Visiting Milwaukee

Back in October, Julie and I took a little roadtrip over to Milwaukee to visit Meghan!
I loved seeing her apartment (with furniture in it) and just taking the time to explore the city.
Megs and I both get lonely out here at school so its nice to know that we are only a (six hour) roadtrip away from each other.

Just chillin in Megs apartment. We watched Salmon Fishing in the Yemen one night. I only remember this because I loved that movie so much. 

We went to some biodomes! Who knew those were actually real. I felt like I was in a Polly Shore movie!

And of course visited Marquette University. Had to get the tour!

I even got to see my first great lake!

 And we had dinner at the restaurant that is in Miller Field. 

 Jules and I even went on a little hike at a rest stop on our way home. 

It was just the best to explore a new city with some wonderful people. It was also before school got too crazy so that is always a bonus. 

Holiday Travels

I had the pleasure of spending both Thanksgiving and Christmas in Detroit with Meghan's incredible family. Jules came for Thanksgiving as well. I had so much fun!
Christmas was full of tons of laying in front of the fire and reading several books. I loved being in such a beautiful home with a fantastic family.

Also, when I was in Detroit with Meghan for Christmas we took a little trip down to Jules' hometown of Vermilion, OH!

While in Vermilion, Drew was home in Ohio for the holidays and came up to see me! I am the luckiest girl around!

My brother got married!

On December 1st, 2012 my older brother Ray got married!
He is just the best brother and him and I have had so much fun over the years.
Ray married such a wonderful girl named Teila. I'm sorry that I haven't been around to get to know her better, but the time I have spent with her has been wonderful and its cool to think that I have a new sister.

I made the long journey home to Seattle for the wedding (because those are just not the kind of things that you miss). My semester was not over yet so I was only home for about two days. It was very quick but I was so glad to see my family!

Here are some photos from the lovely day.

Here is the lovely couple. And you've gotta love the look of a winter wedding. 

Sibling photo! This is the first time all five of us have been together in like 5 or 6 years!

 So good to be with Mel again. Even if it was for such a short time. 

Don't my parents look cute. My dad just kept going on and on about how I better document him in a tux because it won't happen again. He just loved how good he looked. 

There's my little brother, Jeremy, in the background. I've never seen him look more like my dad!

Spring cannot come soon enough!

I should be doing homework right now. But I really don't want to.
Since I felt like changing the look of my blog, I figured I better write something new on it.
Well of course lots has happened since I last wrote. I am nearly done with
my first year of my doctorate. It is crazy to think that I only have one more year
of actual classes.

My first semester was really fun. I love my classes and had such a great time getting to know my cohort, school, and the twin cities.

I also had a blast doing some fun things with just the two best friends a girl could ask for,
Julie and Meghan!
I love that Jules lives so close that we have gotten to have many adventures together. It
is also wonderful to have Meghan going through this whole PhD process at the same time. It is also an added bonus that her family is not too far away. They have welcomed me into their home for Thanksgiving and Christmas and I can guarantee that I will be visiting again.

This second semester has not been quite as fun. I dont love my classes nearly as much as last semester. It is also just getting harder and harder to be away from all my family and friends. (I think this never ending winter also has quite a large part in bringing me down.) But spring is in the air and even though the temperature is still in the 30's, I am hopeful that the weather will be improving and I can finally leave my apartment.

To cheer myself up I will do a little review of some fun I have had. Oh the memories.

I sure do love legos and legoland at the Mall of America. Jules and I also made sure to go on a roller coaster there. 

Jules, Rosie and I exploring some gardens. Oh how I miss summer!

The spoon and cherry at some sculpture gardens. This is a well known sculpture in the Twin Cities. 

Jules had a birthday! Her parents came into town and it was wonderful to have dinner and then explore the ice castles with them. 

I'll do more posts about some other adventures that I took. :)