On Top of the World

Had a great weekend with friends Shauna and Francesca.

Wrapped up the baseball/softball season with their final games and trophy ceremonies.  Ella has really become quite a player.  She's one of the best hitters on the team and fielded some great plays in the outfield.  Best of all, she loves it and has a great time every week.  Holden remained the team clown this season, which is good, because what he lacks in hand-eye coordination he makes up for in sense of humor.

But the highlight of the weekend was definitely going to the top of One World Trade Center.  It's pretty incredible up there, on top of the world in the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.

This is the elevator, although those are just video screens, not the real view.

Lady Liberty

Shauna & Francesca

The Hudson River

Looking over to Brooklyn

The 9/11 Memorial

Contemplating life on the 102nd floor

My boys

Later that evening Ella said, "It was like a map come to life. It was so beautiful!"

Afterward we got to spend a little time wandering around the 9/11 Memorial, two inverted fountains on the footprints of the twin towers that fell on September 11th.  It is a very somber place, probably the only quiet space in downtown Manhattan.

We said goodbye to Shauna on Saturday and this morning all three kids were checked into summer camp.  Holden will be taking a two-week tennis camp and the girls are taking a two-week theater camp.  The freedom hasn't hit me yet as I vowed I would spend the first couple days getting lots of things crossed off my to-do list.  I've been pretty productive so far and it feels good. 


Oh, and the apartment is soooooo quiet.