NYC at Christmastime

We spent a few days in New York City two weeks before Christmas so we could check out all the holiday lights and displays. We had a great time walking around seeing all the festive lights and we even spent one morning trying to be on the Today Show! 
On our way to our hotel the first day, we came across a guy doing ice sculptures.

Of course we had to take some selfies in front of various displays.

Gavin got to ride the carousel in Bryant park.

Then we went to see the window displays at Macy's! They ended up being our favorite out of all the ones we saw.

Sunny the space snowman and his adventures in helping Santa at Christmas.

Then we passed a bookstore with a great series of window displays.

The next morning we got up early to get on the Today Show. Unfortunately it was a very cold morning and the Today show people did not spend much time on the plaza. But Gavin made friends with the Plaza Producer, Kevin, who decided to let him have some behind the scenes action.

The Today Show from the plaza looking inside.

I did get to shake Al's hand, which was cool! He was out there the longest compared to his co-workers.

My brief glimpse of Hoda Kotb as she walked around the plaza.

The rest of the crew.

We happened to be there on a day when Natalie Portman was there for an interview and to collect toys for tots! I went across the street to buy a toy really quick just so we could have a better chance of her coming over to us. She only covered about 10 feet of the plaza before one of the crew whisked her back inside. This was the quick pic I got before she went inside again.

Then Gavin got to play inside the plaza with Kevin. Checking out the lights and equipment. He had a great time running around. Kevin let him in twice during down times and after the first time, Gavin would reach for Kevin every time he saw him walk by on the plaza!

Here is what they showed on the Today Show....we are standing in the corner so it's hard to see us although Gavin is easier to see because Carlton is holding him.

Around 9am, they did a quick view of the remaining crowd before we left and Gavin got his close-up!!

After leaving the Today Show, we checked out the newly reopened FAO Schwarz store! They had staff dressed as toy soldiers in front for pictures and plenty of distractions inside!

Rockefeller Tree selfies

Toy Soldiers!

Maestro

Daddy & Son duo

Mommy & G in Rocketship

Swarovski convertible

Mirrored cubbyhole

Love Sculpture

That night we checked out more window displays. First Bloomingdale's, then Bergdorf Goodman and Sak's.

Bloomingdale's

Bloomingdale's

Bergdorf Goodman

Bergdorf

Sak's light show

We decided to wait and watch the light show on the front of Sak's, so the boys decided to entertain themselves taking pics and making faces.

The light show was really neat to watch but was over 3 minutes long, so the blog will only allow me to post less than a minute of the video I took.

Then we looked at the window displays at Sak's and made our way to Rockefeller Center to see the tree lit at night and the replica of the star.

Our last day in NYC, we made our way over to Broadway and Times Square where we found the "19" for the big New Year's Eve celebration! Of course we had to get a pic with it along with pics of Times Square!

We made another stop at Macy's where Gavin had fun with the oversized ornaments.

Blue man sculpture

Back at Grand Central Station, Carlton and Gavin found the museum where they had an elaborate model train display which Gavin thoroughly enjoyed!

Today we went to a countdown to Noon Year's Eve at our local library where they did a balloon drop at noon. There were a lot of kids there!! Gavin really enjoyed the balloon drop!

We hope you all have a safe and Happy New Year!!!