amazing change

We went to a fun farm/petting zoo place (they call it a "children's discovery farm") today and the kids had a blast. Before we left, I remembered a few pictures that I had taken last year before we went to the same place. I wanted to recreate the shots to see the differences the year had made, and I am just floored by what I see. Life and growth is such a miracle. Let me never take that for granted.

a beautiful day in Bosty

This week is just getting away from me and I'm not really sure why. All I do know is that I needed to write a new post here so my awkward modeling pictures wouldn't be the first thing that appeared on the top of the page! (PS- I wasn't always so awkward... check out my 4 year old self!)

Anyway, Ryan's brother Justin and his wife Amy made a quick trip out to see us this week, so yesterday we left the kids with an AMAZING babysitter and headed to Boston ("Bosty," as Brynlee used to say) for the day. I've never left Mac all day like that, so I was a bit nervous but it went splendidly. We walked (and walked, and walked... I am so sore today) around, ate delicious food, shopped, crammed into the subway cars like sardines, got sunburned, took in a little history, and (for the grand finale) attended the Red Sox game in the evening. It was a great game and Boston won at the bottom of the 9th with two outs with a home run. Ryan and I aren't huge baseball fans (like a certain girl's husband) but it was so fun. They were playing Cleveland (who Justin roots for), so we were a bit apprehensive being seen with Justin and his Indians jersey and hat. We didn't get hassled at all, which is always good. I felt a little bad, though, that Justin and Amy came all the way out to see their team lose, but even they thought it was a great game. It was so wonderful to walk around and have a little kid-free time (last summer walking around Boston was atrocious for me between the heat and being hugely pregnant!), but of course I lugged my camera along with a dead battery. Boo. When will I learn? I took a few with my phone, but I wish I had taken more!


I took this to send to my friend Amy (we stopped here last year when she was visiting) but didn't get to stop in. I am still regretting not popping in for some Oreo cake!

Boston harbor

Fenway... so fun!

Father's Day 2011

This is our annual (since about 1993) Father's Day picture under the maple tree (that was just a baby tree in 1993) at my parents' house. Ryan wasn't able to be there (sad) but it's amazing to look back even in the most recent years and see how much has changed...


2010 - B had just turned 1 and Mac was a bun in the oven

2009 - Brynlee was only about 2 months old!

2008

2007

oldies but goodies

I was looking through old pictures tonight and found these... they are probably some of my favorites of Ryan and me together, ever. Germany, 11/04.




LOVE HIM!!!

one year ago

I was just talking to Ryan the other day about how I can't believe how much our lives change in even just one year. So of course I went rooting through pictures from last year at this time. April-May of last year was one definitely of the most pivotal times for us, ever. I started this blog in April, hoping to chronicle the our progress in ripping our house apart and basically rebuilding it. Here we are now, still a bit to do, but looking back I am still blown away at how different everything is.

And how could I not mention...


I'm such a sap. I just love looking back... we are just so blessed.

tag... just a tad overdue

Well, Spammon tagged me for this like a MONTH ago and I've been a very bad and busy friend and not posted. I apologize, Spam, and I also feel really bad about the whole making you cry thing... Linds told me, it's okay!


10 Years Ago - May 1998. I actually dug around in my basement and unearthed one of my old journals for this one. Wow. At 14, I was constantly "in love" with different boys, though they never knew it. I was absorbed in the drama of my church youth group and dreamed of becoming a singer. Two of my best friends moved away during this time and my crush brought his NEW GIRLFRIEND to youth group one fateful Wednesday night! Oh the TRAUMA! hee hee.


5 Things On My To Do List (all stuff that I wanted to do this weekend... but is NOT happening!)-

1. wash all of the windows
2. re-paint the chairs and bench on the patio
3. work on the front flowerbeds
4. organize the office, spare room, and basement (I want to cry just thinking about this)
5. laundry, clean, change the bed
How will I ever choose which fun activity to do first?! Hmm maybe if I got to work and quit writing posts and stalking blogs I would get stuff done...


5 Snacks I Enjoy -

1. string cheese
2. ice cream
3. any blended caramel coffee drink
4. goldfish (regular & pretzel)
5. grapefruit


5 Foods I Love -

1. pizza
2. pasta
3. chicken
4. mexican
5. Amy's burritos... I could eat them every day!


WHAT WOULD I DO IF I WERE SUDDENLY A BILLIONAIRE -

pay off debt, build a house, have like 7 kids!


5 PLACES I HAVE LIVED -

1. Alden, NY
2. North Chili, NY
3. Churchville, NY
4. Brighton, NY
5. A bit sheltered are we??!! (ps 2-4 are all within a 20 min stretch)


Favorite Quote -

"One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar."
-Helen Keller
*I know it's kinda cheesy, but it's always been my favorite quote!*


And I'll leave you with a shot of my current source of pride & joy...

throwback thursday... 1988

I found this picture on ebay.... check out the kid....
soooo embarrassing, but I had to share (yes, that's ME)!!!

Reminiscing

I get so sidetracked when I'm on the computer. I always end up looking at old pictures... check out this one I found from the day we got engaged (Jan 19, 04)...

Just thought I'd share...

(PS Look at Ryan's hair!)

Throwback Thursday

I know it's kind of late, but I wanted to join in before today was over. The girls at Pinks & Blues host this every week, and I've been dying to play along! So here is my attempt... not too far back, I'll have to get scanning on those older pics! :)



Venice, Italy, late November, 2004. Ryan and I had gotten married a mere 5 or 6 weeks prior, and were already taking a "second" honeymoon. As some of you may remember, he was working in admissions at RWC and the fall schedule had him traveling for 3 weeks straight right after the wedding, so we were only able to do a few short days in the Poconos right after the wedding. Let's just say... this trip made up for it! :)



Basilica di San Marco... see all those pigeons? yeeahh... remember the scene from the movie "Just Married" when Ashton Kutcher was flailing around the piazza with the pigeons swarming around him? It was no exaggeration, they really were like that!!!



See?! hehe!!! It was so cold, do you see how my mouth is so stiff? It was frozen. The only good thing about the cold was that is was the off-season, tourism wise, so it wasn't so busy. Plus we heard that it smells really bad in the heat with all of the water and people around.



Real Italian pizza!!! Pizza margherita!!!!



The Rialto Bridge



Hope to join in on TT again! :)