Mary's Birthday Present

Recently a close friend MT, who now lives in Liverpool, England, turned 24 and I decided to brave the sewing machine again and attempt to make her a messenger bag for her birthday. I think overall it came out pretty good and hopefully it will hold up for a while. But I wanted to share it with everyone because I am super proud of it and she has now received it so it won't give away the secret.

The First BBQ of the Spring

David grilling the Kebabs

Despite this blog not being posted until the 21st of April, it has been warm enough on a couple of occasions for us to enjoy eating outdoors and David and I decided to take advantage of that and making Kebabs for our Monday Garden Street meal last week. It was a wonderful dinner, everyone enjoying good company, good weather, good food and drink. Even Theo and Emma were able to join us for the evening.Theo & Emma

Most of the Garden Street House: Austin, Natalie, Theo, Emma, Missy, our good friend Dan, Thomas, David and Alison is taking the picture

Austin and Theo putting sticks into the fire

REI garage sales Rock!!!!

Our new B.O.B. road trailer all put together

So David and I recently purchased a bicycle trailer for our ride to Hamilton, Ontario this summer and when we went to REI to pick it up we happened to arrive during the last 20min of an REI garage sale. Of course I never have any luck at these garage sales, nothing is ever my size or I can never find two of a pair, but this time David and I made out like bandates getting $300 worth of gear for $18, along with picking up our awesome new trailer which we have so far only used to pick up pizza for dinner but it worked great!!!David putting together the trailer with only minor difficulties

Our $300 worth of gear: a pair of $90 keen sandals that I have wanted for years for $3, 2 sets of hiking pools each worth $100 that were purchased for $12 because one in each set was "broken" and my handy husband easily fixed them when wegot them home, and a pair of $40 gloves that are perfect for biking in during chili weather for $3. What an awesome trip to REI

HAPPY BELATED EASTER

Family friends and neighbors Deb & Pete , my sister Colleen, my mom, and family friend June @ my parents house

June, my dad's cousins John, Billy and Jane @ my parent's house for dinner

The Rule Police for the Easter Hunt: David, aunt Gini and Nancy @ the Lier's

Amy, Christopher & Jessica going through their loot that was found during the hunt and partaking in the "forced share" (i.e. everyone get's one chocolate bar and a present with their name on it)

The famous Lier Easter hunt

Well it's been a whole week since Easter but there is always more time to celebrate Easter because it is an amazing day and a wonderful event to celebrate. Easter, along with Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. Why? Because it has this amazing feeling of coming together and praising the lord for his blessings and gifts. Now this may be true with Christmas as well however I feel that during the season of Christmas the message gets lost in all the gifts and trees and events that happen but with Easter I feel the Lord's gift in the air. It makes me so happy and every year it is a wonderful day filled with joy and celebration.

This year David and I spent the morning with the Lier's, joining them at Church in Cambridge and then conversation over appetizers, drinks and the traditional Lier Easter hunt before heading to my parent's house for dinner with friends and family and a relaxing evening. It was a wonderful day. I hope you are able to thank the Lord for the many blessings he has given you in the recent past.

Lil' Alison Shannon Turns 24!!!

PIG FACE!!!!

That's right..pig face, roasted pig face to be exact. About a month ago the Arch-Bucholtz brought over a whole roasted pig face and we were all brave enough to try it. Some a little braver than others but all in all it was an experience to remember and document.

Stephanie fighting through the 2-3inches of cheek fat

Thomas, Heidi and Stephanie examining all the different muscles, bones and teeth

All of us slightly grossed out but more intrigued

About that...

Hi everyone, sorry it's been so long since we've posted...busy with FASFA, taxes, and life in general. Things here have been great, we've been getting to know our new roommates Thomas and Rowan both new to Lawrence (Rowan has lived here about 6mo I believe and Thomas moved here from Boston, and graduated from MIT this past). Both excellent additions to the house.

We are also getting organized for me to finish with school this May and David to start up at SMFA again this fall. Crazy, I know. We are so excited to be making plans to live with the Thistlethwaithes this fall in Somerville/Cambridge/Medford area and hopefully a couple other friends of ours.

We also made a large purchase of a new computer!!!!! A Mac Book!!! It is a wonderful thing to have a new computer. And David is loving it, he's had a lot easier time downloading his photos and scanning his negatives and is looking forward to using photoshop. Check out our new computer at http://www.apple.com/macbook/. It's sleek and worth every penny.

We also have started to plan/train for our upcoming adventure this summer...biking from Lawrence, MA to Hamliton Ontario. It's about 500mi and we plan to do it in a week, riding about 70mi per day. We are both so excited and with the nice weather we've been having we've been taking somewhat long bike rides every day we get a chance. Yesterday we rode out to Lowell for the afternoon. It was a beautiful ride along the Merrimack River on Rt 110 and then we enjoyed a beer from Lowell Beer Works and some local galleries the ALL and the Brush. All in all we are doing pretty well, we hope to catch up with those we haven't seen in a while this summer, maybe spending some weekends in Boston and planning some longer bike trips to the beach or western MA.Hot new bike short David!!!

View of Merrimack River at Rt110 and Water StOn Rt 110, a little more than half way, taking a quick water break