Semi-Annual Post?!

So it's been another long hiatus. Life is just too busy to write about I guess. We are doing well but much has changed in the past 6 months. It's a long post so get comfy and grab a snack. You'll want to settle in!

 I decided it was time to get back into the work force and started working at the YMCA in March. I thought I could do school and work and bake but it quickly became too much so I quit the cafe. I was sad to close that chapter of my life but I was glad I had the experience and opportunity to do it. Starting your own business is quite the undertaking. At the Y I worked on the fitness floor for about a month before I found out they were opening a new climbing tower I was interesting on working on that since I have some experience climbing. Turns out I had more experience than anyone else there because now I'm the Coordinator for it! We just had our launch and opened it to the public on Saturday. 

This is what it looks like. It's 50 feet tall and the climbing is different than the climbing I'm use to with Emil but it's been exciting and I think it'll be fun. I also decided to enroll in BYU-I online and this fall I began taking classes to get a degree in Public Health. 

Times Square

Emil and I celebrated our 25th anniversary this year and decided to do it with a trip to NYC and Philadelphia. We went in May even though our anniversary is in July. 

Empire State Building

Empire State Building

One World Trade Center 

We ended up getting the New York Pass. You pay for the pass then you have like 100 attractions you can go to and just use the pass instead of paying at each place. I really liked this approach. I knew exactly how much it was costing and they gave you a guide book with short descriptions of each place along with a map and an app so you could just use your phone if you didn't want to hassle with paper.  We each chose our top 5 places we wanted to visit and then mapped where we wanted to go.

Double Decker Bus Tour

 We went to some places we probably wouldn't have bothered with otherwise and had some fun goofing off. 

Madam Trousseau's 

Madam Trousseau's 

We did a Central Park bike tour. That was fun. The weather was pretty cool for that time of year so we were in jackets the entire time. I'm glad I brought a scarf as I'm always cold anyway and it was a life saver for me. 

Central Park

The harbor cruise was an unexpected treat. We got to see each of the 5 boroughs of New York from the water and of course lovely Lady Liberty. She was in the top 3 for me. 

Harbor Cruise

Harbor Cruise

Lady Liberty

The Cathedral of St. John the Divine was one of my favorite places I enjoyed in New York. I loved all the architecture of the city in general but this Cathedral just amazed me and it wasn't even something we were planning on seeing. Emil had seen it in our guide book and suggested we go so we went after Central Park.  

Cathedral of St. John the Divine

This is a video of the clouds rolling by looking up. It almost made me feel like she was moving. 

 We also did a tour of Ellis Island which was so cool and were able to do a tour of the base of the Statue of Liberty. It was incredible to hear the story of how she was made and funded. I love learning about our history

We only spent 2 1/2 days in New York but we packed a lot into our time there. After NY we drove to Philadelphia and were able to go to the temple there. Just like all of our temples it didn't disappoint. It was so beautiful!

 

We were able to see the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. I sent my Mom a letter from Benjamin Franklin's post office. We also saw where his privy was, because that's important to mark?!

 

Philadelphia held another unexpected surprise. The week we were there they had a Chinese Lantern Festival going on in Franklin Park. The entire park was filled with colorful Chinese Lanterns. I would have loved to be there at night but it was also a beer garden so I think day time viewing was probably the best option. 

 At the end of the week we drove back home to quiet Currituck. I felt like the country mouse that had gone to visit the city. I love seeing everything we did and it was a truly amazing week but I was so happy to be home in the quiet and nature of our sweet home. City living isn't for me but if sure was fun visiting! This post is so long I'm going to break it up into two. Stay tuned....