The TODAY Show

We've been home one week and I still have so much that has not been said...

While we were here I wanted to take the kids to the Today Show. 

At first I was thinking it would be fun to take on one of the Summer Concerts but I realized I would be doing that for me and not for them.  I changed my mind and decided to take Alec for his birthday.

We made two posters the night before the show.  We made one for Grandma and one for Alec's birthday.  I couldn't sleep that night.  I saw every hour pass by until 5 o'clock finally arrived.  I was hoping I wouldn't over sleep and I was hoping Alec and Jenna would like seeing the Today Show filming. 

Leaving Heath and Ammon sound asleep in their beds, the four of us snuck out of the house at an hour in the morning that people should be in bed dreaming.

I think we went through the wrong tunnel.

Wrong tunnel or not we made it the Rockefeller Center.  We parked right across the street from the plaza. 

Posters in hand we were ready for the line.

But this line was very short. 

I think it has something to do with the humidity.

That's just a guess.

I also think the rain during the night and the threat of morning showers kept many people away. 

Oh, look.  It's trash day at the Rock.

When you get to the Today Show early in the morning you have plenty of time to find your "spot" and hang out until the show begins. 

You probably can't see this very well but Matt Lauer has his feet on the desk. 

I guess they were just hanging out until the show started.

Al Roker is the best.  He started at one end of the plaza and shook every one's hand.  When I say everyone I mean everyone.  This man is not a germ-a-phobe.  He's friendly.  He's fun.  We chatted briefly about the weather.  He's the best.

Meredith wasn't really into being on the plaza because it was so extremely humid that her makeup was seriously melting off of her face.  She said her lines and she went back inside.  Al's the best.

This group of people on the ground is an attempted attack on Al gone wrong.

Some guy, who doesn't think Al is the best, tried to jump Al while he was shaking hands.

The security and other people jump him and escorted him over to the building where he was arrested.

I had a nice conversation with Linny, The TODAY Show's number one fan.

He comes everyday to the plaza and has for over a decade. Whoa!

Alec and Jenna bounced around the plaza trying to get on camera.

Matt Lauer, he's okay.  Not the most friendly guy I've ever met.  In fact, in this picture he looks like a happy crazy guy.  Al is still the best.

After the show we headed into the Nintendo Store.

Why would I go into the Nintendo Store, you ask?

It's very simple.  At this point we had lived here for over a month and I had Alec's 13th birthday looming in the background of my mind.  We didn't have one present for him.  I'm prepared but not so prepared that I would have purchased his birthday present two months in advance.

We had a gift to get at the Nintendo Store.

We instantly made friends with the security guard and everyone on the first floor because I announced that Alec didn't have a DS of his own, he was turning 13 tomorrow and there wasn't going to be any presents for him to open.  The security guard was surprised that I wanted his picture.  As Alec left the store with the DS XL in hand the security guard made him promise to never play his sister's pink DS ever again! 

The drive home was an experience that I will never forget.

I will mention again the third world country feel you get when you are driving because of the blatant disregard for lane lines, other cars, and blinkers.

After a few encounters with rude taxi drivers, buses that don't know cars exist and pedestrians that move somewhat like ants, I made my way through the Lincoln Tunnel.

It was 11 o'clock in the morning when we arrived back in Chatham.
I don't know if it was the sweat that had been dripping down my back for four hours or the fact that I had to lay on my horn three times but I felt like we had had our adventure for the day.