The Big Apple

Loved, Loved, Loved it!

As some of you know, I hate the big city, but I loved the biggest city of all. We ended up in NYC because my plane ticket was much less expensive to fly into NYC than Boston or Connecticut. So I said, "Guess we should see it while we're there." But, I wasn't all that excited about it.

Then when we got there....I loved it. The more I saw...the more disappointed I was that I only had one day to spend there. We rode a bus from the airport to NYC. It was a 90 min ride...even though the guy at the airport said it would be about 30 min. Then we ate....shamefully at McDonald's. I was a little scared to try anything new. Then we got on the tour bus. I figured it was the best way to see the city in a very short amount of time.

Below: A great shot of the city streets. I'd heard people say that the honking makes you crazy, but I really didn't notice that much honking.


The Empire State Building. It truely is a sight to see. I was sad I didn't get to go inside though....no time.

The architecture in NYC is amazing....old and ornate, simple, brown stones, dazzling sky scrapers, glass, steal, brick, block....it has it all!

A shot of China Town for Challis. It was really my least favorite part of NYC, however the largest growing part of the city shoving back Little Italy to one block. My favorite part of the city was Greenwich Village. It was so quaint. I also liked Soho, and Chelsie.

Another shot of the amazing arcitecture. The bottom part of the building was built by William Randolf Hurst during the depression...He figured 6 stories would be enough, but no they added on to it latter. I think they did an amazing job. It's beautiful.




Time Square! Amazing! Loved it! It's like The strip in Vegas, but smaller and much taller!



It's so cool you have to see it in person. No photos would do it justice.

Your are going to die, but Toys R Us is the only store I was able to go in. It was so cool. Below is a shot of the huge Superman hanging down. I really think that NYC is a girls vacation. There's so much shopping to be done. Girls we need to put a little trip together...trust me...you wanna go.

A Naval ship that is now a museum. Really cool, but once again no time to see the inside.

A shot from the night harbor tour looking back at the city. You can see the Empire St. Building on the right.

Tug Boats.

More of the city.

The beautiful Statue of Liberty. Breathtaking !

The most beautiful thing there. Wish I had time to go inside.



The Staten Island Fairy. One of the few things you can do for free in NYC. I didn't get to go, but the Harbor Cruse was just as amazing, just not as cheap I'm sure.

Freakin' Cool. The night lights are crazy amazing. The Empire St Buldg. was lit up in Red, White and Blue. I was so excited because it was only supposed to be white the night we were there.




Fashion: Just a little note about what is "in style" in NYC. Boots! Tights! Skirts! Black Coats! Jeans! Scarfs! and that is it. That's all you need. All in Black..no other color! NO OTHER COLOR! NONE! ONLY BLACK! Guess that's why my RED coat stood out. I felt like a dork. Rick and I were the only people in sweats in NYC. Let me defend our clothing. We took the red eye, took a bus, toured all day, then missed our bus back to the airport...YEP! Took the Subway, took a train then drove to Connecticut and got here at...3 :15 a.m. No sleep for almost 48 hours. If we didn't have comfort we'd have killed each other.....ok!



The Financial District. The Dow closed yesterday below 8,000. The lowest close in over 5 years. One of the things they told us on the tour was that after 9-11 many of the companies chose not to come back to the area. They just didn't feel safe. Many of the big buildings are being made into personal residences. The average cost of a small apartment in Manhattan is between 3,000 and 5,000 dollars a month. WOW!



The thing that made me the most sad was that this is Thanksgiving week. There are so many festivities going on in NYC this week including the lighting of the Big Tree at Rockefeller Center. You can see the lights on the tree on the right. The stores have all of there amazing window displays up, and it's so cool. I really wish I could have gone in Macy's.....it huge! I really have got to come back. There's so much I didn't get to see.

Well, Corbin I hope it was worth the wait. Sorry I didn't have time to post yesterday. I love and miss you all. Kisses.

MOM.

Playoff at the U of U

Syracuse Vs. Alta

Wow! I'm so proud that all these boys worked so hard this year to make it so far. And what a great reward to get to play at Rice Eccles Stadium at the University of Utah. There were so many fans that came out to support these boys and their coaches....way more than Alta. They fought so hard, but in the end...they lost. 42-14. Well, there's always next year and the next for Corbin.

I'm off to NYC tonight. Thanks Cas for all the ideas. It should be a blast. Also, look for posts to come about Corbin having surgery on Dec 4th.

New York, Windsor Connecticut, and Boston!

K, I just wanted to say how excited I'm getting to go on my trip. 10 days of fun with Rick. It'll be a blast. I'm kinda unprepared though, so if any of you know some great spots I need to check out, places to eat or advice on how to get around....I really could use the insider tips. It's the first time I've ever been.

I never thought I'd get to go to New York or Boston. I'm not a big city girl either, so I never really even thought much about it, but now that it's here. I'm totally excited.

Now help me out...will ya?

So Happy They Came To Visit!

A Visit From Debbie and Don.

