Argentina 2007

Our big family Christmas present this year was travel down to Argentina to spend time with my mom. It was an unforgettable trip! Ethan talks about it continually and asks us when we are going to move to Argentina!

Here we are in Plaza de Mayo.

Ethan & his Abuela feeding pigeons in the Plaza de Mayo.

We enjoyed a tour of the Sarmiento, an old Argentine ship.

Ethan in La Boca--the birthplace of Tango!

Abuela sings a Tango song in La Boca.

We all enjoyed the food so much! This was Dana's favorite place by far--La Cazona del Toboso in La Cumbre. The beef skewers were the best!

We spent Christmas day swimming in a river near Abuela's home in La Falda. You can see Tye hiding in the background--she loved being in the water and sunbathing!

Ethan loved jumping from this rock into the river.

Here is Ethan saddling up for a horseback riding trip we took.

We went fishing one day, but had no luck. Oh well!

And, of course, we were able to spend time with family! Like I said, it was an unforgettable trip--thank you to everyone in Argentina!

Christmas 2007

A very merry Christmas was had by all-especially Ethan! We opened some of our gifts at home, but our big gift was a family trip to Argentina!

French Lick, Indiana

Giddy up, cowboy! We're at a cub scout activity--a train ride in French Lick, IN.

Halloween 2007

This year, Ethan tried the dark side and dressed up as a Storm Trooper.

Ethan starts Fouth grade!

The first day of fourth grade!

ANOTHER Disney trip?!

Yup, another summer, another Disney trip for the Andersons and the Daniels! Uncle Jared came along as well. We had a great time, as usual. The kids are at the Magic Kingdom listening to a Barbershop quartet and Jared, Ethan and I are standing in front of the Mexico ride at Epcot.

EPCOT

Here we are on our two favorite rides of EPCOT. Jared, Ethan and I on Soarin' and me on Test Track!

Big Thunder Mountain

Here we all are on our favorite ride--Big Thunder!

A Crystal Palace Breakfast

The boys in blue and the girls in pink!

We made friends with several Disney employees!

The Lego Store!

Here's Ethan racing cars and posing in front of a huge lego dragon at the Lego store in Downtown Disney--always one of our favorite stops!

Pirates!

We're stearing the ship from one of my favorite scenes in the Pirates of the Carribean rides-Ahoy!

The 4th of July!

We visited Nana & Papa's over the 4th of July weekend and our cousins Ronan & Etienne were there also. We all had fun playing together. We went to a 4th of July festival and ate lunch with Uncle Sam!

Swimming!

At Nana & Papa's the boys played in the lake a lot and had A LOT of fun playing in the sand and swimming!

Boating on Lake Monroe

Abuela & Jared came up for a visit and we all went out to Lake Monroe for the day to play on the Lake. We had a great time swimming and tubing!

Canoeing on Lake Griffy

Ethan turns 9!

Ethan had a grand birthday party at a local lazer-tag establishment. Everyone had lots of fun!

Here Ethan and Dad play some skee-ball before the lazer-tag games start.

Everyone is getting suited up and ready for play!

Ethan & a friend try to tag each other with their lazers!

The teams are done with their game (and Ethan is hiding behind a leaf).

WHAT? Aunt Michelle and Uncle Andre sent Ethan a Wii game. He doesn't even own a Wii--Bummer.

Another Wii game?! Something sneaky is definitely up!

Wii-hoo! Ethan figures out he just got his dream gift!

Talia's Trip to Argentina

I finally arrive in Buenos Aires! Here I am in the courtyard of my aunt's apartment and on the stairs leading to my aunt's apartment.

My great aunt Mary and me.

The apartment my mom's family lived in when she was very young in Buenos Aires. The fourth floor balcony was their apartment.

Here's a picture of my grandparent's wedding and a photo I took on my visit to the church they were married in.

Mom loved feeding the birds in the Plaza de Mayo!

Mom and me in Plaza de Mayo.

Argentine soldiers at Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires retrieve the flag at sunset, but take a moment for a photograph with us!

Me in Plaza San Martin, a plaza my mom played in as a youth in Buenos Aires.

At Mom's house in La Falda, Mom cleans the pool and then enjoys it!

I'm enjoying the warm weather and the pool!

Tie enjoys the pool, too!

We take a walk near mom's home. From this point in our walk, in the distance you can see the very beginnings of the Andes mountains.

During our walk, we encounter "San Expedito," the saint of expedited miracles.

Mom, Dardo and I eat at an Italian cafe in La Cumbre. It was delicious!

Mom and Dardo at the cafe.

Mom standing outside a Church her mom used to love to visit in Corboba. It was built by Indians in the 17th century.

We visit some of the Stations of the Cross at the Church.

Me, at the first at the bottom of the mountain, mom at the last at top of the mountain.

Here I am at the top of the mountain above the church & here's a picture of my mom when she was young on top of the same mountain!

The house my mom's family lived in when she was young in Cordoba. A front and side view.

The bakery my mom walked to everyday to get "pan y seis facturas." (Bread and six pastries--one for each member of their family).

A river mom played in (and collected watercrest for her mom)when she was young in Cordoba.

La Playa, a restaurant we ate at in Carlos Paz, Cordoba.

A before and after shot! The front door of the house my mom lived in when she was a teenager in Cordoba.

Me in front of the same door.

The harbor next to La Boca.

La Boca, the neighborhood where Tango originated.

More pictures of mom and me in the La Boca neighborhood.

I try a few tango steps with one of the tango street dancers!

The burial tomb of Eva Peron in Recoleta.

Caribbean Cove

We continued our tradition of a yearly visit to Caribbean Cove water park. Here Ethan and Dana are playing basketball.

