Day at Coney Island

We spent Saturday at Coney Island, a place we've been meaning to go ever since we arrived in New York. It ended up being a record-breaking day for the crowds, but it was still fun. It's hard to believe sometimes that New York really is on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean.

We loved our lunch at Nathan's Famous Hotdogs, but we won't be repeating the hour-long wait in line for our food.


Gil is a self-professed "aquarium freak," and he loved the Coney Island Aquarium. His favorite exhibit was the shark tank.


Marin preferred the tropical fish. Charlie liked it all.

Dinner at the River Cafe

Marin and Gil decided to splurge on dinner at the River Cafe in Brooklyn during Restaurant Week. This photo doesn't do justice, but the view was definitely the highlight of the meal, with the delicious food coming in at a close second. Marin had sea bass and Gil had salmon. Both agreed it was the best seafood they'd ever had. As usual, the restaurant sat us by the window because we were so beautiful, they knew we'd attract classy diners.


Gil was so impressed with his dessert that he decided to take a picture. It's a chocolate mold of the Brooklyn Bridge on a chocolate mousse. The pyramid is a slice of cheesecake over a piece of chocolate cake.

Street Markets

We love living in a city where we can buy fresh, locally grown produce, flowers, and other food from farmers markets. This one is right outside of Rockerfeller Center, and Marin bought apple cider and honey after taking this picture. She knows this because she always buys apple cider and honey from this farmers market.

Gil at Work

New York isn't all fun and games. Well, it is for Marin and Charlie, but Gil actually does work hard while they tour all over. Here he checks his blackberry at his building. This was actually going to be a smiling and looking at the camera picture, but Gil's blackberry interrupted, and Marin thought this pose was much more appropriate.

Central Park and the Museum of Natural History

We decided to get the kids' wiggles out by taking them to Central Park before the Natural History Museum. Charlie and Ella loved the swings. As this picture illustrates, Ella got into the spirit of swinging a little more vigorously than Charlie.


The entrance to the Natural History Museum happens to be Marin's favorite subway stop. It's full of tile mosaics like this one. The flash from Charlie's stroller is his safety reflector.


This is a not-so-great picture of the famous whale in the Ocean Life room of the museum. You can sort of see the people walking under the whale, and that gives you an idea of how big it is.


No visit to the museum would be complete without a look at the T-Rex on the fifth floor, now famous from "Night at the Museum."

Charlie's Jammies

Marin bought Charlie some foot pajamas so he wouldn't be so cold with the air conditioning blowing on him all night. Since he's growing so fast that he'll probably be out of them by the time we get home, we thought we'd let everyone know how cute he was, sleeping in them.

Charlie's Grown-up Birthday Cake

The nice thing about having a one-year-old is that he really doesn't know it's his birthday on his first birthday so his feelings aren't hurt when, instead of getting a birthday cake, he gets and assortment of chocolate dipped berries from Godiva. Which he doesn't get to eat. He still cheeses it for the camera though, and Marin and Gil loved this particular birthday treat.

Play date with Mackinlee

Charlie is lucky to have Mackinlee for a friend. She shares her toys and keeps him company in the stroller while Marin and Ashley walk all over the city. One thing we learned on this play day was that Mackinlee does NOT like to be slobber-kissed by Charlie. She screamed so loud that it scared Charlie and he crawled over to his stroller so he and Mom could leave.

Bronx Zoo Birthday

Charlie and Marin visited the Bronx Zoo on his birthday. Charlie's friend Mackinlee and Marin's friend Ashley went with them. It was hot, humid, crowded, and so much fun.


It's nice to have a friend at stroller level to keep you company.

It looks like Marin is trying to stand on one leg like the flamingoes in the background. She's not--it's just a coincidence. We ate lunch at the cafeteria looking over the flamingo pond.



The camels had to get in the water to stay cool. They were Marin's favorite.



The zebras came right up to the fence . . . right after the camera was put away.

Baptism Day

As ward missionaries we've been able to go out and teach with the full-time sister missionaries for our ward. On Saturday Gil was able to baptize a woman we'd been working with for a long time. Marin spoke at the baptism. It was a wonderful day and one of the most rewarding experiences we've had in the city.

The Temple of Dandur

One of the most amazing rooms in the Metropolitan Museum of Art is the Temple of Dandur, an entire Egyptian temple surrounded by a pool of water. Marin and Gil enjoy the skylights looking over the park; Charlie likes to crawl around.

Night at the Birdland

For their last night on the town, Mom and Uncle Dave enjoyed an evening at the Birdland. It's a famous jazz club near our apartment named after Charlie "Yardbird" Parker. They invited Marin to tag along while Gil and Charlie had a movie night at home.

Entertainment was provided by the Hank Jones Jazz trio. They could do everything from Cole Porter to Herbie Hancock. Hank Jones, the pianist was celebrating his 89th birthday that week.


After the show the drummer chatted with us.

Charlie's Haircut with Uncle Dave

We decided to make Uncle Dave earn his keep while he was enjoying the luxurious accomodations of our blow-up mattress. He was faced with the true test of his barbering skills: cutting the hair of a wiggly and uncooperative baby.


While he didn't enjoy the process, he was pretty happy with the outcome.

"I'm ready for my close-up, Grandma."

Cruise on the East River

We watched the fireworks from a boat in the East River for the Fourth of July. The boat left the Worlds Fair Marina at 6:30 and we had box dinners while we cruised around and waited till dark.

It was a little drizzly, but the rain stopped just in time for the fireworks. On the way home we enjoyed a gorgeous view of New York City on the water.

Fourth of July Breakfast at Westway Diner

Mom and Dave treated Marin, Gil, and Charlie to Fourth of July breakfast at the Westway Diner. Blueberry pancakes, eggs, bacon, oatmeal, fresh orange juice--you get the picture.

Charlie's Birthday Bash

Charlie celebrated his first birthday a little early so he could party with all of the family who came to town. Brittany and Ella decorated their apartment with streamers and balloons. Very festive.



Charlie enjoyed the obligatory no-holds-barred birthday cupcake, but he needed a little persuading from the crowd that it was ok to dig in.

He was thrilled about the hat we had him wear, as this picture makes very obvious.


A little more thrilled with his cool presents.

Huge thanks to everyone who came!

Seeing the Sights with Mom and Uncle Dave

Part of Mom and Uncle Dave's visit included a double-decker bus tour the city. Here we are in Times Square at the beginning of the tour. It was actually a little chilly, considering it was July.


We saw the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building, among hundreds and hundreds of others.

Then we took a break for a cruise on the Staten Island Ferry. Could we have asked for a more beautiful sky?

"This has been fun guys, but I think we're all about ready for a nap."

Stuart's Blessing

We were so lucky to be able to be here for cousin Stuart's baby blessing (I mean--ahem--Robert S. Turley V). Grandpa Steve Turley was able to come participate as well and we enjoyed a Sunday dinner together. Marin made meatballs.

Family Night at Hecksher Playground

Marin and Charlie come to Hecksher Playground a lot during the week, so one night we decided to have a picnic with our BYU friends and show Dad where we go. He thought it was pretty cool, but he decided to keep hanging out at Rockerfeller Center.

Learning to Walk with Uncle Dave

Charlie loved having his Uncle Dave in town. They became buddies really quickly, and Charlie can't wait to go to California to return the visit.


"OK, Uncle Dave, I get the standing up part, but I can't figure out what comes next."