Our NJ pad

So we have yet to share a picture of our humble abode. We are living on the 2nd floor of an old but cute house. A business is on the 1st floor during the day, but the best part is that they leave at night and don't work weekends! We also just got bedroom furniture!!! At our apartment in CA we had a huge walk in closet and didn't need anything else. In our current house we have NO closet space and were in desperate need of something. So we bought a bedroom set and absolutely LOVE it! It came on Friday and barely fit up the stairs and into our bedroom. Enjoy the pics!

We like it--nice and yellow

I love dark stained wood!

It's a BOY!!!

So it's official, our little Peanut is actually a little boy! That means the name Xena Warrior Princess (a favorite) is out, and He-man comes to the front! :) Don't mess. He will pass on the Lanenga name, probably the 'Lanenga nose', and definitely the Lanenga essence. We have pictures of him, but they just need to be scanned in. I know you will all be anxiously waiting...

BODIES...The Exhibit

So Matt and I ventured into NYC last weekend to visit the Bodies Exhibit. Anyone who knows me, knows I think there is nothing more interesting, more fascinating, or more complex than the human body, and I love it! To me, it is indisputable evidence that there is a God. Something like this cannot just evolve, but was created. Men and women were created in the likeness and image of God.

We actually took the fairy in from NJ instead of taking the transit and subway, and it was nice for a change. The exhibit area was right next to a pier, so there was lots of shopping, eating, music, and fun all around. The exhibit itself was amazing! My favorite part was the circulatory system. I've seen the cadavers and stuff before, but with the circulatory system they were able to capture every aspect--so fascinating! Not for the light of stomach, however, so bring your 'spewing' bag or tighten your stomach.

Then on Monday for Memorial Day, we had a BBQ with some friends from the ward and the food was F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C! I'm hungry just thinking about it. :) But no, we took no pictures--we're pretty bad about that.

I wanted to play with them too

Trying to prove that I am, in fact, preggo

Matty with the Brooklyn Bridge

There was a mini golf place off of the pier!

Handy Dandy Hand outs

Since graduating from BYU, I have been involved with the Young Womens organization--both while in California and here in New Jersey. I think the Bishoprics are telling me I have a lot of growing up and maturing to do. :) I am currently the 1st Counselor and Miamaids advisor. So I'm really not the creative type, but for the combined lesson that I was teaching on the Priesthood I found the cutest thing. I found oragami directions for folding a collared shirt out of a dollar bill, but I exchanged the dollar bill for white to make it look like a Church shirt, and then found some ribbon for a tie. I was super excited for how cute it turned out. Then on the back I attached a quote that I really liked--what do you think?!

My Cute Candy hand out

I made 10 of them for all of the girls

crazy good stuff....

I never thought a harp was cool until last wkend. Allie and I went to a Yanni concert in NYC on Sat. Surprisingly really liked it. We'll post more later, but this guy almost makes you want to become a professional harpist.

THERE AND BACK AGAIN...a human tale by Mattnallie

Concerning Humans: This post is largely concerned with humans, specifically so that our readers can discover characteristics of New Jersians and New Yorkans. Through experience we have found they have an affinity for using the 'birdy' and horns when driving. The freeways have been a new experience in and of itself--terrible roads. But we are enjoying the life out here with so much history within our reach. Matt's parents and sister came out for Easter weekend and it was so much fun! We spent two days in NYC riding the subway and doing the usual touristy stuff. It was nice to have family out to celebrate a holiday with us as well, and we had a delicious feast. Here are some pictures:

Matt enjoying the boat ride to the Statue of Liberty...

Like father, like son :)

They don't let you go inside the statue anymore, but it was still cool.

The whole crazy crew

NYC will do this to you... Tavern on the Green Brunch--it was pretty Fancy-schmancy in Central Park The King waiting on his throne for Wicked to start We had great seats--12 row center! Wicked was amazing!!! Recommended to everyone! Carnegie Deli--Super famously large sandwiches! One cow per sandwich

The usual Easter tradions: eating, egg hunt...peep jousting--pretty normal! :)


I went to Jacksonville to visit my brother and his family for just under a week. I had so much fun! My niece and nephew are getting so old and growing fast! We did shrinky-dinks (I hope the girls know what those are!), puppets, princesses, went to the beach, park, bounce house, gymnastics--I was worn out! Thanks for all of the fun and the food! You guys are the best!
Meet Jackson: I couldn't get over his cheeks! I love him and he loves his food! She's such a big girl! Riding to the park in the neighborhood More fun at the park Jack loved the swings! Adorable! I just couldn't stop taking pictures! Fun at the beach! Perfect weather--little windy so it wasn't too hot The awesome shopping carts of Jacksonville--aren't they cute!
Savannah at her gymnastics class--she was so excited to have an audience! Working the balance beam

The monkey bars--she was so good!

The crew watching Savannah! Dan, Brit, and Jack! Thanks guys!

Last but not least, we went to Philly! Some friends from the ward invited us to go to Philly with them on Saturday--it is only 1.5 hours away. It was lots of fun, in the 80s, and a little humid. But it was great being reminded of the wonderful men who fought for our freedom, our founding fathers!

In front of the liberty bell tower

Liberty Bell--it was smaller than we thought it would be, but it did have a crackA protest to 'End the Fed' before it ends the U.S.

We walked 1.5 miles to a philly-cheese steak restaurant we were told was the best. It was a hot, humid afternoon, and the sandwiches were only mediocre...then we had to walk back :(

Benjamin Franklin Institute--with nothing inside that represented him except for this statue. What an amazing man. Only 2 years of formal education and he invented and started up so many great things!

The Italian Stallion Stalone was not there, but Matt was! The Rocky Balboa steps

Well, we made it...

We have arrived! We flew in to New Jersey late Saturday night (Feb 28) and spent the night at a hotel near our new apt. What did we wake up to the next morning?! SNOW! After leaving 65 and sunny, warm weather we were immediately confronted by the cold. What a welcome. At church we met some very nice people. It was such a small ward that we really stood out and many friendly people came and introduced themselves. One quite funny story was that the first couple that introduced themselves, upon hearing we were from California proceeded to tell us they knew someone from California. As you all know California is HUGE. The lady said the person they knew was from Oroville...Oroville! Of all places. Of all the little cities in the whole state of California, she knew someone from the itty bitty city I grew up in. Crazy! So The family they were related to in Oroville is from my home stake, and my family knows their family. What a small world!
After church we checked out of the hotel and we were homeward bound, at least to our new home. It's a nice two bedroom apt on the 2nd floor of a house. The only problem is that the heating is on the bottom floor, so we have to heat the entire house before it warms in our apt! But we really do like the house. I will post pictures as soon as we get our stuff. Right now all we have is an air mattress, blankets, and clothes! Ahh, the simple life. Yesterday, we woke up to 6 new inches of snow and it snowed most of the day! What is a California girl to do?! I'll tell you what, I stayed in bed a lot of the day. Yes, I am a lazy and cold person. Today there is no snow, except the leftover of yesterday, and the temperature is only 14 degrees! How will we survive? We are excited for our new adventures here, but want warmer weather IMMEDIATELY! Check back to see if we survive the harsh cold of the East.