Great Barrington, MA!!

What a wonderful week we just had!!! Shanam has always wanted to take me back to show me where he grew up, and the perfect opportunity came during the second week of October! It was as if we were transported back in time as we explored his childhood stomping ground with his good childhood buddy, Leif. Our trip could not have gone any better and it was so neat to be able to see the beautiful area where he lived. He is always telling me fun stories about his childhood and now I can picture it perfectly!

October 5

He and his sister attended a Rudolf Steiner School instead of a traditional elementary school. This is where he and Leif first became friends.

The grounds were beautiful and the classrooms were even more beautiful! There is just a special, calm feeling when you enter and see the rooms :) All the walls were colored in soft pastels, green plants adorned every corner, the desks were wooden, and gorgeous chalk drawings decorated the chalkboards. They learned how to knit and felt, carve wood, play musical instruments and speak a foreign language. Art and color is included in every subject including math and they take a movement class called eurythmy. I loved seeing everything!

Something else that is unique is that they have the same teacher from first grade all the way through eighth grade! Shanam was able to contact his teacher who still teaches there and meet with him, as well as be introduced to his current class. It was a sweet reunion, to say the least :) The class loved asking the guys questions and the girls especially took a liking to Annabelle. They all wanted to hold her :) We spent a good three hours exploring the school and chatting with everyone. Shanam was able to see a lot of people he didn't realize were still there, including his sister's old teacher!

He then took me to see his old house. Isn't it so cute?! It was fun to see wood chip piles that were still there in the backyard from when Shanam put them there :)

We then went to visit Leif's next door neighbors, where the guys had spent many hours working on their farm and helping out around the house.

They spent many a day inside that red barn :)

Last stop was to visit his old eurythmy teacher who now owns a bed and breakfast just outside of town.

Meeting characters from Shanam's past and seeing how excited they were to see him again, made me love him that much more! He has become the man he is because of the influence of a lot of these people, including his best friend, Leif. Even after all these years they were each others best man and still talk on the phone almost every day :) It's rare to find a life friend like that and I'm so grateful he has Leif :)

After Great Barrington, we made our way to Leif's in-laws house who live just outside of Albany where we gratefully stayed the night :) Thank you Tony and Sylvia!

Lake Placid, NY!!

October 6

We enjoyed a wonderful breakfast with Leif's in-laws at the Ugly Rooster, then we hit the road again! Lake Placid was our next stop!

Aren't you jealous that this is where Shanam got to go to high school?! We took a drive around the lake, through the town and arrived at their school, National Sports Academy. They would make that 3 mile jog around the lake every morning during training season. It was fun to see the exact pavement they pounded over and over again :)

Shanam and Leif roomed together in one of the top floor dorms. They would have school for about 3-4 hours a day then ski for the rest of the day...not bad :)

We were able to meet up with some of their old teachers who gave us a tour of the school and reminisced over old memories. They loved seeing the guys again and meeting Shanam's adorable daughter :) I loved watching the current students go about their business and envisioned what Shanam was like as a teenager roaming the same halls, eating in the same mess hall :)

They even saw one of their old ski coaches who still coaches there!

After our trip down memory lane we grabbed some delicious crepes in town then made our way up to the ski area where they used to train.

The ski area was gorgeous and they showed me their private ski lift and equipment buildings. So cool! Then we headed up the mountain to the top of Whiteface. The guys decided they needed a little exercise, so they climbed up from the parking lot.

Annabelle and I opted to walk the 500 ft tunnel to the 300 ft elevator and meet them at the top. I wasn't too surprised, though, to find that the guys had beat us there :)

The view was amazing!

That's Lake Placid down below.

New York, NY!!

October 7, 8, & 9

The yellow squared building in the middle of the picture is where we got to stay!! Shanam's best friend, Leif, and his wife, Erika, live on the 35th floor. Check out the view from the top!!

The complex is located in the financial district, at the very tip of Manhatten. It was an easy walk to most places we wanted to visit. Our first stop was Chinatown for lunch and Little Italy for dessert. Ever since Shanam and I started dating he told me he wanted to take me to New York to do those two things, among other things of course :) Little did we know at the time that we wouldn't be alone! We'd have a third member along for the ride! Annabelle loved it :) And now we can cross it off our bucket list!

Is wasn't long, though, before she was out! Still holding on :)

After exploring Little Italy and indulging in some amazing pastries, we went for a stroll into Tribeca, then down to where the new World Trade Center is being built. Quite the site, that's for sure! It's going to be gorgeous!

We weren't able to see the memorial up close but we got a good view looking out over it.

And speaking of gorgeous buildings, look at this amazing architecture!

This is the highest residential building in America with 76 floors!!

The next morning we decided to hop on the the Staton Island Ferry and check out the one and only (well, kinda ;) Statue of Liberty! Annabelle had fun riding on the windy boat :)

Then we took a ride on the subway up to Columbus Circle where we had lunch at Whole Foods and explored the area. First stop was the temple!! Absolutely loved seeing it!

Then we explored Central Park :) Did I mention that the weather was incredibly beautiful? It couldn't have been more perfect for a stroll through the prettiest part of the city :)

We grabbed some dumplings and ice cream at Tavern on the Green and watched all the people riding their bikes and walking past us. Almost as good of a spot to people watch as the airport :) I think better!

We then made our way down 5th Avenue, peaking in all the windows at the expensive jewelry, watches and designer clothes :) Then over to the Rockefeller Center and down into Times Square! Whew! Annabelle was a trooper and sat watching everything in her stroller until we got to Times Square. Then she couldn't see much because of all the people, so Shanam put her up on his shoulders and she was happy as could be! She waved and smiled at everyone passing by and couldn't believe all the lights! It was a rare moment that her arms weren't flapping :)

The next morning we took a walk to the Brooklyn Bridge and walked to the middle and back. What a neat bridge! Probably the coolest I've ever been on!

Shanam had to head back home early for business, so as he got ready to go, Annabelle and I hopped on the subway for an hour ride to Queens. There we met up with my cousin, Channing, and her husband, Alan. We went to church with them, then had a wonderful homemade dinner of potato soup, bread, and cinnamon rolls. It was so great to see them and so wonderful to not have to eat out! Thanks for a great afternoon, Channing!

Our trip was so wonderful and we definitely want to go back again and cross more things off our list of things to do and see there! Thanks so much Leif and Erika for being such amazing friends!