New York and stuff

 It's been forever since I've blogged, so I thought I'd catch everyone up. I love the story behind the above picture. This was at the swim meet when Mark was out of town and Shelby was vomiting (she is the blue mass in the back. Abby Kate bought Toby a snow cone and it was just so sweet!

 These are the girls I have dinner with about once a month. From left: Brandee, Gerietha, Tara

 Masks creep me out, so the girls enjoyed trying these on at a party store.

 The kids and Hallie enjoying the mud in the backyard.

 Shelby used the shopping app on my phone creatively.

 "monsters"

 Mark and I had a great time in New York with our friends, the Laboons (Hallie's aunt and uncle) last weekend! We took an audio tour of the Statue of Liberty and that is really the way to tour it!

 We ate at the Stardust Diner where the waiters and waitresses are all aspiring actors/singers so they sang to us while we ate. (above)

 Wicked was sooooo good! That is Kristen and Aaron.

 Ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

 Thank you to the Crowells and Nienstadts for taking such great care of our kiddos while we were gone!

 Kristen pulling a movie star kiss out for the camera (below).

Times Square was packed all the time and we saw more naked people and characters (buzz lightyear, elmo) than we care to talk about. They were all posing for pictures with tourists for money.

 at Wicked

 The Laboons are such sweet friends! They both play in the church band and fun band with Mark.

 Here we were in Brooklyn in Little Italy. Mark was feeling particularly tough I think after we sat by the mafia guy at dinner. He's the bald guy below. I had been sitting where the guy in the yellow is sitting. If you zoom in you can see the gold jewelry and black patten shoes on this guy as he drinks the juice from the bowl that had about 25 oysters in it!  The food at La Mela was amazing! I enjoyed talking to the bus boy about life in New York. He had been homeless not too long ago. I also asked a nice lady on the subway tons of questions about her life. 

 Grand Central Station below

 Screen shot of Mark and I in Glenn Beck's audience a couple of weeks ago. We are such groupies!

 First day of school donuts! We now have 5th & 7th graders and a kindergartener!