How I Spent My Spring Break

Luckily UVSC gives their students three days off for spring break, so I was able to travel to one of my favorite places. NEW YORK CITY! Do not let this first picture let you think I had a bad time because of the weather. Yes they did have one of their worst winter storms the weekend I came, but I did not let that bother me. That picture was taken by Laurel after we got off the subway from seeing "Marry Poppins"!

Well I have many entertaining stories from the trip but I will start with the first morning that I got in. My plane landed around 5:30am. I got a taxi fine and told him where my sister Laurel lived. I could tell the driver was a little confused on where that was because he did not say anything afterwards. I sat in the back half asleep and waited to get there. We finally came to a stop and he told me that he was on the street that I told him but did not know where the building was. I didn't know what to say because how was I supposed to know? I tried calling my sister as he drove around the block, got out and asked for directions, and looked through a map in his car. Laurel was not answering her phone because it was really early. So I tried my brother in law Brad. He picked up and told me that they lived in a big red brick building. The taxi driver understood and drove me to a red brick building that he saw. I looked out the window and saw a sketchy looking store and some weird other place. I knew this could not be where my sister lived. When I did not get out of the cab, the taxi driver popped the trunk as he said to me, "This is the only red brick building I see. Get out." I laughed a little in disbelieve. Was he really just going to kick me out and leave me on some random street? I guess he was. I got out and handed him his money. I walked to the sidewalk looked around and called Brad again. It was a good thing their building was just across the street or I would have had no idea where I was.

The whole week was so great! Laurel, Avery, and I had so much fun! We went to the park on Wednesday for Avery to play in the sand and on the slides. Avery sat and played in the same spot with the same shovel and bucket for so long. It was so cute! Then that night we went to CPK for dinner (only place in NY with free refills) and then Dylan’s Candy Bar to get candy for dessert! Such a cute candy shop! I got a bunch of M+Ms in all different colors! Then we went home, put Ave to bed, and Laurel and I watched American Idol and Americas Next Top Model. We were dying together when Sanjaya was not voted off once again. Why that boy is still in the competition I will never know.

Then on Thursday I got to go to Avery's gymnastics class! It took two trains and a bus to get there but it was so worth it! Watching Avery do summersaults and jump on the trampolines was adorable! She is such a smart little girl!

That night Laurel's friend Meghan watched Avery so Laurel and I could go to "Max Brenner’s Chocolate by the Bald Man" for dessert! This place was unreal! It was like walking into Willie Wonkas chocolate factory! The cutest restaurant ever with the nicest staff! They had a dessert menu that is, no joke, six pages long. They have everything! Chocolate fruit crepes, chocolate waffles, ice cream cones, fondue, chocolate soup, chocolate cake, brownies, cookies...you get the idea. Well the decision was very hard but after consulting with our waiter, I decided to go with the Chocolate Moulton Cake with strawberries. Laurel decided without a doubt to order the Chocolate Mess. This consisted of a warm chocolate cake still in the pan, topped with ice cream, hot sauce, whipped cream, and sprinkles. And they give you a spatula to eat it with! That was her favorite part!



Every morning Avery gets up around 8:00. She calls for "Mommy" to come and get her up. But since I slept right by her door, I was getting her up for the past couple of days. Friday morning when she woke up she called, "Mommy? Rachel? Mommy? Rachel?" Amazing.



Friday night Laurel and I went to the Broadway show "Marry Poppins". It was spectacular! Everything about it was just so well done! Bert made the whole show. He was so much like Dick Van Dyke, it was scary. Marry and him had wonderful voices and such great acting skills. Laurel and I’s favorite scene was the Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious scene! Everyone was singing the song in a round and spelling out the word with these really fast hand motions. Hard to explain but so awesome! And yes, Laurel and I did try to do these motions on the way home in the subway station. Haha ;)

Then Saturday Laurel and I did some shopping trying to avoid the snow that had stuck to the ground the night before. I only got two shirts...really good for me the shopaholic. That night Brad, Laurel, and I went to Del Frisco’s for the best steak dinner I have ever had! 8-ounce filet cooked to perfection medium well.


Sadly I had to leave this great city and my family Sunday night. It was such a great break! Laurel was an amazing hostess towards me and I love her for having me! Avery is the cutest thing on this planet and is going to grow up to be such a smart and beautiful girl.