We started the 10th birthday trip with Jackson and Harper and couldn't wait to carry on the tradition with Mason. It is the perfect time to get some one on one time with each of them. Tyler gets lots of time with Mason because of baseball but I do not since I'm ususally with Jackson or Harper. I was beyond excited for a weekend with Mase!
It was a tough decision for Mason on where to go but with some help from Tyler and I we nailed down NYC! Mason LOVES everything so his destintation choices were all across the board . . . fly fishing trip, renting an RV, big city, etc. Our free weekends were limited to basically Easter weekend so I started looking at what was going on that weekend and found the OKC Thunder were playing the New York Knicks on Easter Sunday. Mason is so fasicnated with big cities, is Mr. Fashion, loves to explore and loves cheering on the Thunder so it was a done deal!
Mason's trip was vastly different from Jackson and Harper's and I'm not surprised one bit! J&H were much more reserved. Anytime we asked them what they wanted to do, they both responded with "whatever you want to do". Mason on the otherhand knew exactly what he wanted to do and drug us all around NYC! This kid was on a mission to see it ALL and buy it ALL! It was his birthday weekend and he reminded us of that non-stop :) And we love him so much for this! He is confident, knows what he wants and lives every day to its fullest!
We had the absolute best 48 hrs in NYC and can't wait to bring Jackson and Harper back to explore even more! We have a long list for our next trip!
Ready to take on NYC . . .
We made a quick stop in Atlanta and stayed with my cousin Amanda and her family for one night. So good to see them and celebrate Reyna's 1st birthday!
Mase was in complete awe flying into NYC
We dropped our bags off at our hotel, the Riu Plaza in Times Square, and headed straight to Central Park for a pedicab tour with Central Park Airlines. Seeing Central Park was at the top of Mason's list. Our tour guide, Ivan, was great! He whipped around all the traffic in Central Park to see the best spots, blasted music and took the best pictures!
This was one of Ivan's signature pics seeing the NYC skyline reflection in sunglasses. And don't worry, if you didn't have sunglasses he had you covered . . . look at those shades he had for Tyler and Mase!
Famous Home Alone 2 scene spot . . .
Mason couldn't get enough of scaring the pigeons off . . .
Ivan dropped us off at the M&M store at the end of the tour per the request of Mason! Mason filled a bag of $26 worth of candy and he was set for the "day"
we had to make a stop at the NBA store to check out the Thunder gear . . .
Mason is a hat loving kid so he was in heaven!
Surprisingly, the Rockerfeller ice skating rink was still open. Loved getting a little bit of NYC Christmas feels!
The NYC churches were getting ready for Easter Sunday by hanging beautiful flower garland . . .
We ended our first night at a Pub across from our hotel watching Jackson's baseball game on GameChanger.
The Easter bunny found Mase in NYC and sent him on an Easter egg hunt in the hotel room!
We kicked off Easter morning visiting Summit One Vanderbilt! Such an incredible experience with the absolute best views. By far my favorite NYC skyscraper experience to date!
Getting tour ready with shoe covers, glasses and full body scans . . .
All mirror elevator up to the 93rd floor! The ride itself was an experienec!
The views of NYC/Manhattan were breath taking! They say on a clear day you can see 80 miles! I could have looked at this view for hours!
The view down didn't phase this kid, but made me a nervous wreck!
A little off on the Empire State Building "pinch" but Mase was close!
This room was a BLAST!!! Mase could have played with these silver balls for hours and I could have snapped pictures of him doing so for hours!
This smile!!!!
Laying on a glass overlook was at the top of Mason's NYC bucket list and he was able to check it off! No fear and all smiles!!!
The coolest picture of the trip!!!
So cool how they took the pictures from the security face scans and put them in the clouds! We loved trying to spot our faces!
Quick visit to Grand Central Station . ..
A visit to see the Statue of Liberty was also on the top of Mason's NYC bucket list. We checked that off as well with a ride on the Staten Island ferry. The only completely FREE thing in NYC!
Seeing the 9/11 Memorial was a first for us all and it was so special! Tyler and I shared with Mason our 9/11 memories. Crazy to think that was our freshman year of college. Sure seems like yesterday, not 23 years ago!
Mason also had riding the subway on his NYC bucket list. Tyler was a hard NO on riding the subway but after 24 hrs of Mase begging he finally wore Tyler down! Mason's trip was made and we all were safe and sound!
Can't go to NYC and not try a street hot dog! Mase was impressed!
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Finally game time at MSG!!!! The OKC Thunder were ranked #2 in the western conference and the NY Knicks were ranked #2 in the eastern conference! Lots at stake as the the season was coming to an end and the game didn't dissappoint! This was a once in a lifetime, bucket list, pinch me experience for all three of us!!! Just going to a game at MSG is a dream, but seeing the game we saw was icing on the cake!
All smiles, big hugs and lost voices after Shai hit the game winning shot with 2.6 seconds left in the game from the corner where we were sitting! Thunder clinched a playoff spot with the win! WORTH EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR SPENT ON TICKETS and that was a lot!!!
The BEST 24 hrs with Mason in NYC!!!
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