Here's another of Ethan shooting hoops in the water!

We had a fun family time before mom left on her trip to ARGENTINA!

Dana & Tilly in Pilly

Okay, so not some of the most exciting pictures, but Dana and I were able to get away for a few days by ourselves to Philadelphia during Christmas break to attend one of Dana's conferences. (Much thanks to the in-laws for watching the little one!).

Talia outside of Constitution Hall.

Dana inside Constitution Hall.

There--that's it. Wow!

Really, we had a great time together (the pictures are just a bit sober).

Chistmas 2006--Pennsylvania

Ethan & Papa run the huge train layout Papa set up.

Here's a picture of the train layout from above.

Dana and Ethan run the coal loader!

Christmas Morning

Ethan had a great Christmas and got lots of fun things he wanted--like lots of Star Wars Legos...

...Avatar Legos, toys, games, AND...

...books! Yeah, Ethan! Hey, don't judge a gift by it's cover--you just *might* enjoy this one!

So, maybe this didn't turn out to be such a bad gift after all?

Here's Dana with his really cool new belt!

And me, with a jar of sprinkles from my stocking! Even Santa knows how much I LOVE to bake!

We had a wonderful Christmas--thanks so much to everyone!

Happy Holidays!

Seasons Greetings, Feliz Navidad, Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, Happy Festivus, Happy New Year, peace and joy to one and all.

We hope all of our family and friends enjoy this holiday season and may the new year bring you health and happiness!

Jared (Talia's brother) visits Chicago with us!

Here we all are on top of the Sears Tower.

Jared looks over the view below!

The city lights were beautiful from the top of the Sears!

After visiting the Sears Tower, we were ready for some serious DEEP DISH PIZZA-yum!

Jared is about to try his first piece of Chicago deep dish--and he really liked it--even after his third piece!

Ethan and Dana pose for a shot after eating.

After this long day, we were ready to kick back and relax! Ethan shows Jared his Nintendo DS.

The next day, we pack in the sight-seeing. Here's Jared and Ethan at the dolphin show at the Shedd Aquarium.

A picture of a Beluga Whale (my favorite exhibit at the Shedd!).

Next, we're off to the Museum of Science and Industry to see the German U-505 submarine.

Here's Ethan standing next to one of the U-505 propellers.

Next, Ethan takes a little walk on the moon--one giant step for an 8 year old.

Talia and Ethan are trying to create something here using light and motion. (We were not having a lot of success.)

After Chicago, we returned home for a delicious and filling Thanksgiving dinner with friends.

Merry Christmas!

Before leaving, we gave Jared his Christmas present, an I.U. fleece. It probably would have been more useful in Chicago than in Florida, so maybe we should have given it to him BEFORE we went to Chicago, hmmm.

Happy Halloween!

Look out for traveling bands of gypsies...

They're lazy and like to sit in vibrating recliners in the mall and ask for candy.

After hitting the books, it's time for kicking the ball!

Here's Ethan fighting hard for the ball against, um, a fellow teammate. Well, it gets better...

Here he is actually playing against the opposite team! Yeah, hurrah, go Ethan!

Here he is just looking cute (he does that so well--HEY, I am his mom!).

Ethan's first day of Third grade--whoo-hoo!

Vacation is over and now it's time to hit the books!

The Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World

Main Street USA

Ethan & Talia waiting in line for the bus. We did A LOT of that.

Big Thunder Mountain--our first and favorite ride. Can you tell how excited I am? And we're not even going downhill yet!

Ethan on Big Thunder Mountain--although here, it looks like he's questioning whether this truly is his favorite ride.

Ethan & Dana fight Zurg along with Buzz Lightyear.

How excited can I be to go on It's a Small World? VERY!

Jared and Ethan looking around the ghostly surroundings of The Haunted Mansion (p.s. no photography allowed, please).

Ethan gets it right in the face on Splash Mountain!

The People Mover!!

We met a lot of our favorite characters at Disney!

Chip and Dale are Ethan's very favorite, so it was a special treat to meet them together!

Ethan with everyone's pal, Mickey Mouse!

The family with Donald Duck.

Here's a couple of goofy characters!

The family with Pluto!

Ethan gets a BIG hug from sweet Minnie!

Ethan & Talia get a big hello from Mickey at Chef Mickey's! (and yummy--Mickey cooks up a good meal!)

Dana, Jared and Tigger are having a tiggerific time at the Crystal Palace!

Pooh Bear stops by for a picture with brother and sister, Jared and Talia.

Jared especially loved getting a hug from Piglet!

Eeyore stops by to give Ethan a big hug.

EPCOT at Walt Disney World

Dana and Ethan ride one of Ethan's favorite rides at Epcot--FAST TRACK--ready...set...go!!

Talia's glowing in the heat chamber of Fast Track.

Talia & Ethan on Soarin'--Ethan's favorite ride at Epcot.

We visited lots of the countries at Epcot...

Ethan & Dana in China

Ethan & Talia in France.

Talia in Japan.

Ethan & Dana join a drum circle in Africa.

Talia joins the drum circle in her own special way!

The family in Italy.

Ethan in Morocco.

Ethan & Talia in Germany

Ethan eats a big 'ole hot dog in the good 'ole USA part of Epcot.

Ethan using a phone booth in the United Kingdom.

Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World

Hey Ethan, don't lose your head!

Ethan makes his first Disney pin trade with a Cast Member.

The Birds!

We walked through an aviary with a bird guide and identified lots of different types of birds.

The extreme of the day was riding Everest, Animal Kingdom's new ride. It was fun, fast, and just a bit scary. I don't think it was Ethan's favorite ride!

Dana and Ethan just off Kali River Rapids at Animal Kingdom--this was Ethan's favorite ride!