Pennsylvania

Well Scott and I decided to take a trip this weekend... pretty much at the last minute. The office manager here, Patrick, grew up near Harrisburg Pennsylvania and he was taking a group up there. We drove with Jake and Julie who are engaged. Julie and I picked up the boys on Saturday night at 9 when they were done and we headed out. Scott was amazing and drove pretty much the whole trip! The drive was between 4 and 5 hours and we were exhausted by the time we reached the motel.... we stayed in the cheapest place we could find since we were only there for a few hours... it was a Motel 6 and it was pretty bad... oh well we lived through it. Sunday we woke up early and went to Sacrament meeting. We were all so exhausted that no one could stay awake. We then went to a park by the river in Harrisburg and enjoyed some time relaxing. On our way into the park we found this bull which we thought was interesting....



plus well boys are weird...







Scott took a nice long nap and Jake, Julie and I enjoyed a nice walk. There was a cool playground for little kids and Julie and I enjoyed the train!














Here is a picture of me and Scott on the banks of the Susquehanna River, right by where we took our nap. It was amazing to think that it was along this river, about 2 hours north where the Priesthood was restored.





Then the four of us went and met up with the rest of the group for lunch. Patrick then took us to a place with an amazing overview of the Susquehanna River with the city in the background. It was amazing. Here is a picture with all of the guys.



We then drove to Gettysburg. It was a really hot day but we went anyway because we knew that we might never have this chance again. We were amazed at how huge the battlefield was and to think of how many lives were lost during that battle. We started on the confederate side. This was their view facing the Union Army. This is the field they charged across with Picket's Charge trying to win the battle on the third day. They were coming out of the cover of the trees. The North didn't really have a cover but they were up hill. The monuments that you can barely see is where the charge failed. They almost succeeded which easily could have changed the outcome of the war.





This is the monument that Virginia created that honors Robert E. Lee.















We then headed over to the Union Lines. There were monuments everywhere on the battlefield. This is the view from where the North was defending. The South got alot of people in this area by sharpshooting.









We were able to take some fun shots. Here is a cannon







and here are Julie and I on top of a tower monument.
















The last area that we went to was around Picket's charge. It was amazing how many big monuments were around... You can kind of get an idea of that from this picture... but it still doesn't really do it justice.







This one was for the soldiers who held Picket's Charge and really made a big difference in the outcome of the war by doing that. There was two cannons on either side, but they were hard to fit into the picture. It was an amazing experience to walk around that battlefield and think about the people throughout history who have fought for our freedoms. I just finished a book that talked a little about Waterloo where Napoleon was defeated. Both battles were horrific and had huge numbers of causalities but both battles also seemed to determine the future. I'm grateful for those who were and still are willing to stand up for the freedoms that we have and sometimes take for granted. May we never forget their sacrifice!

After Gettysburg we drove to Patrick's house and were able to get a nap in before we headed home. It was another long late drive. There wasn't too much traffic. We stopped at Burger King for a quick bite and they took forever and messed up all of our orders.... that was really annoying. Probably the only good thing about the drive, besides getting home, was being able to see the Washington DC temple. It was just there all of a sudden and it was totally gorgeous. This is the picture from the car, but it doesn't really do it justice, maybe because it seems to just appear out of nowhere. Wow, I love the temple!

Life

So I don't really have too much to say right now, but I figured it was time to make a new post... this one will just be a little boring. Scott was feeling a little sick last week so when he got home from work we basically just ate dinner and went to bed. I have found the local library and am having tons of fun reading new books! Lately I've been reading the Pern series by Anne McCaffrey. It's been fun to feel like I'm in another world. I went with Julie to the movies one day last week and we saw the American Girl movie... We knew that was a movie the boys would not want to see and we both had fond memories of reading the American Girl books when we were little... it's just a fun way to learn about different time periods in American History.

