Thanksgiving Week in the Big Apple

I am severely overdue in getting this post out, so here it goes.  We had a great trip in NYC last month to celebrate they boys' birthdays.  I've included a link to the pictures below and a somewhat detailed recap of each day's events.  It was COLD all week so we stayed bundled up most day.  (The boys learned the importance of wearing scarves in the city.)  Thompson talks often about loving the "big city", so he felt at home where he could walk nearly anywhere.  And of course, both boys loved the subway.  William thought it was magic to be able to go underground one place and pop up in an entirely different location.

SEE PICTURES

• Monday - we drove to Charlotte and took a direct flight to Laguardia (William's first time on an airplane); afternoon arrival; called DoubleTree Hilton on 7th Avenue and 49th Street our "home" for the week; met G & B for dinner at Landmarc in Columbus Circle complete with a cake from Magnolia Bakery to celebrate William's 4th birthday
• Tuesday - morning stroll all around Times Square including visits to the M&M store, Hershey's store, Disney and Toys R Us; walked to Rockefeller, saw the rink and went to the Lego Store; visited G's office on 29th floor followed by lunch with G and B at NBC Commissary; met up with Mamere and Papere after their arrival in the city; dinner at PJ Clarke's where William fell asleep; G and B hosted a "sleepover" at 5J, including a priceless game of UNC vs SC football on PS3
• Wednesday - G and B took the boys to Lenny's for breakfast; we spent most of the morning touring the Natural History Museum; lunch in the UWS at Serrafina; evening walking tour of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day balloons in the cold and misty rain; dinner at Cafe Frida
• Thursday - the parade! we were able to enjoy it from the bleachers (4th row)...it was COLD, so we only lasted about an hour, then took the subway to G's office were we viewed the rest of the parade from above; then onto Hoboken for Thanksgiving Dinner with the Craft, Craft, Smalley, Hanlon and Harrelson families (18 adults + 8 kids)
• Friday - a day of walking!  Herald Square, to Flat Iron Building, up 5th Avenue past the Empire State Building, over to Grand Central Station and Chrysler Building; subway from GCS to UES for lunch at JG Melon's; walk through Central Park; more PS3 football at 5J; subway down to the financial district  (W caught a cat-nap) where we saw the Statue of Liberty and Freedom Tower; subway to Little Italy where we had pizza at Lombardi's; concluded the night by personalizing M&M's at the M&M store
• Saturday - return home after a great week in the big city