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I'm Shay! I’m a cookbook author, lifestyle blogger, travel agency owner, wife and mama who loves making every day special for my family.

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Mix & Match Mama

Christmas, Travel ·

Christmas in NYC: Part One


Happy happy happy happy New Year friends!!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.  I know that we sure enjoyed the extra time at home and with family.  You know…I just don’t know what this year holds for me, but my prayer is that I live each day for the glory of the Lord and allow Him to use me as He sees fit.  I hope you are starting off today with fresh possibilities and optimism too.  Sending so much love from my home to yours this second day of January. xo

Okay…today and tomorrow, I’m sharing pics from our recent trip to NYC with the kids.  We had THE BEST time!  We’ve always wanted to take the kids to NYC around the holidays, and this year, we decided to do it.  It was crowded, it was cold, it was crazy busy and it was a great way to fill the week between Christmas and New Years.  In fact, I think we might try and make a post-Christmas trip a new tradition.  It was such a fun time!

What’s not fun?  Waking up at 3:00 AM to catch a flight.  We wanted to get to NYC early on Tuesday, so that meant waking up in the middle of the night to leave for the airport.  The good news is that the kiddos all slept the entire way there on the plane, so that’s always a plus!

Waiting for our flight…Ashby’s all like “I’ll just sleep here”.

Airport shenanigans!

We arrived!!  Here we are at our hotel ready to go!  We got into the hotel at 11:00 and our rooms weren’t ready, so we dropped off our bags and hit the streets.  We didn’t go back to the hotel until 8:00 PM!  Many of you asked about our hotel arrangements (since there are six of us) and we just got two adjoining rooms.  Traveling with six leaves you fewer options, but two adjoining rooms worked just fine!

On Tuesday, we let the kids get their extra Christmas gift…we told Smith that part of his NYC Christmas present was getting something from the Lego store and the girls got something for their Wellie Wishers (Santa brought them Wellie Wishers) at the American Girl store.  So, we headed up Fifth Avenue to see the stores decked out for the holidays, peek at the tree and hit both of those places.

The line for the American Girl store was wrapped around the building and down the street.  IT. WAS. INSANE.  That being said, we really only waited in line about 15 minutes because they kept it moving quickly.  These two had brought their new Wellie Wishers to NYC, so they were excited to get each one a new outfit.

Rockefeller Center was PACKED!!!  Oh mercy it was crowded…but we had fun nonetheless!  See my big three watching the ice skaters around the tree?

Speaking of the tree…here we all are in front!  ‘Tis the season!

Right inside Rockefeller Center is a Lego Store, so this guy picked out a new set.

Love these outnumbered boys so much! 🙂

After we left Fifth Avenue, we headed to Dylan’s Candy Shop and one of my littles fell asleep.

They ate candy and we walked back to Central Park for some play time.  Here they are with the Plaza Hotel behind them.

My view in the park…coffee and crazy kids.

Sometimes, Madeley must be thinking “these people are crazy!”.

Miss Madeley loved playing in the park!

And these three did too!

For dinner that night, we had made reservations at The Smith on the Upper West Side.  Smith was PUMPED to eat at The Smith.  Annnnd…we were pumped too because the food was excellent!! Everything about the meal was delish!  This was our first visit but most definitely not our last!

Inside The Smith with the Smith. xo

Homemade potato chips with blue cheese sauce was one of our appetizers.  Yes. Ma’am.

So…apparently, that was the last pic I took from our first day.  After dinner, we headed back to our hotel and went to sleep because the next morning, we were going to be getting up early to visit Fox & Friends.  More on that tomorrow.  As for today, my kiddos are out of school and my hubby is home from work, so I’m going to go hang out with them.  Sending lots of love to you this year.  I’m so grateful to share my life with this little community.  You guys bless me more than you’ll ever know.

And if you’re looking for some New Year’s resolution stuff, don’t forget that on Wednesday, January 11, Erika and I kick off our new Workin’ It Wednesdays link up and the first topic is how you work at keeping your New Year’s Goals.  So, if you blog, make sure you link up that day!

xo

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Comments

  2. Susan Jeffries says

    Love NYC for Christmas!! We took our daughter to see the Rockettes a few weeks ago and it was nothing short of amazing! My husband’s favorite restaurant in the city is La Mela in Little Italy. He said it is the best Italian he has ever tasted! Happy New Year!

  3. Erika Slaughter says

    Oh my!! Homemade chips with blue cheese sauce? I could get behind that! We’re so glad you’re back and I’m lookin’ forward to WORKIN’ IT this year!

  4. Mary says

    Quick question – when traveling with little ones, do you take car seats for the ride to the hotel?

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      We try not to (because there is so much to carry without adding more stuff!). We use car services that include car seats and boosters. We arrange that in advance before we leave.

  7. Jill Sloothaak says

    NYC is on our short list for our next family vacation. Can’t wait to take our kids there! I would love for you to do a post on packing for vacations with kids — specifically vacations that include flying. I was the mom a few days ago moving things from suitcases to my carry on because the bags were too heavy. Ugh! It’s hard with kids! (and my hair products….hee hee) You travel so often….I’m sure you have some go-to tips. Willing to share??? 🙂

  10. Niki says

    We took our kiddos to NYC in May, and had the best time! Now I really want to go back during the holidays with all that there is to see and do. What a fun trip!!
    I know you post a lot on what colors you wear, so sorry if this is a repeat…but what lipstick/color are you wearing at the airport in your pics? I love it!! Thx!

  11. Shelly says

    Do you recommend a certain hotel in NYC? Especially one that is kid friendly? Going in April for the first time!

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      This time we stayed at the Millennial Broadway Hotel. It’s in Mid Town so the location makes it easy to walk most places or hop on the subway easily.

