Sorry I haven't updated this. It has been long, crazy days. We are having a terrific time. Our flight getting here was delayed and they downsized the plane which made them 20 seats short for the booked flight. They were trying to get people to take a flight to Atlanta and then to Baltimore. We chose to tough it out and hope we didn't get bumped - which worked. Then there were problems with traffic control in Baltimore so we had to wait at the gate before taking off. The boys had an even longer wait - 45 minutes on the tarmack in S.L. and then another 45 to taxi from the runway to the gate at JFK. Needless to say, we were all a little tired by the time we arrived. Way to much waiting to finally get here.

On Tues. we were up bright and early and off to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. We didn't get to spend too much time at Ellis because I wanted to be at the Statue of Liberty with the boys. But we did hurry around. The girls found a "Barbies around the World" exhibit, which they fell in love with - as you can imagine. Took pictures of EVERY Barbie.

We then went on to the Statue - met up with the boys and took a family photo in front. The boys continued on and we made the climb to the Pedestal of the Statue of Liberty. It was amazing! And oh, the view of Manhattan and Long Island. It was breath taking and worth the climb.

We then went to N.Y. which was insane and crazy to drive in. After 2 hours of driving around downtown N.Y. we found a place to park - with the help of a policeman and walked to Ground Zero. This so far, has to the be highlight of our trip. We found the memorial wall to the fireman and it was so moving to read each fireman's name. It was such a sacred place! We then went into the WTC Visitor's Museum (which will be moved when the new memorial and museum are completed at Ground Zero). We must have been prompted to go in because it wasn't in the plan, but oh, what an experience. We had a gentleman come up to us and ask the girls if they had touched the metal beam from the Twin Towers. The girls said no and he proceeded to give us a story that will forever be imbedded in my heart. He was survivor! Tom is a fireman with Company 44 that was trapped under the tower when it fell. He dug his way out of the rubble with severe head trauma and burns (which as present you could never tell). He told the girls they had to touch the metal because then they could go back to school and tell their friends that they had touched the twin towers. He proceeded to tell us about the memorial wall which has pictures of all the victims. He asked what the common factor in the pictures was and Rachel immediately said, "They are all smiling." "Yes," he said. And that is the way we should always remember them. He said to always smile when your picture is taken because that is how we want people to remember us - during the happy times. And that is what the wall represents. He spent another 20 minutes telling us stories of about 5 pictures on the wall. And I spent the 20 minutes sobbing - not just tears of sadness, but tears of gratitude and happiness. What an awesome experince for all of us.

Today we say the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, the Betsy Ross home and the Declaration home. We learned a lot about Ben Franklin and what a great influence we was on American History.

The weather was miserable today- hot and humid. Yesterday wasn't too bad. We will hope tomorrow is better, however, tonight in Lancaster it is down pouring!

Tomorrow we are off to Gettysbury and on into D.C.