Boston

For the 1st time Mike and I left Blake over night. It was for 2 nights actually. It was hard to leave him but turned out to be so fun. If fact it was harder for us than it was for Blake. He hardly missed us at all. He did really good, which made it easier for us to be gone.

Mike and I went to Boston with our friends Juan and Stacia. We had such a great time despite that fact that the weather was so ridiculously cold! We ate good, played good all for a good price.

We started off by visiting some sights .

Aww matching touques - too cute!

After dinner we went ice skating at Frog Pond. Something I haven't done in 5 years! I sheepishly admit that as a Canadian - I did not represent. Mike on the other hand, skated like a pro.

The next day was full of some fun events.

We started off getting lost looking for the Sackler Museum . It was worth the wait! Two of Harvard's three art museums are being renovated, so all the best exhibits are in the Sackler Museum. After the museum we went out for lunch.

Regina Pizza - some of the best I've had.

Then up to Bunker Hill Monument.

We climbed up the stairs to the top. Trucking up all those stairs after stuffing our face full of pizza was not the best idea we had on the trip. As you can see by the look on Mike's face - he was worried he would be having his lunch for a second time.

Then we went for a walk on the freedom trail.

Then it was off to see the U.S.S Constitution.

Don't mind the stupid look on my face - who knows what I am doing.


Two sailors, showing us where the sailors in the past would sleep.

The ferry ride back to Downtown Boston.

The next morning we spent at the MIT Museum which turned out to be Mike's favorite.

We ended our trip really well! Stopping by Mike's Pastry. It is as delicious as you all said!

Imaginary Friend - did you have one?

May I introduce Blake's new friend. This is baby spider.

I don't know if this is really what he looks like since he is invisible to me. Blake tells me it's not baby spider but it's pretty close, baby spider doesn't have a web.

Neither Mike nor I had an imaginary friend. So I read a little up on these invisible companions, discovering a few neat facts like: not all imaginary friends are human - some are animals, insects, or whatever the child thinks up. I thought imaginary friends were always people, but apparently not so. Forty six percent of people are reported to have had an imaginary friend in their childhood. Who knew?

Baby spider doesn't come out too often. I think he mostly sits silently on Blake's shoulder or in his hand to keep him company when he wants it. Whenever Blake needs to use both his hands, I get to hold baby spider for him until he is done with his task.

Any one out there who had or has an imaginary friend? It would be fun to hear a little about it.

Oooooops sorry

I have to apologize for forgetting to mention one of the best parts of our trip . It's actually a funny story.
Our connecting flight to Canada was in Salt Lake City, which is where Michael's family is from. Once Mike saw where our connection was, he started begging me to "accidentally" miss our flight to Canada. I would just smile and say "ya Mike that would be fun" I didn't want to say no but I also didn't want to deal with everything that comes with missing a flight.
Well turns out our flight to SLC arrived late b/c of bad weather. Which caused us to miss our flight to Canada, which also happened to be the last flight out to Canada that night. So, we called Mike's family and we were able to spend the night with them. It turned out perfect. It was nice to see everyone - especially for Mike. We left the next day (not so well rested from staying up all night with his family) and made it to Canada. Although our luggage was not so fortunate. We were without it for 3 days.
It was good to see everyone. The trip turned out perfect b/c we were able to see everyone from both our families!

Christmas in Canadia

We are currently thawing out from our trip to Canada. Although weather in PA is not so nice either, it beats -35°C with that great Canadian wind chill to boot.


Blake's Great Grandma Anderson

We went sledding with the fam.






And what do Canadians do after spending all
day in the cold snow?


They go out for ice cream!
Hot Coco is for sissies.


A little pajama party and Mama Mia!

Jana must have been dipping into the spiked

eggnog.

I know we are retarded for taking 100 pajama

party pictures, but we had a lot of fun doing it.



A little Rock band to celebrate the New Year.



The boys took 2 days and went ice fishing (no

pictures were taken). For girls day out, we did

what all girls do - we went shopping, hitting

the Boxing Day sales!

Our last day there was on my other gorgeous

sister's birthday. Happy 25th Birthday Dina!

