Make Way for Ducklings!

I'm never patient enough to sit at the computer long enough to post a lot, so Boston pics might be spread out over a few. But I think I'll start with one of the funnest moments of the trip. It might sound pathetic that I would consider this one of my favorite moments, but it was such a discovery! One day, while Danny was in classes all day, the spouses and guests were taken out on the Freedom Trail. We started at the capital building (very interesting building by the way) and I noticed that in a little gift shop they were selling this book:

Make Way For Ducklings. My mom read that to us a lot when we were little, and it's always been on my list of favorites. I thought it was so odd that they would be selling that in the Massachusettes State Capital building. It's a great book, but I couldn't make the connection. It's not like there were other books there... Just that one. Well, to my great surprise, we left the capital and down the street to a the park where the story took place! I had no idea that the book was based on a real place! All the streets and buildings in the book are real! Danny's aunt said that every summer they do a reinactment of the book, starting at the river and going to the park. Kids dress up as ducks and the policeman walks them across the street! I love it. Of course we took pictures.

Here are the cute statues of the ducklings and the island where the ducks went. The pond has no water... just ice. It was a cold trip. Here I am with my pals Mrs. Mallard and Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Oack, Pack, and Quack.

Danny and I returned to the Freedom Trail a couple of days later and went through the park again. It's easier to see that the water is frozen in this picture. Notice the dog walking behind us.

This last picture was pretty funny because as we were walking towards the statue, there was a group of Japanese girls taking pictures of each other and rotating who took the picture. Danny walked up behind them and asked them in Japanese if he could take the picture for them. They all turned around with a very surprised look on their faces. It was pretty funny. They took this picture and then a group of them got in the picture with us. I wish I'd had one taken on my camera, too! It was fun to meet them, and a fun opportunity for Danny to use his Japanese. We also bought the book. We couldn't resist (well, I couldn't resist). I recommend it!

Our lot in life...

So... we've been back for about a week now. Boston was awesome. I old myself that I'd post pictures as soon as we got home, but as always, life gets in the way. We are currently house sitting for my aunt and uncle while they and their kids spend a week in Hawaii (I'd rather be in their shoes, but considering that we just had a great trip back east, I can't complain). We've decided that house sitting is what we do on my mom's side of the family. We did for a different aunt and uncle a few months ago while they were in Europe, and next month my parents are going to Florida for a week to visit Ben, Andrea and Max, so we'll help Fred and Sarah gaurd the house then, too. And actually, house sitting is quite nice, depending on the situation. There are many benefits...
1-There is no quarter slot for the washing machine and dryer-it's free!
2-One word: dishwasher!
3-Daily access to a piano.
4-Entertainment systems (particularly the wii... more Star Wars Legos!)
5-Since my mission I haven't been a huge dog person (if you wonder why... go see the dogs that are walking down the street in Peru). However, spending time a week at a time with dogs has helped me realize that they aren't so bad. In fact, I think I really like them. We've been having a really fun time with Punchy this week. Petey and Lizzy were both entertaining as well. Lizzie could chase a ball (or snowball) for hours (trust us...it was great entertainment). We like Lizzie and Petey. At the moment we are in no position to get a dog (if we did decide we wanted one), but it's fun to get our fill in a week at a time.
6-Lot's of space to spread out and work on my sewing.
7-Lot's of space in general.
8-Sinks and ovens that work.
9-Desk space to sit and do homework (Danny appreciates that more than I do)
Ok, I could go on, but I'll stop. It makes it seem like a very nice idea to own a house someday.

Hello from Boston!!

I really love San Francisco. For a while it was one of my favorite vacation spots, but I believe that has changed. I love Boston! Such a cool city!  We've only been here a day and a half and have seen so many cool things. Yesterday while Danny was in classes, I joined about 13 other spouses and guests and we did almost all of the Freedom Trail. We started at about 9:00 and went until 3:30 or 4. It was really neat. I never imagined. One of the highlights was when we were taking a tour of the capital building (amazing...) and they were selling the book Make Way for Ducklings. I thought it was so odd that they'd be selling that book in the capital building. Random. But then, to my surprise, our next stop was the Boston Commons... the spot where the book takes place! I had no idea. That was one of my favorite books growing up. There was the little island with the bridge behind it, and the capital building with the round dome roof. All the streets in the book are based off of real streets in Boston. Danny's aunt Connie (who we are staying with) told us that in the summer they do a big reenactment of the story and kids dress up like ducks and the police man escorts them across the street. How funny is that? I was pretty excited. We bought a copy of the book. I couldn't resist.  Other highlights were the cool ooooold cemeteries, Paul Revere's house, the chapels... I could go on, but I think it's time for breakfast (it's been an interesting adjustment to waking up at 5:30 am, which would be 3:30 in Salt Lake...). We have taken lots of pictures so more to come!

We Found the Remote!!!

