Yes I'm Alive

Rule number 1 to moving: Don't work up until the day before you plan to leave.
Chris and I ended up leaving Boise six hours after we had originally planned. Luckily we had already planned on staying in Logan, UT with our friends Pat and Charity. It was great to get to spend some time with them and finally get the chance to see their new place.
Then next night we stayed in Wyoming. And then got into Kearney around noon on Saturday. The trip ended up taking about 4 hours of drive time longer than we had planned. Chris drove the trailer pulling my car, while I drove his rodeo with his canoe tied on top. Anytime a semi passed by we would have to slow to 55 to keep from blowing off the rode.
We are finally getting settled into our new place and I start my new job on Thursday. Things are getting better and I have only had one mini meltdown so far.
Lynn and Kerry have gotten their web cam working so we are able to at least see the girls while we talk to them...not the same as being there, but better.
Well I miss you all and will try to keep with the updates.

New York

This past weekend I went to visit Kristin in New York. The trip got started when I got into my first (and last) New York City Cab. First the guy had no clue where to go. He was surprised to find I could not give him directions, as this was my first time in the city...though he did pick me up from the airport. Kristin had to get on the phone and give him directions that at the time he seemed to get.
I started to relax for a second before we got into traffic. You know how on all the movies they show cars serving in and out of traffic, honking at each other, nearly hitting pedestrians? You may have been like me and thought it was Hollywood exaggerating. Well let me tell you this, it is not. If anything they under-exaggerated it to get unsuspecting people (like me) to actually agree to get into a cab. I am pretty sure at all times we were doing 50-60 mph. Freeway…residential who cares? If a car stopped, no big deal, just go around. No lane? Even better. I seriously thought we were going to get hit 3 times. Red lights were a screeching stop where if I didn't have my seatbelt on, I am pretty sure I would have ended up a smashed bug on the divider. Green lights were like taking off in a jet. I tried to lift my head from the back of the seat, but the force was just too strong.

Not only that, but by this time I started to realize that my cabbie still didn't quite know where he was going. So I started to keep an eye on street signs. Seeing if I recognized the street name Kristin gave me. Now anyone who knows me knows how carsick I get. So put me in the back seat of the scariest rollercoaster/bumper car ride I have ever been on and then try to pay attention to scenery...I thought I was going to being sick.
So cabbie talks to Kristin a second time, then pulls over 3 times to ask random people on the street (by this time he has turned off the meter), and we finally find Kristin. When I got to her apartment, I barely could walk up the stairs, and had to sit for a half hour trying to get my stomach back to its anatomically correct position. And I did refuse to get into another cab the rest of the trip. Anyone who says cabs are safer than the subway has never been in this cab.

Anyway, the trip was amazing. Kristin being the good sister she was took me to see all the touristy spots I wanted to see (she is a New Yorker, not a tourist, so this is not her favorite thing). We took a ferry to see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. On Ellis Island we took a guided tour through the main building. It was very interesting learning the complete process immigrants had to go through to get to the states. I can only imagine what it was like for my Grandma when see passed through those doors as a child. We then walked through Wall Street a bit and visited Ground Zero. Right now they have the area fenced off, so you can't see too much, but just to know what stood there was surreal. I really wish I would have been able to visit New York and seen the World Trade Centers standing. It is almost impossible to imagine what it would have been like to see those buildings fall.

We also had a chance to visit Central Park. I think I could handle living in New York as long as I was close to the park. It is enormous and beautiful with trees and old bridges; I could have spent all day walking around it. They also had an old castle there, Belvedere Castle, that Kristin and I walked around. That is the picture of Kristin and I. Then we went on to the Met. Huge museum. We were there for a couple of hours and I think barely saw half. They had paintings from Van Gough & Monet, complete decorated rooms from hotels in Paris, ancient armor, etc. I think our favorite part was the modern art section. Kristin and I got a kick of commentating for the paintings and guessing their names. I really do wonder what some of the artist were thinking when they created some of their artwork.

My favorite part of the entire trip was the Broadway Shows. They were amazing. My first ever show was to Spamalot. I have never laughed so hard as I did watching this play. If I ever go back to New York it will be to watch Spamolot again. Clay Aiken was also in it, which made it pretty interesting to recognize at least on of the character. The second night we watched Wicked. Also amazing. The leading ladies had by the far the best voices I have ever heard...and the stage props were out of this world. My only downfall with this play is that I love the book so much. I don't think they could have done a better job changing it into a Broadway musical, but I have such a hard time letting differences go when the book itself was so amazing. Still the show was very worthwhile. The last show we saw was Spring Awaking. This one was more a tragedy then the other two, but well worth the tickets. It was about teens growing up and discovering themselves, and the orchestra actually consisted of a band. They had drums and guitars and half the songs were more rock 'n roll than anything. I have to say we definitely saw a wide array of shows, and it is a good thing I did not stay any longer or I would have had to see more.

I am glad to be back in calm little Idaho, but it was very fun to get to see where Kristin has been living and get to spend some quality time with just the to of us. Thanks Kristin for a wonderful trip!!!!

Saturday night Anna and Jonathan had a going away party for Chris & I at their house. Kelly was unable to attend the girls party Amber had for me a couple of weeks ago, so her and Anna figured it was best to throw another. We ate pizza and drank mojitos Jonathan was kind enough to make. Then came out the games. We of course slipt the teams into boys verus girls, and regardless what anyone else says....the girls ruled!!! We had such a fun time with everybody it really will be hard to leave. However, it does make me that much more excited for the wedding. I will not only be looking forward to it for the obvious reasons, but because it will be such a great reunion with our friends.

Then on Sunday we woke up with even more snow!!! This is the most snow I have seen in boise in the eight years I have lived here. I just had to take a picture of Chris shoveling the driveway while it was still snowing;)

Slumber Party (aka birth control)

Last night Ella and Morgan came over for their first slumber party away from home. I think Lynn and Kerry feed them extra sugar before they got here for good measure. The first hour was spent chasing the cats up and down the stairs. We then finally got them calmed down by putting in a Dora movie. The rest of the evening we spent making mini chocolate cakes and reading books. The whole night actually went much better than I had expected. They went to bed without a fight, and Ella only woke up once wanting Dad. I then just slept between them to hold Ella's hand, and they then slept in til 7:45. I really will miss them when we leave. Though it is still nice to give them back to mom and dad sometimes :)

Waffles for Breakfast

You gotta love Dora the Explorer