The Best Way to End a Crappy Year

I'm writing this on the eve of my 35th birthday. I hate birthdays. I hate the attention, and I hate even more getting older. And people act like it's my fault my birthday is so close to Christmas. So I'm doing something to cheer myself up...thinking about the amazing trip Daniel and I took a couple weeks ago.

Daniel said we were going somewhere but he wouldn't tell me where. That lasted about a day before he told me we were going to New York City, my favorite place in the world. We left the day after Christmas, and after two long days of driving, we made it to our hotel in Carlstadt, NJ. This is my first time to not stay in Manhattan, and I loved it!! The hotel was super nice and way cheaper. We found out the bus stop was across the street, and it took us straight to the city in about 15 minutes. Not being confined to Manhattan also allowed us to go places in New Jersey, too (although the toll roads are really annoying).

Port Authority (aka the bus station) is a few blocks over from Times Square. Our first morning there we hit the subway down to the World Trade Center. I haven't been down there in all the times I've been to NYC. It was breathtaking and heartbreaking at the same time. It's just the saddest thing to see. This is the new tower.

And this is the hole where the North Tower used to be. There's one for the South Tower too. It's pretty surreal. All around it are the names of all the people who died that day. 

Too sad for words.

Right across the street is St. Paul's Chapel (the Little Chapel That Stood). It's amazing that it wasn't damaged at all by 9/11. God working there...

Had to see Macy's. So many pretty Christmas things going on there. We made the mistake of going inside. The whole first floor was a big perfume counter...it was hell. 

I felt a little ridiculous going here, but hey, when in Rome, right?! So the amount of security made me laugh so hard. The sidewalk in front of Trump Tower was only open to folks going into it. There were so many cops just directing the foot traffic. We went inside to get some coffee. Newsflash...Trump Tower is ugly. It is all gold inside like it's stuck in the 70s. So tacky. No sightings, though.

We had to go to Times Square to see where the ball was going to drop. You can barely see the 2017 above the small Toshiba. I don't think you could have paid me to stand there all day on New Year's Eve.

Resting in the M&M store. Daniel was pretty exhausted. 

It rained on Thursday so we went to the movies in Carlstadt. The rain quit in the afternoon and we decided to go into the city that night. It was perfect!! Well, except the bus ride. Remember I said it took 15 minutes? It takes an hour during rush hour. Even Daniel was carsick. But we got into Times Square and felt much better.

I told Daniel the restaurants in Times Square are super expensive, but we went into one anyway. I saw the menu, and we immediately left. Beyond ridiculous. We found some gyros on the street and saved us $50 or so. So much fun.

We went to Rockefeller Plaza to see the tree at night. It was laughable how crowded it was! The tree is so much prettier at night.

I had heard a girl on the bus tell someone about Bryant Park, so we headed that way. I'm so glad we did! Another gorgeous tree, ice skating, and so many cool vendors! We even got to drink $5 cinnamon hot chocolate (gag)!

 Ice skating at Bryant Park.

The Empire State Building

Friday was beyond cold, so we decided to go to an outlet mall in New Jersey. It was a lot of fun. On Saturday (NYE) Daniel was tired and a little sick, so I went into the city myself. This is me waiting at the bus stop. It was before 8:00 and it was cold!

One thing I've never done is walk all the way across the Brooklyn Bridge. If I had known it was 1.1 miles one way, I might not have done it. The wind chill was 24, and I was freezing!!

Can't beat those views, though.

I made it! I walked into Brooklyn hoping to find a coffee shop nearby. No such luck, so I covered my face back up and walked the mile back across.

On the way to the Brooklyn Bridge I walked through Battery Park. I didn't realize the Statue of Liberty was so far away. That top picture is the Staten Island Ferry. Ferries make me sick, but I read today the Staten Island Ferry is free and it goes right by Lady Liberty, so I might have to try it next time.

I warmed up with some hot chocolate (did I mention we became addicted to Dunkin Donuts hot chocolate? Heaven...) and took the subway to Greenwich Village. I wanted to find my favorite pizza place. I walked around where I thought it was, but no luck. So I found the Friends apartment, and was about to give up. Just then, I rounded the corner, and there it was!! It's the best pizza, and it's super cheap! I think it's called Joe's. I was planning to just head back to Port Authority after the pizza, but I realized I was only a few blocks from the Hudson River. I then proceeded to walk several blocks down the river to 8th Ave. I could have taken a subway to Port Authority, but I decided to walk the almost 30 blocks through Chelsea. And I loved every second of it.

I was really stressed out the whole trip about where we would go for New Year's Eve. All I've said the past month is I want to go somewhere and drink away 2016. And we had to watch the 2nd playoff game. We found a restaurant right down the street from the hotel. We ate some good food then moved to the bar. I drank orange vodka and cranberry juice. I could have had a hundred, but I think I stopped at 3. We were back at the hotel by 9:00, watched Mariah make a fool of herself, watched the ball drop and the fireworks over the Hudson out our window. Then it was to sleep we went.

We got into the city before 10:00 on New Year's Day. We walked through Times Square and played in the leftover confetti. Then we got some hot chocolate and headed to church!

My mom, sister, and I visited Marble Collegiate the last time we were here, and I was excited to go back. It was a wonderful New Year's service, and I'm so glad we went.

After church we walked through Chinatown and Little Italy and had some yummy Italian for lunch. Daniel was ready to head back to the hotel, but it was our last day so I stayed for a while.

I went on the subway with Daniel to Port Authority, got him on the bus, and headed out. I decided to walk to Central Park. Once I got there I just kept walking and looking at the amazing apartments overlooking the Park. I was a woman on a mission. Port Authority is on 42nd Street. I walked to the top of the Park...if you can see the sign it says 110th Street. Yes, my friends, that was 68 blocks. I was a little tired...Luckily there was a subway right behind me, and I took it straight to Port Authority. I got on the bus for the last time and almost cried as we left Manhattan.

