After a quick power-nap for Baylor, we bundled up prepared for a chilly night on the town (errr...city).
New Yorkers really go all out for the Holiday Season. Decorations adorn practically every building, and every few blocks you'll stumble upon a breathtaking larger-than-life Christmas tree or in this case, a few 10-ton topiary candy canes dangling from a ledge!
By far, my favorite seasonal accents were the brilliantly illuminated snowflakes dangling over some of Manhattan's major intersections. The only thing better was the real snow that started to fall on our final day in the city.
The boys did a little window-shopping and daydreaming on the way to dinner. Jax selected a vibrant yellow Ferrari, and Baylor frantically pointed past the gas-guzzlers to the Ferrari pedal cars. At least, he was working with a realistic goal.
Although, if you're gonna dream, dream BIG. So, Jax really had the right idea.
A quick stop at Rickshaw Dumpling Bar provided some tasty appetizers for our gang. While the dumplings were okay, the real showstoppers were the juicy beef and pork buns. The combination of flavors was truly mouthwatering good! We enjoyed a second round and had to stop ourselves from ordering a third since we intended to travel another few blocks for our next course.
We switched gears and continents for dinner. Kelly had explored Mario Batali's EATALY Marketplace a few weeks earlier and felt it provided an amazing variety of options in a child-friendly setting. This place was perfect for us!
The options were truly overwhelming. The marketplace featured a number of dining venues intermingled with a top-of-the-line gourmet market. I wanted it all! The only downside was that the secret was out, and the market was PACKED with people all eager to sample the delicious offerings.
After putting our name in for a table, we wandered a bit and discovered the patisserie. The options were endless and narrowing down our selections was no small feat.
Luckily, our purchases met Baylor's approval.
Dinner turned out to be more of an adventure than we had anticipated thanks to EATALY's overwhelming popularity. Without a doubt, it's good to be Mario Batali. Not only is he making the dough (Actually, that job is probably for one of his minions.), he's raking in the dough!
Day 2 seemed a little colder even though the forecast was nearly identical to the previous day, and before you attribute it to the fact that we're from Florida, I should share that Aunt Kelly (the NY transplant) was also commenting that she wished she had worn a hat and selected a thicker scarf. We wanted to experience chilly temps to put us in the holiday spirit, and Mother Nature was doing her best to cooperate.
Day 2 was all about the boys. We set out early with a plan to see Santa at Bloomingdales, and our route took us right by Central Park. After a few quick pictures, we were on our way. We had a date with the Big Guy and couldn't afford to be late.
Thankfully, the line wasn't terribly long, and the boys were whispering their requests in Santa's ear within the hour. Success!
Our second stop was Dylan's Candy Bar. Could there be a more perfect place to celebrate our successful mission than a sugar wonderland? The boys walked all THREE floors carefully making their selections, and then they picked out a few treats to take home for others. So very thoughtful!
After lunch, we piled Jaxon, Baylor, & our shopping bags into the single stroller and set out for what I was sure would be a HUGE hit...FAO Schwarz toy store. Whoever tested our brand of stroller and declared it's weight limit at 40 lbs really underestimated it's capabilities!
When traveling with kids, you have to be flexible. It's certainly a good idea to have a plan, but don't be afraid to deviate as needed. Like when passing a ginormous Christmas tree, for example.
Another quick photo opp, and we were back on the trail in search of toys. You probably thought I was exaggerating about the holiday sights in the city. I'm telling you the Rockefeller tree has some stiff competition!
Once we arrived at the toy store, we discovered that in addition to serving as our pack mule, the stroller provided us with immediate access to the store. Evidently, those with strollers are allowed to bypass the line to enter the store/insanity. Thank goodness for small perks because a 30-60 minute wait in the cold would definitely have taken a toll on our holiday spirits.
While the store was extremely crowded, the boys were able to tickle the ivories on the BIG piano after only a few minutes of waiting. Obviously, they were clueless that the piano was famously featured in a movie, but that had zero impact on their experience. The expressions of joy on their faces was priceless. I'm shocked (yet very appreciative) that they didn't hit me up for the smaller home version.