Rick's sister Debbie and his brother Don came for a visit this weekend. Don came as a last minute surprise, and we were so happy he did. We had so much fun with them. We really enjoyed every minute with them. Saturday morning we went to the Clark Planetarium to see the Imax movie The Alps. It was beautiful, and we all wanted to go to Switzerland to climb mountains after.

Below: Pics a the Planetarium



So, after the movie we went down the street at The Gateway and went rock wall climbing at Dicks sporting goods store. I even did the wall even though I am afraid of heights. Some of us made it to the top (Channy, and Tiff), some of us had extra help to make it to the top (Rick), some of us have a torn shoulder and didn't make it far at all (Corbin), and some of us did our best and had creative excuses.....unnamed.....

Don

Debbie

Channy

Tiff

After our climb we met Amber and Joe (Rick's cousin and her husband) for a yummy dinner at Teppanyaki Grill. We really enjoyed the cooking show. After we had a fun visit at Matt and Misty's. I forgot to bring in the camera, but we just love how sweet they are. They let us hang and play pool. Sam was there too, and I'm glad we got to see him because he said he will be off to live in Denver after Christmas.

Below: Amber, Joe, Channy, and Don
Tiffany and Rick

Sunday night it was dinner at our house. We enjoyed dinner with Jay, Tora, Oren, Amy, Jake, Ash, Danny, Tomas, and Kortney. Then we played a game and at dessert. We always enjoy all their company and are so glad they came over.
Below: Rick and Deb serve up dessert
Jake

Amy and Ash

Oren

Corbin and Jay

Kortney

Tora and Amy

We are so happy Don and Debbie came so we could have such a fun time. We hope to see everyone again soon. We love you all!

The Syracuse Titan's are goin' to the Semi-Finals!

Let 'um talk all they want!
And get your respect on the field!

Well..... people have talked about the Titan's all season long. At the beginning of the season they talked about a couple of kids that committed some crimes. Those kids gave the rest of the team a heavy burden to carry for the rest of the season. They had a "West Side Thug" reputation, and even my alma mater (Davis High), made shouts, "Why don't you go steal something!" during the J.V. game. (Never have I been so embarrassed to be a Dart!) BUT! Let 'um talk now. They earned their respect with all their burden, and they should hold their heads high. Because they are the only team going to Rice Eccles Stadium for the State Playoffs.......So take that and shout it on back....Davis!

As you can see the Titan's (9-2) WON Pleasant Grove (10-1) with only 1.2 seconds in the game. It was a fabulous game. Pleasant Grove fought hard in the second half and gave us something to cheer about until the final seconds. Officially the best game I've been at.

So, Alta! We'll see you at the Uof U.....game on! GO TITANS!

Click the link below to hear about the TITANS FIGHT FOR RESPECT! The video will be on the right side of your screen, click the play arrow to start.

http://www.kutv.com/content/sports/prepsports/default.aspx?articleID=64376

In God We Trust....

Well, He'd be about the only one I'd trust these days. I've listened to and read so much misinformation today that I'm saddened. People will listen to gossip then spread it on bread and hand it out as lunch. Hello, you naive people! Do you actually think that the whole nation would let a man become president that wasn't born in the U.S? And, just because his middle name happens to be the same as the middle name of a terrorist.....doesn't make him a terrorist! I'm pretty sure there are plenty of men who have been named Adolf who are exceptional men that are good at heart. Seriously! Are you kidding me?! Obama is Muslim? Not! He's Cristian. At the end of his speech last night he said, "And God bless America." To all you people who care about that in Utah. You might want to remember though, most people outside of Utah don't believe Mormons are Christian. Not true, but gossip is what it is. I've been really disappointed in people and their gossip today.....Seriously! Get educated, and quit the gossip!

You might think I voted for Obama....I didn't. But an injustice is an injustice. And I'm sick of all the "Dooms Day" crap. The world isn't coming to an end in the next four years! Just stop it! Most people didn't vote for Obama only because he's black.....They voted for his message. Give 'um a little credit. Will there be change....only time will tell, but I have hope for my nation, respect for the office of the president, and a belief in myself that "Yes I Can!" So, we'll start on that common ground, and go from there.

So, quit your play ground bullying, move forward...quit livin' in the past or at least trust in God for the best.

Our Halloween

Syracuse V Kearns - Wipe OUT

We (Kristi and Troy Nye, Kristi's dad, Shawn and Jenny Bair, Corbin and Kortney, Brenda and Kin, and Rick and I) went to the first playoff game Halloween morning, and I have the say...Kearns made me a little afraid. Basically, it was HUGE Tongan boys Vs. skinny white boys, one black due, and one skinny Hawaiian kicker. I thought.."There's gonna be some broken bones for sure." But, no! Our skinny white boys are fast! Big Tongan boys, slow! The score was 42-18. And trust me those 18 points were give aways.

Plastic Surgery anyone?

Channy was a Dr. for Halloween.


And Corbin had some friends over.


Amanda, Kelsie, Cole, Corbin, and Cute Kortney.