To start off, our appartment is not very big. If something is lost, it doesn't stay lost for long because there really aren't very many places that something could be lost. However, in November we moved our furniture around to try and make room for our Christmas tree and shortly after realized that we couldn't find our remote to the DVD/VCR player. This was a bummer, because you can't watch the special features without it. :) Sometimes you can't even get to the movie. Not that it was life or death not having it, but sometimes it comes in handy. We looked everywhere. We looked under the couch, in the cussions, behind the book shelf, but with no luck. Well, three months later I was sitting in the chair sewing when I dropped a pin. It went down the side of the cussion. I pulled the cussion out and watched the pin roll down even further. I stuck my hand in there hoping to not get poked (way down) and felt something hard... I figured it was part of the chair... but it was the remote!!!! I swear we looked there a million times! This probably doesn't sound that exciting, but I'm sure you would appreciate it more if you were to lose your remote for three months. We were pretty darn excited! We can finally watch the special features (We are especially excited to see the extra songs on Pete's Dragon!!).

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go...

Ok, the bags aren't packed... but I'm ready to go!!! Danny and I were planning on going to my cabin this weekend until he found out about the J Reuben Clark Law Society Conference in Boston... so plans were changed and we're flying to Boston on Thursday! It'll be a great trip. A little cold, but exciting! The conference is at Harvard. It'll be fun just to see the campus. I'll go to some of the things with Danny, but I'll also get to do some site seeing while he goes to different meetings. The conference ends early afternoon Saturday, and we'll stay until Tuesday, so hopefully Danny will get to meet with some firms and we'll get to have some clam chowder. Oh, and get this... one of the nights at the conference we'll be eating at Ned Divine's, an Irish restaurant. Anyone who loves the movie "Waking Ned Divine" will appreciate that. I really don't know if there is any connection other than they are both Irish. Anyways, it'll be an exciting trip! Pictures to be posted when we get back!! And if you want something to do this weekend, I recommend the movie.

Pasamaquady!

The internet connection in our appartment hasn't been working so well lately (add that to the list of things that we need to let maintenance know about...) so I'm at school checking my email and what not. I realized that it's been a while since I've posted anything. So even though there aren't pictures, here are some highlights of the last little bit:
1-New movies! Jolley's Corner's Top Hat Video is no more. They are selling all their movies that they used to rent. Now they are going to sell more clothes! Clothes! At Jolley's! Interesting. I mean really...I can't tell you how many memories I have of that place. Yes, it's still there, but not the videos. We'd go walk to Jolley's all the time when I was little for a movie and some candy. I remember one time when my parents went to rent a movie and we had so many late fees that instead of renting the movie he picked out, they canceled our account. They ended up opening it back up because of the convenience of having a movie store two blocks away, but it just goes to show that we rented a lot of movies, and paid a lot of late fees. You know, that could be one of the reasons that they are closing-we dont' rent as many movies as we used to, and that means no late fees. We probably kept them in business, paying more in late fees than we ever did in rental fees. Okay, that's an exageration. But anyways, they have been selling their movies, so I went to get some. Last night we watched Pete's Dragon. That is such a great show! I love Elliot. I really do. Then two nights ago we watched Thoroughly Modern Millie. Another great one. I don't think Danny was as impressed with it as I was though. I do admit, it's been a while since I've watched it, and I realized that it is pretty dumb and has some interesting parts, but... what great music! And awesome Chinese guys. (SIDE NOTE: One of the tech guys here in the computer lab walked by and saw the picture of Pete's Dragon, and said "what was that?" as I scrolled past it. I thought I was going to get in trouble or something, but I showed him and he goes "PETES DRAGON! I love that show!" And continued to tell me that I have got to watch the director's cuts. There are like two more songs and 20 more minutes of video!!! We have got to find the remote control... as he walked away he said "Pasamaquady!!") Anyway, we'll miss Top Hat Video.
2-Basketball! Danny and I both signed up for our ward teams, and then Danny signed up for the law school intrumurals team. Woo hoo! It's been way too long since I've played. But it'll be another good way to exercise. I think I'm finally more confident that I won't re-mess up my back by playing. We'll see. I'm excited though!

3-Projects! I have decided that if I could stay home all day and sew, I probably would. Not that I'm all that good, but I love it. It's fun to have a project to work on. I lucked out... my Mom is amazing and always has good ideas for projects. That and she lets me use all her stuff! I apologize to Danny because some how little strings and fluffies end up everywhere in our appartment.

4-We watched the superbowl and a Superbowl Party at Danny's parents house. It was the first time in my life that I have ever watched the superbowl. I guess I've never really followed football outside of the U of U. It was fun though! We got to play with niece and nephews, hang with brothers, sisters, and parents, and eat all kinds of yummy snacks! Isn't that what watching the Superbowl is all about? That and the commercials.

Well, lot's more has happened lately, but that will have to do for now. School and work definitely take up a huge piece of our time, but luckily not so much that we can't watch fun movies and play a little bball!