  12. Rebecca says

    This looks like so much fun! I love NYC at the holidays!! 🙂 Can’t wait to read about the rest of the trip tomorrow! 🙂 And I am so excited about the new link up! It looks like so much fun! 🙂

  13. Jennifer says

    We love NYC! Looks like you guys had a wonderful trip! Where do you stay while you’re there? Also, I must have the shirt you have on… Would you mind sharing the link for it? Thanks!!!

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      That’s that sweater/sweatshirt thing I’ve been talking about from Nordstrom!! Love it!! And this time, we stayed at the Millennial Broadway Hotel 🙂 .

  14. Tammy says

    Love NYC and especially during the holidays. Looks like you all had the BEST time ! I saw you cooking on Fox & Friends , so fun and you looked stunning !

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      We keep a really good eye on them, and they stay close. It helped having the two littles in strollers!

  18. Sarah Shaneyfelt says

    My husband and I have never been to NYC and are planning to go in December this year! Do they keep all of the decorations up after Christmas? If so, I didn’t realize that and now after Christmas seems more appealing than trying to fit in a week long trip before Christmas!
    MeetTheShaneyfelts

  19. Aja says

    My mom and I took a trip to NYC right before Christmas and I have to be honest…I wasn’t feeling the magic everyone talks about. I think being a Central FL native I am totally spoiled by all the over-the-top things here. Like the Rock Center tree looked shabby to us. I know! I know! I loved the Rockettes show though!

  21. Sarah says

    What a fantastic trip!! I love that you guys brave trips and crowds with your four kiddos!! I have three girls – ages 4, 3, and 2 months – and get nervous about even a day trip LOL! But we love traveling so we WILL make it happen!!

    Happy New Year!! Wishing you health and happiness in 2017 🙂

    -Sarah http://www.thefrugalmillionaireblog.com

  23. Laura says

    Hi Shay! I hope everything is okay. You’ve said a few things recently that seem like you’re down… I hope your friend Manda is holding up!

  24. Kelly says

    You have inspired me to plan a trip to NYC with my boys. My husband and I have been there, but not the kids. You make it look so do-able:). Also, getting up at 3am must agree with you because you look gorgeous in the early morning airport pic! Happy New Year, Shay!

  29. Allison says

    What a fun trip! What pink color are you wearing on your nails in the pic with the coffee cup??

  30. Heather says

    I missed your segment on Fox and Friends and didn’t record it. 🙁 Can you direct me to where I can view it now? Thanks so much and Happy New Year!

  31. Daniele says

    Shay, since you are such a regular NYC traveler you should make a consolidated list of things to do and places to eat! Then, keep adding as you go back. This would be great for those of us that are once in a while NYC visitors. Pretty please!

  32. Stephanie Anderson Rarey says

    What a fun trip! You make traveling with four little kids look so easy!!!! Hahaha….
    Could you please share the name and style of the leggings and boots that Ashby’s wearing in the airport bench picture?

  33. Courtney says

    I love hearing about your travel adventures with the kiddos. You and Andrew are doing such an awesome thing by taking them with you everywhere. Do you have a specific website you use to find the best places to travel, stay, cab services, etc? I would love to hear about your planning process, as my husband and I are starting to plan out our vacations for this year and next. Thanks Shay!

    Courtney
    http://www.greywoodmama.com

  34. Kari says

    Y’all were lucky to have warm weather. If I remember I think it got up to 60 that day. My husband was running errands in a t-shirt-ha! A real treat in NYC in the winter. The city is beautiful during the holidays but the crowds can make it exhausting.

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      It was like 60 the first day and the 30 the last two (with rain on the last one!). It’s always better to walk around a lot when it’s not Texas hot though! That sucks all the fun out of things :).

  35. Vanessa Roberts says

    Happy New Year Shay! Love seeing what you did in NYC 🙂 I am hoping to take my mom there for a few days in the Spring for her birthday! And those chips!?! They look so yummy!

  36. Angela Ellingson says

    What an incredible first day! We have big plans to visit all 48 contiguous states before my oldest graduates high school (she’s just 6 now), but definitely taking mental notes to visit NYC in the winter to see the big tree and go ice skating!!! Excited for tomorrow’s post. Your new link up sounds fun!

  41. Paula says

    You are one brave Mama/family! The crowd would do my sensory system in! Bravo!

    Those chips look great!

  42. Debbie Lei says

    Shay, you look GORGEOUS for 3:00 AM airport runs + with littles. The Smith is my favorite NY restaurant. And the other Smith and I have the same birthday! 🙂 What fun!

  44. Molly says

    So fun! Your kids must have had an amazing time! When you travel with 4 kids, how do you keep your routine? You always write about how you wake up at 4 am to have your alone time before your kids wake up. Are you able to do that while traveling? I have a 2 yr old and am having a new baby soon and can’t imagine breaking the routine to travel with two babies! You’re a rockstar mom!

  45. amanda says

    They lit the Rockefeller tree so early this year (November 30th) that it was perfect to go early and get in the Christmas spirit. I hope they do that next year. Don’t you know that tree is dead as a doornail by now? Our trees are shedding it’s needles by the 26th. Glad you had a great time!

  46. Taylor says

    I’m a little late to the game on the comments here, but my friend and I did NYC for Thanksgiving one year. Other than the crowd around the parade itself, it was the BEST way to see the city at the holidays! I was surprised every day how low the crowds were. We stayed at an airbnb on the parade route and our host left us a note of where to sit with less of a crowd – it was great!

    That said, my family has traveled between Christmas and New Year’s for almost 10 years now (a variety of locations) – it’s one of my favorite traditions!

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