The fun part of the week was being able to go up to the DC Temple. It was a ward temple trip so some of the other Pinnacle wives and I got a ride up to the temple with an older lady in the ward... she is a talker and it was a long trip, but it was great to go to the temple and feel the calming influence of God. The trip took the whole day and being with the group we just left right after we were done. I want to go again and be able to take some time on the temple grounds. Scott and I are talking about taking a Saturday night and Sunday to spend up in DC, but we wouldn't be able to go into the temple then since it wouldn't be open. I was sad when we got there and started to take pictures cause I realized that my battery was dead in my camera... so this is one I just found online.

So we have decided that it is just not a good idea for us to make plans for the future because as soon as we do they seem to change. We can sell through December so as long as Scott doesn't have a take classes to get into BYU we will probably be selling till then. We were told something about this office closing and going to Arizona but lately we were told that we may not be able to go to that office... I don't know what is going on... I guess we'll just have to see where life takes us!

INDEPENDENCE DAY!

Happy Birthday to America!

So we had a fun day yesterday. The boys were all out selling in the morning. It was really smoky here in Virginia Beach because of the wild fires in North Carolina so the boys needed to get inside for a bit at lunch. I joined Scott and Kory for lunch and then I came home and got a little picnic ready to take to the beach with us for fireworks. Julie came over and we got everything ready and then went to get the boys. We had five people in our car. There was me and Scott, Julie and Jake (who are engaged) and Kory (who is almost engaged, but she is in Europe, she stayed with us last week). So anyway, the five of us headed down to the beach. It was totally crazy traffic and parking was a nightmare. There weren't lots that you could pay to park in, those were all full, you just had a try and find a piece of street that wasn't illegal and not already taken. So we walked down to the beach and enjoyed a little picnic snack. Jake and Julie had their suits and went swimming and Scott and I just stuck our feet in. We enjoyed watching the fireworks. They weren't the best that we've seen, but it was really cool to be watching them on the beach!

After that we fought traffic to come home and then Kory went off to bed and the rest of us watched Independence Day with some of Jake's roommates. I love the fourth of July and feel so grateful for the freedoms that we enjoy as US citizens. I'm grateful for those that have fought wars for centuries to receive and keep these freedoms. I'm grateful for those who are fighting today and for the families of those soldiers who are willing to make the sacrifice. We have a proud heritage! I'm grateful for George Washington as our first president and how he was willing to step down after being president rather than trying to make himself a king like so many others do when nations first try democracy. I am grateful for the political system that has been set up, it is far from perfect, but there are checks and balances that help to keep things working! I am proud to be an American!

Life in Virginia Beach

Well now that I am done with the cruise I guess that I should tell you what I have been doing since then. Well the answer is not much, and yet I'm totally loving it. Most days I wake up around 9 or 10 and help Scott get ready for his day. Then we have a little bit of time to hang out together before he leaves sometime between 11-12. So my day really starts about noon. Then I work out, usually for about an hour doing Turbo Jam and then hang out and get ready for the day. That usually takes me until about 2-4 depending on how fast I'm moving. Then I'll clean the house, go shopping, or read a book. Or I will work on my scrap book or my blog... or whatever else needs to get done! I start dinner at about 9:30 or 10 so that it will be ready when Scott gets home usually around 10:30. Then Scott and I can spend some time together before bed. My whole day has just totally shifted from a normal time frame... I feel that about 5 pm is about noon...

So Scott and I are totally hooked on HGTV's Design Star! We don't have a TV so we watch it all on the internet and we get excited for the new shows from season 3 to be uploaded. We have also started watching the first season which we never saw and we want to watch the second season again once we are done with the first season.

So the big news here is that Scott is going to transfer to BYU to start in January. This just hit us out of the blue, but we feel like this is a good move. It is a better business school than UVSC, or wait, it's UVU now... and it will get him more contacts for the future. I just laugh at him. There are three things he used to say he would never do: 1) Never date a girl from his mission... 2) Never live in Utah 3) Never go to BYU... well I'm good for him I hope, cause I have helped him to do all three.

