And so it begins ...

This past weekend was the first of 4 weekends for this trimester's Master's of Nutrition program. That means I was once again left all alone for Saturday and Sunday, while Cory trotted off to class to learn about drug-induced nutrient depletion. Luckily, to stave off my boredom, we had some friends come into town. Erin & Brett, along with their adorable daughter Aeriana, came for a visit. It was really nice to have some company. I just wish the weather would have cooperated. We went up to Palmyra to see some of the sights, but it pretty much rained the whole time. I did get a couple of good pictures, though.


We walked around the temple grounds and it was really pretty - even in the rain. Temple grounds are always so pretty.

It's definitely turned to fall out here ... it's much cooler and the leaves are starting to change and fall off the trees. We're hoping to go camping for part of this weekend - up into the Adirondacks, where it's peak season for fall colors - so we're keeping our fingers crossed for better weather!

Home Sweet Home, Part 2

Months ago, I wrote a post about where we live (see here). It was during the month of March, which is not the prettiest time of year, and I promised I would update it with pictures of a prettier season. Given that September is a gorgeous month in the finger lakes, and there’s not too much else for me to report on, I thought now would be a good time to make good on that promise to put up some new pictures.

This is our apartment


This is looking into part of our backyard. We have corn and soybeans for a backyard neighbor.


This is looking north of our house


This is looking south of our house


And this is looking directly east - again, we have corn for neighbors.

We're always joking that we live in the middle of nowhere ... but it's true. We live surrounded by fields. It's nice that we have so much privacy and a large lawn (good for frisbee). The fall is perhaps my favorite time here in the finger lakes (though I do wish we could skip right over winter and go directly to spring). I'm sad that this is going to be our last fall in the finger lakes, so we're making plans to make it the best one yet. Our October is looking pretty busy :)

Tag, I'm it

Well, there’s not too much to report from our lives as of late. We’re back in the grind of work and school, day in and day out. Cory’s got big national board tests up this weekend, and I’ve got plans to watch USC thump Ohio State. Exciting, huh?
So here’s another tag …

The rules: List 3 joys, 3 fears, 3 goals, 3 current obsessions/collections, 3 facts about yourself.

3 Joys
1. My husband and family. How did I get so lucky? I have the best family and the most wonderful husband!
2. Traveling and exploring new places and new cultures.
3. Reading books. I am a true bookworm at heart. Books make me insanely happy.

3 fears
1. Having my husband, parents or sibling die young (I know there is a better world after this one, but I don't like the idea of cutting this one short. Dying old is fine. I don't fear it).
2. Grasshoppers … yep, weird, I know but they give me the heeby-jeebies.
3. Drowning … yep, also weird, but I have this insane fear of drowning (or being caught in an avalanche – anything where I know I can’t breathe …) I’d rather just get shot than drown. Morbid, but true.

3 goals
1. Stop being so lazy …
2. Get more exercise than I currently do …
3. Gain better eating habits … I’m trying, I really am … I just don’t like stuff that’s good for me! But I’m trying …

3 current obsessions
1. The whole Twilight series. I’m reading Twilight again, along with the part of Midnight Sun that Stephenie posted on her website. And even though I have read Twilight 4 times now (this makes 5) I find myself unable to put the book down. Yeah, this obsession seems to be getting stronger, not weaker, even though the series is done (sniff!)
2. Trying to catch up on “scrapbooking” all of our summer photos. I’m way behind … and my version of scrapbooking is not at all elaborate. Printing them and putting them in books is about all I can manage.
3. Well, we got all our canning and freezing done – so that’s been an “obsession”, I guess. We did corn, peppers, peaches, tomatoes & raspberries. Food storage is complete! YEA!

3 facts about myself
1. I like to win. Beat me at Harry Potter trivia or Clue, and we will no longer be friends. I hate losing so bad. And I hate it when my teams lose – I take it waaaaay too personally.
2. I have 2008 Olympic tennis shoes. They are white and orange and the cutest shoes you will ever see. I bought them in China in 2002 and they say “Olympics 2008” on them. Every time I wear them, people comment on how cute they are. I even hiked the Great Wall of China in them … good memories.
3. I love life … and I am very, very blessed.

I’m not going to tag anyone in particular (except you Andrea :) so everyone can do this so I can enjoy all your answers.

Boston!!

