Spring Break at the OBX

For Spring Break we had the chance to go down to North Carolina and spend some time at my cousins condo. This semester has been such a busy one for Paul and so the chance to get away as a family was just what we needed. I was hoping for warm weather so that I could take Lady A into the water and so we could go walk around the fun little towns.

The drive down there took forever and when you add a toddler it takes even longer. She only slept for a total of two hours in the car so we had to stop a number of times to get out and stretch. After 14 hours we finally made it. The sun was shinning and the temperature was perfect, but it would soon be bed time so we ordered pizza then put Abigail to bed.

My cousin and her husband just bought the condo and have done a lot to renovate it. Walking in the front door was like walking into home. Immediately it felt like home, so cozy and calm, just like a beach condo should be. There was a balcony that over looked the courtyard and ocean, this was Abigail's FAVORITE spot. Trying to get her to come in was like pulling teeth. Sunday was a bit chilly so we stayed in watching movies and enjoying having nothing to do. Abigail insisted on the balcony door remaining open so she could go in and out, her little hands were so chilly by she insisted on staying out to be in the wind.

Monday we went to the Wright Brothers Museum and National Park. It was fairly simple but enough to for us. We walked to the top of the monument and Abigail loved the wind that greeted us up there. We, of course, got our traditional book and playing cards that we normally get when we go on vacation. This time was also got one for Abigail so that she can start building her collection from places she has visited.

The sun came out for a bit but it was nap time, that is the way it seems to go. After nap time it was perfect to go out to the beach. Overcast and too cold to get in the water, we all walked along the beach looking for fun shells. At first Abigail wasn't sure about walking on the sand until she noticed us picking up shells and putting a couple in my pocket. It took her no time at all to get into that, she even picked up crab bits and pieces, and tried to help me find all the good ones worth putting in my pocket. There were some seagulls that were out too and Abigail kept trying to catch them. All in All, I think she really enjoyed her first visit to the beach.

As it got close to the time we needed to go in I could see the fog closing in on us. While we got dinner ready Abigail was out on the balcony {not a surprise} and the fog got thicker. In the evening the fog was so thick we couldn't see any other condos except those around the same courtyard as us. The lighting effect was so neat as exterior building lights would beam through the diagonal slats underneath the buildings.

You might be wondering what has captivated her so. Well it was the last two hours of the drive and we were NOT going to stop. So I took Pauls' iPhone {because I forgot the portable DVD player ~ hello McFly} plugged it into the power and the AUX for the stereo, Then I put hair elastics around either end and strung a cord through them and attached it to the head rest of Pauls' seat. Abigail watched 'Dispicable Me' for the last bit of the drive and we were able to make it in peace and quiet.

Don't mind the bed head they both have going on.

 

Seagulls!!!

You can see the shock on his face as the freezing water hits him.

On the way home we were able to stop my to see my cousin and her husband. I love having family out here {still a bit of a drive} that we can go and visit, spend holidays with and enjoy their company. They were right along the way home and we last saw them for Thanksgiving this was the perfect chance to stop by and thank them for the weekend at the condo. It was also a great way to break up the drive home for Abigial and to miss all of the rush hour traffic we would hit.

Uinta Basin in January

This past Sunday I was able to go with my parents out to visit my grandparents in Vernal. I always love going out to see them and never leave hungry. It was just a short trip but since they live so far away I try to go out every chance I get.

On the ride home I thought the scenery was absolutely beautiful, the Uinta Basin is gorgeous. I loved the look of the red rock with the white snow on it and the blue sky. I took the picture on my phone through the window {it was too cold to roll it down}. I hope the picture does it justice.

Change...

It's hard to believe it is all coming to an end. We have been married four years and four months and the only life we have known together has been up at school. Paul is graduating IN TWO WEEKS and then we'll be moving. The past four years seem like they have gone by so fast, yet not fast enough at the same time. Paul is really going to miss living here, he loves it, I think it's ok, but I am a city girl. Since I have graduated I have come to enjoy it more but am still ready for a change.

Who knows what the next chapter will hold? We are both looking for jobs in a wonderfully terrible economy and it seems that because I am not bilingual, I am of no use up here, so hopefully I will have better luck when we move. Paul has had the opportunity to meet some great people up here as well as in SL who are great contacts for work too. As a matter of fact, a teacher at a high school up here is having Paul come in as a guest teacher for the tech students in her theatre program. He could not be more excited, seeing as that is the whole reason he wants to do grad school, so he can teach.

He will also be applying to grad schools but they don't make their decisions until Feb-Mar so we have some more waiting to do. I'm hoping it takes us back east. We had a blast on our trip to Boston last March and would love a chance to live a chance to see the other side of the country.

DownTown Boston

Us and the Ocean. Paul loved the Down Town Street Market. He said it reminded him of Brazil.

Paul Revere house. Church.

Bunker Hill monument. USS Constitution.

How would you like a cemetery to look over in the mornings. Boston City Hall.

Salem! A monument to those who died in the Salem Witch Hunt.

More of Salem.

Boston Temple. We made the last session on our way to UMASS.

Christian Science Center. That was a long day of sitting at the airport.

Right now I have put the job search on a mini hold, I'm still looking but have to take time to pack as well. Our living room is a mess. I had the bright idea of pulling everything out of the closet so I could see what we had, what we could get rid of and hope that having it all out would help motivate me to get cracking. Nope, hasn't worked yet, and I am dreading having to deal with the spare {catch-all} room. The good thing about moving is that you get to de-junk all that stuff you have been holding onto for really no reason. I just need to get in the right mood then watch out. I'll just open the door and start throwing it all out.