New York City 2012

I went to New York with Kent this year.  He goes every year the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  Sometimes I tag along.  This year there was an extra push for me to go because 4 of my friends from my ward were going near the same time and our trips were overlapping for 2 days.  That meant 2 days of being able to hang out with them while Kent worked.   I am so glad I went.  I can literally say I had the time of my life.  I haven't laughed so hard, acted so crazy, been so silly, danced so much, tried new foods and saw so many neat things all in a 5 day period probably ever or at least in a long time.  It was nice to let my fun and silly side loose.  I forgot how fun it is!   There are so many pictures, for my own pleasure in no particular order :)

The Mormon church is advertising EVERYWHERE.  They are so so brilliant.  This huge sign was right in times square.  There were signs on Buses and taxi's too.

Me and Kristen Lee

The 5 of us!  These ladies have got to be at the top of the list for knowing how to have a good time.  Who knew that the wife of the 1st counselor in our Stake Presidency and my Relief Society president could be so much fun.

Brooke, Kristina, Sheri, Shelley, Kristen

My handsome hubby.  I look bad in this picture but Kent looks super cute.  Our hotel was right in Times Square at the Marriott Marquis.  We would walk around every night til the wee hours. 

Times square

You see all walks of life in New York.  I think I saw about 5 different naked cowboys.

The M&M Factory.  I have lots a favorite memories from this trip, but one of them had to be all of us ladies dancing with the real live M&M's

Me and Kristina

New York is so much fun at Christmas time.  Lot's of lights and fun decorations and window displays and music.  Pictures don't do it justice.

Boy would it be fun to be in the filming of the Late show.  Maybe one day, for now a picture in front of it is good enough.

We walked down to the Rockefeller center on the day of the lighting.  There were all kinds of preparations going on.  We heard and saw Scotty McCreary warming up for the evenings events, we was the Today Show filming.

Eating at a place called "Eatally"  it is a little market that is just like Italy.  Well, I've never been to Italy, but it was very authentic with restaurants and markets.  I tried all kinds of different cheeses.  Another favorite memory is Sheri taking her first bite of fresh Mozzarella  and telling us all to stop talking just for a minute.  She was having a moment with the cheese.

Decorated buildings, so pretty

We went to Macy's Santa land. 

And yes, we sat on Santa's lap.  He even held my hand for awhile :)

We saw Newsies on Broadway.  Brad Pitt was on our playbill.....you had to be there.

Another highlight of the trip was seeing Dolly Parton.  She was in the same Newsies show that we were.  After the show she went on the stage and took pictures with the cast.  We were trying to snap photos of her and kept getting yelled at by the usher.  We waited around outside for her to come out.  After she got in her car, the 5 of us were frantically yelling and waving.  I was doing the roll down your window motion like a crazy lady.  She rolled down her window and waved. We were literally 5 feet away.  After she drove off and we looked at our pictures, I just had to rub it into the Usher's face.  He was standing near us so I went and showed him the picture and told him she rolled her window down just for us.  He politely looked at the picture and then I said "so neener neener"   Oh my gosh, just typing that makes me laugh. 

Me and Santa

The characters are everywhere in New York.  Everyone is trying to make a living however they can.  I saw so many Mickey's and Minnie's, Hello Kitty's, Elmos etc.. It's like Disneyland in a strange creepy sort of way.  I kept wondering what kind of creep was under those costumes.

The Rockefeller Center tree after the lighting.

Kent and his buddy met up with us to see the tree. 

I love my husband.

One night we went to a piano bar called "Don't tell Mama"

There is a 2 drink minimum and everyone sings their hearts out.  Us non-drinkers had as much fun as the drunk people. 

At the Piano Bar: Brooke and Me at 2:00 a.m. looking a little tired.

Enjoying our coke and cherry 7-up

Outside the piano bar

I saw the Rockettes with Kylee who is one of Kent's co-workers wives.

So many tall beautiful buildings 

Kylee and I went to FAO Schwartz one day and played on the "BIG" piano from the movie "BIG" 

We also went to St. Patricks Cathedral, Tiffanys and The American Doll store.  It's now my dream to take my girls to a huge American Doll store.  It was so magical.

One day I went to Soho and China town with 3 work wives (for lack of a better name).  Shar, Justine and Kylee.  We got these yummy mini cupcakes.  They were literally the size of a quarter and so moist and delicious.

More M&M's 

Hershey Store 

Newsies was so incredible.  Amazing Dancing, Singing and acting.  I mostly loved the dancing. 

A beautiful sight on our walk to Eatally 

The window displays are incredible.  This was one of the windows at Lord & Taylor 

I'm so grateful that every once in a while I can travel with my hubby.  It makes for a nice cheap trip to have the hotel, taxis and Kents plane ticket and food paid for by work.  It was especially fun this time meeting up with friends.  I was able to spend 4 days with Kent and some of his co-workers and wives and 2 days with my friends from Highland.  It was a perfect trip.  Kent is such a good supportive husband.  One night I was feeling bad for leaving him to go with my friends.  I couldn't decide if I should stay with him or go with the girls.  This was his response "Shelley, I come to New York every year.  You can always come back with me.  But being in New York with your friends from home is a rare opportunity, so go and have fun with them and don't worry about me".   So I did!  And fun I had!

Til Next Time!