Aunts

Elyse got to visit with her aunts while she was CO. She got to play with Great Aunt Pat, Aunt Megan, Aunt Lisel, Aunt Claire and Aunt Emily. I was not so good with the camera some days so I only got pictures of Aunt Megan and Aunt Lisel. I don't know how that happened, I am usually really good about pictures. Even if you aren't pictured (sorry about that) Elyse and I still love you!

Aunt Megan

We went to the Wildlife Experience with Aunt Lisel. The had an exhibit on butterflies. Elyse and Aunt Lisel are in cocoons in this picture.

In another part of the museum, there was a place for Elyse to dress up. She looks so cute :)

Aunt Megan came back to visit and she got to be in a band with Elyse.

Yeah for Aunts!

Workingout in Style!

I still have pictures I want to post on CO, but first I wanted to show you these pictures of Elyse. We went outside to the "fitness corner" yesterday where Elyse wanted to exercise. She chose the perfect outfit to workout in :)

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Notice Toby's shirt says Green Eggs and Ham :)

Boston

While in RI, Eric and I took a side trip to Boston. I have never been there before, but have wanted to go for awhile. We first took a tram ride and saw some historical sites and got a better idea of what we would want to explore later in the day. We then went to Quincy Market for lunch.

Eric got a lobster and I got a lobster roll- YUM!

We then walked around that area and headed back on the tram. We decided to get off at the USS Constitution (Old Ironsides) and got to tour the oldest boat afloat. It fought in the War of 1812.

This next picture is me standing on the Freedom trail with the Bunker Hill Monument in the background. The Freedom trail is literally a brick path or read line around the Boston area that takes you to 16 (?) historical sites. It is 3 miles long.

Eric and I took the tram to the next stop and found where the Freedom Trail continued. It took us to the North Church where the lanterns were lit for Paul Revere's ride and then the Paul Revere house itself.

The pews inside the church were divided up into little compartments. I overheard someone saying that when it got cold people could bring things to keep themselves warm (hot bricks?) and having the compartments helped keep the heat in- take that for what you will.

After getting some cannolis (YUM) at Mike's (a famous pastry shop- the line was out the door) we headed back to the car. We had parked by the Holocaust memorial. On one of your tram rides, I asked one of our driver some details about it and he said that the six columns were built to look like smoke stacks from the crematoriums (there was steam coming from the ground in each one) and that there were 1 million numbers on each pillar which represented the 6 million Jews that died in the death camps.

We had great weather, I got to explore a city I had never seen before, and I got to spend time with my brother (Thanks Kristen for lending me your husband). The day was wonderful.

Rhode Island

While in the States I was able to go to Rhode Island to visit my brother and his family. They moved to RI they same time we moved to Singapore, so I had yet to visit them. It was great to see where they lived, plus I got to meet my nephew for the first time. He is almost 3 months old and is such a laid back baby.

Ashton and Me at Cate's Gymboree class:

Cate is just 3 months younger than Elyse and she was great to be around. She has this wonderful laugh. Here she is blowing bubbles on her dog and thinking it's the funniest thing ever (covering her mouth as she laughs).

One day we went down by the water and walked around. I was so lucky to have great weather during my visit.

Although Elyse would have loved to play with her Aunt, Uncle and cousins (she stayed in CO), I am glad I got to go to RI on my own. This way I could just be Aunt Jenn and not Mommy. It is so much fun being the Aunt.

More From Colorado

We have been able to see most of our family while visiting CO. We went over to the Harkless Household and saw most of Elyse's Aunts and Uncles but some how we didn't get any pictures - I don't know how that happened...

People have also come over to visit. This is a picture of Elyse and her Great Uncle Don. I love how she is looking up at him while he reads her a story.

One day we went to a nearby park. I think we go there each time we visit. It is fun to see how much more she can do on her own. You'll notice there is still snow on the ground, but is was a great CO day. The sun was out and it was in the 50's.

I thought this was kind of a funny picture in the sense that Elyse is holding a tape player. Not many kids have ever seen a cassette tape. My mom found tapes of some of Elyse's favorite songs at Goodwill and Elyse loves listening to them.

Snow

Yes, I am a bit behind in blogging, but I just have been having so much fun in the States!

To begin with, our trip out here was so much better than expected. I always dread these trips (the flying part), but this one went very smoothly and one of the reasons was that my parents help me a lot with carrying bags and taking turns watching Elyse. I hope the flights back go as well.

When we were driving back from the airport it was snowing so I knew I would wake up to snow. This was my view out my parent's kitchen when I woke up:

It was just enough snow- enough to feel like CO and for us to play in, but not enough to mess with the roads.

This is the first time Elyse has worn feety pj's since she was an infant.


After breakfast we bundled up and headed outside.

She wasn't so sure about walking in the snow at first but liked to shovel with Grandpa.

Eventually she made it on the snow. Her favorite thing was to smash the snow on the driveway.

The next day she went out with my parents and built a snowman. I am glad she likes the snow :)