Starting BYU in January means that we will probably stay here in Virginia Beach and sell until October. He only needs one class for an associates degree and we just need to figure out how to get him that class and we will stay here. That way he'll be able to make more money that should be able to last us the whole year. It is crazy how quickly plans can just change.

So there is this movie theater here that for 15 on weeknights you can get two tickets and unlimited popcorn and drinks for a new release. Well weeknights are perfect for us because Saturday is such a long day for Scott that our Friday nights are really boring and we have made Wednesday our date night anyway. So last night we went to see Kong-Fu Panda and we totally LOVED it! There were a ton of cool lessons in it that really stood out to us because that is what God has been trying to teach us lately. Plus we just laughed and laughed. We like Jack Black. That is a movie that I will want to add to my collection someday.

Last Day of the Cruise

Our last day on the cruise was a day at sea. It was a little sad knowing that our adventures were coming to an end, but I was getting really excited to see Scott again. We decided to play mini golf in the morning. We knew that we needed to do this during the cruise because had never played before. Sometimes I wonder what she has done:) Anyway we enjoyed playing mini golf. Tammy and I had our golf balls touching each other on one hole and we decided that they were kissing!

We spent a lot of that day just laying out on the deck and reading. Tammy and I found a spot where our heads could be in the shade and our legs in the sun. That was really nice cause we were just a tad sunburned from the day before. It was nice to have the time to just relax.

That night mom got her last gift which were mints that said Sexy at 60! Those were fun.







We had fun that night dancing the night away and we were sad to see the trip end.




And I can't forget the picture of my zoo of towel animals at the end of the trip.

The next morning Mom and Dad left the boat early and I got to hang out for awhile. I went off the boat with Dave and Tammy cause I was riding to the airport with them. They had a friend that lived in the area that was so nice to come and give us a ride to the airport. We got stuck in the slow line going through customs... Dan and Betsy entered the line way after us and got through before... But we made it to the airport. My flight home was the worst part of the trip. I don't think I ever want to fly Continental Airlines again. My first flight was delayed. I got to Newark and just in time and my flight said it was on time... well that was a laugh. They finally told us that we were delayed. When the flight came in they said there were problems with the bathrooms and they were having someone come to look at it. Well we finally boarded the plane and I called Scott and told him when to come and get me. We sat on the run way for over an hour, when they finally let us use our phones, Scott was already at the airport and we hadn't even left yet. So I sent him back home. While waiting on the run way we were informed that we couldn't use the bathroom on the plane. We get into Norfolk and go to get our bags... half of the people didn't get their bags! So after arriving two hours late to the airport I had to stand in line for another 2 hours before they finally gave us a form to fill out so that we didn't have to wait in the line anymore... they had gotten through about 4 of the 30 people in line by that time. So instead of being able to spend anytime with Scott we just go home and crash since he had a full day of work ahead of him. So the next day I call about my bags and they said they arrived in Norfolk when we did... I said no they didn't, and I realized that she was talking about the flight after us that was supposed to arrive when we did but really got there much later. She says the airline will call me, they never did. I had to call two more times and my bag didn't get to me until 6:30. It was sad that was the way the cruise ended... stupid airlines!

Okay I'm done with that now and I'm better. I had a great time on the cruise and really enjoyed spending time with the family. I was glad to be able to be there for mom's birthday. We have converted her to vacation travel. Now she just wants to go to Hawaii and Switzerland. I can't wait to take Scott on a cruise... but that will be awhile!

Grand Turk!

So Friday we spent the day in Grand Turk. I went on an excursion with Mom and Dad and Dave and Tammy where we went to Gibbs Bay which was a tiny island close by where we got to go snorkeling and swimming with stingrays. I wasn't too sure about snorkeling. I had done it before when I went to Hawaii in high school and I think my goggles leaked or something but I didn't remember liking it. So I was freaking out a little but I did enjoy it and I saw some beautiful fish. We even got mom to go under. She doesn't know how to swim so she was freaking out more than me, but she got under. She didn't get to see much of the really pretty stuff cause we ran out of time before she was ready to venter out into deeper water, but it was still really fun.

