"April in Pictures"

April started out with our trip to New York to see our daughter, Gwen and her boyfriend, Yasir. This picture became a familiar site as the Astor Park Subway station is just to the right of the angular building in the center of this picture. We walked there many times during the week we were there.

I was fascinated with the subways and actually enjoyed riding them.

Our first day of site seeing we took the subway and got off at "Grand Central Station". It was very impressive.

As we came out onto the street and looked up... there, rising above another office building, was the top of the Chrysler building made famous in the first "Ghostbuster Movie" See the gargoyles poking out??

We walked several blocks, passing by huge buildings and famous streets. Notice the reflection of the surrounding buildings in the glass office building? Pretty cool!!

Our next stop was the New York Public Library where another very famous scene from the first Ghostbuster movie was filmed. I have inside shots on my phone as they wouldn't allow flash inside. It was very impressive!! We learned that the first New York phone "book" was one page and had 16 names on it.

After the Library, we headed over to time Square. I was surprised to see how small it really is. On New Year's eve, it seems much bigger.

A couple days later we took the Subway and went down town to the Empire State Building. The weather was quite cold and overcast but we got some pictures anyway.

In this one notice the gold tops of a few of the buildings. It's a strange phenominom when you are up that high...the buildings you are looking at look big and tall but the site is familiar because of movies and pictures you've seen so you don't really feel as high as you are. There is nothing else even close to you to really compare your height. But when you get back down to the street and look back up of where you have been and the size of the buildings around you...then you realize just how far up you were.

The Chrysler building is in the center of this picture with the East river on the right.

A nice man offered to take a picture of all of us and we gratefully accepted.

Saturday, Richard and I went with Yasir to get their t-shirts and "bibs" for their Central Park race the next day. We walked to the building where we picked them up and this was a very old, impressive church nestled amoung the tall apartment buildings. I thought it was quite a contradiction of old and new.

We then walked down the side of Central Park and saw neighborhoods like this one on the side streets. Yasir said the the house on the right is a single dwelling and right by Central Park. Can you imagine the value of that home?? Really beautiful buildings as you can see. We walked many, many blocks that day and saw the edge of Central Park complete with Break dancers at the south end doing their thing. Gwen was home practicing for her "gig".

That night we went out to dinner at the best Italian restaurant we have ever been to called "The Three of Cups". Great food and company!!

Sunday was their 4K race through Central Park. We enjoyed looking around a little but after our very long walk the day before, we just sat and watched people. It was fun. After the race we ate bagels, apples and juice. Then walked through the park a little. Pretty scenery!!

On our way back to the subway, we walked along Park Ave. and saw many amazing, fancy apartment buildings.

Sunday Afternoon, Richard and I took a walk along the East River enjoying the view of the city.

Just a we were ready to turn around and go back to the apt. I went to the end of a walkway and discovered to my delight a view of the Statue of Liberty. Because of bad weather...this is the closest we got to her. Next trip for sure we'll go see her up close!!

Sunday night was Gwen's Gig at the "Scratcher Inn & Pub". She and LisaBelle were "back-up singers" for Elaine. It was fantastic music and fun atmosphere. Very Irish!!!! Elaine is from Ireland as is the owner and the performer that sang before her.

This is a self portrait taken by Gwen of the four of us on what we thought was our last day there but because of bad weather we were there a extra day which was frustrating but pleasant to have an extra day with them.

The day after we got home, Dave, Brook, and Carter arrived for their vacation in Cali. We celebrated Carter's first Birthday with a party held at our house. We had a wonderful time!!

Carter's special Birthday cake made by Grandma, of course!!

One of his favorite things to do was play drums on my bowl wrapped with foil. As you can see, he's really getting into it.

Kathleen and Mark came to celebrate with us too. Here is Richard with their almost 1 year old, Lucas.

I don't know what setting my camera was mistakenly on but I really like this Easter Morning Picture of Dave swinging Carter. It's got a cool effect to it.

The following weekend was Lucas's 1st Birthday Party at Mark and Kathleen's house. It was very warm so Lucas had a hat on to keep from getting too much sun.

He really likes spatulas so Kathleen let him serve his own little birthday cake with one. He had a great time. His brother, Joshua, was right there to help him make a mess.

The last event of the month for me was making this wedding cake. It is a first time cake for me because it is very different from any other cake I have ever made...it is a fake cake. It's made with Styrofoam circles that have Fondant over them. The Mother of the bride did that part then I did the decorating with royal icing that drys VERY Hard and added the ribbon and pearls. This cake traveled all the way to Utah and they served sheet cakes to the guests. I'll be anxious to hear how it all went when I next see the bride's mom.
On to a new month and more exciting family events.