Fun With My Son in the New York City Sun

Instead of waking up at 8AM to take Landon to his swimming class and summer camp, I woke him up at 6:30AM on Wednesday to catch an early train to New York City. We had been invited to be the first ones to preview the new kids movie Oogieloves.

I was tired from working until 1AM, but it sounded like such a fun event to go to with him. I got to see some of my blogging friends and their kids, L got to do crafts, and then we all watch the movie.

Kenn Viselman, the creator of Oogieloves (he previously worked on Thomas the Tank Engine) talked to us and really impressed me with his passion to make G-rated, non-violent family movies with a positive message parents can take young kids to.

No killing the mom or father off, no inappropriate language, no cartoon character hitting another to get a laugh (and then parents wonder why their kids think it’s perfectly okay to hit).

Afterward, I wanted to take advantage of being in NYC, and L and I walked a few blocks to Central Park.

There is so much to see in NYC for little guys.

I asked another mom for the nearest playground, and we found a big one with sprinklers.

I improvised and let L jump around in his underwear, and we ended up putting them wet in the lunch bag L had decorated at the event. Parenting is all about improvisation! I loved seeing L have so much fun.

I was taking one Instagram picture after another — people who follow my stream must have gotten really annoyed. I just love finding the best editing setting for each picture before I hit publish.

Want to see what I’m up to? I don’t let you know my location on my Twitter stream, but you can get a hint by watch my Instagram stream in my sidebar ;)

After L dried off, I wanted to show him the fancy Park Hotel where my mom and I had High Tea when she was visiting.

On the way there we passed this cute restaurant, and splurging to sit across from Central Park to watch all the people and horse carriages and double-decker buses go by seemed too good to pass up.

You know those rare moments where you think that this moment is just perfect? Yep, this one qualified.

The weather was perfect — I’m usually either uncomfortably hot or cold — the sweet lemonade and the salad with pine nuts and feta cheese was so yummy and perfect, and spending time with my little boy and forgetting all about work for a bit was perfect.

I took it all in.

And a ton more pictures. Until my phone died, and then I kept shooting pictures with my regular camera.

We finally walked to The Park Hotel and sure enough L was stunned by it’s grandeur and all that marble.

That table to the right is where my mom and I sat to have High Tea.

After a quick hello to the big teddy bear, we walked about 20 blocks back to Grand Central Station. L really wanted to catch a taxi but look how much we would’ve missed:

Of course we had to stop at the Lego Store at Rockefeller Center.

Make three Lego figurines, pay $10.

L was a total trooper and we finally made it back to Grand Central Station.

We had time for gelato and a smoothie, and after 8+ hours of fun in Manhattan we boarded the train back to Katonah.

Have you explored New York City with your kids? What is your favorite place to take your kids?

Tagged as: fun with kids in New York City, High Tea at Plaza Hotel, Instagram, Lego store at Rockefeller Center, motherhood