New York City with Mr. Fournier!

Welcome to our blog one and all! Thanks for visiting!
This next post is a trip to New York City that Stephanie and Tabitha had the privilege to go on with Mr. Fournier and his girls!

 Starting off the day at a good New York City Bakery! 

 

quickly eating our breakfast before skidding out the door

We took a quick tour of Bergdorf Goodman before taking a picture with this snobby friend. The people in Bergdorf Goodman were keeping a sharp eye on us, I haven't the slightest idea why but they seemed to doubt our wealthy appearance. ;)

We saw a pair of ballet slippers for $3,000! As we walked the halls of this fine store Stephanie and I stopped to admire a shirt, with Christmas in mind we thought of Mom and counted our pennies, but alas Stephanie turned the price tag over and... gasp! Grabbing the tag I was horrified to see the astounding $1500 price for a shirt! Where's the clearance section? Actually, on second thought, we probably couldn't afford that either!

Mr. Fournier posing in front of the Apple store which is completely under ground!
 (obviously you can't see it here...that glass cube is the entrance :)

 

Picture outside of Central Park

Prada!

Saint Thomas Church ~ Fifth Avenue NYC

Absolutely Gorgeous with all that detail!

St. Patrick's Cathedral 

These buildings are just incredible! So much detail and so majestic looking among the more modern buildings.

 

Fashion Ave

FOX!

Only Stephanie would stick her hand in its head...

The Bridal Room!

Dazzling...and just...just...

BEAUTIFUL!

Stephanie claims that she found her wedding tiara...

I don't think she saw the price tag!

 
This veil was $300!
I think I'll make my own!

Time for lunch!

We ate at an authentic Chinese restaurant, as you can see behind Stephanie there was a Chinese lady shelling the green beans, this food is fresh!
Mr Fourneir did say that NYC has the best food!

Mmmmm, baby shrimp with garlic sauce!

Freshly invigorated, we head out again and stopped by B&J Fabric store

Did someone say FABRIC??? :)

B&J Fabrics

hmmm, not bad eh? ;)

$1,000 a yard!

Oscar winner Sandra Bullock wore a dress made out of this fabric--thus the price :)

The fabric itself was made completely out beads, and was very heavy!
  

The fabric here was absolutely BEAUTIFUL!

I don;t remember the name of this store...

We're looking for the price of some really cute fabric :)

Mary Poppins!
The next store we wanted to go to was on the other side of Times Square so we held hands in a tight chain and took a walk through the extremely crowded Times Square!

Welcome to Times Square!
 I have never seen a place so crowded! Lights, billboards, people and noise everywhere!  A very exciting place but whenever I think of it I can't help but think of what Mr. Fournier said about the resemblance between Broadway and the broad way. Very exciting but I think I'll pass.

On to another fabric store! 

Spandex World!

The colors in here were...well...lets just say BRIGHT!

Right before being kicked out of Panda Threads (they were closing)

we took a picture by the zipper section

The one store I absolutely had to go to!
Ayazmoon Fabrics

After seeing the description on the internet of this store and seeing that they sell saris...my mind was set. We had to go there!

We found the store and looked around, but didn't see any saris, so Stephanie asked the man (who offered his assistance) if they sold saris. "Oh! over here!" he exclaimed with his thick Indian accent, as he pulled some fabric away from a somewhat secret compartment. "Look beautiful INDIAN saris. how many you buy?"

Stephanie: "well...how much are they?"

Man:"They were $90, I give you for $50"

Stephanie: "hmmmm..." as I ran my fingers through the beautiful fabric

Man: "This very good fabric...from India...7 yards! I give you 7 yards for $50. $7 a yard. This very good price!" He was extremely adamant and couldn't stop reminding us what a good deal this was.

Stephanie: "Well I was hoping to buy three but..."

Man: "How much you want to pay for three?"

Stephanie: (I was feeling rather bold at this point) I'll give you $50 for three"

Man: "NO! Look, you buy three, you pay $45 each."

Stephanie: "I don't think I'm going to buy it"

Man:"Okay, I give it to you for $35"

Stephanie:"Could I have a while to think about it?"

"Okay"

So Mr. Fournier and his girls made their purchases and we began heading out the door. Outside, we all talked about the sari and should or shouldn't we purchase it. Mr. Fournier said something about bargaining and Tabitha was struck with brilliancy (it happens every now and then)  We set on the price of $25 and with confidence in her air Tabitha walked in cash in hand. 

In her own words, "I felt really cool, I've always wanted to bargain for something because it always sounded like such fun and now I finally had the opportunity! I was ecstatic! I walked up, looked straight into his eyes and said, I'll give you $20 for it. With a look and tone of absolute disgust, he replied
"NO!"
Tabitha-*sigh* OK, I'll give you  $25
"$30"
Nope, $25(me)
"OK, fine with me it's your loss"(the man)
"OK, that's fine bye!" With a carefree and confident smile I turned around and took *one step out the door* and he cried "Wait!" OK, I give it to you for $27.50, 2.50 for tax. I know there's no way it cost 2.50 for tax but I thought I'd let him have the 2.50, after all I bought the sari at half price! I love bargaining and can't wait to do it again!"

Alas, we have no pictures of the Maira's house. We were all so exhausted by the time we arrived we forgot to take pictures. Sorry about that!

Thank you so much Maira ladies for opening your home to us!

