A Magical New York City Christmas

Christmas time in New York City is MAGICAL!  Unusually warm winter temperatures this year have made walking around the City at night very enjoyable.  Many of the store windows are stunning, like this one at Lord and Taylor's.  The large cuckoo clock chimes and the doors open for a fun show.

At the store entrance utilitarian maintenance scaffolding is cleverly disguised and transformed
 into an  arbor of glittering, light-studded evergreen.   

I thought this animated gingerbread crowd and house in a Lord and Taylor's window was especially cute.

The huge Macy's store at Herald Square ("The largest store in the world") featured two different series of animated displays:  one told the story of "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus."  The other, with some of the windows shown here, featured Charlie Brown and the Peanuts Christmas story. 

One evening we attended a beautiful program, the 36th annual "A City Singing at Christmas" in the packed St Patrick's Cathedral downtown.  We enjoyed choirs and congregational singing, ending with each of us lighting a candle in the darkened nave and singing  "Silent Night."  It was moving to express and share tender feelings for the Savior with thousands of other faithful New Yorkers.  A few days later we attended a similar, and equally touching, candle-light service in the huge, non-denominational Riverside Church on the Upper West Side.

The stores around Rockefeller Center downtown are always especially decked out for the season.  This is the facade of Saks Fifth Avenue which presented an ever-changing light show timed to Christmas music. 

Here is the window of a fabulous candy store in Rockefeller Center

The Rockefeller Plaza tree and ice skaters.

The elegant Bergdorf &Goodman store windows on Fifth Avenue were designed with thousands of crystal "jewels."

The highlight of our Flushing First Branch Christmas party was the Primary nativity presentation and singing.  These darling children sang "Away in a Manger" perfectly," first in English and then in Spanish.  They also sang one of my favorites, "He Sent His Son":  How could the Father tell the world of love and tenderness?  He sent His Son, a newborn babe, with peace and holiness.  How could the Father show the world the pathway we should go?  He sent His Son to walk with men on earth that we may know.  How could the Father tell the world of sacrifice and death?  He sent His Son to die for us and rise with living breath!  What does the Father ask of us?  What do the scriptures say?  Have faith, have hope, live like His Son; help others on their way.  What does He ask?  Live like His Son!

Here the ward choir sings several numbers for the party.  Elder Hawkins was especially appreciated as he accompanied all the singing.

Some of the men in the branch, including our branch president, second on the left, played for us.

In Primary we have been learning about prophets, whose teachings guide us in our lives.  We learned that President Thomas S Monson asked us in the last general conference to be examples and lights to the world.  We have been talking about how the children can SHINE, and they certainly do as they faithfully and courageously try to follow Jesus in an every-darkening world.  I made star-shaped sugar cookies for them, bagged and tagged:  "YOU SHINE!"  

We enjoyed caroling with our fellow senior missionaries in the lobby of our apartment building.  It has been such a privilege to be associated with these devoted and talented Saints!

We'll have no "White Christmas" this year!  On Christmas Eve, with record temperatures in the 70s, we could take a pleasant bike ride in Central Park.

November Family Visits

We were so excited that Eleanor, Pete, and Rachel could come to New York City again to visit us.  Since their last visit, they have moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan where Pete is completing his residency in radiation oncology.  Eleanor didn't mind a little rainy weather during their stay because that meant that she got to play with an umbrella.

Eleanor especially enjoyed riding the subway trains.  She did not seem the least intimidated by their speed and noise.  She did echo our warnings, however, about the danger of getting too close to the edge of the platform.

All the photos we took of Eleanor at the excellent Transit Museum in Brooklyn were blurry because she was in CONSTANT motion, running from one interactive display to the next!

Eleanor and her Grammy share a love of POPCORN!

We rode on lots of subway lines, including the "E" line:  E for Eleanor!

Right after Pete, Rachel and Eleanor's visit, we were lucky to get another visit, this time from Danny, Julie and their three children. We were so happy they could spend their Thanksgiving week with us!  They had so much energy and enthusiasm for exploring the City!  On their first morning here, they went ice skating at Wollman Rink in Central Park.  After that, they kept wanting to return to the Park.

There were still some colorful fall leaves, and though the air was crisp, these Californians were not kept in by the cold.  

The kids were so pleased that, in spite of the fact that the City has such a concentration of huge buildings, it also has wonderful, natural green spaces where they could run and play.

A favorite activity for the kids was climbing on the huge, natural outcroppings of "Manhattan Schist" that liberally dot the Park. For the adults, there was no end of picturesque arches, bridges, and paths.

We enjoyed a view of the Lower Manhattan skyline from Brooklyn and walked across the Brooklyn Bridge.
Our apartment was conveniently located for so many adventures. Sometimes we took the subway, but these energetic kids were happy to walk many places in the City.

Saurey was especially excited about visiting the Statue of Liberty.

They enjoyed several Broadway shows on crazy, crowded Times Square.  

One morning we visited the Intrepid Museum located in/on a World War II aircraft carrier docked in the Hudson River. 

 We got up early on Thanksgiving Day to attend the famous Macy's Parade which passed along Central Park West, just a block from our apartment. Grandpa got up very early to save us great seats on the sidewalk.

We felt so blessed to have this precious family with us to share our Thanksgiving Day!  Rachel's sister Joelle joined us, too.  Julie took this photo of our Thanksgiving feast, so we missed getting her in the picture.  Jackson liked the rolls; Asher specialized in eating the stuffing; Saurey tried cranberry sauce for the first time and loved it!

George Washington Slept Here

Van Cortlandt House is the centerpiece of a 1,000-acre urban park in the Bronx,  It encompasses what was once the estate of the Dutch Van Cortlandt family, who settled here in 1694 and developed the area as a wheat plantation.  The present house was built in 1748 and has been beautifully preserved. The house's location gave it a strategic importance during the Revolutionary War.  Alternately both the British and Colonial armies occupied the plantation and house.  General George Washington is known to have stayed in the house at least twice, as did British General Sir William Howe.

We enjoyed walking the grounds which were in their fall glory. Maples, oaks, sycamores, poplars, and elms had put on their finest colors.

This lovely park is one of hundreds of others, large and small, planned and preserved around New York City. They are all well-used, appreciated, and loved.

Careful restorers studied microscopic samples of the original paint used to decorate this family dining room. These are the same brilliant colors of the 18th Century original.

 The house was built in the Georgian style out of native fieldstone, and its elegant interior speaks to the family's wealth and refinement.  The Van Cortlandt House Museum is a National Historic Landmark.

Though English in design, the house has some wonderful Dutch features, like the Delft tile fireplaces and black-and-white painted floors in some rooms.