NYC Marathon 2014

Sunday morning I lounged in the bed I shared with Tate while my mom read him a story...

Once Silke and Annabelle were up the kids watched movies and played a bit while my mom and I packed up the majority of our things, as we anticipated leaving as soon as we returned from the marathon.  My dad joined us halfway through the morning.  We decided to head off to see the The Cathedral of St. John Divine to see their exhibit of the Phoenix by Xu Bing.  The Cathedral is just gorgeous; the stained glass windows are amazing.

 

We then headed off to see Aunt Lindsey at mile 22!!!  We braved the intense 40 mph winds and 40-45 degree temps to look for our marathoner.  Ok, so she had it much worse running in that weather!  Across two bridges!  Arriving at the marathon start at 6am!!!  Not starting until 10am!!! 

 

I am so proud of her for completing the marathon in 4:21!!! 

 

Central Park on our way to mile 22!!

Making friends with a puppy while waiting!!

Cuddled up waiting to see his Aunt Lindsey!
We waited about 90 minutes with nary
a complaint from my little Texan!

We were so excited to see our runner!!!!

 After we wished her good luck on the remaining 4 miles we hustled off to catch the subway down to Columbus Circle to meet her at the family meeting area!!  Our cousin and his family joined us!

Here she is about an hour post-marathon trying to warm up inside Starbucks!

Lindsey warmed up a bit then opted to head back to her hotel with my dad.  My cousins, mom , aunt, Tate and I braved the subway and headed back uptown to gather our things from Silke's.  Now that was an interesting ride of transfers, strollers, thousands of marathoners and spectators, two 70 year old women, 3 five year olds and 3 tired 40 something olds.  :)  But we made it!  We loaded up Gail and Marcus' cars, and we were off to the Bronx!!!

 

Tate was in heaven!!  He and Korey just had an absolute blast together with Kayla sometimes joining in the fun.  More often than not she was lamenting that she didn't want to play cars, planes and trains, so we tried to encourage her to just join in with her dolls.  Sweet girl. 

 

But Tate and Korey were just so fabulous to watch playing.  It was like they played together all the time.  The give and take.  The laughter.  The running around.  The absolute joy of two little boys who spend so little time together, but it's like they've never been apart.  This relationship between the three of them is what is of utmost importance to me.  I want them to realize they are family and understand that this is what family is.  Especially for Tate having no siblings.  We don't see my sister and her kids terribly often, and her oldest is 2 1/2 years older than Tate which doesn't seem like a lot, but in terms of play it can be.  I have made an effort to have Tate see Kayla and Korey every year, and it's been so nice to help foster my mom's relationship with her sister, Marcus' mom, who she adores.  This was just a fun evening all around...one that was too short given how much we love one another.

 


This picture pretty much sums up the entire evening!

 

Marcus reading the kids a story!

 

Sisters

Tate and I were off the next morning, leaving my mom to hang out with her sister;  my dad and Lindsey joined them on Tuesday!  Pure love!

 

On the plane ride home (he met and chatted up the pilots again!!!)

So sad this is blurry, but it's still my favorite of the three cousins!