Ok so here goes....and yes, this is only part one because I have two full days not even on my camera...waiting to get more pics from mom and Amanda! We had an absolute blast in NY...it couldn't have been better...unless it had been longer :) My relatives are all so busy so I didn't get good quality time with all my cousins they way I wanted to but I was able to see everyone even if it was for a short time. The pics that I am missing are of most of the family out on my uncle's boat and at our family reunion bbq...so stay tuned. These sum up the rest of the trip starting out with NYC!
Driving through the mid-town tunnel wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be...not a lot of traffic heading into the city from JFK at 9:00 at night, I guess.
pulling down the street to our hotel
taking a late night stroll, yes it was like 10:00 by now, into Times Square to find some good pizza...unfortunately we found pretty crappy pizza that night but made up for it big time in Northport (twice)
I know this is some famous landmark coming out of the subway at Columbus Circle to go to Central Park
Amanda and Wayne heading over to the park - our first city adventure of the trip
it was such a beautiful day...enough to even wear a jacket
Ella was set for sight-seeing...she was such a trooper the entire trip...not a single nap in 8 days
walking through the park capturing the city views
Had to get the family pic in front of the bridge...strategically hiding the homeless people sleeping near it
entering the Central Park Zoo..pretty place but not worth the money
because the only cool thing we saw was this polar bear...he was awesome
all he does is swim back and forth in his tank and I guess he has been doing that for like 15 years....poor guy
for all you third grade teachers out there...here I am standing next to the statue of "Balto, the Dog Who Saved Nome"....I had to get it to show my students
we had to eat at Mickey Mantle's for lunch...and we really did feel special, we met the manager and he gave Ella a baseball...not signed unfortunately.
strolling down 5th Ave. and dreaming about all the things would could buy, of course the only stores I even dared go into were GAP and H&M
our beloved Tiffany's
a gorgeous church just smack dab in the middle of all the chaos...I love NY!
this is what we came out to when we stepped out of the hotel....crazy busy and fabulous
this was the view from our room....see Madison Square Garden (the round building down below) and the Statue of Liberty straight ahead...it is hard to see in this pic but it is on that island
a just a quick glance to the left to see the Empire State Building...I truly suggest that everyone stay at the Hilton Times Square...it is a great hotel...thanks to my mother-in-law, again, for the great hook-up
down in the subway heading down to World Trade...again, another thing that wasn't as bad as Travis thought it would be
see....all smiles!
unfortunately, most of World Trade is just a bunch of construction right now so we quickly headed south to battery park and the marina...absolultely gorgeous....and I love this pic with the Statue of Liberty to the left in the backdrop
zooming in
mom and wayne
ella, holding onto dear life on the train...we were heading back to our hotel to get our bags and the car and then to head out to the island....it took us 3 hours to get there...leaving at 3:30 on a friday afternoon is not a good idea....that night we met everyone at the park down in Northport Harbor for a concert and pizza...not sure why I have no pics of that...I know we were all exhausted at that point....and oh, it was only just beginning.
after a day of boating that Saturday, we headed to the Annual Firemen's Fair in town...since my Uncle Beefy is the Fire Chief, we got all the fun perks and Ella came home with way too many prizes
Mom and Amanda trying so hard to win Ella a prize, they didn't, but she got one anyway :)
this was as close to any ride Ella was going to go on. she wouldn't get on a horse and instead had a death grip on Travis in the car the whole time...amazingly though, she wanted to go again and did the same thing with my mom
Sunday was the big family reunion bbq, which I have no pics of yet, and Monday, we headed downtown to shop and visit my multitude of family members that work there. Our first stop was the firehouse to see Uncle Beefy and let Ella drive the trucks
Ella loved this part the best I think...all she ever wants to do is drive
Travis got a kick out the firehouse having a fully loaded bar
views of Main Street, Northport, where both my parents grew up
it is so "Norman Rockwell"
this is the house my mom grew up in
the water is everywhere... I want to move..one day when I win the lottery, I will buy a house here
we stopped at Northport beach to eat our yummy deli sandwiches and Ella couldn't get enough...we weren't really prepared for this to be her first beach experience
so we stripped her down and let her play with the seaweed in her undies
this pic is just to show my ever expanding belly for all of you that wanted to see
Ella found this stick and started performing magic spells on everyone
Abracadabra
she sent me to live in a tower and was very pleased by it (too much Dora and the Snow Princess)
love
more love
this was really Ella only pretending to sleep, the most we got out of her was a few quick snoozes in the car
my cousin, Joe, met us on the beach on his little boat during a fishing trip with his friends
he loves Ella and Ella loves him
This is the house my dad grew up in...it was getting some work done 
Ella, in all her glory, at Crab Meadow beach..our actual beach day
Ella and Aunt Donna
I am wearing a bathing suit ...this was not a nude beach
Ella, being a goof in her daddy's socks
my Aunt Leigh Ann and cousin Chris (Ella's number one cousin...according to her) they were our hosts for the trip....thanks again, guys
as we sat out on the deck getting eaten by bugs, Ella was having fun catching Lightening bugs
my little hippie chick
these times for me are some of the best from our trip....sitting on the deck and carrying on all night....my cousins are hilarious...we were all waiting for my Uncle Jimmy to get home from getting his first tattoo...it was pretty awesome...I'll have to find a pic
My Uncle Jimmy's hand-made house that we stayed out...pretty awesome
the day we left we headed downtown again for some last minute shopping and a relaxing walk on the dock....I love that this is all right here at your finger tips
My cousin Joe, who just graduated from highschool, bought this boat for $500 and is fixing it up. he is also the "dockmaster" - he guides boats onto the dock and such - but he gets to work on his boat at the same time....everyone there has the best summer jobs
There is a bench at the end of the dock dedicated to my cousin Chuck, who died last year
Our first, and only, group pic of the traveling crew...we had an incredible time
