Spring Break 4th Post: Statue of Liberty or the part where our kids climbed a bunch of stuff

We went to one of Cousin H's favorite parks.  The kiddos climbed...

 And climbed...

Cousin H looking up at the crazy climbers.

 Cousin H has a fantastic yard with a stream and lots of mud.  This is Mimi's dream back yard. 

The next day we went to the Liberty Science Center--this is the only picture I took there--more climbing.  They are in there somewhere. 

 Waiting in line for the ferry to Liberty and Ellis Islands. 

 Another beautiful day! 

 1000's of people stood in this room every day waiting to immigrate. 

 Waiting for the next ferry. 

 Finally! 

 We CLIMBED all the stairs to the pedestal.  We did not plan far enough in advance to get tickets to the crown.

Yoda complaining about the climbing

 On the ferry back to NJ and the car. 

NYC next! 

Spring Break Post #3 / More NJ

(Update: my posts got out of order, please scroll down if you'd like to see the 2nd Spring Break Post)
Cousin H went home to rest while we did some history-nerd stuff. 

 At Thomas Edison's labs and close to his home in West Orange, NJ.  This place is super eye-opening! 

Here's the lab just as it sat before being donated to the USA and the National Parks.  What a treasure. 

This is the view from the street. 

We had to stop by our old house just to take a quick look. 

And I showed the kiddos the birthplace of Ultimate Frisbee--my high school. 

More to come!

Spring Break post #2 / The Turtle Back Zoo

On our first day in NJ we went to West Orange, which is full of memories and fun things to do.

 Cousin H showed us her favorite spots.  Look at that smile!  (Mimi is being a snake)

Turtle Back Zoo is nothing like I remember.  It's HUGE now!!   With lots of animals and people.  The weather was beautiful, which was a total bonus.  A perfect, spring, NJ day. 

While trying to take a photo of this adorable scene, there were a couple photo-bombs...

Yoda, "there's me!"

Yoda, "take a picture of that bald eagle and a guy with no hair" (or something like that)

When I said I wouldn't, he decided to flap his wings next to the eagle.

Cousin H is such a cutie! 

Pretending to be prairie dogs. 

At the petting zoo. 

Parker was fine sitting-out for that part. 

The touch pool.   Mimi has made it a LONG way since she was so scared of stingrays as a little girl. 

And the train, we think it's the only thing that's still the same from when we were kids, although I have just a small memory of it.  And it was FREE--what?!

I snagged this picture from my sister's blog.  

 

What a perfect day!