There is nothing quite like a spending time in a big city to clarify the differences between our kids. Georgia loves New York; she’s cued in to interesting people, sites and sounds. Eliza, however, is interested in one thing and one thing alone: city animals. She is enchanted by the tameness of wild birds and squirrels and even turned down a ride on the SeaGlass Carousel in favor of trying to get some pigeons to eat out of her hand. We had a hard time prying her away from her feathered friends even after Georgia’s carousel ride. As we walked away and the distance between us grew, Brent paused glancing back at Eliza in her own little world and said, “This is how pigeon ladies get their start, their families eventually just have to walk away.” Finally, Eliza realized we had moved on and caught up with us. We teased that she was like the pigeon lady in the movie Home Alone and she replied, “I wish!” and gave a superb impression.
Pigeons pictured behind
Eliza feeding a squirrel
SeaGlass Carousel
We also took the ferry to visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. It was an incredibly moving experience. We did some family research and found records of family members who passed through Ellis Island in the early 1900’s. One exhibit, intended for children, encouraged kids to think about packing their belongings and only choosing the most crucial and beloved items for their voyage across the sea. Georgia could relate to these children, since she was recently required to do similar planning before our sabbatical. “But they never ever got to go back home after they left?”
Georgia photographing an exhibit of children’s shoes
Registration hall at Ellis Island
She’s been “waiting her whole life for this.”
Georgia took SO MANY pictures of the statue.
Meanwhile….
Eliza couldn’t take her eyes off the waterfowl.
Obligatory selfie
One happy kid
Fearless girl
9/11 memorial (more on this later)
It was an amazing day. Tomorrow it’s off to Cental Park to visit the statue of Balto, the sled dog who saved children from a diphtheria epidemic in 1925. Bet you can’t guess whose bucket list that is on…
eyeweise 
Loved hearing about your day in NYC. Looking forward to hearing more of your tales of the city. If you have time, go to Columbia University area where we lived for 6 years. The address was 543 Riverside Dr. Justin was born at St Luke’s Hospital near there. The boys played across the street at Riverside Park. Jason went to preschool at Riverside Church which was built by the Rockefellers. Grant’s Tomb is across the street. Nicole also lived at the seminary housing on the Broadway street side. That is where they had Columbia grad female students live. Take the subway to 116th street and Broadway. I know you have an agenda so understand if you don’t have the time.
Love NYC.
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