Thanksgiving

For Thanksgiving (Nov 22) we decided to take the bus down to Cockeysville, Maryland (right outside Baltimore) and stay with Ben’s brother, Jesse and his family. We got to their house late Wednesday night (Nov 21) and were able to stay till Sunday evening. It was so wonderful to be with them and to be able to play with their kids and do many fun things with them.

Becky (and Jesse) prepared an amazing thanksgiving feast for us. And, to follow ‘Newson Tradition’ we had a pie for every adult there (four pies- WOW). The food was amazing and we ate a LOT!! Thanksgiving day we just played with the kids and lounged around- it was very relaxing and FULL of reasons to be thankful!!

Reasons to be Thankful: Amazing Blessings

Last week (Sunday November 18th), Brea got sick again. She was so sick that she didn’t go to work and her boss (a Physical Therapist) called one of his referring Doctors and got her an appointment. She was sick about a month ago, but because she has no active insurance, she would not go to the doctor, however she felt bad enough to chance a high priced doctors visit. Tuesday she got herself out of bed and started for the Dr office (which was in Manhattan- 1+ hour away). When she got there he took her in and did the regular check up and decided that she had a sinus infection. The Dr gave her some prescription samples (enough for two weeks) and then as she was going to the front to pay he told her that she was pro-bono and there would be no charge. We are so happy and feel so humbled and grateful for this amazing blessing we have received. We are so grateful to this doctor, to Brea’s boss and to everyone who prays for us. This was a huge blessing to us and was well worth it (Brea started getting better quickly and was her normal self again by Friday). We are so grateful and thankful for this blessing!

Surprise Birthday Party!!

Thursday (November 15th) was Brea’s boss, Alex’s birthday. His wife, Julie (who is Ben’s boss) and the other guy Brea works with (James) planned a big surprise birthday party. Ben and I got their early and helped Julie set up and decorate. When Alex got home (he was ‘picking up the kids’ so James could take the family out to dinner) he was so surprised- he had no idea that this all was happening. The party was really fun, they had tons of food, a slide show, a live band and dancing (which is always one of Brea’s favorites). It was so much fun to dance around and play with everyone (they have four kids and it was so much fun for Brea to play with kids again). It was a good night and we are glad Alex had a birthday- so we could have a party!!

Serendipity 3

Wednesday (November 14) after work, we met in Manhattan at 60th and 3rd and went to Serendipity 3. This is one of the stores that is in a lot of New York movies, and people rave about their desserts- so we thought we would try it. It was pretty expensive so we just got one thing and shared it and for dessert we got the Frrrozen Hot Chocolate (which Brea’s coworkers suggested). The food was pretty good (we didn’t think it was good enough for the cost) but the Frrrozen Hot Chocolate was delicious- it was very cocoa chocolaty (we saw some of the other desserts and they looked amazing). As we were leaving there was some ‘problem’ in the kitchen- which we found out was that a water pipe had broken and the restaurant was being closed by the Sanitary Department (ahhh); So that was really interesting to be leaving this place we had just eaten as they were posting the signs that said it was closed because it was unsanitary- eeks.
Afterwards we went to the Manhattan Temple- it was amazing, as always.

South Sea Port- Pier 17

Tuesday (November 13) after work, we went to South Sea Port, Pier 17. It is the sea port at the southern tip of Manhattan. It was very cool to see- there were tons of big boats and ships, it was so weird to see these huge ships and then right behind them see the big buildings of Manhattan. There was a great view of Brooklyn, the Brooklyn Bridge and Ellis Island- it was so beautiful. It was so great to be able to walk around (with the slight ocean breeze) and talk to each other. It was very relaxing and nice.
Afterwards, when we were walking home we were talking about what we wanted to eat and Brea mentioned that she just wanted something simple like Wendy’s- but there aren’t really many Wendy’s in Manhattan and then we walked around a corner and low and behold- we found a Wendy’s- it was such a coincidence. So we ate Wendy’s- it was a good night.

The Site of 9/11 and the Financial District

After spending the day in the Upper East Side of Manhattan we ventured down to the financial district to see the site of 9/11 and the Twin Towers. When we got off of the subway it was amazing- the financial district is where all the REALLY tall buildings are (wow- the buildings were so tall you couldn’t see the top floor). You see all these skyscrapers and then in the middle it’s just…empty. They have a tent up where they have listed the names of all the Victims and Hero’s of 9/11. In this tent they also have the plans for the new building being built on that site and the plans for the memorial. The actual site is all fenced off and there is constant construction going on (we were there late in the evening- it was dark- and there were still men working). We got to look in through the fence and it helped me realize the huge effect of this disaster- the enormous hole, where they are still digging out debris and waist. It was amazing seeing the buildings standing tall around the site and realizing that it didn’t just affect those two buildings, but must have caused structural damage to all the buildings around. But the most awing thing that I felt from this experience was the reverence that still, so many years later, fills that area. After living in New York, ‘getting to know’ the people and the atmosphere, it is hard to believe that something so terrible and awful could happen to these strong people and this nation. It was a very amazing and reverent time for us to think and really see the effects of 9/11. It was a wonderful experience.
(Breanne forgot the camera- urg- but we bought a disposable. So pictures will come…eventually.)

