Boston Massachusetts

Hello from Boston!

We left on our trip to Boston at 5:00am Friday October 23, 2009 and returned home at 7:00pm Thursday, October 29, 2009. Thanks Lori for taking us to the airport and for picking us up again. I was very skeptical about even going because of all the H1N1 stuff going around. I stocked up on all the essentials and made sure everyone was healthy. I was so excited to go to Boston. I had heard that it is a very beautiful city and lots of fun. The weather in Boston was rainy most days, on Sunday and Monday we had beautiful weather. The temp on those days was about 65'. The rest of the time it was 50' and very rainy. We went to Boston because of our annual National Funeral Directors Association Convention (NFDA). Paul is on the policy board for the national funeral directors representing North Dakota. He had some meetings in the morning, but most of the day we were on our own! I was very nervous to fly, but everything went well. Well, almost! We missed our first connection in Minneapolis on Friday and almost (yes by 5 minutes) missed our connection to Bismarck on Thursday night. Boston was ablsolutely beautiful and so much fun. I am amazed at how much history that city holds. I knew of the obvious, Paul Revere, The Boston Tea Party, The USS Constitution and the boston massacre; however learned a great deal more. There were a few things I didn't realize took place in Boston. We took a Trolley on Sunday all over town. We could get off and back on again after we were finished at a location. On Sunday we toured Fenway Park, home to the Boston Red Sox, which was very interesting. I had never heard of the "Green Monster" and now I know all about it. We had lunch at "Cheers" which was an awesome burger and a pretty cool bar. The bar is exactly the same as the tv show. We had very very good dinners. We had dinner at 2 seafood places. Paul had lobster at each of them. The lobsters were HUGE! I of course, do not like seafood, so chicken was my choice. We also had italian for dinner on 2 nights. I love italian, so it was awesome for me. Everyone also loved every dinner. All of the food was very good and it was fun to eat with new and old friends. I met a lot of new friends. One thing about these conventions is that you meet so many new people and they become instant friends. Everyone is so warm and friendly. It is always fun to see them at the next years convention and it is like you were just together.

Ok, now back to my story. Monday we went on board and toured the USS Constitution. Will was very excited for us to go on that tour. He studied it last year and was very knowledgable about it. It was a very interesting tour. I for one, cannot imagine sleeping in the small hammocks with about 300 other sailer sleeping next to me. The quarters were very close. It always amazes me to think of these sailors on this small ship for so many days. "Old Ironsides" as it is called is an amazing ship and will be ready for another voyage in about 2 years. They do take her out frequently for small cruises around the Boston Harbor. We had lunch at the "Cheesecake Factory" on Monday which was so good. I must say you have to try the avacado egg rolls, they are soooooo good. After lunch we went on the Boston Duck boats. A duck boat is a vehicle that drives on land throughout the city and then goes in water. We went for a cruise on the Charles River. Our driver said about 5 times....."what a beautiful day for a cruise on the Chahles".....that was not a typo....that is how they talk!

This is a duck boat!!!

We did a little shopping a a huge market. It had shops and fresh market foods. Everything in Boston is expensive! At our hotel a glass of orange juice was $6.00 no room service for me. Tuesday we had dinner at Hard Rock Cafe' and then went on a haunted trolley ride. I think that was one of the funnest things we did. My sister thought I was crazy, but it was so much fun. We had a 2 hour tour after dark! We went in 2 cemeteries and heard of many ghost stories. At one point I thought to myself.....what am I doing in Boston, in the dark, at a cemetery, in the rain and fog?? They told us about haunted hotels, and stories about the boston strangler. The tour guides were of course dressed up and they were funny and crazy. Before we left the trolley station, they would stand outside the trolley with their faces against the window, hoping to scare people. We highly reccomend this if you are ever in Boston. Finally after so much fun and so much good food, it was time to head home. I was ready, I missed the boys a lot and couldn't wait to tell them about our journey. We had bought them a few things too and of course, they were so excited to see what they got. Good bye Boston!

See ya all next year in New Orleans!

Tammi with one of our tour guides on the

"Haunted Trolley Ride"
Paul taking a rest in the sleeping quarters aboard the "USS Constitution"


The USS Constitution

"Old Iron sides"

one of Paul's lobster dinners

look how big it is compared to the corn on the cob!

Paul and Tammi out to dinner at Anthony's Pier 4

Papa's Pumpkin Patch

Will, Jack and Charlie each picked out a couple small pumpkins

My boys!

Charlie was on top of the world, he had a ball.

What a beautiful day we had at papa's pumpkin patch. It was about 70' and very sunny. A lot of people had the same idea to make a trip to the patch before it gets cold, there were a lot of people! The boys had a lot of fun, they ran and ran and played on the maze of bales. Charlie loved it, I was a little nervous because I couldn't see him at all times. Will and Jack took him with them so he could play.

