Four generations
My dad has been trying to get my grandparents out to visit for quite some time now. My grandpa was stationed here during the 40s and has only made it back for one trip since. After some convincing, they did it. Of course along with a 10 day cruise that left from Red Hook. My parents flew in on Thursday night and spent some time catching up with their grandson. We also went to the Natural History Museum that day but both Grandpa and I forgot our cameras. 
Luke was really excited about this one. He didn't take it off all night. Thank you Grandma!
The next day we picked up the first generation, Paul and Alice from the airport. The poor things took the red eye and didn't sleep a wink. Alice, (my grandma, Luke's great grandma) had a pretty bad cough that even kept her from catching up when they got to our pad. They were good sports. That day my dad took them to see my Grandpa's old naval hospital in Queens and some other stuff, I stayed home and sewed. They hit their hotel pretty early that night so we ordered in some Chinese and watched What Not to Wear. Perfect.
Saturday we went to the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, even though Paul doesn't care for flowers, we got him there, and he was actually somewhat impressed.
Next we stopped at the farmers market just down my street, which also happens to be one of my favorite things about my neighborhood. We sipped hot apple cider, ate yummy cookies, and got home just before it rained.
Of course we couldn't miss brunch at Tom's restaurant. Tom's restaurant: great breakfast food, amazing and friendly service (free chocolate sodas for the family from Utah!), and unbelievably kitschy decor. All this right below us! The nice amazing husband that I have later took my dad and grandparents on a mini car tour of New York. It was perfect, they got to see everything without having to leave their car.
Sunday, we went to church, and then took the train into the city to walk over the Brooklyn Bridge. My grandparents are marathon mall walkers so this was like a 5k to them. They powered right over it.
Luke didn't do so bad either!
My mom wearing the shirt I made her for mothers day.
I like this picture, Luke looks a bit odd but I like the bridge in the background.
At the Brooklyn side of the bridge lies my favorite pizza shop, Grimaldis. Famous for thin crust pizza, and super long lines. We waited for over an hour. Hard to convince my grandparents it was worth it. Turns out to my grandpa, it wasn't. He matter of factly stated it didn't come close to Pizza Hut. Apparently they are not hard to please, or are they? 
Killing time in line.
Once we got inside, we waited an additional hour for our pizza, even I wasn't convinced it was worth it. But on my 4th slice (they are thin, I swear), I was happy!
Monday my grandparents took off to their crown princess ship. Very big, and it seems a step up from the carnival cruise line, the only one I have ever been on. That night we thought it would be fun to pack a picnic dinner and go to Staten Island. Now don't be mislead, Staten Island isn't really a destination, but I needed something from JoAnn's, and yes they do have them in Utah dad, but not in New York. They also have great Italian Ices, 7 elevens, and the Verrazano bridge is a nice sight. Unfortunately after Joann's, it was too dark to go to the park so we had the picnic in the car. 5 people crammed in a small car with food on their laps wasn't perhaps the most enjoyable way to eat a meal. 
I couldn't even take a proper picture of it.
This is us at Ralph's Italian Ice. You can't really tell that is where we are but I like this picture for the fact my mom looks pretty great and I look like a younger female version of my dad. strange.
My dad drove home so Tom and I got to spend some quality cuddling time in the back. It is pretty tight. Imagine eating dinner back there, luckily we sat in the front for that!
The next day (their last day) my mother finally got her way. We shopped all day long. Tom and my dad went to the annual stationary exhibit, and we met up with my dad later for fun at 34th street. As much as I hate that location, it does prove to be one stop shopping for those with a limited budget. For lunch I had to take them to one of the halal carts on the street. We all had chicken pita sandwiches and to McDonald's to eat them. I justified it by buying some french fries for Luke.
My halal: rice, chicken, salad, and pita.
Luke enjoying his meal. How nutritious. I promise, he gets at least one serving of vegetables a day.
Wow! what a post. Hopefully the rents will get some enjoyment out of my recap of their weekend. I had a great time!
Thursday, May 24, 2007 at 2:01PM
Reader Comments (8)
i loved this post- it makes me want the city life! the picture of you guys swinging luke is the cutest.
your mom's shirt looks so great! I love the mustard yellow band at the bottom.
What a fun weekend. That's so awesome that you saw Gob! I am so jealous!
I have to agree with your grandpa- I was never a Grimaldis fan... although I disagree about pizza hut. I don't like them either. I guess that makes me the hard to please one!
Alysha - you look like a babe in that last picture of you and Tom. And, you make me feel really pale. :)
Did you make the dress you're wearing in the bridge pics? I love it!
yes I did make the dress, and it is so easy Sarah. You should try one.
I'm impressed! Is it a Built by Wendy pattern? Did it take you a long time?
it is built by wendy. This pattern I use the most. It also makes a really easy top. My mom is wearing it in the above picture. The shirt takes a couple hours and the dress maybe a day or so.
Poor coughing Grandma. She's a trooper but it's a shame that she had to spend most of the time in New York coughing up a lung. How cute are our hand holding, still totally able to conquer the Brooklyn Bridge, grandparents? I'll go ahead and answer. The cutest. Well almost. Seeing Luke gleefully run the bridge is cuter, but Luke doing pretty much anything is guaranteed to cute everything else out of the park. Even his slobber can't ruin a picture. And can I get a quick hip hip to Luke FINALLY being big enough to fit in his JEDI onesie? Yes, I now know that getting the biggest size so that he can wear it longer, probably was not the greatest idea I've ever had (that was figuring out that apples are even better with peanut butter on them then without). He's too old to wear a onesie now, but seeing him with his JEDI yellow cape (thanks mom) and his always-in-my-mouth binky, is pretty darn adorable, if I do say so myself, and look at that, I just did.
Hee. That really is an awesome pic of you & dad & a little of mom (is she ducking, running? or is it just that she's so little that?) & like a smidge of Tom, or what I'm assuming is Tom since there's such a tiny amount of him in that pic. And hee again cause yes, you are right, you kind of do look like a younger (much younger) female version of dad. Makes you think dad could've easily been a very beautiful young woman. Which is just weird.
Oh how I wish I could've been a part of the picnic in the car. Actually knowing my proneness (I don't think that's actually a word) for complaining & my claustrophobia anxiety, it's probably best I wasn't there. But oh how I am in love with the picnic in the car picture. So in love I'm thinking of asking the pic to marry me just so we can procreate even more little picnic in the park pics.
And as I come to a close, may I also compliment you on the shirt you made for mom as well as the dress you made. Very cute, as always.