Thanksgiving in NYC

So, for my graduation present, my mom took us to New Jersey for Thanksgiving, and it was amazing. My aunt and her family live there and they're pretty close to the city (as in, New York City), so we took the train in a couple of days. When we weren't adventuring in the city, we stayed home, made crafts, played cuponk, and ate lots of food.

Instead of braving the insanity that is the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, we went the night before to see them blow up the balloons. Turns out it is also as crazy-full of people as the actual parade. So we perused for a while and then got ice cream, and then dinner at a chinese place. It was a pretty fun night :)

The second time we went into the city it was just Jantz and me, and it was an adventure to say the least. Because of the hurricane, a lot of trains and things were closed, but we didn't check first to see what was and wasn't open. So we took a train to Hoboken, with intentions of taking the ferry. But the ferry is apparently closed on weekends, and the Path train that usually goes from Hoboken to NYC was closed because of the hurricane. So we were stranded at this station for a little bit (...fun stuff). Some lady worker told us we had to take a bus to another station and then take a train from there to the city (but not to the station we wanted to go to). I think this picture is from the bus waiting area - we were so close, and yet so far. So we tentatively got on a bus, hoping it would actually take us to the right place, which it did, but then we couldn't find the station for a few minutes. Once we finally found it, we had to refigure our plans, since it was going to take as twice as long to get there as we were planning. Eventually we finally got into the city (YAY), and made our way to Grimaldi's.

On our way to some delish pizza.

When we got there it was 15 minutes before opening and already a pretty big line had formed.  It was freezing outside so thankfully we only had to wait about half an hour.

Our yummy pizza and Jantz with his root beer. It was really good.

Then we made the trek across the Brooklyn Bridge from Grimaldi's to the Freedom Tower. Let me say again how freezing it was that day. Every other day was pretty nice out, but of course we chose the day that was cold. We still had a ton of fun though :) and took way too many pictures and video while on the bridge.

We went to Wall St, which was pretty cool. Loved the architecture.

Also loved the churches.

This thing is so huge. We walked around it and admired it hugeness.  Then we walked around some more trying to find a bathroom. Then we decided we had had enough city for one day and headed home. Both Jantz and I had been to New York before, but not together. It was really great being able to be there together.

While we were home, we played (aka, Jantz played) football with my mom and cousins)

and we made crafts

and turkey cookies

and balloon toys/animals.
Jantz and my mom made viking helmets and guns. haha

and we ate lots of yummy food. especially Thanksgiving dinner.

and we opened early Christmas presents. love this apron. i've definitely already used it.

oh and santa came and sat on Jantz's lap. haha.

Here's most of us - us, my grandpa and grandma, my aunt julie and uncle brian, my cousins, and my mom. love.
It was a really fun Thanksgiving that we definitely will never forget.