We originally started this blog as a means to keep in touch with our families - all of whom live thousands of miles away. We wanted them to have a way to see pictures of our travels and adventures, without having to send out mass emails every week. Of course, we love it when friends check our blog, but I am going to apologize in advance for the number of pictures I am going to put up. The family wants to see all the Boston photos (impossible, really) so I am going to put up a fair number of pictures, trying to represent the million things we saw.

We had a fabulous time in Boston! Thanks to the Memmotts for putting up with us, and allowing us to crash on their futon. We did a ton of stuff down there, and of course, took hundreds of pictures. We bought what are called "Go Cards" - which means we had this huge list of things that we could possibly do, and we had 3 days to do as much as we could fit in. I am proud to say we got our money's worth - but man, it was crazy!

This is the yacht owned by the dude who owns the Boston Red Sox. Yep, it's huge. It stays anchored in Boston Harbor when the BoSox are in season, then they spend the off season down in Florida. Rough life, huh?

We went whale watching and it was so cool! I know the picture doesn't really do the whale justice, 'cause it was so neat to see them in person!

Trinity Church - wow, it was beautiful! The attention to detail and the carvings were fantastic. I like our church but this was a sight to see!

The USS Constituition - aka "Old Ironsides". She is the oldest commissioned ship afloat in the world. She's pretty big - we took a guided tour inside of her, and it was neat. The bottom picture is Cory and I at the museum, trying to decide if we would have made good sailors or not.

The Massachusetts State House Building - that's 23k gold on the dome. Cha-ching! It's used as the state capitol building.

The Boston temple - so pretty!! Inside and out. I love doing temple sessions when we are visiting places (even though I got lost trying to find my way out, and a very nice temple worker had to show me the exit :)

We took a day and drove out to Concord and Lexington - the sights where the first battles of the Revolutionary War took place. This is the North Bridge - the sight where the 'shot heard round the world' was fired.

Cory is standing at the very place where Paul Revere was captured on his midnight ride. I'm standing on 'battle road' where some of the heaviest fighting took place.

While out in Concord, we went down to Walden Pond, made famous by the book Walden, written by Henry David Thoreau. The above picture is where his cabin stood and the middle picture is a replica of his home, along with his statue. The bottom picture is Walden Pond - it was really pretty there. I don't think the picture does it justice.

Going sailing on a chartered ship. We got to help raise the sails and everything. It was rather peaceful, sailing around the Boston Harbor.

Of course, what trip to Boston is complete without doing the Freedom Trail? This is a statue of Paul Revere, and in the background (if you look close, you can click on the picture to make it bigger) you can see the Old North Church, where the lanterns were hung to warn the colonial people that the British troops were marching (one if by land, two if by sea).

Paul Revere's house

The Old State House - one of the oldest buildings in Boston. Right in front is where the Boston Massacre took place. This building was standing at that time.

Standing in front of the Old State House - looking at the sight where the Boston Massacre took place - it looks a lot different today than it did back then :)

The Granary - burying grounds to a lot of famous people. We did a guided tour of the Freedom Trial and that's our guide next to the grave of Paul Revere.

Also buried there is Sam Adams and the 5 victims of the Boston Massacre.

Bunker Hill and the Monument placed there to honor those who defended the hill.

We walked the 297 steps to the top of the Monument at Bunker Hill. I know you're thinking "297 steps doesn't sound like very many" but believe me - it is! However, the view from the top was worth it - it was amazing!!

Apparently no trip to Boston is complete without a stop at Mike's Pastries, in the Little Italy part of Boston. I must say, they make a pretty mean cream puff.

And of course we had to stop at Harvard. We walked around the campus and soaked in the palpable intelligence in the air :) The building above is part of their law school - wow!



Aaaah, Fenway Park, home to the BoSox. We did a guided tour of the park and it was awesome! We even got to sit on top of the Green Monster.

Can you go to Boston and not go to Cheers? Cory even had the famous Boston baked beans when we ate there (though he says he's had better baked beans at a Mormon campout - go figure!)

Louisa May Alcott's house - the sight where Little Women was written.

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions on what to go see. We did lots more stuff than what I put up here - like the Aquarium, the Science Center, a DUWK tour, the Isabella Gardner Museum (way cool!) and more. All in all, what a great trip!! I love American History, so seeing all the sights was really cool for me. To visit the birthplace of our nation was really neat, and to get to hear all the stories from that time period. I think one of my favorite things we did was the guided walking tour of the Freedom Trail. I learned so much just walking around and hearing the stories. Yep, as corny as it sounds, I'm glad to be an American!