Grandma Sannes came to stay at our house for almost a week. She is off work because she had rotator cuff surgery. She is feeling much better, so she decided to come and stay before she has to go back to work. We had a great time with her here.

The weather here is starting to get colder, fall is definatly in the air. Most of the leaves have fallen and it is getting cold. We have to dig out warmer coats. gloves, hats and possibly boots real soon.

I will post about our trip to Boston soon! We had a blast!

Happy Wednesday

hello
Halloween is in the air! It is very crisp and rainy outside. Tonight Jack and I decorated the house for halloween. He loves to help me and he does a good job. He really likes the lights.
It is Wednesday and so far, we have had a very quiet week, lets hope for more relaxation.
Last Saturday, Will had a basketball tournament in Hazelton, Linton took 3rd place. They did very well and had a great time. Basketball season is done for this year. I am always kind of sad when a season is over, we really enjoy watching the boys play sports.
Grandma Sannes is coming to visit on Friday. We love having her come, we don't have any major plans. Probably play cards and maybe go to the pumpkin patch on Sunday.
Saturday night Paul and I go to the annual Ducks Unlimited banquet in Braddock. It is a very fun time, good food and a fun auction.
The swine flu is making me very nervous. I just hate when I hear of someone dying from it with no other medical issues. I pray that we all stay healthy during this flu season. I do plan on getting the boys the regular flu shot, but I am leaning towards not doing the H1N1 shot. I left a message for our pediatrician to call me so I can visit with her regarding it. I have been crazy with hand washing, I am using the dish washer now and I am also very cautious about even leaving the house. Can you say PARANOID!!!!!! Any one have any thoughts on this, please post in the comments. I would love to hear from you!
We have had very rainy and snowy weather, I love winter, so the snow doesn't bother me. I know though, if we get snow this early, we will be crazy for spring by January. It is supposed to warm up somewhat this weekend. I wonder what it will be like for halloween.
Thanks for checking on us. Hope everyone is doing well and staying healthy!

Happy Anniversary

16 years ago today Paul and I got married. It was such an amazing day and we have had many, many more amazing days since. Thanks for being my best friend, soul mate and the best husband anyone could ask for. You always know how to make me laugh and how to cheer me up when I am sad. You are an awesome father to our 3 boys. Thanks for the best 16 years of my life and here's to many, many more. The best is yet to come!
We are not planning on having a big celebration. Tonight we are having some friends over to have dinner, watch Linton play football, and maybe play some cards. We decided to stay home and celebrate with our friends and the boys because we just had a fun weekend in Minneapolis and in 2 weeks Paul and I are going to Boston for a week. We will go out and have a nice dinner there. I can't wait.
Happy Anniversary Paul, I love you!

Minnesota Twins !!!!!!

We had an awesome weekend in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

We arrived on Thursday night ready to go to the Minnesota Twins games over the weekend. Paul, Will and Jack went to Twins games on Friday night, Saturday afternoon and then everyone went on Sunday afternoon. We had a lot of fun! Some of Paul's family went also, so we had a pretty big group. On Saturday morning we went to the Twins pro shop and met Bert Blyleven. He is now a Twins announcer, but was a previous pitcher. He was so nice and very friendly. He visited with everyone and was actually kind of funny. Charlie and mommy spent time at the Mall of America and swimming at the hotel while they were at the games. We couldn't wait for Sunday to come so we could all go to the game. We all had Twins shirts and I had found some Twins tattoos back in March so all the kids had tattoos on their cheeks. We had a blast at the Metrodome. We all got homer hankeys when we got inside, so everyone was waving them whenever the Twins did something awesome, which was often. The crowd roared and everyone was on their feet! I couldn't believe how loud it got in there. Of course we had to have some snacks, we had hotdogs, cotton candy, cracker jacks and pop. The twins won, so they had to play Detroit on Tuesday night. Paul did consider getting tickets for that game, but it wouldn't have worked out. Twins won on Tuesday night so they are the AL Central Division Champions. They will play the New York Yankees on Wednesday afternoon.

Lets go Twins!

It was kind of bittersweet leaving the metrodome, that was the last time we will watch the Twins in the metrodome. Next year they will be playing outside in their new baseball field. We hope to go to "Target Field" next year to see them play again.

It would be awesome if they could be in the world series this year!

Cheer for the Minnesota Twins today!

Charlie getting an autograph of Twins pitcher Pat Neshek

Charlie with his "M" tattoo

waiting for the game to start

"Go Twins"

the whole group outside the metrodome!

"Circle me Bert"

Will and Jack with previous Twins pitcher

Bert Blyleven