Catching Up November: NYC: Day 4 - The Last Little Bit & Saying Goodbye To The Big Apple

After our lunch at Serendipity, we headed back to the hotel (by way of The Emipre State Building & Times Square) to gather our bags and say goodbye to New York City.

~ our last ride on the subway ~

Daddy looks a little tired. ;)

~ The Empire State Building ~

Corey left Allie and me in Times Square to do some last minute souvenir shopping while he went to see the Chrysler Building. After we shopped, we sat at the little bistro tables that we loved and had sat at several times while we were there and had a drink from Starbucks and watched people.... soaking in NYC down to the last second.

~ a little sad that our trip was coming to an end ~

~ playing with my phone and sending one more picture from NYC ~

~ our last walk to the hotel ~

(Our feet thanked us when we arrived!)

Allie looking at Manhattan out the back window of the taxi.

We flew home via Washington DC, and Allie and I got to see the capitol building for the first time... if only from the air. It was all lit up and was really beautiful. A nice little unexpected "cherry on top" for our trip.

Our time in New York City was really a dream come true, and we are so thankful for the opportunity that we had to take this trip and mostly for the chance to spend some one-on-one time with Allie together. Corey and I are thankful for the dream that God placed in both of our hearts to cross this threshold into teenage-parenthood in a big and special way and for all that He did to help us make that dream come true. We have high hopes for our future together with our first teenager - one that will be filled with many adventures. Hopefully, they will mostly be as fun and wonderful as our first adventure with her to the Big Apple.

Allie,

I love you so much! You were a super-fun traveling companion, and I look forward to the many adventures that we will share in the future! You are fun and beautiful and helpful and kind. You love to experience life, and I love that about you! I hope that we are given many more experiences together... and hopefully one of them will be a trip back to New York City to ride a subway and eat a hot dog together. Happy 13th Birthday... again.

I Adore You,

Mommy