Late 4th quarter seat upgrade

Jazz vs Toronto

I'm at the Jazz game with Mister V. While updating my Google Latitude location, I noticed that Travis was at the game as well so he came down and sat by us. I think I found our ride home!

Davis County vs. Ogden mites

7:30am?!

First Annual Wingfest 2009

Wingers is having all-you-can-eat wings and sticky fingers. Harry
organized this event. We had 22 people there (not all are pictured
here) and Katie made sure our one waitress took good care of us. Katie
also cleared plates and got refills for us.

Last cab ride

In taxi to LaGuardia airport. Glad I had swine flu vaccine already.

Last night in NYC

The Jazz escaped Madison Square Garden with a 2-point win thanks to
two tepid fans. We hit up a very authentic Irish pub after the game.
It was so authentic, I couldn't understand our Irish waitress. The
meal was top knotch. Then we hoofed it to Rockefeller Plaza one last
time to see it lit up at night.

Going to New York? You need an iPhone.

This thing has been absolutely priceless for planning our
transportation and sightseeing. Right now we're on a bus en route to
the hotel.

Madison Square Garden

Lot of history here. Amazing seats for $12 each. Smells like pee/beer
in here. Maybe that's why the seats were only $12.

Movin' on up to the east side

We switched hotels to a very fancy one on 48th st. and Lexington
avenue (very close to the Rockefeller Center and St. Patrick's
Cathedral). The room goes for $479 a night, but we got it free through
a Holiday Inn priority club promo. The last two nights were in a
Holiday Inn express by Times Square. That second pic is of the lobby
illuminated by candlelight. We're now at Macy's looking at the jewelry
on sale. Then off to Madison Square Garden for Jazz @ Knicks. Go Jazz!

Top of the Rock

St. Patrick's Cathedral and Rockefeller Center

Note that the cathedral has LCD TVs on every pillar. I think they
rotate 90 degrees to play football on Subdays to boost attendance.
Brilliant! Taking the NBC studio tour next.

Manhattan Temple and Times Square

The third floor of the temple property looks just like any other
meeting house. Fortunately it was open so we used the bathrooms. No
one does visitor bathrooms like the LDS church! Now we're at Times
Square looking for somewhere to eat.

What instrument is this?

Magnolia Bakery

Lazy Sunday,
Wake up in the late afternoon
Call Parnell just to see how he's doin'
Hello?
What up, Parn!
Yo Samberg, what's crackin'?
You thinkin' what I'm thinkin'?
Narnia!
Man it's happ'nin'!
But first, my hunger pangs are stickin' like duct tape.
Let's hit up Magnolia and mack on some cupcakes.
No doubt, that bakery's got all the bomb frostings.
I love those cupcakes like McAdams loves Gosling.

Two! No, Six! No, Twelve! Baker's Dozen!
I told'ja that I'm crazy for these cupcakes, cousin!

Sent from my iPhone

Live Beatles music at Strawberry Fields in Central Park

Central Park--Belvedere Castle

Lady Liberty

You can go up to the pedestal and crown levels now if you book it far
enough in advance. We had a great view from our boat.

USS Intrepid and USS New York

The last two pics are of the New York, which includes steel from the
World Trade Center. There is a MASSIVE line to take a tour of the New
York, like 4-5 hours long. We're about to take a 3-hour boat tour
around the entire island of Manhattan.

NYC!

We walked about 10 minutes from the bus dropoff to the hotel. Nice view!

On the "Bolt Bus" to NYC

Not nearly as many weirdos on the bus as I anticipated. Transformers 2
is on several LCD screens and each row has a 110v power outlet. And
we've got wifi! It's a 2-hour ride from Philadephia to NYC and we
don't have to stop anywhere. The fare was $12 each, so it's faster and
cheaper than a train.

Philly Cheesesteak in Philly at Reading Terminal Market

Amish Pretzel FTW!!

Reading Terminal Market

Can't believe I missed this place on previous Philly trip. I think it
one-ups LA's Farmer's Market! So much variety and good food. The
cheese danish was awesome. Going to grab a Philly cheesesteak before
boarding the bus to NYC.

Philadelphia part 2

I'm back! Had a fun day in Philly today. We got here yesterday
afternoon and saw Valley Forge on our way to Scott and Ashley's place
in West Chester. This morning we did the typical tourist stuff but
also got off the beaten path a little and walked through some cool
neighborhoods. Tomorrow we'll take a bus to NYC. Thanks to all who are
helping watch our boys, dog, and house. Here's a few pics from today:

1. Isgro's Pastries. Mont and Nick and I stumbled upon this place a
few years ago. Amazing cannolis. I didn't get to eat any when we were
here before because I was sick from eating a variety of philly
cheesesteak sandwiches for breakfast.

2. Betsy Ross made the Stars and Stripes in this bedroom of her rented
Philadelphia home. She had a seamstress shop below but couldn't work
on the flag there for fear of being discovered by those pesky British.

3. The famous (?) LOVE statue that was on the first class stamp a
while ago. It wasn't anywhere near as big as I thought it would be.

Philadelphia today

1. Washington's HQ in Valley Forge
2. Scott and Ashley's apartment
3. Driving around in downtown Philly=scary
4. Philadelphia mint produces coins
5. Liberty Bell

Deer-B-Q!!

Trick or treating 2009

Took the boys for 2 solid hours of candy hunting and got a record haul
of junk food. This is the pumpkin I carved this year. Not as
complicated as years past, but it's what's on our minds. Happy
Halloween!

Ward Halloween party is happenin'!

Costume Party!

Shannon made my awesome cricket bat and nametag.

Getting dinner ready

Devil's Slide

I'm on private property at the very bottom of Devil's Slide off I-84
in Weber Canyon. Going deer hunting in the morning. The ranch we're
staying on belongs to a friend of my dad's.

Dexter 2, Grasshoppers 0

Henry's shot. So fun to watch!

Owen's flu mist

Swine line

We're at the Bountiful regional center waiting in line for the H1N1
vaccine for the boys. We were here this morning and the line wrapped
around the building. Not sure if they're getting the injection or the
nasal mist. Neither one sounds particularly pleasant but personally
I'd go for the injection rather than sticking anything up my nose
(other than nose hair wax, of course).

Time lapse photography

Owen in gear in September 2008

Look what Dexter brought in the house

He ate the back legs off so he couldn't hop away. I released it back
into the yard where it'll probably be eaten by a bird today.

Bountiful foliage

O and I took a ride through the east side of Bountiful today. It was
about 50 degrees so a little chili but we saw a lot of beautiful trees
and ridiculous houses/retaining walls. I don't know how people could
stand to drive up there every day, especially in the winter. Go Cougars!

The wheeled hockey bag rules

Hockey gear for Vinny

He's just gotten his skates baked to conform a little extra to his
feet. I haven't bought gear for years. Last time I did, the most
expensive pair of skates was like $450. Now they've hit the $650 mark!
Luckily the junior version was a meager $400, so hopefully Shannon
understands that our little future NHL all-star needs the absolute best!