NYC at Christmastime: Take 4

This year was the fourth year of visiting NYC at Christmastime, specifically to see the Plaza Hotel Santa Claus.

We took the train from Poughkeepsie this year, which was miles better than Beacon because there was a place to wait INSIDE.

The train ride was a little longer than previous years, but MiniM.E. had a great time looking out the window, and for the most part, Baby#2 slept.

Once we arrived, MiniM.E. took her usual post-travel nap while we walked up to Central Park.  First, we walked all over the park trying to find the paths that led to the carousel.  When we finally found the carousel, it was closed.  Epic fail.  Fortunately, MiniM.E. was not too disappointed as long was got to pet some animals at the zoo.

This year, we spent a decent amount of time at the petting zoo:

pretending to be hatching turtles

playing on the spider web

watching the goats

basking like a turtle

the snow leopard

Next we did Santa.  We timed it perfectly (unintentionally) to catch Santa coming back from his break.  There was no wait and both kids did reasonably well.  MiniM.E. sat close enough to Santa to look like she might be enjoying herself, and Leah had her usual "surprise!" face on.

the best photo without the "fake smile"

MiniM.E. talking to Santa about what she wanted for Christmas

After Santa we went to FAO Schwartz, where MiniM.E. only wanted to play the "foot piano" which she remembered fondly from our previous years.

On the way back from the toy store we saw the tree.  MiniM.E. loved the lights and the music.

After the disappointment of not finding the carousel at Central Park, we were lucky enough to find one at the end of the evening at Bryant Park.

We skipped Times Square this year and headed home around dinner time.  I was a bit intimidated to take both kids to the city, but it went really well and we're looking forward to NYC trip #5!!