New York

My daughter and I got to go on a trip of a lifetime this past week.  It has been a dream of my daughter's and me to visit New York City.  She saved her money from working at the concession stand for us to go.  Man, did we have a blast. 

We had three days in the city, we got to see some of the things on our list, but of course, we couldn't see it all.  There were three top things on my must see list ...

One being the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center.  It sure didn't let me down.  It was gorgeous with the ice skating rink and everything around it.  We saw the NBC studios and went into the NBC store. 

 



 Another one was Ground Zero.  I wish I had words for how this effected me.  I remember 9/11 just like it was yesterday but being there was something else.  It was well worth the long wait in line to see the memorial.  Too see the names of the ones that died ... well, I didn't have dry eyes.

 

 

 

And the other one was Central Park.  Oh my ... it was breathe taking to see all the beauty of the park, but then to see the buildings lining the park was spectacular.  I could have stayed there all day.  There were families there; kids playing, people riding bikes, kids playing catch, people walking dogs, people running and walking.  We took the bike tour around the park and got to see lots places that I wanted to see such as:  ice rink (where they filmed part of Home Alone), the fountain (where they filmed several movies including Home Alone 2) and the fountain where they filmed the opening part to Friends and the list goes on and on. 

 

 

 

This trip was such an experience for me and for my daughter.  I was so blessed to have shared this with her.  It will be something I will never ever forget and I will cherish for a lifetime.  We are already planning our return visit.  We want to see more things that we didn't get to see on this visit.  I know that both of us loved New York before going and we are more in love with it after our visit. 

 

I will share more of our trip and pictures.  I hope you will enjoy seeing the pictures as I did taking them.  Also, of hearing about our visit.  

 

One thing I learned from this .... Don't ever let a dream go away.  If there is something you are wanting to do or to visit somewhere ... then set your mind to it and DO IT!!  Dreams do come true if you will work at them.  It did for my daughter and I with our visit to New York City.  

 

 



 

Christmas Memories

I can not believe that it is 3 days until Christmas.  It keeps coming faster and faster each year.  I remember when I was a child it seems like it took forever to get here and now ... way too fast. 

This is the first year with my new sweet granddaughter.  She is too young this year to really know anything, she will be 6 months old.  It is still going to be great.  She is so sweet.  I love being a grandmother.

We went to my sister's yesterday for our family Christmas.  On the drive down, I got to thinking about Christmas past.  I have a lot of fond memories growing up of Christmas.  It was my dad's favorite time of year.  He would always make such a big deal out of it. 

One of my memories was - we would try to see who could get up the earliest.  We had this competition going with the neighbors across the street.  I think it ended with us getting up once at 4:30 am .. we would open presents and all go back to bed.  I am so glad that my kids never started this tradition.  I made sure they didn't ....

Another favorite memory of mine was my grandparents would take all the grand kids every year to look at Christmas lights downtown Chattanooga.  Back then, the businesses would decorate their windows.  We would walk around downtown and eat at Krystal's.  We would always sing Christmas songs.  I still remember it like it was yesterday. 

There are so many more memories of Christmas as a child.  I have tried to make memories for my kids.  As they have grown up our traditions have changed.  One we still love is going on Christmas eve to eat a Waffle House and then looking at lights.  When we get home we always watch a Christmas movie. 

What are some of your childhood Christmas memories?  Do you do any of the same ones with your family?