The second half of our trip on the island was when we were playing with the stingrays. I tried to feed them, but they weren't really hungry anymore. Mom, Tammy and I kissed one which is supposed to bring seven years good luck. All of these pictures are on Tammy's underwater camera so they aren't posted here... The stringrays were cool. They would swim right up to you, often from behind and go right between your legs, that was kinda freaky when the tail would follow, but no one got stung. Anyway... then we had a few minutes to play on the beach and look at the conk shells. It was a really fun excursion.

We spent the rest of the time on shore going shopping. The nice thing about Grand Turk is that the shops were right as you got off the pier and there was also a beach close by. I thought it was annoying that in Puerto Rico and St. Thomas there wasn't any beaches within walking distance to the boat. Anyway... I decided that I needed a picture at Margerittaville. I had the "It's 5 o'clock somewhere" song running through my head all day!



Back on the ship we had our second formal night. The fun part of the midnight buffet where they went all out on the food. We were stuffed so we didn't actually eat anything, but we enjoyed looking at everything. There were so many sculptures that were all made out of food. They did some cool things with watermelons, pineapples, ice and other things.





Every night on the cruise when we came back to our room there was an animal made out of the towel. I was keeping them all to create my own little zoo. On Friday we got a monkey and I loved it. I took a picture with it that night, which is good cause it fell down later and was ruined so it didn't get to be a part of my zoo at the end of the trip!

San Juan

On Thursday we docked in San Juan, Puerto Rico. As the boat was pulling in that morning there was an amazing view of one of the forts that was used to guard the island. I wanted to get up early to see the fort as we pulled in and that was really fun and pretty.


We had a trip planned with a company there to take our group to the rain forest. So we went to our meeting place and waited for our tour guide to come. We then loaded into the van and heard a little about Puerto Rico while we took the hour drive to get to the Rain Forest. We stopped at the visitor's center and got a picture of the whole group. The place was starting to get really crowded so we hurried into the van. Normally their is a tower and a waterfall that you stop at on the way up, but our guide decided to skip those on the way up so that we could beat the crowd on our walk through the rain forest to the waterfall that we could swim at.

Most of our group went on the hike through the rain forest, but some people stayed with the guide and got to learn about other stuff. Our guide made Tammy a nice hat out of a leaf, but it looked better on Mom. Dan even got one for himself. We had a nice hike and really enjoyed being next to the river as it was flowing down. There were so many pretty spots to stop and enjoy.

We got to the waterfall and it looked like so much fun. There were a few people already there, but it wasn't too bad. We all got in the water and were having a blast. We even got mom to go in and get pretty close to the waterfall to get a nice group picture. When we got ready to leave the waterfall we realized how crowded it had become while we were in the water. We were so glad that we had been able to beat the rush. Our hike back was uphill a lot and we were pretty tired by the time we reached the end and were ready to get back into the van.

We headed to a tower that gave us an amazing view of the rain forest and the rest of the island. I got some great pictures. Here I am with my brothers. This is the picture of mom where she is hiding her face from the sun and she just looks so cute! We next went to another waterfall and then loaded back in the van to head home. A lot of us called home during that trip since we were in a US territory. I was really glad to be able to talk to Scott for a few minutes. I really missed him on this trip, that was the only hard part about it.

When we got back into San Juan the tour guide dropped us off in town. Most of the group went shopping while Dave and Tammy went to check out the fort. I was torn between the two but finally decided to go shopping, but not before I took a picture with the fort in the background.

That night on the boat during dinner it was my turn to give my mom her birthday present. The whole cruise was about mom turning 60 so every night we had a gift for her of 60 of something. I was with Lanae and DaNae before the cruise looking for 60 of something and we decided to do something random and ended up with multi-colored paper clips! It was even discussed that night at the table that they might even be useful for scrap booking!

That night there was a party on the top deck after the evening show. We didn't stay for too long but we did go up and check it out. We were eating food and enjoying ourselves. They started playing the YMCA and Mom started dancing with us, well chair dancing! It was a fun night!




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