New York, New York!

Little Miss's first real trip anywhere, first train ride, and first all kinds of things took place in high style- NYC style!  In honor of my step-dad's big 5-0 birthday, we met up with him in his home town.

 While he worked for the first few days, my mom and I took the girls out on the town and saw some sights.

I even took my little singing/dancing queen to Her first ever, real Broadway show! Jazz hands!

We went to see Mary Poppins. When I sat down with my two year old, the people next to me seriously, visibly winced.  The looked at each other like, "Oooh great.  We get the seats by the toddler. Fuggetaboutit!"  But I was not worried, because I knew what would happen, and it did.  Little One sat through about 3 hours of musical without making so much as a peep, other than the occasional whispered "wow!".  She sat straight up, wide eyed and enraptured the whole time, occasionally swaying or bopping a little to the music.  To say that She enjoyed it is like saying I would "enjoy" having my own personal chocolate factory in the garage.  She was enchanted, and She went around copying the dance numbers (step-in-time was her fave) and talking about "Mrs Puffins" for weeks.  Months.  I liked the show, too.  It was great.  But I loved watching Her watch the show, more than anything.

Another of Little One's favorite things about The City was the subway.  She adored the subway.  Because in New York, the Subway is a venue.  Local people are crawling all over the stations with their portable sound systems, their instruments, their voices.  People get on the cars and belt out tunes for change.  As far as Little One is concerned, this is how life should be.  The filthy NY subway system is Her utopia.  Here is a perfect example:
We are waiting on the platform.  No one is making eye contact, no one is paying any attention to the 40th random guy playing drums they have seen that day.  Except Little One.  He started playing, he started singing, and you all know what happened next, doncha Peanuts?!  She started dancing.  She danced Her heart out, She laughed and giggled.  She begged Her grandparents to "Dance wif me! Dance wif me guys!"  They couldn't resist.  Soon the three of them were spinning and boogying on the platform, and people are forming a circle.  They are whooping.  They are clapping in time.  They are laughing, they are joining in!  Forget going to Broadway again.  Little One is making the wide world into a musical.  People spontaniously burst into song and dance! Everyone cheers!  Then the train came. We tipped the musician. But by the look on his face and the "bless you"s he called out to us as we pulled away from the station, I think Little One's enthusiasm was more appreciated than the bills She put in his box.

The music is always Her highlight.  But She had a great time seeing other sights too.  She loved the "Statue O'liverty." She liked how she stands with her arm in the air like that.  She likes how much room there is to run on the island.  She likes that just because She called it "adorable" in a reverent tone, Her mother bought Her a bracelet charm in the gift shop.  Sucker.

We all liked the ferry ride.  

 We also visited Ellis Island.  A moving place, and a great museum. 

We couldn't help but notice that some things don't change much over time. (check out the picture in the background)

Central park was a big hit also.  Little One especially loved the boat pond, the statue of Alice in Wonderland, and the fact that there are dozens of playgrounds (and Jaju never gets tired of pushing Her on the swings).

 I'm convinced She would have liked the Met if She hadn't slept through the whole visit.  But I LOVED it.  There was an entire Egyptian tomb in there! 

I feel you, ancient chick.  Some things never change.

We packed in as much as we could, and I can honestly saw that Little One had a blast and Little Miss was a very good sport.  Most of the time She was in Her Happy Place- the baby carrier- so She had no complaints at all.  I had my mom and a city to explore... I guess sometimes you actually can please everyone at once.