Thanksgiving

Ben and I had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I'm so grateful to live close to my parents. It's been years since I've been close to them. I know it won't last long, but I'm so thankful for it while it lasts.
The weeks leading up to thanksgiving had been full and difficult, so the break was much welcomed. I had originally made all sorts of plans for our trip, but in the end, we really didn't do too much. We slept in, hung out with my little brother (who is the coolest 16 year old ever), played games, went to an NHL game in Buffalo, saw the show Jersey Boys, went to lunch with my best friend from high school, and just relaxed. There were also at least three trips to Tim Hortons, lots of turkey dinner lefts overs, and plenty of Christmas cookie decorating.

While in Toronto I was reminded of my love of Canada. I love and appreciate America and the wonderful and free country it is, but when we cross the border into Canada, I honestly feel like I'm home. Feelings of patriotism and loyalty to a country are so personal, and for me at least, emotional as well. Going home brings back so many memories and emotions. I truly am so grateful for my heritage and the wonderful country of Canada.

At the Sabres hockey game

Eating our hideous cookie creations

At Jorgen's hockey game

With the recent tragic death of my 18 year old cousin I've spent a lot of time questioning and reflecting upon what matters to me in life; not what I say matters, but what really matters. I think it is so easy to get wrapped up in the busyness of our everyday schedules and miss so much of what is important. In the end, family is really all that matters. That's basically it. It's so obvious, it's hard to believe I kind of forget that at times.
As I have felt such pain and sadness these past few weeks I have found comfort in the relationships that lie within my family and have been reminded of the importance of strengthening and appreciating these relationships. Spending Thanksgiving at home was a small reminder of how lucky I am to have a great family and how important it is to stay close.

So I usually just ignore people when they "tag" me...not sure why exactly! I just never quite get around to it, but this one was kind of fun...so here goes!

8 Favorite TV Shows

1) Arrested Development
2) 30 Rock
3) Friday Night Lights
4) House
5) Veronica Mars
6) Office
7) Seinfeld
8) News- any kind (I'm kind of obsessed-boring I know!)

8 Things I did Yesterday

1) Taught a lot of piano lessons
2) Thought about working out
3) Bought gas ($35 to fill up our Accord. AMAZING!)
4) Watched Ben's intramural basketball game
5) Watched Office and 30 Rock
6) Went to lunch with one of our YW
7) Read the BYU Magazine (its full of fascinating facts btw)
8) Cleaned our apartment

8 Things I look Forward to

1) Ben having a real job
2) Living somewhere WARM
3) Having kids
4) Going back to school
5) Owning our own home
6) Being med school debt free
7) The weekend
8) Being with our nieces and nephews

8 Favorite Restaurants

1) Penny Cluse
2) Kitchen Table
3) Skinny Pancake
4) Starry Night Cafe
5) Sneakers
6) Cafe Rio
7) Snake Creek Grill
8) PF Changs

8 Things on my Wish List

1) Black riding boots
2) Live closer to friends
3) 80 degree weather year round
4) Free trip to Mexico
5) Pink Uggs
6) New cell phone
7) Natural blonde hair
8) A Target in Vermont (although I'm not complaining about Plattsburgh)

8 Random things about Me (I adapted your tag April!)

1) I got hit by a car while walking home from the testing center one night in college, and I swear my memory has never been the same!
2) I almost always have a messy bedroom...but the rest of my house is usually really clean.
3) I'm a return-aholic. Love shopping, but make bad spur of the moment decisions.
4) I'm a little obsessed with NPR.
5) I've recently become converted to Macs.
5) I hate the phone...it's kind of stupid, but I would much rather email or text.
6) I speak terrible Spanish and it's all south Texas' fault.
7) I not so secretly think we should move to Canada someday!
8) I hate animals. A lot. I will compromise for my kids though. They can have fish...as many as they want.

Now tag... you're it!

And the winner is...

Last Thursday Ben's intramural football team won the championship for the second year in a row. Their team, comprised of medical students and residents has basically dominated intramural football for the last three years (with the exception of losing the championship the first year). To be precise...their record over the last three years is 17 and 1. Not bad huh!
If you know Ben very well, you know that he LOVES intramural sports. I am sure that when we leave Vermont he will be very sad to see his intramural days come to a close!
It's been so fun watching all of the games this year with fellow medical friends. Last year all of the games were right in the middle of my teaching schedule, and I didn't make it to a single one. It was really sad! So I was thrill when I found out all of his games were at 8:00 this year...minus the fact that it has been freezing cold at 8:00 the last couple of weeks!

