Livin' with the Loud Lairseys: NEW YORK CITY

I just have to blog about my amazing 30th bday celebration! Eric COMPLETELY surprised me with a trip. Does he know me or what? Not just any trip to the beach or mountains or somewhere nearby (which I would have LOVED), but to NEW YORK CITY. I could not believe it. Shocked!

On Sunday, June 4, I woke up to a very excited Eve who couldn't be quiet about my "birthday party after church". She went on and on and could not wait to eat my cake and see who was going to be there. Eric quickly let me know that there was no party, and he didn't know where she would have gotten that from :) So, the whole way to church and after church, in the car on the way home... Eve was non-stop talking about this party. I was confused, but guessed that Eric was trying to do something special for me at the house since he was going to be gone on a men's retreat for my actual birthday. I was pleased that he had maybe put some sweet thought into it, so I let Eve continue :). We get home from 2 church services and a guest reception! The kids were WORN OUT... and so was I. I was eager to take my church clothes off, lay the kids down for a nap, and lay around on the couch for the afternoon... but Eric had other plans. He insisted that I sit on the couch while he get things ready. Not quite sure what the urgency was about, I said ok and sat down. He gathered all the kids and got out the video camera. He was really making a big deal out of something, I just couldn't figure out what it was. I assumed our friends were going to start walking in the door or coming down the stairs to surprise me. He had printed out cards and had each of the kids bring one to me "PACK" "YOUR" "BAGS" ... and the he propped up the last one beside Coleman "Daddy's taking you to New York!" I was SO excited... and in quite a bit of disbelief. He had arranged everything, and we were leaving from the Augusta airport in a few hours. So i got packed :)

We had the best time of our lives! Our hotel was in the CENTER of Times Square. We walked our butts off going from place to place. Some of our highlights were The David Letterman Show, our pedicab thru Central Park in the rain, dinner at Serendipity, and sitting in Times Square with a piece of pizza at midnight. I love Eric. I loved this birthday surprise!