Update: Cancun, Moving, Thanksgiving and My Birthday!

It's been a crazy month for us!  It's official.  We are no longer North Easterners.  Michael moved all of our belongings from our storage unit in Connecticut onto a truck 2 weeks ago to be shipped to Utah.  Then he hopped on a plane and meet Dominic and I in Cancun where we spent all last week swimming and playing on the beach (mostly).  We got back to Utah this Monday and with our belongings having arrived from CT, spent Tuesday and Wednesday unloading our truck into our new apartment in downtown SLC.  (If anyone ever wants to come visit, we are only 10 minutes from the airport and would love the company!)

Yesterday was of course Thanksgiving and (some of you know) my birthday so we spent lots of time visiting family and eating good food.  Michael and I played volleyball in the evening with my brother and group of friends.  Michael bought me a new flash for our camera for my birthday! I am super stoked to learn how to use it!  He got me the Canon 430EX II and a lulu lemon climbing tank and pants--They make the cutest and most comfortable workout clothes around.  Some of you know what I'm talking about... :)

The rest of the weekend we are going to work on unpacking more boxes and trying to get settled before Michael leaves for Philly early Monday morning--back to work for him as usual.  It has been nice having him around the last two weeks.

I have really mixed feelings about settling into an apartment in Salt Lake City.  The outdoor scene is almost unbeatable, but I really miss the culture and beauty of New England.  Cost of living is really cheap here which is nice with Michael having just graduated and a new babe on the way.  We also love being close to our families, but will miss the experiences of relying on and building familial-like relationships with friends and neighbors.

Well, I have lots of unpacking, cleaning and organizing to do! Just wanted to give a quick update.  I will try to get Cancun pictures posted soon!

Until then, here is a little teaser to get you excited for the rest of the photos:

Chichen Itza: One of the 7 World Wonders

Enjoying the gorgeous beach right outside our hotel

I have loved dolphins my whole life, and as an early birthday gift from Michael, I got to participate in a dolphin program.  More details to come!

Philadelphia: The city of brotherly love

I got to visit in Michael in Philadelphia last weekend.  His mom was gracious enough to watch Dominic (with the help of his dad and my mom).

Here are some highlights:

We've seen the huge version of this on 6th avenue in NYC.  Apparently there are about 17 of these sculptures around the U.S. (and more international). 

Beautiful architecture

City hall

Enjoying the beautiful church architecture

Where Michael spends most of his days working

We spent a day or so enjoying all the historical sights.

Independence Hall

The Declaration of Independence was signed here

The Constitution was drafted here

The Philadelphia Museum of Art

The Philadelphia Museum of Art

Inside the Museum

I love Mosaic (wall inside the museum)

The Rocky Statue at the base of the stairs leading to the museum.

George Washington Statue

Moose on the George Washington Statue

Bison on the George Washington Statue

I love the greenery of the Northeast

It was great window shopping in downtown.  Michael enjoyed this quaint dress shoe shop.

Neither Michael nor I are huge donut fans, but this place had amazing donuts.  They are made fresh to order and are served deliciously hot and fresh.  And apparently they make a mean fried chicken, but we weren't sure enough to try any!

We thought Dominic would appreciate in honor of his Halloween Costume this year (see my facebook for pictures)

Just your average Macy's: more floors then I could capture in one photo and enormous organ pipes (I could've sat and listened to the organist for hours).

I am officially out of the woods of the first trimester and am soooo grateful to be over the worst of the nausea and lack of appetite.  However, after walking around the city and exploring all day, the baby and I needed a little cat nap before dinner.

We enjoyed so many good restaurants in Philadelphia.  I had no idea that it's so well known for it's amazing food.  We went to a wonderful Cuban restaurant with our friends Matt and Davika (that we knew from Yale.  They were just recently married and moved to Philly).  The night before that, we enjoyed an outstanding tapas style dinner with our old friend Aaron Browne at Vedge--one of the best rated vegetarian restaurants in the U.S.  One of the nights we were there we ate a restaurant that was to die for where I indulged and ordered my favorite seafood: fresh sea scallops.  They just aren't the same in Utah.  Needless to say, we had our fill of DELECTABLE food that melted in our mouths.

The ambiance at Alma de Cuba 

One of my favorite parts about the trip was visiting the Philadelphia Magic Gardens.  The Magic Garden is a mosiacked gallery of artist Isaiah Zagar.

I would definitely recommend visiting the Magic Garden to anyone visiting (or living in!) Philadelphia.  You can learn more about it: 

http://www.phillymagicgardens.org/

Here are some of my favorite parts of the gallery.

tip: Read across all three tiles left to right

I really do.

We are so grateful to Matt and Davika for loaning us their bikes for an afternoon so we could get in more site seeing.  We rode down Elfreth's Street, which is considered to be one of our nations oldest residential streets (still occupied)

Next we cruised by Betsy Ross' house.  She was believed to have sewn the first American Flag, although it's a little uncertain.

This leaf made it's mark in history by imprinting itself on the grounds of Independence Hall

We were able to cover lots more ground with the bicycles...we should have rented some sooner!

Enjoying a lovely afternoon ride. 

 Loved this monument.  (read the inscription if you can)

 We enjoyed a lovely mediterranean style dinner on my final night in Philadelphia.  

I loved being able to see the places Michael spends his time while he is away.  We even went to a spin class (stationary bike workout) together one morning.  We shared many delicious smoothies from his favorite breakfast place, but didn't get to eat at even half of the amazing restaurants he's been too.   I loved seeing the hotel where he sleeps and from which we often Skype.  I loved the humidity.  I've missed the humidity.  Some people don't like it, but I love that it keeps my skin from cracking and my hair more moist.  I hope to return to the North East some day to take advantage of all the history, culture and diversity that it has to offer.

While it was hard to leave Michael, I was excited to return home and see Dominic.  As I flew across the great Rocky mountains, I was surprised at how delighted I was to see the beautiful snow capped range in all it's majesty.  I had a great trip and hope that I can visit Michael in Philadelphia one more time before his current project ends.

quick update and some exciting news....

For those of you who aren't in touch with me on facebook, I just wanted to give a little update:

It's been a crazy couple of months. Sky diving. Camping. Yellowstone. Playing on two softball teams-one of which won the championship in its respect division (the other team placed 2nd in it's division). Visiting Philadelphia. Although I've felt worse this time around, and had lower energy then I can ever remember having, things are looking up. Thanks goodness for the second trimester. Needless to say...we are eagerly awaiting 4/20/14 for Escalante baby #2!!!!

Skydiving. I was so sick this day but had wanted to skydive for so long that I went anyways! Although I thought I was going to vomit due to the "morning"(ie "all day") sickness, I am proud to say that I am one of the only females in my group that didn't lose it.

Hiking with the family. I guess this means we'll need to invest in more hiking apparatuses.

We enjoyed a packed week in Yellowstone, despite my lack of energy!

My softball team took first place in it's division! I play a mean first base for a pregnant lady.

It was great to spend the weekend with Michael in Philadelphia. Gratefully I've been able to start eating more freely in the last week so I was able to enjoy the amazing cuisine that Philly has to offer! 

I am terrified thinking about caring for 2 little ones on very little sleep with Michael traveling a few days each week, but can't hardly wait for Dominic to be a big brother.

Stay tuned for more Philadelphia pics!! Coming Soon!

Hugs