Luckily we don't have to be too sad that football is over since 3 on 3 basketball starts this week! These sporting events really do end up being one of the highlights of my week. I get to catch up with good friends, Ben gets to play sports, and we quite frequently find an excuse to go out for ice cream or something afterward! It's a win-win-win situation!

Here are some a couple of pictures of the football team, and the girls freezing to death on the sidelines. It couldn't have been more that 30 degrees that night!






We also went to Boston this past weekend for my nephew's 2nd birthday. As always, we loved being in Boston with family. Highlights of course included watching Wonder Pets and the Curious George movie, playing at the park, taking a walk around Fresh Pond, eating at Sound Bites, checking out my sister's new house, and just hanging out with the cutest little boy ever. We also managed to fit the temple into our busy play schedule. I just love the Boston temple. It is so beautiful!

Why I don't cook...and other random food facts

Lately I've been trying to get at the root of why I don't cook. It's one of those things that you're just supposed to do. Everyone does it...it's like it's not really an option NOT to. Except for me. I usually choose NOT to.
My recent reflection on the topic has brought me to several conclusions:

1) It always tastes better when someone else makes it
2) If I didn't prepare it, I don't know how bad it is for me
3) Cooking takes time...something I don't have a lot of
4) When I make the time for it, I usually make a huge mess, and end up running to the store at least twice, usually three times because somehow I failed to bring my list with me AGAIN
5) Eating out is more fun

The problem for me is finding the right time to cook. Most normal people with normal jobs get home at 5 or 6, a logical time to prepare and eat dinner. I on the other hand get home at 8:00 or 8:30 most nights. The thought of preparing, cooking, eating and cleaning up a meal at that point is so unappealing.
I've tried the whole "prepare the meal before I leave and have Ben cook it while I'm on my way home" thing...and it works alright, but it's finding time BEFORE work that poses the challenge in this scenario. If I'm not working at BR, I'm mostly likely to be found cleaning the house, doing the laundry, working on YW stuff or running one of those million errands we all find we have to run.
The summer was great. I think I cooked everyday! That was back when I wasn't really working much.
Here's the bottom line...we make time for what's important to us. Cooking for me....at this point in my life....not that important. It's not that I don't like it, or I don't know how to do it, it's just not a priority.
That being said....I did cook two meals this week, and we've eaten leftovers the other two days, so I guess there is time, but I think that phase is over.
Maybe what I ought to do is find a happy medium between cooking everyday, and eating out everyday. Hmm...there's an idea.

Other food notes...

In case someone is worried that Ben has a neglectful wife who doesn't feed him...I do make him a lunch everyday!

My new favorite sandwich which Ive eaten almost everyday this week involves these five ingredients:
1)whole wheat bread
2)hummus
3) tomatoes
4) cucumber
5) turkey
You should try it....it is so yummy!

And finally, I've recently been reminded of my love for Jujyfruits. Thank goodness Mary introduced me to them at her Grandma's house way back when! Somehow I went my entire childhood without eating a single jujyfruit. They must not have them in Canada.

All this talk of food is making me hungry...

Leaf Peeping

One of the MANY reasons why I love living in Vermont....












Unfortunately my pictures hardly do it justice.
I think the consensus is....I need a new camera!

Facing reality...

So I have to say I've been going through some serious blonde hair withdrawal lately. Due to some significant laptop malfunctions we were forced to buy a new computer a couple of weeks ago, and since, have been transferring all of our pictures over. This process has cause some serious reflection regarding the ever important topic of hair color. I think the bottom line is this....blonde is better! Not cheaper that is....just better! It's been so nice only having to get my color done every three or four months since going dark, versus every 6-8 weeks with the blonde, and it's definitely been cheaper, and more efficient with my time (can anyone explain why my hair girl thinks she needs to take four hours on my hair each time I go in for an appointment....who has that kind of time for HAIR) but I just don't like being dark as much! So I'm embracing the inevitable....and going back to blonde. Unfortunately I made this decision the day AFTER getting my dark redone, so it won't happen for a couple of months....but somehow if I verbalize the decision, I feel like I'm closer to having it be a reality! If only I could have been a natural blonde. Answer me this....If Ben has red hair, and I have brown hair, what are the chances our kids will be blonde??? I'm crossing my fingers at least!

