This is Today on NBC!!

Hey friends, it's been a busy two days. We'll start with yesterday and then end with this morning's experience at the Today show. The way we've been seeing the cities we're in is by setting ourselves on "missions". Yesterday's mission was Ellis Island. Ellis Island is close to lower Manhattan which is also close to (drum roll) Wall St. I've been reading a lot about Wall St. and how some of the people who work there have done some pretty bad things to our economy. So Chel and I set out to see what all the fuss was about. The buildings were beautiful and the area was very swanky. A part of us expected to see bankers frantically walking up and down the street trying to find a way to get our tax dollars back from the mess they created, but instead we saw young people in business suits walking to steak houses for lunch, couples on lunch breaks shopping at Tiffany's and an array of high end clothiers that makes 5th avenue look like Target (I exaggerate). We did find a cool Empanadas place with great food. Empanadas are like meat pies that you can hold in your hand.

After lunch we walked to Battery Park to buy our tickets... and then stood in line for 1 hour to get on a ferry to Ellis Island. The wait didn't seem very long, we kept each other entertained and didn't mind the weather. Ellis Island was great. It was a bit surreal to stand where millions once stood trying to find a better life for themselves and their families. After the museum we ventured back to Midtown and ate in Korea town. Lilian wanted to take us there to try Korean food. It was good for us to get out of our comfort zone (although Edwin went pretty safe by ordering fried rice).

After Korea town we headed to Grand Central Station and found a cupcake place with delicious cupcakes that had 25% of your daily caloric intake, mmmmmm. We don't feel too guilty about indulging since we walk so much during the day.

Last night we were very excited about the Today show and could not sleep. We got up at 5:45 am and started a new day. (Change narrators) I was SO excited about going to the Today show this morning, although Edwin- having never seen the glorious program- was less than excited (see photo).

I was the opposite. I think I was kind of annoyingly hyper... it being 6 am and all. WELL folks. Most of our readership tuned in and already knows we appeared on national tv. For the rest of you, Andrea took a picture of the TV with us on it!!! (For non-Barnes', my Gma B used to do this. Don't knock it til you try it.)

These are the people we saw this morning: TOM BROKAW. Matt Lauer, Meredith Viera, Natalie Morales, Al Roker and Kristen Stewart (she's from the movie Twilight... we didn't care about seeing her but other people seem to feel differently). I SHOOK AL's HAND! Matt smiled at Edwin. He had nice pants. Edwin now likes the Today Show (but probably won't get up that early again this summer).

And guess what??? WE MET MEREDITH VIERA!!!!!!!!!!!!! She is SOOO nice. She told Edwin that he looks like her nephew Bobby and said to him, "What a handsome guy you are." THAT'S RIGHT MER, I PICKED A GOOD ONE!!!!!!! I wanted to ask her to have lunch with us, but Edwin thought that would cross the "crazed fan" line. (This coming from the guy who kept waving his hat and calling "MATT LAUER" trying to get a meet and greet.) AHHH what a fabulous day.

We were on such a high from meeting Meredith that we dished out $21.00 apiece to go up Rockefeller Center. It was worth it- I think the views there are better than from the Empire State Building (you have a gorgeous view of Central Park).

We are off to have New York's best pizza at John's on W 44th. We'll be back soon with more adventures (hopefully with more famous people stories).