The rest of our time was spent perusing the toys scattered throughout the three-story wonderland. Much to Jax's disappointment, we left the store empty handed. The checkout line was just too intimidating to even consider making a purchase. Both boys handled the disappointment well, thankfully.
When we exited the store, we discovered the sidewalks and streets were just as crowded as the toy store. Clearly, everyone was on a mission to tackle the Christmas shopping list on 5th Avenue. At that point, we unanimously decided to head back to the hotel and rest up for another fun night in the city. Round 2 would require all of our energy since we would without a doubt be facing colder temperatures and bigger crowds.
Wrapped in multiple layers, we headed back out into the biting cold for what was certain to be a memorable adventure.
We strolled past the crowds at Radio City Music Hall...
Paused briefly to pose with a super-sized Nutcracker...
But, we stopped dead in our tracks when we rounded the corner at Rockefeller Plaza and saw the world-famous Rockefeller tree and the 4 million people also there to gaze at it's beauty. What a sight to behold! Some thought it would be bigger. Personally, I think it just seemed small in comparison to the skyscrapers surrounding it. Others commented on it's imperfections like the gaps and holes in the foliage. I simply thought it looked majestic covered in thousands of twinkling lights and imagined the joy it must bring to the millions that visit every December.
Of course, the joy in your heart is eventually overwhelmed by hoards of people jockeying to get a better view, and that's when we knew it was time to move on to another New York holiday tradition...the window displays at the major department stores. Holy Moly! They are like works of art worthy of an exhibit at The Met. All of the stores we visited (Bloomingdales, Saks 5th Avenue, and Bergdorf Goodman), showed great imagination in their efforts. However, Bergdorf Goodman was my personal favorite. Their displays just seemed to take whimsy and artistry to a completely different level, like something out of a Broadway set design.
To warm up, we made a pit stop at Bryant Park to explore the holiday village of tents offering holiday gifts and tasty treats. Hot apple cider and warm, savory Turkish treats were exactly what we needed to raise our core temperatures.
The final stop of the evening was Times Square and the flagship Toys R Us store. There is a 3-story ferris wheel inside, People! The boys were starting to doze off in the stroller as we made our way into this electrifying section of the city, but within seconds they were jolted back to life.
After touring Toys R Us, I asked Jax, "Which store did you like better, Jaxon? FAO Schwarz or Toys R Us?" "Toys R Us!" Jaxon blurted out in response. Something tells me that the fact that Jaxon left Toys R Us with a Star Wars Transformer in hand compared to walking out of FAO Schwarz empty-handed might have helped in the voting. Just saying!It was Midnight by the time we made our way out of the store, and since it wasn't New Years Eve, there was no need to linger and bask in the glow of an illuminated crystal ball. The adrenaline rush was wearing off, and we still had several blocks between us and our warm hotel room.
On our final full day in the city, we ventured down to Chinatown for dim sum with Aunt Nguyen and the boys' second cousin, Jerome, who had recently moved to the city. Of course, the food was delicious, but the real fun came after leaving the restaurant as we bartered on the streets for "luxury" items. Oh the fun!Afterwards, we walked over to SoHo and made more purchases. This time, there was a cash register involved, but that didn't mean it was less of an experience. You see, we were shopping at Uniqlo. I'm not kidding when I say it's an incredible store. They hem your jeans and pants for FREE while you wait!!! Who does that??? Uniqlo that's who, and it doesn't even matter that they are $12 sale jeans. FREE!
As excited as I was to experience Uniqlo, we had a different grand finale planned for the boys and Aunt Kelly...tickets to see Cirque du Soleil's Wintuk at Madison Square Garden. Jaxon and Baylor were briefly disappointed that weren't there to see a basketball game. Shoot! I guess Anh probably was too. However, once the curtain raised and performance began, all sorrows were erased...for the 2 younger boys at least.
