's nice to experience so much but at the same to it's nice to relax and not feel the need to post, or share too much of what we do online. So don't be surprised if you don't see my blog or Instagram squares with our life! 

Summer Family Shoot - 2021

I would be remiss if these gorgeous family photos didn't make it into the blog and because there are so many (like over 100) I won't post all of them, but I will post my favorites! My newly dear friend Amanda took these and she is an amazing photographer and a beautiful soul to work with. Our kids really enjoyed her and the fact that she went with our flow and was chill and so real made all the difference in capturing all of us so wonderfully and pretty perfectly. She has an eye and takes amazing shots and knew just when to point and shoot. I am so glad she finally took our pictures and plan to take more pictures with her in the future. It's so hard to get our family together so maybe she will take Chelsea's senior pictures in the city next year! 

Summer Solstice - Yoga In Times Square!

 

20 years ago yoga in Times Square started out with three people and today there were at least 100 or more people (and a ton of onlookers) LOL! They gave out free yoga mats and smart water and although we were laying on the dirty streets of Times Square it absolutely was the best and so fun! (thankful for the yoga mats!)

Great way to start our summer solstice with experiencing yoga in the city with my Chelsea girl on International Yoga Day! And as you can see from these photos she is more of a pro and is a lot more flexible than I am. Ahhh...to be a teen again! 

Coney Island- A Favorite Little Summer Tradition!

Coney Island will always have our hearts. No matter how pricey it becomes we will always venture out to this little island. It's nostalgic and epic in every way. I don't care what anyone says. It may smell, and be crowded but if you look past all that all you'll see is joy and lots of smiles and laughter on the kids faces. Families having fun, and even the drunk people make life interesting! Been coming here since these kiddos were little and as long as we live close by we will come each summer to bask in the sun and have good ol' fashioned fun! Just look at this reel and you'll see what I mean! 

Shakespeare In The Park!

Shakespeare in the park is upon us and it has become one of my favorite things to see in Central Park. Last year was the very first time to ever attend and I am hooked! How in the world have I never seen Shakespeare in the park before 2021?? Well, hopefully we get lottery tickets to see them again this year. Last year I was lucky enough to have a friend hook us up with tickets and she was a gem to have done that. I captured a few photos before it began (and toward the end which is a no no-oops!)  We were so fortunate to have gone on a perfect rain-free evening! 

Art Omi!

Another great place to venture out during summer is Art Omi. It has become one of our favorite places to distance ourselves and if you like art mixed in with nature then this is the perfect place to venture out to. Since discovering Art Omi during the pandemic from a New York IG page we went in the summer of 2020 and then again last year. There always seems to be a different sculpture at the entrance and I wonder what will be displayed in front this year. In 2020 there was this huge deer and last year a cloud sculpture. They always have different exhibits inside the visitors center and there's always a new sculpture on the grounds. It's been fun coming here the past two summers and hope to bring Jon next time. He hasn't been here yet and so hopefully we will make it again this summer. Especially since it looks like theres a skateboarding ramp this year!

Here are a few photos from when I brought Lexie here last year. After she came home from her church mission I literally went to town and took her to places she'd never been in New York and she really appreciates art. This was such a fun day for us! You can even see a little reel I made of this pond glass house here.

The Fans Strike Back Exhibit in NYC!

 

Geeked out on Star Wars memorabilia- The Fans Strike Back exhibit back in April and had to share! My family are Star Wars nerds and am so glad we all had the chance to see this exhibit. Especially Jon. He has been working a lot of Saturdays lately (still is) and was lucky to have gone with us this time around. So many tender father and son moments as these two were walking around checking things out while Jon was explaining to Noah in detail all about certain Star Wars figures. We could have been here for hours but luckily we were in and out within an hour. I love all things Star Wars but C'mon...let's enjoy the city too!

Now brace yourselves for a huge Star Wars photo dump...

Washington D.C. Temple Open House!

 

The Washington D.C. temple house has been on going for about a month and a half and this past week we had the opportunity to enter in with our two youngest. This temple brings back so many memories and is nostalgic in every way. Wish our other daughters Lexie and Sierra were with us to reminisce about the first time we came here which was nearly 16 years ago!! Crazy how time flies! So happy that it’s complete and that we can once again enter in! It was such a perfect day to play hooky from school so that these kiddos can see inside. Particularly Noah who is 12. He has been to two open houses so far (Hartford & Philadelphia temples) and is a lucky kid to have seen the Washington D.C. temple now. He had so much fun taking pictures and I love that it was all on his own motive. He truly is a photographer and took some good photos. So grateful for this moment and that we were able to go inside together before it's re-dedicated and closed to the public!

Robert Gould Shaw Memorial in Boston.

 

The movie "Glory' has been one of my all time favorite civil war movies and when I saw that this monument was placed in Robert Gould Shaw's honor in Boston I immediately wanted to go and see it. It is such a beautiful sculpture and I can't believe it took me almost 20 years to finally see it! I love everything that this man did for his fellow man in leading an all black regiment into battle. Sad ending being that the fort was never taken but what an example of courage to stand up for black men in inspiring other colored men to join in. Glory is a well done movie and the civil war is something that's obviously gone down in history. Who knew we would be in battle with each other. Hope that history won't repeat itself and that we can continue to pray for other countries who are in war at this time.