(Below is proof that blonde is better)





In other news...we went to the Shelburne Farms harvest festival on Saturday along with the entire town of Shelburne....and all of the Mormons in town. Seriously....everywhere I turned there were more Mormons! If people only knew, I think they might be worried we were going to take over the town. It was such a cute festival with tons of great activities for kids. So yeah.....we felt totally out of place!! Despite looking a little foolish attending the festivities without kids, we did score some awesome food...what can top Vermont grilled cheese sandwiches and caramel apples?? Who needs kids to enjoy good food!



Finally...probably the highlight of my week was making a kid cry at their piano lesson. Ok, not really, I actually felt pretty bad. But let me tell you, it was way better than the time a kid peed his pants in lesson. I mean honestly, how do you respond to that! I felt bad for weeks....since I told him he couldn't go to the bathroom because we only had two minutes left in the lesson. I learned my lesson the hard way.....ALWAYS let kids use the bathroom when they ask!
Anyway, I didn't actually do anything mean to this little girl on Tuesday who started bawling out of the blue. I simply asked her to put the song we had been practicing hands apart, hands together. Next thing I know, she's doing it perfectly, but there are tears streaming down her face and she's doing the little hyperventilating sob thing! I asked her what was wrong and she simply said "It's just TOO hard." Ok...cause that makes sense. She did it perfectly....the FIRST TIME...but "it's just too hard." Man.....these kids kill me. I really do love them, but on occasion, they're pretty ridiculous. It wouldn't have been a big deal and I would have been a little nicer if she didn't have a history of crying EVERY WEEK! I'm pretty sure crying is code for "I don't want to do this, and if I cry, maybe I won't have to." She seems pretty well trained in the art of crying, but I don't really buy it.

Enough with the rants...I'm so looking forward to the weekend! I'm hoping for great weather on Saturday so we can go for a fall bike ride, and check out a new breakfast place called "On the Rise." It's supposed to be pretty great!

Why haven't we done this sooner??

Not sure why it took us over two years to finally get our act together and head to NYC for the weekend, but it did, and I'm regretting it big time! We decided to head out this past weekend and had such a great time. I felt like a little kid on Christmas eve the night before we left. I had never been to NY so I was pretty excited...I couldn't even sleep! It's surprisingly close when you finally just get in the car and make the drive. Ben picked me up from the studio after my last lesson at 7:00. We were on the road by 7:30, and parked in downtown NY by 1:30 or so. Somehow when we were searching google maps for directions, I'm pretty sure we clicked the "take us on every back road possible" button.....so minus the minor run-in with nausea that I had, it was a pretty easy drive, although I'm convinced there has to be a better way.

It was great to visit with Ben's sister Emily. She's a great tour guide, and knows the city so well! After the realization that NY just isn't that far from us, I'm sure we'll be out to visit her several more times before we move. There are already plans in the working for a trip in November, and I already have a ticket for December!

We did lots of the fun first time NY things.....Times Square, Central Park, Grand Central Station, Rockefeller Center, Yankee Stadium, China Town and SoHo. We also managed to fit in some shopping at one of the BR Flagship stores, and the NBA store. And of course, we ate at some fantastic restaurants, like Norma's and Cosi. We already have a long list of things we want to do, and more importantly, places we want to eat at when we return!

I was shocked by the weather. We had had a serious cold front pass through Vermont (unfortunately now I'm realizing it wasn't really a cold "front", and that winter is really on it's way) so I just assumed it would be cold in NY. I was definitely wrong. We were sweating the entire day! Thankfully it cooled down a little with some rain, and we ended up being quite comfortable as the afternoon went on.
It was awesome being at Yankee Stadium for one of their last games before they tear it down. The new stadium looks beautiful, but I think I would have felt cheated had we not had the chance to attend at least one game in the old stadium. Despite losing 8-0, we still managed to have a great time. Check out my sweet Yankee Stadium t-shirt and free Yankees mustard I picked up along the way!

On Sunday we were able to visit with one of my best friends who just moved to NY not long ago. It was so great to see her and catch up on life.



