New York, New York

We had a fun trip into NYC last weekend. It was so cold and as a result we didn't take enough pictures. But we made sure to take some of the important stuff. Like this. We had to go inside so Jeff could play a Nintendo Wii. We were going to pick one up, but they hadn't received their afternoon shipment and didn't have any in. Maybe next time.

I looked funny the entire time because I was trying to keep Hannah warm. We're starting to see her personality emerge and she is a lot different than Owen. Owen would have slept the whole time we were there if I put him in the bjorn, but Hannah hardly slept at all and just stared up at me the whole time. Huge eyes looking at me like "this is really boring." When we went inside I turned her around and she liked that a lot better. I had to take this picture because it reminded me of Dad. When we were in Europe he loved stopping at the shops and getting a pastry. The next day we went to Little Italy and went to a really good pastry shop. We had some gelato too, but it didn't really compare to the real stuff in Italy.




Here we are at the Rockefeller Center. Friday night Jeff and I went and saw The Phantom of the Opera. It was outstanding and I wish I could spend a week going to the theatre in New York. One of the coolest things is coming out of the theatre at 11pm and trying to walk through the crowds. There are thousands of people and all the lights from times square make it seem like the middle of the day.

Here we are at the WTC site. Directly behind us is where they used to stand and where the freedom tower will be.

We made it to Central Park and then downtown to see the Statue of Liberty. It is interesting how each part of the city has a totally different feeling. I would never want to live there, but love visiting!

Ice Ice Baby

So we finally had our first real snow storm which quickly changed into a lovely ice storm. When we went out on Valentines Day to try and get the car out we realized it wasn't going to be easy.

Here is Jeff scraping the inch thick ice off the car. We then had to dig all around the tires. Notice that Jeff is standing about door level to the car. It was solid ice on the ground. After digging around all the tires we still couldn't get out. We ended up clearing two lined all the way out. This took over an hour and when we came back from the store someone had parked in the spot we cleared. We went and asked the guy to move his car and he got stuck trying to get into another spot.


Here are the snow/ice mounds they created trying to clear the parking lot. This is after five days of melting.

Mall Playground

In December we discovered a new playground at the mall. It is well designed and so much fun for Owen. It's so nice to go when it is freezing outside and we need to get out. On this day we met Zanna there. After about an hour a T.V. crew showed up and started recording a special on it. I can't believe Owen has already made his T.V. début. Awesome. There was also an activity sponsored by this Harrisburg Parent magazine. They made Valentine crowns and read stories.

And here is a picture of our babysitting group. They all played a nice little game they named "scream." They pretty much ran up and then slid down the stairs while screaming. There are two kids missing: Stephen and Hannah.

Family

Last Sunday I came downstairs to find Jeff and Owen reading their scriptures. I'm glad Jeff is such a good example! Owen loves Jeff and is usually right by him whenever he is home. Good for me, sometimes annoying for Jeff.


Jeff is amazing, always taking care of these two kiddos. I'm lucky.

Owen still loves playing with his animals. Everyday.

And Hannah turned 3 months yesterday!

LiBraRy

So tonight I am working at the library just working on organizing some things and browsing blogs. I feel better than I usually do because I don't feel guilty. Why don't I feel guilty? Because today I took the final for the last class I need to graduate!! Now I can do what I want and I don't have to worry about homework. I am so happy that I am done with school. It has been like a black cloud hanging over me for the past 3 years. I can't believe it took me so long, but I also can't believe I did it.

Owen

Owen was so much fun over Christmas. He really loves being with his grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Here are some cute pictures of him.
This is at Hannah's blessing

Here he is on Christmas eve as a shepherd.

He loves this picture! It is so funny how kids love to make faces.

This is what Kristin gave him for Christmas. He couldn't wait to play with it and still loves it.

This is what he made me for Christmas.

New Years Eve.

These are some more pictures from being downtown.
He talks about the "electric train with wires" all the time.
Eating lunch.

Running after Lizzy. She was trying to escape and go home.
Love this smile.

When we went out for ice cream, Owen really wanted this blue ice cream. It was blue raspberry sherbet. Yummm.

Right before we left.

On the airplane.

Growing

Here is a cute picture of Hannah. She is wearing the sweater that Kanien made her. Thanks Kanien!

Quickie

We had such a wonderful holiday! There are a million pictures I should put up but since I don't have very much time I thought I'd just put up a few of my favorite pictures.

I love this one of Hannah. There is nothing cuter than a sleeping baby. I love the hat that Kanien gave her and the blanket Laurissa made her.

We all had a good laugh at the blessing when we tried to get this last picture. All the kiddos had had enough!

I didn't see these pictures until tonight and I thought this was so funny. This is when Jeff went downtown without me. Lizzy told me she was cold the whole day, but didn't tell me she resorted to stealing Owen's coat. Owen is so awesome. There are so many good pictures of him I think I'll do a whole post of him next. It's good to be home but we miss the family like crazy!

Mom's visit

It was great to have mom come and visit before Thanksgiving. Here we are at the Harrisburg Holiday Parade. It was fun to get out, although we couldn't believe how many people were there.

We went with the Francis family.
Mom took Owen on lots of walks and he had so much fun. Here he is playing out back in the leaves.

This shot is Jeff playing the 'come back here' game.

Mom and Hannah.This is a shot of Hannah praying. She is such a rightous baby.


We had the hugest rain storm and Owen wanted to go out into it. I told him he could because I thought he would come right back in, it was raining to hard. But he played out in it for about 30 minutes. He was pretty wet.

Well life is completely crazy here. I've been working on this post for 2 days. It just keeps getting worse. Hannah takes a lot more time now and Jeff has been busy with studying and interviewing. He went to Ohio State yesterday and gets home late tonight. I am trying to finish up my last class to graduate, but its hard when I can't even find enough time to sleep. It's been so humid and warm here I hate it. Gray humid days when everything in your house feels wet. I had a terrible trip to the dentist the other day. The dentist and hygenist were fighting while I was in the chair at their mercy. In the end the dentist told me he might have missed a spot on the filling so I needed to come back anyway. Well I hope things turn around soon or no one is going to get a christmas gift!