Halloween festivities

I'm not a big Halloweener to begin with, but this year was particularly uneventful.  Saturday was meant to be our big Halloween party, however it ended up being canceled at the last minute due to a conflict with the room in which it had been scheduled.  It's just as well, because I had great plans for a costume that didn't turn out.  Despite my lack of enthusiasm for dressing up in costumes and trick-or-treaters, the part of Halloween that I look forward to the most is carving pumpkins.  However we didn't even do that this year.  Somehow the holiday just passed us by!!  Michael did carve a pumpkin to turn in for a final project in one of his classes last week.  However I kept meaning to go to a pumpkin patch and pick up some pumpkins so we could carve some together, but I never did because the weather was frequently wet and/or cold.  We'll have to redeem ourselves next year.  Not to mention, next year should be fun with a little one to dress up!

I have to say that this year's highlight was my friend, Audra's son.  I bought him a dragon costume for his birthday a couple weeks ago in anticipation for Halloween.  At first he was reluctant to wear the costume but with some practice and encouragement from his parents over the last few weeks, he became quite attached.  Not to mention, he developed quite the "Raaaaawr".

Well, here are our pictures for the week.  There aren't many, and they were all taken with Michael's I-phone so the quality isn't great, but enjoy.

We did attend a party at the church.  This is the sister senior missionary! She did a great job on her costume.  After rummaging around in our closets, we decided to dress up as 80's aerobics instructors.

Michael's pumpkin symbolic of his Career that he turned in for a final project.  The idea being that he is trying to make the transition from mountain biking to potentially working in a skyscraper building of sorts and finding that balance

This is Andrew in his dragon costume.  The little hands and feet killed me!

The costume even had little wings...

and a tail!! I loved that the tail waddled back and forth as he walked (he just turned 1 year old) 

This is the blizzard that hit New Haven on Saturday

It was fun to see the snow, but I didn't expect it this early!  The leaves haven't even really changed in New Haven yet!!  Maybe they still will??? Or maybe they will just fall, who knows.

Well, I hope you all had a happy Halloween! And hopefully it was more eventful than ours!!

17, 31, and 5.10

These may all seem like random numbers, but each held their significance this weekend.

From my hometown in Pleasant Grove Utah, I can drive 4 hours in any direction and still not break past the Utah border.  This weekend we embarked on an adventure in which a 4 hour drive took us from Connecticut, through Massachusetts and Vermont, to New Hampshire.  The fall leaves have progressed in each of these states more than they have here in New Haven making for a very beautiful drive.  After arriving in New Hampshire, I did the math and learned that I have now been to 17 states.  Prior to 2011, I had traveled to 5.  I am enjoying the opportunity to see new places and meet new people.

So, what took us to New Hampshire you ask?  Rock Climbing.  We headed to one of the premier rock climbing meccas in the North East (Rumney, NH) for the opportunity at one last climbing fling before our family expands in December and impulsive road trips with friends become a little more difficult.  I am proud to say that at 31 weeks pregnant (7 months) I can still climb 5.10's.  Those 2 numbers might not mean anything to those of you who have never been pregnant, or who aren't familiar with climbing ratings and that's ok.  I'm tickled at what those numbers mean to me.  Take a look at some of our pictures and you'll see climbing pictures of the 3 of us: Michael, baby, and me; as well as pics of the landscape and rustic cabin in which we stayed for the weekend.

Michael climbed up to the top and then took pictures of "us" as "we" worked our way to the top

Me and the baby working our way up!

Me and the baby working our way up!

Me and the baby working our way up!

Me and the baby working our way up!

The view from atop

The view from atop

Michael continues to climb well, despite the amount of time he has to spend studying!

...Not to mention the rock and leaves are beautiful!

My favorite climb of the weekend.  Steep with big moves but good holds.

Same climb

Same climb

Same climb

Same climb

Same climb...not to mention the gorgeous leaves in the background

Same climb

Michael climbs 5.11b

For someone who spends most of his time studying these days, he still looks really strong!