Metropolitan Museum of Art

This Saturday (November 10th) we went into Manhattan to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It was amazing to be able to see all the artifacts and art work. There were ancient Greek art exhibits, 17th Century European Furniture and interior design exhibits, many paintings, ancient musical instruments (from all over the world) and old weapons and suits of armor. It was so cool and very amazing to see it all- We were there for three hours and didn’t even get to all the wings and exhibits.
When we left the Met there was a group of performers out on the street. They had everyone sit down on the Met steps and did an acrobatic performance (it was three hilarious –very handsome- black men who did flips and tricks). It was really entertaining and very fun.
(Breanne forgot the camera- urg- but we bought a disposable. So pictures will come…eventually.)

The Sea Cow

One of the things that Brea really wanted to do while in Florida was see a Manatee. She did a report on them when she was 7 and wanted to actually see some. We went out three or four different times (to different locations) to see if we could find any but never saw any. Then our last day in Florida (Sunday Nov 4th) at our last stop we finally saw some. We saw a family (2 adults and a baby)- they were HUGE and so lovable looking. It was so amazing. We even got them close enough to touch. A fisherman said that if you come to that location at night fall that you can see 40-50 at a time (that would be cool). It was so cool to see these huge friendly sea-cows and know they are almost extinct. After seeing them it brings such a love and dedication to keeping them safe. It was a perfect ending to our Florida Adventure.

Melbourne Beach, FL

Saturday (November 3) we went to the beach, it was so much fun. They thought it was going to be cold and we weren’t going to enjoy it- but for us the weather was WONDERFUL!! The Florida beach is a lot different then that in California- it smells like fish, it is a lot more salty and it has a thick layer of foam in top. Because it is getting later in the year and the winds are picking up- there were also big waves (unusually big for Florida- because there weren’t even surfers out). But it was fun to be out in the sun and the out of doors. We played in the sand- Mer and Brea made a Sand Sun and Doug and the kids made a sand serpent. We played in the water and splashed around- it was so much fun!!

Camp Holly- Alligator Tour

We first decided to go to Camp Holly, for an Alligator Tour Boat ride. When we got there, we were a little skeptical- it was a broken down bar on a swamp encircled by run down trailers and out houses. Inside we found a group of old men (who we assumed were the ‘regulars’) drinking and smoking and a gruff looking bar tender. We found a man polishing his huge moose antlers, lots of alligator skin and trophy boar heads hanging on the walls and many funny signs. We had walked right into a Redneck Fishing Bar- it was awesome. Both of us couldn’t believe how ‘redneck’ it really was- but we were excited and eager to see what they could show us.





Our guide, Dan, took us on a swamp boat (with a HUGE fan propeller in a cage). We had to wear ear protection because the fan was so loud. It was really hard to spot the alligators- which we found out later was very unusual. It was November 2nd and the alligator hunting season had ended the day before- so there were almost no alligators left and those that had survived the hunt learned to hide from the boat. (They say that if you go before hunting season you will see 40 or 50 at a time). We probably only saw four total, but it was still cool. Our guide was a big, gruff, redneck man who talked and talked to us- he was really nice. And (we think because we talked to him a lot) he took us on an extra special ride (we think we were out longer then usual). He took us fast on the boat through the marshland- it was amazing. It looked like we were riding right trough a field but the weeds would push aside and the boat would go through. It was so much fun and well worth it- we really loved the opportunity.

Our Florida Adventure

This week end we were able to fly down to Florida to see the Markos Family (Ben’s sister Sarah and her family). They live in Melbourne, which is near Orlando. We flew in late Thursday night (and Sarah was nice enough to pick us up). Then Friday (October 2nd) morning we were able to start our true ‘Florida Adventure.’ Ben had been to Sarah and Doug’s house two years earlier, but this was Brea’s first time in Florida.
We were able to do so much with their family and we LOVED it. The kids are so much fun and we got to know them even better. Mer loves to read, and she and Brea read chapter books out loud in the back of the van when we went places. Max is a rascally little guy who loves to tease his siblings, but he has a big heart. Jack is talking a lot and loves to play with his Uncle Ben (and Aunt Beer- that’s what he calls Brea).
Florida has such different terrain then Brea thought. It was hot and humid, marshy, tropic and swampy. We went on a ‘nature walk’ on a short path through the natural forest. There were palm trees next to pine trees and long vines hanging everywhere. (We both decided it would be a perfect place for a horror movie- so much marsh and creaking noises everywhere). But it was so beautiful and so different.