NYC Trip | Day 2 (part 1)

NYC Trip | Day 2  - World Trade Center

February 10, 2012
(I decided to break this day up, so I didn't overwhelm the post with pictures)

Friday morning we headed to the World Trade Center, but not before we soaked up some lazy minutes in the hotel room.  Waking up in NYC...such a treat!!!

After we were dressed and ready, we took a cab from our hotel to the financial district.  It was Emerson's first Yellow Taxi cab ride.....she loved it!!

We had breakfast at a nearby hotel and then walked to the 9/11 Visitor Center for our specified visit time.  Emerson knows the gist of 9/11.  During all the coverage this past September for the 10 year anniversary, we had a few conversations about it.  She knows that a very mean man was responsible for killing a lot of people that morning.  She knows that it was a very sad day for America.  But she won't understand the true impact and sadness until she's older.  The adults, on the other hand, understand.  We all remember where we were that day and it still feels like it just happened last year.  I was actually a bit nervous about going to the memorial; I wasn't sure how it would affect me.  We had to go through a lot of security (rightly so), but once inside I was awe-struck.  It was quiet, eerily quiet and somber.  Everyone was being very respectful and not many words were spoken.  I couldn't hold it in and tears streamed down my face.  I really couldn't believe I was standing where the towers stood just ten years ago.  It was all very surreal.  Emerson didn't understand the names around the pools but we all did, and it was poignant, emotional, and infuriating.  I still can't believe we lost 3,000+ innocent people that day.  We walked around for about 30 minutes, enjoyed the view of the new construction, the rebuilding, the REBIRTH.  

While we waited in line for security, Emerson got to meet one of the K-9's assigned to the Memorial.  He was very patient with her while she pet him.

The South Pool

Taking it all in!!

The North Pool

A little laughter to lighten the mood...

After we had taken in all outside had to offer, we ventured inside to the Visitor Center.  It houses momentos, merchandise, stories, video and history of that disastrous day.  A video played of family members talking about those they lost, tears streamed down my face, and while I held it together in front of Emerson, I could have wept right there.  Story-after-story of how this day changed so many lives.  One of my favorite stories was the wallet that was found containing a $2.00 bill.  You can read Myrta and Roberts story here.  Robert gave Myrta the $2.00 bill years before the attacks as they started their life together.  He always carried one and she always carried one.  It was three years after the attack that she was reunited with his $2.00 bill, wallet and wedding ring and the confirmation that her husband had perished that day.  It just kills me, there are hundreds of other stories like this out there, each one touching in their own way.  

The Visitors Center

Once we had paid our respects, said a prayer or two and taken in the stories, we needed a bit more of a happy scene.  So, we decided to catch the subway to Central Park.  Emerson wanted to ride the "train", and we knew Central Park would be a good place to walk around and maybe catch a horse and carriage ride.  But as we walked toward the subway entrance, we came upon a firetruck and I had to snap a picture to remind us of where we had just been...

Marbles Kids Museum

We decided to try another one of the Triangle's great kids museums this morning (if you remember, we hit Kidzu a couple of weeks ago) and invited the Herman girls to join in the fun with us.  Not sure why we haven't been before now, but I think of all the museums in this area, Marbles Kids Museum is, by far, my new FAVORITE!!!  I absolutely loved it and I think all the girls did too!  There were so many interactive sections to the museum, actually, the entire museum is interactive and each section has it's own theme. 

The Splash! section of the museum has a lot to offer.  The girls put on their waterproof smocks for a little bit of water fun in the huge water bowls.  After we all got "splashed" a little bit, we decided to move to the other areas of the Splash! section.  The Under the Waves room provided the girls with plenty of jumping opportunities on bouncy balls while listening to the calming sounds of the ocean.  After jumping around, it was time to experiment in the U.S.S Science Submarine and then get washed away at sea on The Blue Marble pirate ship. 

