Back home......

We returned home very early Tuesday morning. Our flight was slightly delayed and so we ended up back a little later then expected. Keli & I had a great day on Monday, but were exhausted to the point of near collapsing by the time we were headed back to the airport.

We took our signs up to the set of the Today Show and waited anxiously by the gates to maybe get our shot at fame. Ha!! About an hour and a half into the show, we were put on TV while Al did the weather report. Unfortunately, no one saw us. They were either watching the wrong show or were out of town with no signal. So, the signs were a big waste of time, but the experience was not. We were able to meet Al, and shake his hand. Meredith posed with us in a picture. We saw Matt and Anne. It was a lot of fun!

From there we went to the Rockefeller Center, watched some ice skaters (too cold to skate in my opinion) and gawked at the Christmas Tree that had been brought in to NYC just three days prior. We visited Macy's, which was already decorated for Christmas and gorgeous. Inside Macy's was the Waterford Crystal that drops on New Years Eve. It was beautiful. We watched them unvail one of their famous Holiday window displays. We walked up to the Chrysler Building, St. Patrick's Cathedral and past the Empire State Building. We ended up back in Times Square for lunch with Tim and Nathan before heading back to their apartment to pack up. Our feet and legs were throbbing from all the walking on the pavement, and we were frozen to the bone, but it was worth it.

We packed up our luggage and trudged up two Avenues to the subway, tromped down several stairs to go underground with all our luggage, stood for the majority of the 45 minute subway ride, transfered to the Airtrain which then took us to the airport. We boarded our plane a little later then expected and that's where the story ends. Before I knew it we were back in Portland, back to reality.

I'm so glad that we made the trip. I feel that the experience was amazing and that I conquered some of my worst fears. (Public transportation & large crowds) I can't wait to go back. My next trip there will be with Emi. Just her and I. Eric doesn't want to go and Elise is still a little too young. Disney on Broadway just opened "The Little Mermaid" and I would love to take Emi to a show. So, maybe we'll go sometime in 2008.

*** Check out the "Gunnarson Pics" link to see more photos!!