They sat on Daddy's lap (despite the fact that I had purchased them their very own seats) and gazed in awe at the miraculous stunts being performed on stage. At times, the music seemed to overpower them, and they simply couldn't resist the urge to dance in the aisles. Thank goodness we selected the front row of the balcony. No innocent parties were elbowed or bumped as the boys danced along to the beat.
In the final moments of the show, the audience was enveloped in a blizzard of snowflakes, and the crowd went wild with applause. The look on Jaxon's and Baylor's faces sums up the entire trip experience...Magic!
All in all, it was a great holiday with family, but I think I missed the insanity a bit. It's sad when 2 grandparents, 1 uncle, 5 dogs, and a cat don't seem like enough. We're a crazy bunch, but I wouldn't want it any other way. Somebody remind me of that at Christmas when I'm questioning the number of people and animals that we decided to entertain!
After the lighting, we made our way across the street to one of the museums for dinner, dancing, and you guessed it...more drinks!
For an added touch of pomp and circumstance, British guards led the procession. It was certainly a nice touch!
The museum provided a wonderful backdrop for the celebration. Everyone enjoyed a glorious evening surrounded by thousands of twinkling lights. What a way to kick off the 2010 Holiday Season!
Baylor was THRILLED to see his new favorite characters, Buzz Lightyear and Woody, from Toy Story 3. The kid could not have dialed up the enthusiasm any more as he waved at his new heroes passing by in front of him.
After our grand entrance, we made a beeline for the rides. Jaxon is now tall enough to ride every single attraction in the park, and he tackled the majority during our 
However, it's all new and exciting to Baylor. He had a major potty-training breakthrough during our vacation, and I attribute it to him hearing the phrase, "You can ride this because you're a big boy now!" At home, "being a big boy" is associated with using the potty. So, to Baylor using the potty and his ability to board the rides go hand in hand. At least, that's my theory.
There were a few new experiences for Jaxon. He took the plunge with his dad on a water ride. Truth be told, I was somewhat grateful that Baylor didn't meet the height requirement.
Don't feel too bad for the youngest member of the family. He enjoyed plenty of rides! In fact, the only negative for either of the boys seemed to be riding with Mommy. Evidently, Daddy is a much better ride buddy. Well, I've got a plan for the future. I'll bring my own ride buddy, and allow both boys the pleasure of riding with Daddy. Anybody want to volunteer to be my buddy? All expenses paid!
At least Jax was eager to pose in pictures with me! That was a bit of a self-esteem booster.
As beautiful as the Magic Kingdom is during the day, you just can't describe the charm that it exudes after sunset. Rides like the carousel that could be overlooked during the day are suddenly transformed by hundreds of twinkling lights.
However, Cinderella's Castle is without a doubt the real showstopper. Amazing!
We did miss out on a few things by visiting so early in the holiday season. The boys had to settle for a picture with Mater because Lightening McQueen was off "getting a holiday paintjob." Hopefully, we can squeeze in another quick visit before the end of the season to check out McQueen's new look.
Baylor and Jax recovered quickly from the disappoint. I'm sure it helped that we were finally able to checkout the Toy Story attraction. It's a ride through a 3-D carnival-themed shooting gallery, and it's quite possibly our new favorite ride. I'm not sure how often we'll get to experience the thrill though. There's usually a 3+ hour wait involved, but thanks to the small crowds during this trip, we only waited approximately 40 minutes. By far, that was our longest line. Most attractions we either walked right on or waited for no more than 10 minutes. It was ideal!
By our fourth and final day, one would expect that we'd be dragging our weary feet. However, we were energized especially the boys. They couldn't wait to explore Animal Kingdom.
Animal Kingdom is the park we've explored the least, but that doesn't mean it's any less impressive. This trip, we managed to spend some time in the dinosaur-themed playground. What an excellent way for the boys to burn off some energy prior to the ride home.
Of course, we had to squeeze in a few more rides with the adrenaline junkies.
Plus, we were finally able to watch the Nemo show. It is without a doubt Broadway caliber!
