Road Trip

So, it's been weeks since I've been on the blog. I decided to come back and post right now so that it doesn't become never. Because, in reality, there are so many bits and pieces of this new beginning that I'd like to write down (least of which is Princeton itself--but that also has to be explored and digested by bits and pieces).

But before I forget/before it becomes too long, I want to put down some highlights from the road trip my mom and I took to get out here. I decided that I wanted to drive from Utah to New Jersey, and my mom was kind enough to come along. (She really is a saint.)

[Princeton, here we come.]

[I think this was Wyoming? But it could very well be eastern Colorado or Kansas, too.]

[Definitely Kansas]

[The Sunflower State]

[And here is the part where I bombard you with 10 million pictures of a beautiful sunflower field.]

[They are just so beautiful.]

[And it was just a beautiful summer evening.]

[My momma who is actually the best.]

[Hello there, bright one.]

[Oh haiiiiii]

[By the way, they are not facing the sun.]

[Sunrise in Indiana]

[10 points to Gryffindor if you can guess what this truck was transporting]

[If you guessed chickens, you would be right. Chickens. Chickens everywhere!]

[Heading to NJ!]

[We made it to Princeton!]

[2200 miles later.]

[Sam was a champ and came up from D.C. to help me move in, too.]

[Turns out there's a pelican sundial in Princeton, too.] 

2200 miles, 4 days, and a lot of 80s music, which any true road trip needs. (And lots and lots of sunflowers.) 

Cross-country college tour highlights

Oh haiiiii. I disappeared from my blog for awhile. Happens. Especially when real life gets in the way of this online diary. But whatevs. But when I get back on after a hiatus, it means that there is a lot to catch up on and that there will probably be a deluge of blog posts. #sorrynotsorry

Last month, I traveled to a lot of different schools to make a decision about grad school (and, as part of that blog post deluge, I do plan to write a "real talk" post about making the decision--I think we assume that decisions like where to go to grad school are obvious, but that's not always the case. Anyway. I will get on that soapbox a different day. Most likely.).

It was fun (but exhausting) to go around the country and visit different schools. The best part was seeing people across the country whom I love.

[Spring in Kansas. This whirlwind tour meant a whirlwind of different climates/weather--it was spring-like in Kansas and Missouri, winter in Boston, super rainy in Princeton, and then spring-like in D.C.]

[First day of spring, first sign of spring at Mizzou.]

[Jesse Hall]

[And again. With the columns which have been compared to the Death Star by KU fans.]

[Boston Public Library.]

[Stained glass at Boston University. 

[The Esplinade.]

[Best part of BU? Having Greer take me around and talking with her. This woman, though.]

[Nassau Hall, Princeton]

[Finally a sunny day after three days of pouring rain]

[I love it when stained glass shines like this on stone walls]

[My cousins have some pretty cute kids. And it's nice having family around the country.]

[Last but not least, Washington, D.C. And I'll post more pictures from this trip on a separate post because there were so many. Read: cherry blossoms.]

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is just one reason I love my program here:

Or see this link for full screen: http://www.rai.ox.ac.uk/node/1214

The RAI is the coolest.

Go Royals.

Belated Christmas Post

I've been meaning to post this all week, ever since I got back from Kansas. Better late than never, right?

One of the best things about Christmas in Kansas is our annual family Nativity. The children/grandchildren dramatize the birth of Jesus while the narrator narrates from the scriptures. We sing Christmas carols, dress-up with odd shawls, skirts, and shirts, and take a break from the business of the Christmas season. It helps set the mood for what Christmas is all about:



Besides that, it's just really fun. Some of my fondest (and funniest) Christmas memories come from acting out the Nativity.

Like the Christmas of '94. I was Mary. My cousin didn't get to be Mary. There were tears. But I was happy.

Look how cute I am. All wrapped up in my blue blanket. Aww.

And . . . speaking of Mary and of blue blankets, look at how good I am at sharing:

See that? My cousin is using my blue blanket to be Mary for this year's Nativity. Proof that the blue blanket was meant to be used for family Nativities. (And yes, I still have my blue baby blankie. And I am not ashamed.)

This year there weren't enough kids to fill all of the roles, and we didn't have any shepherds. So my sister and I became shepherdesses. I think it's appropriate. And I like to think that there were some shepherdesses there that first Christmas night. 

We are so cute. 

 Yes, that's Clifford. He was supposed to be my sheepdog. Or a red sheep. Take your pick. 

Also, please note that our Baby Jesus escaped the manger. She's a little more mobile than a newborn. 

   

But super, super, super cute. 

I hope you all had a marvelous Christmas! 

Kansas Trip

Things I learned on my trip to Kansas:

1) I have super-cool family and friends who can bust a move. And create dance routines to Glee's "Singin' in the Rain/Umbrella". And look awesome with high ponytails.

These pictures just shout: "We are cool!" 

2) Barnyard Rummy is merciless.

3) Adam-ondi-Ahman is beautiful. Especially in the morning, and especially when you get to read your scriptures, looking out at the valley. There's such a special feeling there.

 Can't you just imagine thousands upon thousands of folding chairs filling the valley? Yeah, me too. 

4) There is a special rock down the Tower Hill trail. It's called Preacher's Rock. And Joseph Smith gave sermons standing on top of it! 

On Preacher's Rock

5) The Kansas City Missouri Temple is coming along! And it's going to be beautiful. 

 The temple grounds 

Yay! My family is soooo excited for this temple. The people in the Kansas City area have waited for their own temple for a long, long time. Hehe, the Kansas City temple was announced the same day as the Rome, Italy temple. And even though a temple in Rome is incredible, my family was much, much more excited for the Kansas City temple . . . we cried and shouted for joy when it was announced. Kansas is where we've grown up, in one way or another. Our hearts are connected to this temple. 

6) I can fit into my Grandma's wedding dress from the 1960s! And it's such a beautiful, classic dress. 

 The lighting's not the best, but it's still a beautiful dress! 

 Now with the veil. 

7) I still love Kansas and my Grandma and Grandpa's house. It's one of my favorite places, and always will be. There's just so much love there, it's tangible. 

Oh! Big shout out to my best friend, Sharisa, who traveled with us. And put up with us. We're glad you came along! :)