DisneyWorld

Christopher and I had an awesome time this past week finding housing in NC and taking a little detour in Orlando to play in DisneyWorld.  Christopher is a perfect traveling companion.  He gamely ordered cran-apple juice and mixed it with my ginger-ale on our flights making the perfect little cocktails.  He gallantly squished the cockroaches waiting for us in our $23 a night hotel room every evening while I sat on the bed cheering, and sometimes crying. He held my hand as we rushed through the parks and insisted on wearing the backpack filled with our supply of cheez-nips and granola bars the entire time.  He was just the best.  

Here are some other trip highlights besides Christopher.

1-Finding a perfect 2-bedroom apartment in Durham that is in our price-range and doesn't appear to have a critter problem. 

2-Choosing to go to DisneyWorld over 2 days that were record-breaking empty. We honestly ran right on almost every ride we wanted to.  We waited in two lines. 

3-Hearing an old man yell at his grown daughter because she was rushing too quickly when Magic Kingdom opened. He shouted that people were cutting him off and looked at us. Guilty.

4-Seeing as many types of mickey hats as there were people in the actual parks. Pirate hats, newly-wed hats, various princess hats, and uncomfortable looking coonskins.

5- Witnessing every child in DisneyWorld completely fall apart around 3 in the afternoon.  We learned that this was the best time to go on rides in Fantasyland, and the worst time to get ice-cream. 

6-Finally, we loved watching the fireworks over the castle from our log boat on Splash Mountain.  The workers let us ride it again and again without getting out. It was a perfect ending to a wonderful vacation and we felt so lucky. 

We're so glad we went, but we're happy to be home!

Hollywood Studios

After we got soaked on our last Splash Mountain ride

By the Castle

You guys- I love the new Indigo Girls CD.  Their last album "Despite our Differences" came out during the first few weeks I was in London on study abroad, and was feeling homesick for all things American. To this day it ranks among the highest on the "most played" feature of my iTunes library.  Their new CD may not top their last. I'm not sure anything could.  But I love it anyway.  My favorite tracks (as of now) are "Fleet of Hope" and "I'll Change."  If you can help it avoid listening to "Driver Education" at all costs. Especially if your husband or friends who aren't already big Indigo Girls fans are listening.  They will make fun of you, probably forever. You've been warned. 

I want summer--everyone was tricked for a minute when the weather got so balmy, but not me.  I even told Christopher that I wasn't buying it this year.  I knew the cold would be back, and here it is.  Seriously though, I checked the mail in nothing but a t-shirt and lived to tell about it. I did my Latin homework at the kitchen table instead of in front of the fire.  It really was a convincing thaw. And then I heard someone in my class say that winter was finally over!  The fool.   

Personal Vacation Day

On top of a lion in Trafalgar Square.  Where I wouldn't mind being right now.

My little sister is headed to Hawaii in the fall, and the other is talking about going to New Zealand.  My big sister is packing for Italy, and I'm wondering how everyone got so exotic all the sudden. Sure, I'm going to live somewhere else in the fall, but I guarantee it won't be out of the continental US. 

So that is why I decided that today will be my vacation.  Christopher is out of town, so I will shop as long as I want with birthday gift-cards, take myself out to dinner, bake, and maybe even watch Three Men and a Little Lady.  Kind of a pathetic vacation, but it will have to do.  Bon Voyage!  

My family is back in town for the week which has made me incredibly happy.  Suddenly our house isn't so quiet.  We have Dad doing any chore he can get his hands on, Mom making great food, and Taylor begging people to throw him catches. Callie worked forever on an art project yesterday themed off my favorite things--trees, flowers, and books. She is such a funny kid!

More Good Tunes

I downloaded the Dan In Real Life soundtrack on my shiny new green iPod (see post below), and am absolutely loving it. I liked the music in the movie okay, but it wasn't until I heard it wafting over the speakers at Pizzeria Seven Twelve, while eating fresh mozzarella, real sun-dried tomatoes, and the best dressing I've ever had over crisp arugula, that I decided to give it a try. Truthfully, that salad put me in such a good mood, they could have been playing a Miley Cyrus/Kenny G duet and I would have bought it. But I promise, this soundtrack featuring Sondra Lerche is better than that. Songs like "Hell No" and "To Be Surprised" have been playing constantly as I've commuted to school and back, made dinner, and even cleaned the laundry room. Whether you liked the movie or not--this is a good one.

Many Happy Returns!

Happy Birthday to me! Some highlights-

1-  Christopher woke up early on January 27 and told me he was going to shovel the driveway.  After all, he still had to work, wife's b-day and all.  I believed him in my sleepy state, and woke up to a tray of sweet rolls, fruit, hot chocolate, 

and a sausage biscuit from my favorite bakery.  And yes, I do rate bakeries.  Breakfast in bed! The start of a wonderful birthday tradition.  

2-As if breakfast with my down comforter wasn't enough, Christopher brought himself to do my Latin homework the night before, freeing me to celebrate my birthday however I wanted.  Also, my Latin has never been done so thoroughly and correctly.  Sad, but true.

3-Tickets to Throughly Modern Millie at BYU!  The seats were great, voices fantastic, and costumes sparkly.  I loved every minute. 

4-Getting tired? I was too.  But when we got home, before falling asleep in my crumb-covered sheets, Christopher surprised me with a gorgeous apple green 8 GB iPod and converter for my car!  

5- I'm bragging. But the iPod is a real beauty.  And it hasn't left my side since January 27.     

6-My sisters and husband threw me an AMAZING party on Saturday. It was a murder mystery set in the 20's, complete with dozens of bottles of sparkling cider, (it was prohibition, after all), blackjack and craps, and a lovely dinner. They spent all day making it a fun night for everyone, who in turn, did a great job with costumes, and that tricky New York accent.  I've never felt so loved.   Thanks guys!

7-Finally, on Sunday afternoon, my sisters made another great dinner and we opened presents.  My family and friends were more than generous this year, and I have so much to be grateful for.  I'm happy I was born, and even more happy that other people seem to be happy about it too. 

PS. As soon as I have them, I'll post some awesome birthday pictures from the big murder mystery event.