"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor. Not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality."
Well, Maira's you certainly do not lag  behind in any of these! :) 

~Romans 12:10-13

Sunday Morning:

Sunday morning we attended Time Square Church
This beautiful Church is located at 237 West 51st street in hership together every week. 

 Times Square Church was founded by Pastor David WIlkerson in 1987. At the time, the area was known as a center of X-rated films, drug addiction and as a center of sin and wickedness. Pastor Wilkerson opened the church in response to what he described as "the physically destitute and spiritually dead people" he saw among the pimps, runaways and crack dealers who populated the area. Times Square Church briefly held its services in The Town Hall on 43rd Street in Manhattan and then in the Nederlander Theatre on 41st Street. In 1989 the church moved to the former Mark Hellinger Theatre, its current location on 51st Street.
At the time Mr. Fournier was in school and he remembers the drama students being outraged that this beautiful theater was, from their perspective, being "wasted".

How beautiful it was to see such a place--a place once used as a theater--being used to glorify God!
The case of this church is much like that of an unregenerate soul. The church which was once used as a center of sin and depravity, a place in which Satan reigned, is now a place in which God is glorified. In the same way an unregenerate soul, when it experiences the saving power of the Holy Spirit is transformed from a vessel of  depravity into a vessel for the glory of God.

 B&H
Or in other words, Canon heaven
  All the different photography equipment was fascinating!

Tabitha poses by a tree in Central Park

We stopped to see of a few minutes of a seal show outside the Central Park Zoo

A jellybean nutcracker guards the way into FAO Schwartz.

M&M world

"Like shopping for paint..just all M&M's! "

We only spent a few minutes here, seeing how many people were crowded in each room

(Love the look on Mr. Fourniers face in the corner)

Taking the subway back to the van 

(notice the people crammed into the car in the background)

After getting stuck at the ticket booth, Mr. Fournier was able again to join the group ;)

"Just when I thought we couldn't fit another person on the car, twenty more people cram in" ~Mr. Fournier

This picture was taken before the car was REALLY packed :D

Picking up dinner before heading home

Driving through Times Square on Saturday night

Lots of people, lots of excitement, we even saw someone propose right in the middle of Times Square, with a crowd of people all around!

Von Trapp Singers

For the last 4 years the Fournier's have gone to see the free performance by the Von Trapp children at the Yankee Candle Flagship Store and this year they invited us to go with them.  We had so much fun with the Fourniers and the Von Trapp's performance was amazing and beautiful! But I won't say any more, I'll let you see the pictures for yourselves.

After two hours we finally arrived at Yankee Candle, and among the crowd of hundreds of people we started looking for the Fourniers with no cell phones OR internet...

We found them!

Lilya and Hannah stuck their hands together and were not to be separated all the day long.

Fifteen minutes before the show started the parents held our seats while the Fournier girls and Mello children ran out to snap a couple of pictures because it would be too dark after the performance was done.

The little people and the 115 pound pumpkin

Such a cute picture!

 

The rest of the group

Somethin's wrong wit this here picture, can't for thu life o' me figur out whut it maight be....

There, that's better!

My favorite picture of all!

So cute!

We got back five minutes before the performance started!

So we snapped a few more pictures of our row

I'm sorry but we weren't able to get very good pictures, I suppose these will have to do. :) 

This is Amanda and Sophie singing

The girls laugh as Justin introduces himself, he's got quite the sense of humor!

They were so friendly and obliging, they acted as though you were doing them a favor by coming to see them it was truly wonderful to see their joy and friendliness. I hope to go see them again!

You can check out thier website if you click on this link: 

The Von Trapp Children 

Especially knowing that they are fellow Christians and homeschoolers, you can see the joy of Christ on their countenance!

Emily and I quickly got to speak to Melanie, it was a privilege I won't soon forget. The line was so long, I think everyone in the building just got up from their seats and into the line.

 After talking to Melanie Von Trapp, we and the Fourniers were just hanging around for a little bit talking and this man, the manager of Yankee Candle, walked up to us and asked if we'd ever been to this performance before, when he heard that the Fourniers have attended for a few years he offered all of us  front row seats for next year and gave Mr. Fournier his card to call him to reserve the seats for next year! The Lord's Providence and special care for His children is evident everywhere and at all times!

Now, off to explore Yankee Candle!

First thing to catch our attention was the wall of plaques!

Mrs. Fournier found her plaque!

Jillian thinks this one is a good for mom.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Fournier liked this one!

It's snowing! But we're not outside, it's the snow room! In this room it snows every four minutes.

Time for family pictures!

The Fournier family!

This was my favorite part of Yankee Candle! The castle!

Felicity and Chariti

Welcome to my *humble* abode 

(Complete with knight in shining armour)

The Prince sits upon his royal throne with his two advisers on his right and his left

The girls knelt and said Your majesty to Prince Seth

 I never knew I was related to so much royalty!

*gasp* SHE FOUND HIM!!!!! Blow the fanfare, send out the town criers, gather in the guests, she has found her knight in shining amor!!!!

Now, if only we could afford to buy him...and this is only for his glove!

Fits like a glove!

Seth was loving all the soldiers and knights

The night grew later and our mouths watered as we gazed at the delicious delicacies that were set before our eyes.

 

Felicity and Chariti found enough sweets to satisfy their appetite! 

 Good night to one and all! Hope you enjoyed the post and maybe you can join us next year for a beautiful performance to watch the Von Trapps at the Yankee Candle! We'll be in the VIP seats!:)(God willing)