The Blackers in New England part 1

Friday night we needed to go pick up my family from the airport in Boston. We had a few set backs with the rental van. That is a long story that I don't want to go into right now. That night we stayed in a hotel in Boston. Ollie didn't fall asleep until 5:30 am. I had to stay up with him because Bryan and my Dad had to wake up early to drive back to Hartford. So I went down and sat in the lobby. Ollie ran circles around the entire lobby then the circles got smaller and smaller until he collapsed on the floor next to me and finally fell asleep. It was one of the longest nights of my life.After we got the rental car we went to Harvard Yard.This is a photo of my Mom and Ollie at Ihop. Bryan and I haven't been in Boston a lot except for Soccer games so we decided to go on a Duck tour. To get an over all feel of Boston. This is Kati in front of the Harry Potter Knight chess piece from the first movie in the Museum of Science in Boston.Sunday was General Conference so we hunkered down. Watched conference and went to the Collinsville Farmer's Market.Monday we went to Gillette Castle.

The Beginning of Halloween

It's the beginning of the 13 days of Halloween at our house tonight. Everyday we have an activity and every night a halloween movie. Anyone that wants to join any of the activities is welcome and we'd love to have you. The more the merrier this time of year.
We went to Keene NH for the pumpkin festival on Saturday. There were thousands of pumpkins and we had a great time with a couple families from our ward.

Tonight we started with a corn and chicken chowder soup for dinner and "It's the great pumpkin, Charlie Brown" and "The legend of Sleepy Hollow"

Tuesday the 20th:
Activity: Go on an Autumn Hike
Movie: The Ring

Wednesday the 21st:
Activity: Decorate for Halloween (and move into condo)
Movie: The Corpse Bride

Thursday the 22nd:
Activity: Create your own haunted house
Movie: The Haunting

Friday the 23rd:
Activity: Make a neat halloween craft
Double feature friday: Mickey's House of Villians and The Haunting in Connecticut

Saturday the 24th:
Activity: Salem, MA
Movie: none

Sunday the 25th:
Activity: go for a drive and check out autumn colors and neighbors decorations
Movie: Young Frankenstein

Monday the 26th:
Activity: Read a Halloween Story
Movie: Classic Scooby Doo Marathon

Tuesday the 27th:
Activity: Monster Mash with playgroup at Canton Church
Movie: Exorcism of Emily Rose

Wednesday the 28th:
Activity: Put finishing touches on costume
Trunk or Treat at Canton Ward
Movie: Nightmare before Christmas

Thursday the 29th:
Activity: Explore a Graveyard
Canton Ward book club - The Graveyard book by Neil Gaimon
Movie: Hauntings documentaries

Friday the 30th:
Activity: Cherry Brook Nursing Home Halloween Parade
YMCA Halloween Party
Double Feature Friday: Winnie the Pooh's Heffalump Halloween and The Sixth Sense

Saturday the 31st: HALLOWEEN!!
Chili, hot chocolate, cider, and halloween treats at the Williams
Collinsville Boo Bash from 6-8
Movie: 1408 and The Innocents

Hope to see people around for all our fun.

Apple Picking

As a playgroup we went to Lyman Orchards. There is a really big group that gets together now and it makes a really fun time for Ollie. He's a little bit smaller and slower so he's always a few steps behind everyone else but still has a good time.

Quick Summer Catch Up

We went to the Bridgeport zoo in May.

1. Ollie turned 1 on May 6th.We went to Germany.We went to Mystic Seaport Aquarium.We had a busy day and hit Gillette Castle, Cornwall Bridge, and Kent Falls.

In July there was a family reunion for the Gardner's in Nauvoo, IL.We've become soccer fans. Go New England Revolution!!Mindy and Wyatt came and visited. We went to NYC, Palmyra, and all around Connecticut.
We went to the American Natural History Museum in NYC.
We went to the Bronx Zoo.
That was a shortened version of our summer. It's been a fun crazy one.

Easter

I hope everyone had a good Easter this year. It was Oliver's first and I think that he had a really good time. On Saturday we went over to our friend Anji's house for some egg hunting and an Easter meal. We had fun looking for Eggs and Oliver found 2 ( one for each hand ) and was content to watch all the other children. He thinks he is so big now and wants to do all the things that the older kids do. Sunday was a fun day. We woke up and the Easter Bunny had come. He brought everyone new clothes. Oliver got an adorable new sunday outfit. After church we went to the Siebers for an Easter Dinner and an egg roll. Bryan was out the first round.
Oliver beat Bishop but lost to Austin in the second round.Mallory was the winner! All in all it was an awesome Easter and a good first one for Oliver. I'm looking forward to spring and the sunshine. Hope everyone else had a lovely easter and we'd love to hear about it.

Bubbles in the Park

Yesterday after conference we felt that we needed to get out of the house. It was a little windy so we packed up Oliver and our kite and headed to the park. The wind wasn't very consistent to the kite flying didn't go so well. But we brought bubbles and Oliver had a great time chasing them down and popping them.

My Camera

This is my trusty camera. My point-and-shoot kodak v803. This little guy has been every where and has photographed some of the most important things in my life and he has finally quit. I have become very attached to him. He has photographed everything from my sandy beaches in california, to my wedding, to third world countries, the birth of Oliver, and 3,000 miles across the country. He has seen sea turtles, mount rushmore, light houses, grand central station, and wall drug. Coast to Coast. oh, how I will miss him. He went before his time but he will always be remembered. I love you Kodak v803, thank you for all the memories.