Easter

We had a beautiful warm Easter day. Since it was just Ben and me we decided to go and explore an area we havn't been to before. We ended up at a beautiful park in northern Philli. Ben and I brought the tandem along for a bike ride along a beautiful river. It seemed like everyone was out enjoying the wonderful weather. We then ended up in Manayunk where we walked up and down the main steet window shopping and we ate at my new favorite restaruant. Every year the US national cycling race is held here in this town...there are cyclists everywhere...it is pretty cool.

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My trip to Columbus

I traveled to Columbus for a few days to visit my friend Sue and Bruin who just had their first baby boy. He is soooo cute!!! It is really neat to see Sue and Bruin as happy parents. I guess I realized that all my friends are entering a new phase of life...parenthood.


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Dinner Dance

Ben's sister April is the executive of a womens shelter and their major fund raiser is a dinner dance. Ben and I attended lasts year and had a blast dancing all night long!!! Soooo we decided to travel back to Indiana for another fun weekend of dancing.


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New York! New York! New York!

In February I traveled to New York city and met up with my friend Betsy for our birthdays. Since Betsy works for the Hilton Corp she got us a rocking deal on a beautiful hotel. It was located near ground zero. We quickly learned how to get around the city using the subway. It was sooooooo cold and wind to go with it. We did some sight seeing, shopping (bead shopping), we went to see the Lion King on Broadway (highly recommend it), and ate at some great restaurants. Ben met up with us a couple of days later. That night we had drinks at the Rainbow Room which has to be the best view of the city at night. Then off to the Little Italy for some great food and a live marching band. The next day Betsy had to travel home to Charleston and the warm weather so Ben and I went to the Natural Science Museum, did a tour of CNN, and walked Central Park.


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Our first trip into Philadelphia

Ben's mom Marianne came into town for a visit and we decided to put our paint brushes down and venture into Philadelphia for the first time. Since we only live 8 miles from the city it only takes about 15 miles and a $3 toll to get there. We learned that Philadelphia is the 5 largest city in America yet it is really laid out in a way that is easy to get around. We did a bus tour to start so that we could get familiar with the city...the best way to learn about a city when you first move there. We visited Ben Franklin's grave, went to the Betsy Ross house, ventured into the Italian market, visited the constitution museum, and ate and ate and ate. Philadelphia has so much culture and really good food. I think our favorite part was the Italian market. I think we bought $40 of produce for less than $15. We were really impressed with the city and are looking forward to exploring more during the time we live here.

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Christmas in January

Since Ben and I could not travel to see family over Christmas since we were preparing to move we traveled to Warren a week after we moved to NJ for a late Christmas Celebration. Of course my mom out did herself like always with Christmas decorations and food. Jesse and Jen gave Ben and I a sign for our house that said The Abney's and we gave them a sign a friend of mine gave me that said The Wonders...we must of been thinking on the same wave length. It is always fun to see our nieces and newphew, they grow up way to fast. I just know next time I see little Rush he will be taller then me. Our visits home are always to short but at least we live closer now.

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