Sunday, July 29, 2012

New York: the Intrepid and the Top Of The Rock

Cousin Meghan has been staying with us for three weeks this summer. Before she heads home Monday we took her and ourselves to New York. This time around we went first to the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum and then to Rockefeller Center and the Top of the Rock.

The USS Intrepid is a retired aircraft carrier. It served in WWII, the space program and in Vietnam. Today it is a museum. As big as it is, fully staffed and equipped it would be a pretty cramped place to be. We saw the space shuttle Enterprise, a SR-71 Blackbird and the transatlantic Concorde commercial airliner. The Concorde wasn't very large. It criss-crossed the Atlantic faster than the speed of sound and it had to. Who would want to sit in that small plane for very long? They had many planes and helicopters on display.

It was cool walking around in the ship. Quarters were tight; from the bridge to the sleeping berths. The biggest space we saw other than the hanger deck was the anchor chain room.

The stairs between decks were very steep. They were more like ladders. Parker looks like he is climbing the stairs. He is actually going down the stairs backwards. That was the easiest way to do so.

The boys make a pretty good gun crew!

Doesn't Meghan look nice with her new handbag? It is quite striking.

After the museum we started walking to the Rockefeller Center. On the way there we passed through Times Square. We joined a crowd starring up at ourselves on a giant billboard. Can you see us?

The Top of the Rock(effeller Center) was an iffy deal for us. It was overcast all day and by now it had started to rain. Fortunate for us it had stopped and the skies cleared just for us. Our trip to the top was okay. The conditions weren't perfect, but the were good enough.

WOW! Look who I caught on film. Sasquatch has got nothing on the big guy!

All in all it was a good trip to New York. We have yet to see many things; such as Central Park. Will be making future trips to explore the city some more.

Friday, July 20, 2012

Payton and friend, and his little brother

Payton and Parker having been spending a lot of time at the pool lately. Here Payton is with one of his school friends.

Monday, July 16, 2012

Back flippin' Parker

Parker is amazingly becoming quite a swimmer and all on his own. I can't take any credit for his swimming since I haven't worked with him at all; much less even gotten in a pool. Kathleen hasn't worked a great deal with him either. I credit Payton. Parker just watches and copies Payton's every move. Here is Parker doing back flips in the pool. Not into the pool, just in the pool. 

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Payton's first lawnmower drive

Payton took his first spin on our Honda H3011H lawnmower. He was emboldened by driving his grandma's golf cart over the 4th. The golf cart is easier to drive in some ways, but in others it is not. The steering is much heavier on the mower, but controlling your speed and stopping (for a little guy) is easier on the mower. He's gotta get a little bigger before he can help mow the yard. I'm planning on him doing so at 10.

Sunday, July 8, 2012

The Dipr

Check out this great Oreo cookie accessory. Great for clean, fun dipping of your Oreo cookies



Click here to go to thedipr.com
The Dipr is no longer available on Fab.com

Payton fakes Mom out

This past June, Payton made a sleeping dummy of himself to fake Mom out when she got home from her business trip. Mom got home really late, too late for Payton. He fell asleep in the chair waiting for her. She did come home and Payton did fake her out.