Kicking Off the Summer in NYC: The Final Installation

These ridiculously adorable subway shirts were courtesy of our besties, Fiona & Jake.

Welcome to the final installation of our time in NYC — Days 4, 5 & 6. They were chock full, and I will do my best to edit, but honestly, we all know I love a good photo. Here’s what we got up to.

Day 4: Prospect Park, Pizza & Baseball

We had tickets to see the Mets play (and beat!) the Phillies on Tuesday night, so we had a bit of more relaxing day. We took Simon the Pup to Prospect Park, had stoop-side pizza for lunch and even managed short catnaps.

We felt like a real Brooklyn fam, with our wagon and our cute pup.
Poor Simon sure would have loved a romp. Of course there was no way I was letting that happpen!
Pizza!! Now that G has discovered her love of hot cheese pizza, it’s literally allllll she wants to eat.
And who can blame her.
A favorite activity on this trip was sitting on Carla’s stoop, waving and saying hey to everyone passing by. Not one of them didn’t smile and wave back <3
YUM!

After a quick rest, Chris ran over my friend’s place to pick up their car so we could drive to the game. We paid about $50 for parking up in the VERY front, but it was worth every. single. penny. No regrets at all. The ride was about an hour there and 40 minutes back (minus the traffic), and being on our own schedule was priceless. We weren’t sure how long we’d be staying. Turns out … the girls love baseball! Or at least the fanfare involved with it.

We’re off!
We’ve arrived!
It was such a beautiful night for sitting out and watching some baseball.
Ice cream was a big hit, obviously.
As was Emilia’s slushy.
She was blue for days after!
Nosebleed seats were the way to go with this gang. We didn’t feel bad getting in and out 20,000 times, the kids are up and down and all over, and it was pure delight.
Thanks for putting on a great first game for these girlies, Mets!

Day 5: Playgrounds, Fiona’s play, Lunch dates with Mom, DUMBO & Jane’s Carousel

Grandpa came back into the city to see us Wednesday night and we headed over to Dumbo for Grimaldi’s pizza, rides on Jane’s Carousel and to check out the Time Out Market. Before that, though, Chris took the girls on a playground hunt, Lotte and I saw Fiona perform a play at her school, and I took my three little ladies out for a special lunch in the neighborhood.

City playgrounds just hit better.
Love for Fiona after her school play.
Lunch with my best ladies <3
We went to Sweet Chick which, once I figured out how to use the online menu, was SO GOOD.
That night we stopped at Grimaldi’s to pick up our pizzas before heading over to Jane’s Carousel.
Which was every bit as magical as I imagined it would be.
I mean … look at that face!
It was way too much.
And my <3 explodes.
The Time Out Market was also very cool, and had a ton of great food and drink options.
Besties for life.
And look at those views!
There’s always room for ice cream.
And the sun set on our second to last day in the city.

Day 6: The High Line and the Color Factory

Thursday was our last full day, since our flight out was 7 a.m. Friday. Sadly, Chris had to work, but I took the girls to visit the High Line, we met up with Fiona and Jake at their favorite place, the Color Factory, and Faye and her kiddos and my sister and Rosalie met us back at Carla’s for a farewell dinner that night.

The High Line never disappoints.
Finding a food truck nearby with vegan smoothies that Emilia could also eat was a total score!
These cuties walked a ton this day, I was so proud of them!
Come for the nature vibe, stay for the food and artwork.
Oh and the views. Definitely also come for the views!

After the High Line we walked about 2.5 miles (with Grace and Lotte swapping out of the second seat of Carla’s double stroller, but really, Grace basically walked the whole thing!) to the Color Factory. This place is crack for kids. They had the best time running around like crazy and, of course, I didn’t mind the opportunity for super cool pics 😉 They actually give you a card with a QR code on it when you enter, though, and there are spots to take pictures throughout that get emailed to you. For free. Can’t think of any other place that does that!

A riot of colors from the very entrance!
Drawing their partner on the other side.
As you can imagine, the confetti room was a big hit!
A blur of color!
This is the quiet dance room, where everyone puts on headphones with the same music and dances around <3
Lotte is in a big dancing phase, so this room was definitely a favorite!
The photos from the Color Factory in this room — shared later — were amazing.
And the final room. The ball pit. OBVIOUSLY another huge hit!
Even though Emilia couldn’t even stand in it without being completely submerged, she was in love.
Plus ice cream to round out the visit — what an awesome place!
Ball pit photo via the Color Factory <3
Confetti room photo via the Color Factory <3
More confetti!
The Wheel Room!
More wheels …
Ugh with these cuties!
Final wheel photo … I swear 😉
Such a fun experience, and so great we got to share it with friends!

After the Color Factory we met everyone back at Carla’s for our final dinner. It was the perfect way to end our perfect NYC trip.

Watermelon outside for all!
The love I have for this gang is … a lot.

And that was our trip in a nutshell, friends. It was full of so many amazing and fun things. We had the perfect weather. And Grace found/was covered in no less than five ladybugs, so my mom was absolutely there in spirit.

Until next time New York …. we sure do love you!

We’re onto summer things now (camp, swim, play dates, etc.), and we have a press trip coming up in August that I’m super excited about. Then we have an awesome Europe trip planned for Christmas. I’m trying not to wish the year away for that trip to arrive, but it’s hard because dang I’m so excited! But until then, you know what I say … bis bald, friends! I hope you all have wonderful summers planned.