Knoebels/ NYC

Wow - this last weekend was so fun, and so tiring at the same time.

On friday - Richard got to 40 hrs at about noon - so he came home, and I had everything ready to leave. My work had their annual picnic at a local theme park -Knoebels - so we were driving down there to get there by 2. We stopped on the way to pick up a friend that I work with, and then got stuck in traffic for like an hour. SO we ended up being an hour late for the picnic. We were thankful there was still food there. Knoebels was a good experience - very family friends. But Carson didn't like the rides too well. On each of them, the tea cups, the carasoul, and another jet flying thing, he had this look of terror on his face the entire time - and was on the verge of losing it - I was proud of him though, he held it together. but was not too happy. When we got home that night I was so so tired. I almost wanted to cancel our next day's plans - but very thankful that I didn't.

Saturday - we woke up bright and early and drove to NYC. This is always a nerve wracking event for me. The subways, the parking, the crowded city just seems so overwhelming to me a lot. But I always like going in at the same time. We had no problem getting in, parking or the PATH into the city. We met up with our good friends Wes and Katie Kouba who were vacationing there. We spent the whole day walking all around. We saw a little bit of Little Italy, the WTC, and the Museum of Natural history. And we enjoyed some great pizza at Lombardi's and coffee at a nice little shop. So good to see good friends, and to walk around a lot. Carson did so good for being in the stroller most of the day - He is quite the trooper. Probably not the funnest day he's ever had - but he handled that well too. there was a couple subways we got on that were so full, and he was picking at the people's pant legs and pulling on their clothes - but then who can resist a smile when you look down to see who it is - and this bright smiling little boy is looking up at you. No one seemed too bothered, although momma was mortified. :-)

Sunday - i think most of our Sunday's from now on will be pretty busy. We are teaching a Sunday school class (pre-k and K) and really enjoy teaching it together. Then this week we had to decorate our classroom for the upcoming VBS. (we are teaching 3rd and 4th grade again this year) Needless to say - by the time i got home Sunday afternoon I was in need of a long nap. :-) I did get one - Carson did so well through it all. And has bounced back just grand.

Lots of events coming up - and we will be super busy until after the 4 th of July - but we are so excited about getting more involved in church.

Memorial Day Weekend

I love going on trips, and if you read my blog at all you know that we try to take a lot but mostly b/c friends and family are far away. So We hadn't been on a trip since the new Year, which feels like FOREVER to me. :-)

We left Friday after work, like we always do, and we took a guy with us whose girlfriend is in MA for the summer. We made pretty good time and Carson once again did wonderful ( I dont' think you could be in this family if you didn't like road trips). When we got to my Auntie Terre's we talked for a really long time just catching up on life. (We get along very well, b/c I lived with her while I was engaged right after college).

Saturday we woke up really early and had breakfast in Boston at Faneuil Hall. I've never done that but it was really fun. My cousin and his wife and baby went, and then my other best friend from highschool and her husband went. After breakfast we walked to "the Constitution" and did a little tour. The weather was beautiful and perfect for a day of walking with friends. We had parked at a meter and knew the time limit, and when we were on our way back we knew it was close but thought we would be ok. When we were like a block away from the car, we watched the parking meter man put a ticket on our car. Richard ran up to him and told him we were right there, but that mean man said there was nothing he oculd do about it!!! Thankfully the fine could've been a lot higher than it was. Then we go to leave and the car won't start. UGH!!! And that mean parking meter man walking by us again, did not feel bad for us one bit, and didn't even consider taking the ticket away. Well after 2 hrs of waiting and calling AAA and paying a locksmith to ocme help out, we did end up getting back home. and we were thankful for nice weather, friends who are easy going, and nothing else on the agenda for the afternoon. We still enjoyed ourselves. In the evening we went to a family friends house, and their kids did great watching Carson while I relaxed on the couch and chatted with their parents. It was so nice for me.

Sunday was church and then we went out to eat with Grampie. A good ole' tradition of the family that we all really look forward to when we are in Boston. Then we went to church in the evening too. This church is my family's home church and where Richard and I got married, so it's so fun to go back and see everyone and catch up. There are a lot of dear friends to the family there. Sunday night Carson went home with A. Terre and we went to My best friends house and chatted until 12:30 at night!!!!!!! I haven't been out that late talking in forever!! it was so nice to catch up and there is just something so special about conversation flowing so easily with good friends.

Monday is the famous Sunday School Picnic at church so we spent the day at the park with the church family and had a great time of fellowship with everyone, and in the evening visited 2 other families that are dear to our hearts.

Tuesday we took our car to my Cousin's Mechanic shop for him to take a look. we have just had to dump so much money into our car, and the news he had for us was not too much better. So we were thankful for an honest opinion and honest good work done, but discouraged about the work/money cars cost. God will provide though.

After the car was done we drove home again for a short work week. The trip was so much fun and very refreshing for us. So glad we could make it to see everyone.

The rest of the week was spent playing outside in the beautiful sun with Carson. We made a make shift pool. I never want my kids to need lots of new toys, and seeing how much fun he had with some measuring cups and a bucket of water confirmed they just need love to be happy. :-)