home from NY

Riley got home from New York last night. The plane landed early but the re was a nother plane at the gate so they didn't disembark until their regularly scheduled time of 11:58 pm. I was waiting at the end of the concourse as they don't let people go to the gates anymore. Riley was all wound up and excited about his trip. He had had an awesome time with his Aunt and cousins.

Riley had been met at the airport the first morning from his red eye flight. He was almost an hour early but my sister had arrived early just in case so no one had to wait. It was an easy pick up and he was at her appartment in time to have breakfast with his cousins. They spent a fairly relaxing day as Riley was tired after an all nighter flight.

Riley's favorite moments were that my little sister had arranged a back vault tour of the Natural Museum of  History.  She knows one of the curators. Hundreds of thousands of dinasaur bones are stored in the basement. It is the biggest collection in the world. Riley touched a fossalized skin that proves that at least velosoraptors had feathers. He held a femir bigger than he was. The cousins had an amazing experience.

He stood in an hour line for the Empire state building elevators. At the top, the winds were so strong he felt if he had a kite he would lift off the ground. Afterwards they went to a Broadway Play, Peter and the Star Catchers, off a book he has read. He was amazed at the play. Tickets were $81 each and he felt that the play was worth $100 tickets. It was a smaller theater which helped give an intimate feeling to the performances. It is the Peter Pan story on how he and Hook met and Peter got the power to fly with star dust.

He and his cousins went to the movies one night to see Brave and The Avengers. He ate Japanese food which he is very proud of, but not sushi. They went to Chinatown for "real chinese". They also did regular hanging out, in Prospect park. He climbed high into a tree, something I probably wouldn't have wanted to see had I been there.  I got a picture sent to me of Riley way up in the tree. Then a text sent when he was safely on the ground again.

They went to Trader Joes for food shopping. He found it fun to pick out food with his cousin so that they both could try each others picks. $300 later they had food for the week. My sister was surprised at how much fresh fruit Riley had chosen. He didn't pick all bad food, just a few treats. She made fresh fruit smoothies that were delicious.

Riley also had to put in an hour of homework each day on the computer to stay up on his class. Next week is the cut off to take a second course during summer school. Both he and Trevor are on target to finish their first classes.

Trevor waited up for his brother last night to hear all the details. Riley was excited to share. Riley talked about his trip all the way home in the car for an hour, and then had to repeat himself to his brother while I went to bed at 1 am. At 2 am I told the boys to go to bed as they had school the next day. I didn't want to disturb Tom's sleep. Tom can hear it all again tonight. Riley loves to talk about it all.

My sister laughed when Riley told her New York felt a bit like Portland, Oregon, the big city Riley is most familiar with. One big city with sky skrapers is a lot like another for Riley.Central park was just another park. The big climbing tree in Prospect park was pretty cool. Riley loved trying to ride the subway without holding on, it was like a roller coaster ride, he said.

 Just doing things and being busy was fun. Riley's  cousin has a bird for a pet. The parakeet would sit on Riley's shoulder while Riley worked on the computer. He thought the bird was wonderful.He did say that one day a flying cockroach made it into the apartment and my sister had to squish it. The warm humid weather had brought the bug out of hiding.

Riley had packed only one pair of pants and one pair of shorts. The weather was too warm for pants so the shorts were worn almost every day. He borrowed a pair of shorts one day with a tight belt to get by while they did laundry. Next time he needs  two pairs of shorts, which Riley swears he thought he had packed.

A grand time was had by all, but Tom is happy to have his boy home. Every day he was calling my sister or texting for an update. He wouldn't have had that kind of news from a camp. I had to laugh. My sister was a great sport sending lots of pictures via her cell phone as they were out and about having adventures.

Now it is back to school work and Fourth of July is approaching. If the boys get their work done I will take them to the fair.