2 of my brothers (Mike and Scott), Me, Dina

Oh look, Dina has rock band too. My Dad did

the best out of all of us!


Blake was soooooooo tired by the end of the trip.

Poor kid, but he had a blast with all his cousins!

Heading home....... 9 hours to go!

Tribute to Robbie

My brother in-law, Robbie, has now lived with us for a year!  During this year he has worked hard and has accomplished so many great things.   So I decided to give him a shout out.  Letting him know he is more than a live-in babysitter that is banished to the attic.  

Robbie, we are proud of you!  Blake says you are awesome!

(Blake took this picture) talent eh!

Some Taggidge

These are all suppose to be 8 things but I think I am going to make it 3. Just b/c I just can't think of that many things to write. If you haven't noticed by my blog, I am not what they call "long winded" ("cough, Jana, cough").

3 Things I am passionate about
1. My Family
2. The gospel
3. Eating out (I wish I could do it more often)

3 words or phrases I say too often
1. Oh man!
2. Shoot, I forgot!
3. I am hungry!

3 things I want to do before I die
1. Sky dive
2. Learn how to sing, I really wish I could sing!
3. Travel more

3 things I have learned from my past
1. Don't give into fear
2. Family is everything!
3. It's better to just be yourself

3 places I would love to see
1. Ruins in Mexico
2. Jerusalem
3. Machu Picchu

3 things I currently want or need
1. Someone to clean my kitchen
2. To live next door to my sisters
3. A long vacation

Gobble, Gobble

Blake made this in nursery yesterday. I thought it was such a cute idea for Thanksgiving and so simple! So if any of you are looking for a fun craft idea to do with your kids - here's a good one!
I am sure you can all figure out how to make it from the picture. Just in case I will write instructions.
All you need is:
a cup
colored foam or construction paper
googlie eyes or you could just draw your eyes on
glue gun
string
sponge
scissors

Make two holes on the bottom of the cup and tie the string around it. Then tie the other end of the string around the sponge. Cut the shapes out of the foam/paper and glue them onto the cup - the eyes too. Then dampen the sponge.
To make the GOBBLE sound, wrap the damp sponge around the top of the string and pull down. It sounds amazingly close to a turkey gobble and the kids LOVE it!






Happy Thanksgiving!

Two little love birds...

Today is our 4 year anniversary. While I was thinking of what to post for our anniversary, I was looking through some old pictures of us. A lot of fun memories came back, so I thought that's what I would share with you all.

Our 1st trip together.

Our 1st challenge together (I won). Also the 1st day we met.

Our 1st baby together.

Oh, don't bother commenting on how hot I look here. I already know. I have had a lot of people tell me how GREAT I looked for just having a baby. Don't be jealous, I am just one of those girls that naturally looks amazing after giving labor. Some of us just have it and some of us don't.

Newly Weds.

Our 1st married moment in public. Awwwwww.

Hey look, Blake must have been watching us from up above (ie. heaven) and decided it would be fun to try it for himself.

We had a great day. Mike took me out for dinner. It was so nice to spend some "us time" together, we actually got to have an uninterruped conversation. Which I love! After dinner we went grocery shopping - a very romantic milk run.

It's been a great 4 years and I look forward to spending forever with Mike. I am lucky to have married my best friend!

Here's to love and laughter and Happily Ever After...

Mmmmmmmmmm Chocolate and more

Is there anything better than family visiting? We hit it lucky when my parents came to visit for 2wks and the day they left Mike's sister Chrissy came out for a week. We had so much fun hangin' out together.

Getting a Zwahlen's hit Mmmmmmmmm

Hershey, PA hershey kiss street lights

I thought they were pretty cute.

Blake's guilty lips

I LOVE chocolate milk!

Visiting Surf City. Barnegat lighthouse.

Climbing to the top of the lighthouse

My Dad and Blake at the top inside the lighthouse

and out of the intense wind.

Chrissy, Blake and I spent a day in the city.

Reading terminal market

Sorry!

These were really heavy!

I recommend public transportation any time

going into the city. Parking is a PAIN!