Spring break 2023: New York City

 I had covid for the first time.  Day 6 was when we flew to NYC.  I DID NOT feel good.  I also didn't want anyone else to spend their trip sick, so I ate by myself.  

So everyone went to Bleeker's Pizza, except me.  They brought me back leftovers though. Someone asked Chris for the pizza he was bringing home to me, and he said "it's for my wife." And the gal told him "I hope your wife chokes on it!"

Penn Station. Waiting for the subway. 

National Museum of American History

Loved this deli. My friend, Carlo, had sent Marie a care package from here when she was sick.  So we were all excited to go IRL. 

Then everyone went out for a fantastic meal with Linda.  Except me.  I was wiped.  

But I rested and recovered and we went to the Top of the Rock. 

And Times Square. 

Out of the subway, and on a bus!

Empire state building.  We did go outside, just didn't take any pictures outside because it was cold. 

Central Park

Marie loved playing pretend-animal as a kid. And she was often Balto, or Luna was Balto. She watched this movie so many times, and at the end it always said something about a statue of Balto being in Central Park.....

We found it!  Marie says "childhood-me can't believe this!!?!?"

Bethesda square

Lunch at Carnegie deli

Times Square during the day

Marie and I love the music from this show.  We were so excited to see it, and it certainly didn't disappoint!

Day 10 for me. Feeling so much better.  Washington Square Park. 

More subway. 

Statue of Liberty

The station near the Brooklyn Bridge/ City Hall.  

The Brooklyn Bridge. 

DUMBO: Down under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass in Brooklyn.  So many photo sessions happening.  

I joined in!

There was a lot of this that happened.  Not a super great trip for poor Luke either. 

Eva's spring break didn't align with ours.  That's okay because she went to France with a friend instead. 

Trips after Marie's last, Sept 2022 chemo treatment

After Marie's last chemo, we had to wait until Nov 1st to have another scan and determine next steps. I needed some distraction. And some fun!

First of the fun, a trip to Chicago over NDEA in October.

Eva, Erika, Tracey Buckhouse (Nolan's wife), Ellisyn (my niece), and Marie.  Wicked at the Nederland Theater was amazing!

We went to tour Eva's campus the next day. Somehow Ellisyn and marie wore exactly the same thing. 

Tracey and Ellisyn.

Marie, Eva, mom

The fruit lady!  We've heard so much about the fruit lady from Eva. I get a lot of texts about the fruit lady. Finally, we were able to get some goods from the fruit lady! (we got fruit)

And drinks.

I made homemade enchilada sauce to make Eva chicken enchiladas while there. And then the fridge shelf broke and my glass jar of enchilada sauce broke and spilled all over her not-clean-college floor.  

Meanwhile, Luke hung out with the cousins and Grandma Tree's.

Joe, Eleanor, Lydia, Halle, Marshall and Luke

Luke and Marshall

The Bean. Marie and Erika

The Bean. Marie and Ellisyn

We had such beautiful weather that fall weekend. The city was magical. 

Tracey, Ellisyn and Marie on the River walk. 

Tracey, Ellisyn and Eva

Found out about Eva's newest art while out for pizza that night.  She put my birth year (and Chris') on her arm. Can't be mad about that!

Saying goodbye until Thanksgiving. 

And then we went to Florida to see the Zaks. Right before we did that, Marie has a Landon's light photo shoot.  There is a group of teenage girls all going through cancer this year. 

Briley, Marie, Lauren, Clara and Brooklyn. (Emma and Amelia couldn't make it)

Delia Simms and her mom, Elise, came with us to Florida. This is Lisa's house. 

And Lisa is fancy. And she helps me be fancy. She got me fancy red lipstick and this fancy necklace for my birthday. 

We spent a morning at Clearwater beach.

Elise, Lisa, Delia, Marie, me, Svea, Ingrid

Svea (Ingrid's daughter), Marie and Delia are all the same age. Lisa, Ingrid and Elise all went to High School in Hallock together.

Why would I be surprised that they're all wearing the same clothes? That's what middle schoolers do. 

Nelson (Lisa's son, one year younger than the girls), Marie, Svea and Delia. 

Marie, Erika, Delia, Ingrid, Elise, Svea, Lisa, Nelson