Road Trippin' Part 3 - New York(Long Island, Hyde Park, Binghamton, DeRuyter) and Niagara Falls, Ontario

We're back!!!!
After lots of driving and great times with friends and family, we're back in the Heights. There have been several requests for pictures so here's another set of our New York leg of the Lagman Tour 2006. Enjoy!!

Part 4 will be the final part of the Road Trippin' series (A Canadian Wedding) and will be up tomorrow night.

Hewlett, NY (Long Island)

Caden and Hannah getting acquainted


Christine, Jen and Melissa...It's been too long


Haley trying to make a break for it with the Garrett's popcorn we brought from Chicago


"How YOU doin'?"


Big Hug!!!


Melissa with Hannah and Sammy


From Binghamton to the backyard


Celeste playing with her new friends




"I love bagels!! How'd ya know?"


Did someone say play date?




Hyde Park, NY

It was so nice to finally relax for a couple days


Celeste missed the Schad kids too much. It was insanity. Just like old times


The young ones


Hangin out in Bianca's room


Wow! Dad actually got into a picture


The whole gang


Ninang even made cookies from scratch. Celeste was so upset when we left the next day. She tried not to cry but nothing worked. :-(

Binghamton University (Formerly SUNY-Binghamton)

At the old student union at Christine's alma mater. There's a new fancy union but she had to take a picture in her old hang out.


Christine's dorm


If these walls could talk....


The dining hall

DeRuyter, NY

The beach in front of Arlene's


Shot from the beach


Celeste made such great friends on this trip. Hey Cassidy!!


Old friends and new friends.


The lake is just across the street. How sweet is that?


Dad's in another shot? Craziness!!

Niagara Falls, Ontario

We arrived at night and headed for the falls. We rented several books and videos from the library to prepare Celeste for the falls. Her words were "They aren't as loud as I expected."


Shot of Clifton Hill amusements. One of the top 10 cheesiest places on earth. Just how we like it.


The American falls at night


On Clifton Hill


More t-shirt shops per block than any other city...Just a guess.


A shot of the Canadian Horshoe Falls from the hill






The Maid of the Mist before entering the falls




Celeste's picture taking skills have really improved.




Cutie pie


We made a special trip to the falls the morning we left just to get these shots.


Next time we're definitely doing the Maid of the Mist

Road Trippin' Part 2 - Close Encounter with W

We got some good news and bad news about our visit to the White House on Sunday. The good news is that we would be able to greet POTUS (President Of The United States) when he landed on the south lawn of the White House. The bad news is that he was going straight to a meeting to prepare for a sudden meeting with the Saudis which meant that he probably would not greet us. Other bad news that turned out to be good was that all tours for that day were canceled. However, since they were canceled, Susan gave us a private insider tour of the White House which meant that we got to see and hear things you wouldn't see on a formal tour. Highlights of the tour were the oval office, the vp's office, the cabinet room and various other rooms not seen by the public. Unfortunately, no pictures are allowed inside. All in all, a very exciting day that none of us will forget. Here's the pics...


Just cleared security and with badges in hand, we were official "White House guests"


Auntie Susan gave the kids official White House M&M's and Crayons. Check it out!!


The Eisenhower executive offices. This is where most of the president's staff is located not the West Wing.


Employee entrance to the West Wing


The rose garden with the Oval Office entrance in the background


Famous walkway between the West Wing and main building


Another shot of Oval office as seen from the rose garden


and another


The Truman balcony that faces the South Lawn where Marine One lands


The south lawn of the White House with the Washington Monument in the background




The CAT (Counter Assault Team) preparing for POTUS' arrival. These guys fan out in covert locations (bushes, trees, etc) around the landing area and the closer to arrival the more "invisible" they become. I couldn't spot a single one during the landing. I tried to get a shot of the snipers on the roof but we never got far enough away.


Waiting patiently


Still waiting


The president's dog, Barney, doing his business


Landing team preparing the area


I'm a White House intern.


See!!! I told ya so...


Press core preparing for arrival


I'm an intern too!!


Susan being one with her blackberry. We got minute by minute updates on POTUS' arrival


Secret Service being not so secret


Susan's credentials


When the president arrives by helicopter they send 3 helicopters for security reasons and no one knows which one he's actually in.


Tuka Tuka!!! aka..HELICOPTERS!!!


Helicopter 1 and 2 fanned off and POTUS was in 3


Coming in for a landing










A marine is first deployed to release the secret service men


Secret service


POTUS's personal secret serviceman and POTUS



Waving to the press


Waving to us!!!


On to a meeting


After the landing


copter immediately leaves


Thanks Susan!! That was awesome




Now on to the famous press briefing room


Celeste Lagman...future presidential press secretary


At the podium


At the back of the press briefing room


Someone was happy to be there


All the seats in the room are assigned to the major news agencies. This is the Chicago Tribune's seat.


Busy day for the press on a Sunday because of the Saudi's


Main entrance to the West Wing (as seen on TV)


Front of the White House




Press core section at the front of the White House


The Washington Monument


the World War II memorial




Each pillar was dedicated to the states and countries that fought for U.S. in WWII. My grandfather fought for the U.S. in the Philippines








Making a wish


Walking along the reflecting pool towards the Lincoln Memorial




The Lincoln Memorial