After the Splash! section, we decided to head upstairs to IdeaWorks.  While Amy and Ivie took a potty break, Danny, Emerson, Macie and I decided to walk around IdeaWorks and check it out.  At our last corner turn, we came upon the Super Structures section that was full, and I mean FULL, of blocks.  The girls had a great time building "castles" (as Emerson called them).  After building castles, we rounded the last corner to find the Go Zone of IdeaWorks.  The Go Zone is a place that you can build and race your own car.  I have to admit, Emerson's car won every time it was raced.  I also have to admit that we didn't make it, we picked it up off the table pre-made.  So, to whomever made the super speedy car today at Marbles, we thank you, because Emerson was super excited that her car won each race!!  Idea Works also included a work bench area, a design and construct area, and an Art Loft that we didn't even make it to....oh well, maybe next time.

The IdeaWorks section filtered us into the special exhibit sections of the BB&T Storeybrook Forest.  The girls were more than willing to throw on a tutu and show us their moves at the ballet bar.  The Can Heroes section in Storeybrook Forest offered great views of the entire museum but you had to be willing to walk into the grates that were suspended in mid air.  I think the mommies were a bit nervous with the girls in there, but they sure loved looking down at all the excitement. 

The next special exhibit was Moneypalooza.  Basically, this is an exhibit to start teaching kids the importance of saving, earning, and sometimes, even spending money.  I think we could have spent all day in this section.  Emerson's two favorite sections were the Dog Walking section and the Pizzeria.  She earned (funny) money from a Marbles employee for walking her dog around the park. In the Pizzeria, Emerson got her apron and chef hat on, took a pizza order by phone, made her pizza (in a brick oven, even), boxed it up and sent it on its way to be delivered.  Too cute!! 

After all the fun and excitement of Moneypalooza, we realized it was almost time to head out for the day,  but not before playing in the Around Town section (a section we missed on the way in).  Around Town is filled with all the things you might find in your own town like buses, fire trucks, trains, and even a theatre.  Emerson also had a great time playing with the over-sized blocks at the museums entrance and we eventually had to tempt her away with getting a special "prize" in the gift shop.  (more on that later)

What a great way to spend a Saturday morning......

I see a trip back to Marbles in our VERY near future!!!

.....and, of course, I leave you with two of my favorites from today!!!

Mommy/Daughter outing

Last Saturday Danny had to go to his office for an "office cleaning" in anticipation for their big move this past week.  Emerson and I decided on Friday that we were going to have a Mommy/Daughter morning at Kidzu Children's Museum on Franklin Street followed by lunch at Sutton's.  Sounds perfect!  We invited the Hermans to join us for a morning of fun.  Actually, Emerson was the only one out our group that had been to Kidzu before; Mimi and Betsy took her last spring for a morning outing. 

Kidzu is a great little museum full of hands-on learning activities.   Emerson had a great time playing in all the different sections of the museum.  Every section had its own theme; cars, kitchen, veggie market, vegetable garden, art, reading, blocks, and balls.  Kidzu really covered all their bases.  Emerson loved the art table and did such a great job on her piece that she was able to hang it from the ceiling with other pieces created by previous little ones. 

After Kidzu, we hit the most famous place on Franklin Street for lunch, Sutton's.  Emerson loved her grilled cheese, fries and ice cold milk.  She had an even better time looking at all the people in the pictures plastered all over Sutton's walls.  Emerson would point to a picture and associate it with someone in her life and then call out their name.  My entertainment was seeing what name she was going to call out for each picture; some of them were pretty funny. 

While we were sitting at lunch, I got an inkling to make dinner that night.  I decided to make Taco Ole' Soup from Make and Takes website (it had been in my Google Reader earlier that week).  Good thing I now have the Droid; I got to her site, got the recipe and made my list.  Actually I just kept the website up and took it into the grocery store with me.  Emerson and I ended our Mommy/Daughter adventure in Harris Teeter to pick up the items we needed for dinner.  She wanted to push the "sopping cart" that was her size around the store.  Since we were only going to be there for 15 mintues for about 15 items, I happily obliged.  She is a pretty good little shopper.  Hmmm, I wonder where she got that from?