New York: ch. 1

 We had another successful trip to the Big City! In between Justin's last day of clinic and graduation, we went to NY to see my parents one more time while we were still within driving distance. As always, we had a blast! The boys did really good in my parents teeny tiny apartment. While we were there, my mom and I spent a day in Manhattan all by ourselves. It was fabulous. It was so fun to spend some time alone with my mom. The only pictures we took were on my phone which has recently died. While we were gone Justin and my dad took the boys to the aquarium. 

 Early Saturday morning Justin's parents flew in to join in on the fun. I don't have the pictures from her camera yet, so there will have to be another NY post to get all the pictures of them and their adventures on here as well. Justin, Bob, and Denise went around Manhattan while I stayed with the boys and my parents. Then we met up that night to see the Lion King at Time Square! It was so good! The costumes are amazing. My mom's cousin who lives behind them, watched the boys. It was so great to get out with no kiddos.

 Jack was loving the subway and had to make sure he knew exactly where we were on the map and which subway we would be riding on. He looked at those maps forever.

 Anderson got a little cut off but this is us on the Brooklyn bridge. The weather was so perfect the whole week and we were just soaking up the sun. It has been raining in Cleveland for what feels like the past two months, so we were all in desperate need of some serious vitamin D!

 The boys got to play on the Big Piano in FAO Schwartz.

 We were lucky enough to be there for Mother's Day!! (pictures of Justin's Mom to come!)

I have an amazing Mom. She is a great example to me and I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate Mother's Day, than with my own mom. Isn't she cute?? We were loving her new haircut!

 We spent a whole day in Central Park and the Central Park Zoo. The landscaping is so beautiful. These pictures do not do it justice.

 Do we look like turtles? ...or just geeks?

 We ate lunch right by this pond with the little boats going around. It was the perfect setting and the boys loved watching them! I was afraid Anderson was going to jump in the water though.

 Is there a better way to enjoy a day than laying in the grass in Central Park??

 More of Central Park.

More of NYC to come!

Noses

 Anderson fell down our basement stairs flat on his nose...ouch.

A few days later, I bent over to get something off the floor and ripped a chunk of my nose off on the corner of a plastic tub.

Ouch.

I'm glad mine wasn't on the end of my nose like Anderson's. He is much cuter than I would be!!

So long Cleveland...

On Monday morning we pulled off of Cottage Grove and out of Cleveland for the last time. It was a bitter sweet feeling. We were so excited to be done with dental school, excited to be making a little money now, excited to be moving to the South with warm weather and no snow, and excited for a new adventure. But having spent the last four years here, there are so many things that we will miss. Patterson Fruit Farm, Kirtland, Chagrin Falls, B Spot, Dewey's Pizza, fall leaves, Indian's games, all of the great parks, and mostly...the people. We have made so many wonderful friends and have been influenced by so many great people.

 Patricia Jennings will always have a special place in our hearts. She has been a dear friend, and LOVES our boys. She always brings a new toy car, candy or some sort of surprise almost every time we see her. We stopped by her house on our way out of the Cleve.

 Myrtle Alexander. 

She was always inviting us over for dinner and made sure we were prepared for the South with some good ol' fashioned fried chicken. :)

 Elizabeth Dinkins (middle) was my visiting teaching companion. We visited Emily Hurst (left) and she was always making sure we were taking care of our babies right.

 I LOVE the houses in Cleveland. The style, character and charm are unforgettable. These are a few of my favorites. If my future house that I buy in 6 years from now could look like any of these, I would be so happy!

 There are also beautiful churches everywhere! This one is right by our house. You can't see the whole thing, but I love this building.

 Our neighbors.

We had the best neighbors! I told the guys that I wouldn't show their matching plaid pj's but I couldn't resist! Heather and Mark were so great and have helped us in so many ways. I don't know what I will do with out them across the street from us. 

 There was never a dull moment on Cottage Grove. From barking dogs, to some interesting residents. We were glad we could experience it with them!

 I'm going to miss the trees. Our street has some amazing trees! Especially in the spring and fall. These pictures were taken right before we left for New York.

 This one was after we came back. All of the blossoms were gone, but I love the green leaves just as much. Ohio is so green and beautiful.

 Our little house has come a long way since we have lived there. We will miss it. I don't think I will miss my terrible kitchen counter tops, appliances, and floor. Or having one bathroom. Or not having an attached garage. Or going down in my spider web basement to do laundry. Or not having air conditioning. Or having TINY closets! But I will miss my red door, my glass door knobs, all the space, and it's character. Plus the fact that both my boys have spent their lives there. Jack was 6 wks old when we moved in. I have a picture that I will have to find of us on our front steps when we moved in. I can't believe it has been 4 years!!

So long Cleveland....we will miss you!!

Easter

 We have had a crazy past month, but we managed to sneak in a few Easter activities. We colored eggs and also hit up an Easter egg hunt at the church.

 Anderson wasn't very happy during the hunt and this is the only picture he smiled in. He spilled his jelly beans and every time he would bend over to pick it up, more would spill out of his egg. He was so upset. (more on Anderson's nose later!)

 I tried to get a cute picture of them after the hunt and this was the best I got. It was not working. We were a little past nap time.

 We had an early Easter morning since we have 9 o'clock church. We had to rush a little through our Easter baskets but the boys were super excited to see what the Easter bunny brought.

We have been trying to teach the boys about our Savior, and the real meaning of Easter. Jack has been doing pretty good at remembering that it is to celebrate His resurrection. When we picked him up from his Sunday school class he said to me really loud, "Mom! Jesus is about Easter!" He had the words a little mixed up but at least he had the right idea....kind of. :)

Happy Easter!