some more New York

Our second day of New York starting with a Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour. (For anyone going to New York for the first time - I highly recommend it!) It's a great way to see a lot of things in not a lot of time. These pictures are from the Downtown Tour. Mostly buildings. But the buildings there are really neat! I wish buildings here would look more like they do there! I don't know what most of my pictures are of - but thought I'd share some anyways.

This next picture was taken at Ground Zero. They are doing TONS of
construction there- and the whole site is surrounded by a fence a big tarps.
So you pretty much can't see anything. Darn! It is wierd though to
have so many buildings packed together - and then a big
empty space with nothing in it.There was a little spot where you could peek through the fence - this is what was inside.

We were in New York on July 4th - so me and Matt thought we would check out the fireworks. To get a really good view - you needed to go down by the river, and apparently you had to be there by 4 to get a seat - the fireworks didn't start until 9:30. We weren't that interested in doing that all day - so we just decided to walk as far as we could. It was crazy!! It was jam packed with people! I don't think I have ever been so crowded in my life! We only had our tiny camera with us, so the pictures are kinda bad - but you can kindof get the idea.

They launched the fireworks from the river. They had 6 barges that launched 6 identical fireworks shows. And apparently, the whole thing was about a mile long. I think it would have been spectacular - had we been down at the river. We weren't though. So we only got to see the fireworks that were launched from one and a half boats.

Anyways, it was interesting. Nothing too amazing though. If I were in New York again on July 4th - I would definitely pick going to a broadway show over watching the fireworks. But I guess it's fun to say you did it.

New York - Day One!

Well - I have been doing pretty bad at this blogging thing lately. Oh well.
Anyways, Matt had a few weeks off of work, so we decided to go on a little trip to
NEW YORK CITY!!

My parents agreed to watch Aiden - so off we went for a much needed (or at least much wanted) vacation. We had never been away without Aiden before for more than a night or two. It was so awesome to be childless again for a few days! (even though we did miss Aiden a whole bunch)

Back to the trip. We went for 6 days, and Matt's parents and his younger sister came with us. We had such a fun time together - I LOVED pretty much everything.

This is what I looked like for most of the trip -which is why
I will probably be posting pics not all at once. I took so many pictures - crazy!

Day One - we arrived in New York in the early evening. So we had a few hours to walk around and see a few of the sights. Our hotel was just 2 blocks from Times Square - perfect location. Definitely not the Plaza - but it worked for what we needed.

So, here's Times Square. The pictures don't do it justice! This place is CRAZY busy!
So many people and taxis and billboards and so much NOISE!! Very Fun!



After walking around for a bit, we went for a delicious supper at Bubba Gump Shrimp. Yummy!

And then off to Matt's heaven - the M&M Factory! Look how happy he is!

So many M&M's. There were huge tubes like this all over the store -
with every kind of flavor imaginable.

Then we did a bit of shopping at the Hershey's store. We got these sweet Factory Worker hats.
We looked like nerds - Oh well!

And what better way to end your first night then to see the Naked Cowgirl!! Super SICKO!!
I would have preferred the Naked Cowboy I think.

Lots more to come - but not now. I'm too sleepy!

Happy Happy Birthday!

Well, I am officially an old woman - eeeek!! This weekend I turned the big 2-5

and boy was it a birthday to remember!! Matt is AMAZING!

The celebrations started Friday night when my very best friend and her family arrived Friday night. Matt had secretly arranged for them to come and spend the weekend with us. I was SO happy to see them! Me and Lianne used to hang out almost every day when we still lived in Edmonton. It's been lonely here without her! She is fantastic!
(We look super sicko in this picture - but every time we are together we still take one like this - not sure why)

The little boys were also SUPER excited to see eachother! They were screaming -happily- and laughing and played great together all weekend. They would always sneak off together and we could always hear them laughing and laughing. Very cute!! I love them!

Anyways, back to the birthday celebrations! Saturday morning I woke up to a DELICIOUS breakfast that Matt made - waffles with whip cream, strawberries, blueberries, some other kind of berries, bacon, eggs, the whole works. Delicious! Then we decided to spend the day at Calaway Park. It had been a super long time since any of us had been there - and we thought the boys would really like it. So, off we went!

Matt and Aiden on the Dinosaur Egg ride - not Aiden's favorite.

Aiden and Cameron on the Tot Yachts - definately Aiden's favorite ride ever!
He could have stayed on it all day!

OK - I look like a giant nerd in this picture - but you had to see Aiden.
This is how he looked after getting off of the Tot-Yacht ride. And that look pretty much
stayed with him all day unless he was on it. awesome!

Aiden waiting in line for the ride. This was pretty much the only time he had to
wait in line where he wasn't screaming his head off.

Riding the horses. This used to be my favorite ride - Aiden, not so much.

Ben and Lianne

and Me and Matt - such a sweet romantic picture!

After Calaway Park we went home where Matt cooked up another
delicious meal. BBQ Steak, garlic shrimp, baked potatoes, salad - yummy!!
And then it was time for.........
The birthday cupcake!! SUPER YUMMY!
(Matt got them here - you should go there!)

I got spoiled me rotten this year with all of the presents.
Lianne and family got me this really sweet set of picture frames that you use to make a photo collage thing on your wall. I am so excited to set it all up - and I'll be sure to show you once I do!

Matt really outdid himself this year. He got me..............
this super girly movie

this remote for my camera.....this light for my camera....

and this brand new beautiful camera.......the Nikon D90!

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!!!

Before my birthday, Matt asked me what my best birthday ever was. I have had some pretty sweet birthdays growing up - but I am pretty sure that this one wins the prize! Way to go Matt!! You are amazing! I LOVE YOU!!

A few more...

It is hard to believe that Matt's years of school are over and done with.
It was a LONG 8 years! Lots of tough times, but I think more fun times!
It was a very happy and exciting day for everyone - but also a really sad day for Matt
and his classmates, or more appropriately - his friends.
They've all become so close - and it will be hard
for them to not see each other every day!
Hopefully there will be a few reunions for years to come!

Anyways, here's a few more pics from the Big Day!

the happy grad!

Me and Matt - I look super shrimpy!
But we did match really good!

Matt & his Parents
they raised such a good boy!The whole bunch!

Matt's class - a very sharp looking bunch!

Haha! I LOVE this picture of Matt! He looks so funny!

All Done!! Yippee!!

The guys in Matt's class - didn't get a picture of the girls.
After the ceremonies and picture taking - we had a really yummy luncheon,
and then a fantastic banquet that night. Matt had a brand new fancy
suit - he looked really good! And I had a brand new fancy dress - I
maybe looked good! haha!
And for some stupid reason - I didn't take a single picture.
Still smacking myself over that one. Oh well.
Maybe one will turn up sometime.