Things we did the week of thanksgiving

Well lets start off with our trip to NYC. We went down the Sunday before thanksgiving, Lane has not been since we moved out here and he had all of thanksgiving week off so it was a perfect time to go. We went with our good friends and it was up to me to be the tour guide because I have been there the most out of all of us(4 times). We explored the south end of central park and then headed over to 5th Avenue. We walked 5th Avenue down to 30 rock and saw the unlit Christmas tree there. Then we headed down to time square for some fun giant toy store shopping. The girls did well for the long day and we couldn't have asked for a more beautiful fall day.


We finally got the girls school pictures back and I am happy with the way they turned out. For only spending 5$ on each package, I would say I got my moneys worth



Instead of Black friday Shopping we drove two hours to the Berkshires in Massachusetts to get our Christmas tree. One of Lane's classmates parents own a huge piece of property there and let us come get one of the trees off their land for free. So we took a tractor ride out into the open and picked out this tree. It was a lot of fun and afterwards we had some hot chocolate and sandwiches to warm up. I haven't had a real tree since I was little and can I just say it smells so good. Thanks so much to the Dodge family.

Happy Birthday to Me.

Last week was my birthday. Lane of coarse had a test so I invited my good friend Amy (who's husband was also taking the same test)to join the girls and I for a spooky birthday celebration. We went to Sleepy Hollow NY for some spooky adventures. We started the night off at a very yummy mexican restaurant. We hadn't eaten good mexican for awhile and this hit the spot. After the yummy mexican food, went to baskin robbins to get some much need ice cream. They make my favorite sherbet ice cream. Upon finishing our ice cream we headed on over to VanCortlandt Manor for a walk through the pumpkin blaze. The pumpkin blaze is a an event held every october at one of the old Hudson valley estates. It consists of over 4,000 hand carved pumpkins all lit up on display. The pumpkins look like anything from your normal carved face to elaborate skeletons. It was very neat seeing what you could do to a pumpkin. The girls had fun and so did I.
The front of the house.

The Wife of a Grad Student

So what have we been up to. Not much. School started the end of August the girls are in 1st and Kindergarten. They love school. Lane also started fall semester at the same time. I thought this whole grad student thing wasn't too bad over the summer. I got to see Lane every night and all was great. Well I have been wrong. I see Lane about 10 hours a week. Maybe a bit more if I take him to school. Some days I don't see him at all. I know we share a bed but when he goes to bed a 2am and leaves at 6am- well I don't even realize he is there. Some days are hard, but boy am I glad I have two girls to keep me so busy. We are remodeling our house and that is lots of busy work so its not so bad when Lane is not around. I still have plenty to do. Just think in two years this will all be a memory and Lane will have a great Job and we can see him more often. I love my husband so much and I appreciate all of his hard work. Now if only he had time to read my blog.




With the girls in school and only having one car. I walk three miles a day now to get my girls to and from school. Don't worry they only have to walk one mile round trip.

The top of the sleeping giant. In the background that is long island sound. We aren't too far from the ocean.

Playing some game at the beach. This beach trip happened while Lane had his summer break.


Lane is holding up 9 fingers because he is now 29.

Boston, Boating, and Butterflies

So over the last two weeks we have been busy. Lane especially with about 9 tests over the last two weeks. We were able to sneak him away for a few fun outings. I don't know if I have mentioned it but we have the the best neighbor. Well she took us boating a couple of weeks ago and it was so much fun. She took us to a drive/boat up restaurant, then over to pirate island to eat our dinner and then back to the river(we were in long island sound) for some crabbing.









The day after boating we headed up to Deerfield Massachusetts with some friends. We went to the butterfly conservatory and the Yankee Candle Flagship store. Both were really neat places and we would never have known about it if our friends didn't invite us to come along. I need to tell you a little about the Yankee Candle Flagship store. It is huge and Santa resides there all year round. They have built this store around the themes of the their candle scents. The sweet candy scented candles are in a candy shop. The Christmas cookie smell is located where you go meet santa. We only spent a few hours here, but you could easily spend the whole day.





Last Sunday I had the opportunity to go up to Boston for the afternoon/evening. My brother Matt flew in for a business trip so I took the chance to see him while I could. We are exactly two hour from there and I had never been. So I didn't want to pass up the opportunity. We walked the Freedom trail until the girls got tired and then we ate Lobster at the Purple Shamrock. It was fun and nice to see my brother.
The freedom trail is paved with red brick or painted red. Makes it easy to find everything.

This is Paul Rever's tombstone.

That is the balcony where the deceleration of independence was first read to the public.


My first lobster since living in new england. It was yummy.

What have we been up to?

Who the heck knows. Yeah so long time no Post. I have been very busy since moving to CT. And have just not found the time or will to blog.Key word is WILL. I hope this is the start of a new blogging beginning. I got a new cell phone and that has taken over my real camera and so getting the pictures from that to the computer was foreign to me. This phone can do everything I need it to do except blog. So if you know of an app for blogging let me know. So Connecticut, it has been great here. I have meet some new friends who are awesome. I can already count on them for anything. We have a great neighbor next door whom the girls go and bother everyday( this neighbor is older with no kids, but loves mine). Lane's class mates are great and we all go the beach friday afternoons together which I love doing and so do the girls. The only thing I can't stand about CT is the hot steamy weather. That is the actually lines of the weather man on NBC here. So what have we been doing well here are some pictures of that.

Here is the kitchen that Lane remodeled. I love it. Its just so pretty and fun to work in.

On the fourth of July. I got a flag just for the that. I have always wanted an American flag flying out in front of my house. Later we had some friends over for some fireworks. which the girls loved lighting and watching.

We bought season passes to six flag new england. And the girls have loved that. This time we brought some friends with us. My friend Elaine has two daughters just like me. One is 6 and the other one is a baby, but our girls get along so well. We really enjoy them.

This is the beach that we go to every friday night. Lane plays volleyball while the girls work on their model shots and tans.

This next shot is of the girls with Landon at 6 flags. Landon's dad is at school with Lane. This family is awesome. They are from Arizona and Utah too. We get along well. And we have an understanding with Lane and Sam being gone all day long. Its nice to know someone sharing the same experiences as well.


I will post more photos of the house as it becomes more put together. I still have unpacking and decorating and remodeling to do. The kitchen is the only thing that is done. I still need to varnish the family/living room floors, but waiting on other stuff to do that. Its a work in progress, but it is coming along.