6 Years

I can honestly say that when we first met, I NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS would have imagined we'd end up on a tiny island in the Caribbean. Thanks for taking me on this adventure :)

Photos by our friend, the glorious, awe-inspiring, illustrious Rebecca Cooper.

Maybe next year

Snow Day

Ada's wardrobe wasn't entirely conducive to playing in the snow, so Corinne had to improvise. I was zipping up my second layer when she said, "Wait, you're getting a little ahead of things. Ada doesn't even have her plastic bags on yet". Quote of the year.

Preview

We took Ada out to play in the snow today. I've been uploading pictures for the past 80 minutes (stupid middle-of-nowhere internet!) and it's late so I'm giving up for the night. Here's a sneak peek:


......yeah. Check back tomorrow sometime for the rest.

From this... to this.

I'm in Idaho! My flight from Statia to Salt Lake took two days and FOUR legs, the first of which landed me in St Maarten overnight.

Jon had booked me a 99 dollar room so I wasn't expecting much. Silly me! I ended up in a huge suite RIGHT on the beach. As in doorstep, sidewalk, sand. The view from my bedroom:

I checked in too late to do much more than a quick dip in the ocean before it was time for dinner.
The view from my seat in the restaurant.

Now brace yourselves for the moment of the year. I was sitting at the table, hands in my lap, reading over the dinner options intently when a sudden gust of wind PLASTERED THE MENU TO MY FACE. I pried it off and made it a point to NOT look around for witnesses. Nothing worse than making eye contact with a stranger after something like that.

The next morning I was driven bright and early to the airport by a taxi driver listening to an interesting rendition of Hark the Herald Angels Sing played entirely on a chorus of kazoos. The only other remarkable event between that and arriving in Utah was when, on my flight from Miami to Dallas, I felt a little wiggly nudge on the back of my right arm.

A SOCKED FOOT.

Someone's FOOT on MY armrest!! I gaped at it for a good five seconds before elbowing it out of the way. These are some sharp elbows, too. I got my message across.

Then, finally, Utah. My mom, sisters, and I spent a night in Salt Lake before heading up to Annie's place in Heber (stopping at the Outlets in Park City on the way, of course). I waved at the sign for Vernal, too, because there are supposedly people in Vernal that read my blog, or so Google Analytics tells me.

Penny!

Christa!

The only hole in Annie's entire driveway! Of course that would be the one place I stepped! Hooray for falling while carrying an armload of luggage to the car!

After a couple of days in Heber we drove up to Idaho sans Annie :( Not everyone can take five-week-long vacations :(

Ada and Corinne watching quarter-sized snowflakes fall at my parent's house:

Looks like it'll be another white Christmas in St Anthony.

kthxbai

PS - Check out this video clip on Corinne's blog. Make sure you're wearing a helmet or something for when your head explodes from cuteness.

Also - Gunner peed on the Christmas tree.

On Dasher, on Dancer

I leave tomorrow for 41 days of beautiful snowy blissfulness in Utah, Idaho, and Alberta. Jon's joining me a couple of weeks later after his finals then we'll be returning to the island together in January for his final semester here. Many of his classmates will be spending that final term in Atlanta instead, so today was goodbye to a few close friends :( Miss you guys already.

My flight from Statia to St Maarten got cancelled leaving me with no option other than to go a day early and turn my trip into two days of traveling. Now I'll be spending tomorrow night in a hotel at my own expense. Winward Airlines, you very nearly ruined Christmas.

I'll be in Salt Lake City for three days before heading up to my parent's place in Idaho. I'm sure I'll blog once I'm there.

kthxbai!

Day of Birth

I was born in the 40th week after Valentine's Day, 1985. When 14-year-old me figured that math out and approached my mom with my findings, she answered, "Yep, that sounds about right". Corinne then had a mild freak-out along the lines of, "EWWwwwWWwww YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO KNOW WHEN YOU WERE CONCEIVED!!!"

Anyway, the point is this: Yesterday was my birthday! I love birthdays and have never been the type to get all bittersweet about them. It feels great to be 25.

Lianna, Pearl, and I met our friend Justine at the beach to start the day out in style. It was the most gorgeous day EVERRR.

The sand is making a comeback!

Ridiculously expensive drinks at Old Gin House

Jon and I had plans to go to dinner but he kept being vague about where or when. Turns out it was because he'd planned a SURPRISE KARAOKE PARTY for me! I got the best husband - sorry everyone else.

So excited they can't even contain themselves.

Sure would have done something different with my hair if I'd known half the school would be there. Clearly I had no idea about the surprise. At least Jon talked me into wearing something sort of nice.

Tandy and me performing "I Can Show You the World". The woman in the chair on lead vocals is the owner of the restaurant. She's a sweet, sweet lady who dearly loves her moment to shine in karaoke. She brings to mind that scene in The Wedding Singer - "You'd better get back in there...they're starting to turn on George". Someone finally wrested the mic from her.

Photo of the night. Note Tandy, holding a mic but singing into Jon's.

Thanks, everyone who made it happen!! And to everyone who showed up (even the guys that just stood along the wall). Best birthday karaoke party ever.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Statia Day!

Yesterday was Statia Day - the biggest event of the year, celebrated annually to commemorate when Statia became the first country to recognize American independence.

Our festivities began at 11, when I woke up. What better way to celebrate Statia Day than by snorkeling?

Snapped a couple of pictures on the way to the beach, of course:

THE clearest, most beautiful day EVER:

The Quill and the Slave Path from the water (the Slave Path is that trail carved into the side of the cliff):

Second scariest moment since we arrived on Statia (after being charged by a bull) -- We saw a MONSTER barracuda. Longer than Jon. It swam up from behind us and passed RIGHT underneath me. Like within three feet from my tender, delicious entrails. Long story short, yes, I totally panicked.

Darcy and Lianna met us at the beach after our snorkel adventure.

Check out the point on those toes!

Statia Day also marks the end of the Golden Rock Regatta, an island-to-island sailing competition. We watched the ships let out their sails and show off a bit. So beautiful.

Then! That night! A street fair like nothing else! Entertainment! Decorations! FOOD vendors! More 13-year-old mothers than you've ever seen in one place in your ENTIRE LIFE!

Drum lines! This was by far the best part of the night. Competing groups began at opposite ends of the street and met in the middle. Awesome.

Live music! These guys called all the children to the front of the crowd, then proceeded to sing sexually explicit songs complete with actions. I, for one, learned some great new moves.

We caught the midnight fireworks show from our kitchen window.

In other news, I leave here for Utah/Idaho TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY. Cannot wait. Jon flies a couple of week after me, then it's off to Canada for Christmas. So excited!