How does he stay so strong hitting the books all the time?!

This was an extremely technical move.  I was so proud of him.

He makes rock climbing look so graceful

It rained Saturday afternoon which cast a beautiful haze on the valley

Waiting out the rain

Waiting out the rain

When we weren't climbing we were bundled up at the bottom, cheering on others

beautiful overcast sky

This tree seemed to glow amidst the evergreens Sunday morning during sunrise.

View near our cabin

Our rustic cabin, which is code for no running water, just gas powered electricity and a wood burning stove for heat.  There was a  privy located 50 yards from the cabin (code for outhouse)

This was a difficult climb.  Very different from the style I am used to, but I still had a great time.

Some of the other members of our group.  Jeff attends the SOM (school of management) with Michael.  Leah also attends Yale, but is getting a master's degree from a different program.

So there you have it: I have now been to 17 states.  I am 31 weeks pregnant.  And I can still climb 5.10.  It was a great weekend, although it was a harsh reality for Michael to have to start a new block today and know that these weekend trips will become more difficult.  But we look forward to the next trip...which may be our Utah trip!  We look forward to seeing you all soon.  XOXO

New England Fall has arrived

Saturday we took a drive through western Connecticut and visited Lake Waramaug State Park and Kent Falls State Park.  The drive took us along narrow forested roads umbrellaed with changing leaves.  We were excited that Michael had finished his first set of finals so we could enjoy the day worry free.  The first series of photos were taken at Lake Waramaug.  You really should click on these photos so you can view them larger to get the full effect of the beautiful colors!

We had planned to ride our bikes around the Lake but shortly after arriving it began raining.  

We covered the camera and continued shooting.  The rain didn't last long, but helped to empty the park so we could take all the undisturbed photos we wanted!

This is the picture I was taking above, while Michael took my picture

On our way to Kent Falls, we stopped by this random place on the highway with tons of rustic sculpture art called Sculpturedale.  After wandering around for a bit the artist came outside and talked to us.  He was quite pleasant and showed us around, granting us permission to take as many pictures as we wanted.

Giraffes are my favorite

He took us into his shop and showed us his most recent project.  He begins each project by welding pieces of metal together.  Once the project is to this point, he sprays them with a vinegar solution and puts them outside.   All it takes is a few hours on a rainy day before the piece becomes rustic, completing the work of art.  This piece in particular weighs over 400 lbs.  He has to get a crane to move it outside once it is completed.  So fascinating!

This is the first of the Kent Falls Pictures

I've found that I can no longer just hand the camera over to a random individual when I want a picture with both of us in it.  I have to compose the picture myself and then use the timer feature, otherwise I'm always slightly disappointed in the outcome of the photo.  This time we had the tripod, so it wasn't too tricky.  However, there are lots of times when I am using sticks and others objects to prop up the camera just right on a rock or something.  I'm glad Michael puts up with my idiosyncrasies.  

We stopped at a cute little restaurant in a small town on our drive home.  The bread they served was amazing!  I had a delicious pear, blue cheese salad with a citrus vinaigrette and Michael had a delightful pumpkin soup for appetizers.  Our entrees were decent, but the appetizers were both fantastic.

We really enjoyed the day and came to the conclusion that we need a second camera so we can both be shooting at the same time!!

As for a quick update otherwise: Michael was relieved to finish his finals.  He feels pretty good about them, but hopefully we will find out this week how he did.  This upcoming block is supposed to be the most rigorous of the whole program.  A lot of this has to do with all the work he needs to put in to secure his summer internship.  The school likes you to have your internship secure by Christmas...so that adds a lot of pressure on top of the classes being taken.  Networking and company research, resume building, interviewing, etc. all add up quickly.  Keep him in your prayers.

As for me, I hit 30 weeks yesterday.  Something feels a little surreal about being in the "30's", it's starting to feel a little more real.  I have all my doctor's appointments scheduled up through the week I am due so I will keep everyone posted.  As a side note, my glucose screening came back just fine.  No gestational diabetes for us.

Love you all.