The 4th of July in the Big Apple!

The Macy's firework show in NYC is incredible!!! (And Mel, I didn't take these next 3 pictures!)



I was reading online and I found this information about the Macy's fireworks in NYC:
With over 35,000 shells (which means an average of 1,100 shells per minute during the program), it's the largest fireworks display in America. There are six barges from which fireworks are set off, On each and every one of those barges, there are more fireworks than there are in the entire show on the Washington D.C., Mall.
Wow! I got to enjoy the BIGGEST FIREWORK DISPLAY IN AMERICA! It is over 6 times bigger than the D.C. show- so any of you who have seen that amazing show can only imagine how big and glorious the NYC firework display is! I definitely think spending the 4th of July in NYC should be on everyone's "bucket list".
So yes, the fireworks are incredible but you know what else is incredible? How many millions of people gather within a 50 block radius to watch these incredible fireworks....millions of people on the subway, on the streets and on the sidewalks--all of them with one thing in mind and one mission--to get the best seat for the firework show! So it is completely understandable that Austin wasn't thrilled about heading straight from work to the city to fight among these millions only to watch the fireworks shoulder to shoulder squashed against another sweaty body. But he knew it was important to me so he agreed to meet me in the city as soon as he got done with work. Sierra and I decided we wanted to watch the fireworks from the South Street Seaport. It is a "must-see" in NYC but it is a well hidden treasure so most people don't even know it exists. This seaport dates back to the 1600's. It was renovated about 30 years ago to become a historic landmark. As you can see by the pictures, the seaport is beautiful--lots of old boats and old buildings--cobblestone walkways with views of the East River (where they shoot off the fireworks) and the Brooklyn Bridge.













We wanted to have a good spot so we went to the seaport around 4PM and put our blanket down on the dock right behind the barricade and sat in the rain for the next 5 hours.


I bought these Steve Madden star shoes months ago in preparation for the 4th of July and I was beyond thrilled to wear them! =)

As it got closer to 8 the whole pier was crowded--you literally couldn't walk from one end to the other without pushing people, stepping on them, and having them yell obscenities at you. I know this because at about 8:15 I got a call from Austin (at about this time people were starting to crowd Sierra and I) and he said that he was a couple blocks away and the police wouldn't let him in because there were too many people on the pier!! There was no way I was going to save him a spot for 5 hours and then not be able to enjoy the fireworks with him--so I had to make my way through the sea of angry people to try to talk the mean officer into letting him in. Halfway there I ran into a friendly officer (first day on the job!) and begged him to walk with me to the entrance and help get Austin in. He was hesitant (he didn't want to screw up his first day!) but he went with me and helped me sneak Austin and a couple of the guys in (yes, he snuck them in because he didn't want to confront the sergeant about it! ha ha!) We then had to make our way through the mass of people to the front where Sierra was trying to save our spot by herself. Let's just say that tempers were flaring as we maneuvered around people--no one was very happy to let us through and watch us walk to the front. When we got back to our spot we laid on the blanket (in the rain) and ate gushers (Sierra and I hadn't been able to leave our spot so we hadn't eaten in 5 hours--thank goodness Austin brought us those gushers!).

We were the only ones still sitting at this point--once it got to be about a half hour until the start of the show people were restless and practically standing on their "tip toes" in anticipation. Let's compare it to this--Have you ever seen the kids in line to see Santa Clause at the mall? Well as soon as they get in line--long before they hear any "ho, ho, ho's", they start prancing around, trying to see past the people in front of them or the giant elves, yelling, pushing....you get the point. It was pretty much like the whole pier was full of children preparing to see Santa--and my husband was one of these excited children, just a very tired one.

We were warned that there was going to be a mad rush to the front as it neared "go-time" but I don't think anyone expected what was going to happen at exactly 9:27 when the first firework went off--everyone rushed us. We were all pressed up against the barricade with sweaty and wet bodies squashed against us in all directions. Right in front of the barricade where we were standing was the VIP section where people were casually sitting, standing, or laying with no one crowding or attacking them so we all decided to hop over the barricade into the VIP section.
Austin helped everyone over the barricade and then we all ran away out of fear and let him keep his own lookout for police and get over the barricade on his own. Hey, the way it--it's every man for himself on the 4th of July in NYC! ;)
(The suckers not in the VIP section...)

Once in the VIP section we were able to enjoy the fireworks in peace!!! It was so amazing! Austin agreed that watching them was definitely worth all of the chaos.

BEHOLD THE FIREWORKS!





















After the fireworks we played on the pier for a little bit longer. The NYPD boat that was docked at the pier even shined their spot light on us so we could have some light for taking pictures and probably so we didn't fall off of the pier because we were playing around in the dark.




During the making of this next photo Jake (the one on the far left) ripped a big hole in the crotch of his pants--hence the hilarious look on his face!!! I love that I always have a camera handy so I can capture these beautiful moments in life! =)

They had me take about 20 pictures of them sliding on the wet pier. They could never get one in "sync" like they wanted.

So they finally just posed for the picture! (I thought girls only did stuff like this???)


The worst part about the whole ordeal was trying to get home! I swear there were over a million people between us and the subway and when we finally made it through that million and got on the subway there was another million on there too! We finally got home at 1 in the morning and we were all EXHAUSTED! Despite all the mayhem, it was the perfect day!
I am so very grateful for the courageous men and women that fight and die for this beautiful country and the freedom and liberty that we enjoy everyday. The soldiers across the world and their families are in my heart and prayers. I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July! xoxo