What a trip of a lifetime! I know I've been to NYC so many times, but it never gets old! I've been in the summer, the spring, and the winter. Now I need to go see the pretty fall foliage. Daniel did good...

And for all you folks hoping to visit soon. Just remember this when you get on the subway. Leave your pole dance routines at home.

And to All a Good Night

I have never been so happy to count down to a new year. I was half asleep, but I counted from ten, kissed Daniel, and rolled over and went back to sleep. 2016 was a rough one, and I'm just making the best of every minute of 2017 to make up for it.

I'm a little overwhelmed with all the pictures I want to put on here, and how far behind I am. I didn't take too many pictures at Christmas (trying to be in the moment and not miss crucial things). But Daniel surprised me with a trip to NYC after Christmas, and everything there stands still, so I got lots of pictures (go ahead and prepare yourself for lots of scrolling on the next post).

As Christmas approached, I knew it would be a tough one. We should have been celebrating our 7 month old's first Christmas, and Memaw's 93rd Christmas (she would have turned 92 in September). But we held on to each other and remembered the little baby in the manger. If it wasn't for that little baby, we wouldn't be able to get through one day of our grief, let alone the whole holiday season. Memaw and Susannah had a front row seat to Jesus's birthday celebration, and we all made it through in one piece.

Shorty's been inside since it's so dang cold outside. The kids love letting her out of her cage and snuggling with her. And Shorty loves the attention.

We did pretty good with school this month. We got into a little routine, and I tried to do more fun Christmas activities than just working out of the workbook.

I can't even tell you how many sugar cookies we baked and decorated this season. I found a recipe on Pinterest that was good, then I found one in a magazine that was AMAZING, and it seemed like we baked all month. They were a little addictive. Also, I'm pretty sure Avery lived in those pjs the entire month.

We went to Meme's a couple weeks before Christmas, and there's a house in Chelsea with lots of lights that are synced to a station on the radio. It was so neat. They let you come in their driveway, and the guy even came out and gave us candy canes. Colt liked his a little too much...

We also went to the Galleria to ride the reindeer carousel. Colt was dead set on riding in the sleigh. I was scared he would get upset because it didn't go up and down, but he loved it!!

On the Thursday before Christmas we celebrated with Daniel's family. It's a free for all with presents, so I didn't have time to get pictures. But you can picture the chaos in your head. No one knows what anyone else gets, and no one knows who anything is from. 

Friday night we went to my dad's house. We played As Seen on TV Dirty Santa, and we got a toilet light (that is totally cool) and Brett Favre razors. I'd say we scored.

Colt is happy to be alive (as usual) :o)

Sisters (with a Colt photo bomb)

Our little elf was exhausted on the way home from Peepaw's.

I think my favorite part of Christmas this year was Christmas Eve. 

We went to the movies and saw Sing together. The kids liked it...Daniel and I were not impressed.

Then we went to the Mexican restaurant for dinner. So happy to spend the day with the family.

We got home and put out milk and cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer. Then Daniel read The Night Before Christmas and it was time for bed!

Santa brought bikes!! Colt didn't see anything Peppa from Santa and was not a happy camper. Welcome to three.

Avery got Barbie stuff.

And here is the joy...the Peppa school! All is right with the world.

Pure joy.

In hindsight I feel bad for being bummed that Christmas was on a Sunday...do we go to church? do we have time? is it going to mess up our morning? 

I mean, come on, Claire. How ridiculous am I?! We got to celebrate the reason for Christmas on our day of worship! Why wouldn't we go to church?! What a sweet blessing to be able to celebrate at First Baptist with our family. It was a beautiful service. I loved singing the Christmas songs and hearing the message. Avery even got to go up front to hear a story from the pastor.

She was so sweet trying to sing the songs.

Avery listening to Brother Jon tell a Christmas story. Colt walked about halfway up there (he wanted me to go) before turning around and running back with a sad face. It was pretty funny.

I decided to start a new tradition. I found some holiday crackers at Target and saved them for Christmas lunch. We had fun popping them open, seeing the prizes, and reading the fortunes. Oh, and of course, wearing the crowns! Daniel's bout ripped in half on his head!

After lunch I took Avery and Colt to the school to ride bikes. Avery had so much fun! Colt got a bike too, but you see he wanted to play with Peppa and jump in puddles. And as I'm writing this the feels like temperature is 8 degrees, and I'm really stinking jealous of the Christmas weather we had.

We left that afternoon to celebrate at my mom's house. Apparently I'm only good for taking pictures at our own house. We had so much fun with my family. 

We love all the traditions of Christmas, including Santa, but I really want it to sink in why we really celebrate Christmas. It's become such a commercial holiday, even non Christians celebrate it! But the only reason we celebrate this day on December 25 is Jesus, the baby who came to earth to live as a human (while still being God), suffer on a cross, and die for our sins. Nothing else matters. Not the gifts. Not the food. Not the music. It's all about Him. This is about the 500th time I had asked Colt this this season, and he answered right every time (and maybe one day we'll have snow at Christmas). 

"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord."

Luke 2:10-11

There are three things I love about this verse. The angels tell the shepherds not to be afraid. Jesus tells us that too in John 16...what do we have to be afraid of? Jesus overcame the world! The angel also brings good news of great joy...joy beats happiness every time, and my only joy comes from that baby. And most importantly, that joy is for ALL the people. Everybody. And it baffles me why so many refuse to accept that joy. It makes me joyful to have that joy! And I pray that joy on so many people. 

Christmas was fun, but I'm ready for this new year...bring it on, 2017!!