And just for the record...I came to the realization this weekend that I am incredibly lazy. I could never live in NYC simply because I don't like walking that much! I think I walked more in two days there than I have walked in a whole month in Vermont. It was great for a weekend away, but I don't think I could handle it on a day to day basis. I was so glad to get in my car on Sunday afternoon and drive home knowing I didn't have to walk anywhere on Monday!!

The Perfect Trip

I just got back from spending 6 days in Phoenix and I'm pretty sure it was a perfect trip (minus the fact that Ben wasn't there). In my mind, the components of a perfect trip are as follows:

1) Good Food
2) Good Company
3) Great Shopping
4) Warm weather

We had all of the above....and more!
The reason for my trip was to attend my sisters graduation....though I shouldn't need a reason to go visit. The last time I had been to visit her was when Ben and I got engaged, so I was past due for a visit.
Attending Alie's graduation was awesome. I felt like a proud mom, all teary eyed, snapping all kinds of embarrassing photos wherever possible. She graduated from Thunderbird's International MBA program...and did I mention she was FIRST in her class. She's annoyingly modest, and didn't plan on bragging to anyone, so I've made it my personal business to make sure people know!
We had a great time together. It was fun to see my parents and my little brother as well....who were fresh off the plane from Hawaii.
We basically shopped the weekend away in Scottsdale, ate at some awesome restaurants, and relaxed by the pool in 107 degree weather.
I decided after this weekend that I NEED to live in Arizona. It's perfect for someone like me with with the cold disease! I finally felt warm for the first time in a while!

At our favorite gelato place the night I arrived

My little brother during the graduation ceremony....it really wasn't THAT boring!

Alie got to represent Canada in the Flag Ceremony....her speech rocked!






We were a little tired after graduation and a busy afternoon of shopping!

Relaxing after a long day!

Weekend Away

I just realized that I never got a chance to post about our Anniversary weekend!
Since Ben's work and call schedule is pretty demanding these days, and I am fairly occupied with work and Young Womens, I didn't really expect we would do much for our anniversary. But, I should have known better. Ben is the best "surpriser" ever! (is that even a word). He's always planning and scheming cute things without me knowing. I love it! Right before Ben left for school on Friday morning, he told me to go buy a new dress and be packed and ready to go to Montreal for the weekend by the time he got home that day! It was really so cute the way he said it.
Needless to say, I was excited! I spent the day pampering myself, getting my nails done, shopping and getting ready for the weekend.
For those of you who haven't spent much time in Montreal, you're seriously missing out. It is such a neat city, with a great downtown area, and lots to do.

We ended up staying at a beautiful hotel, the Inter-Continental, and we had this gorgeous corner room that overlooked the city. We got dressed up and went to dinner on Friday night at the incredible french restaurant called Europea. It was unbelievable. I have never had a meal like this. First of all, it was three and a half hours long....seriously! I had the 5 course meal, Ben had the 9. It was such a neat experience. The highlights included a CO2 Caesar Salad, Lobster Cappuccino, and never ending dessert courses! Talk about chi-chi! Our waiter was pretty snobby...I think he thought we were in high school or something. Oh...and they wouldn't let it drop the fact we didn't order alcohol. They asked us several times what kind of wine we wanted with our meal, and finally when they brought out our special "anniversary" dessert, they also brought us champagne, compliments of the chef! It was pretty funny.



Saturday we got up and met our ward at the temple. I was able to help supervise the YW and YM who did baptisms. It's always a great experience to attend the temple with the youth. Several of our girls were there for the first time, so that was particularly special.

After the temple, and our stop at Tim Hortons, we headed to La Ronde, Montreal's rockin Amusement Park. As it turns out, it is actually one dang good amusement park. Ben and I both love roller coasters, and we were pleasantly surprised to find LOTS of great roller coasters there.
We spent the day in the rain riding the roller coasters, the log ride (always a hit with me!), made a few stop offs at the bumper cars (these were seriously the best bumper cars I have ever been on), and finished off the day with some spectacular fireworks. We then drove back to Vermont at about midnight Saturday night.





Ben and I were both pretty sleepy at Ward Council the next morning at 8:00!
What I loved about our weekend was the wide variety of activities! A chi-chi meal one night, and an amusement park the next. Ben did a great job of planning a really fun and special weekend away, especially taking into consideration our limiting schedules! I guess it's probably my turn to plan something fun next year!