Ice Skating!!

We took the boys ice skating for the first time a few weeks ago. It hasn't been very cold (until now) so we found an indoor rink. Cal had a blast! He was so eager to GET SKATING that he fell a lot but he didn't seem to mind.  He even proudly announced "I fell 14 times!!" after we were done. Jude wasn't so crazy about it but he loved watching the Zamboni clean up the rink afterwards...so it all evened out. 

We went out for hot chocolate afterwards and got a chance to display our fantastic hat hair!  Yay for winter!!

Statue of Liberty

It's been a beautiful winter season so far for us...with, frankly, very little winter. And, while I miss the snow like crazy it has been really fun to be able to have more adventures outside.  Today we went to the Statue of Liberty with the boys.  We are certainly aware of how fantastic it is that we can pop over to see her and be home by 2!

The ferry ride from New Jersey uses an old train station from the early 1900's for its base.  In today's time you can buy your tickets and purchase souvenirs.  Back in the day, it was an active train station.  In fact, 70% of the immigrants processed at Ellis Island also went through this train station in New Jersey.  It's a beautiful, cavernous, station that has been restored and takes your breath away.  The train tracks themselves are overgrown with weeds...it's more of a spooky beauty.  The boys loved all of it and were thrilled with the ferry ride.  That is one thing that is so fantastic about being around little people...they truly help you appreciate how fun it is at every step of the way.

Seeing the Statute of Liberty was also great for all us. Unfortunately, we couldn't go inside because they are working on it but the sunshine and mild breezes made it just as much fun to run around outside.  Saved us some long lines, really.

The boys had so much fun running on the grass and imitating the pose of the statue.

Here is Jude studying Cal's 'statue pose' and then trying his own...

but never without his characteristic broad grin!

It's hard to avoid being a little affected by a visit to see our Lady Liberty.  Thinking of how many people passed by her in a time of desperation or great change....how scary and courageous that must have been.  How our lives were changed by the fact that great grandparents decided to try life under her flame. It was a nice start to the new year to reflect on that past.  There has been lots of talk lately, it seems, about who can or can't find comfort and freedom on these shores.  A family from our church is under immediate current threat of being deported back to their home country....a place their children have never seen; a place where their faith is under persecution.  My hope is that they, and the others in their same situation, find Lady Liberty truly has open arms.  That would really make my 2012.