update...

IT's not often I update without photos, but I wanted to update, then I can add photo's later.  right?

My parents just left after a lovely visit.  It had been over a year since we have seen them and it was a much needed visit.  Full of fun, laughter, hugs, kisses, cuddles, junk food, cute movies, and being spoiled rotten by my parents.  LOve you guys!  Come back soon.

The twins had an award ceremony (I totally missed it, because they forgot to tell me about it) and they both walked away with a handful of awards.  Caleigh even found out a piece of art she did in 3rd grade was published in a article that her art teacher wrote and submitted to a art and activity magazine!  How cool is that!  Guess Mike is not the only one who gets published around here.

New York...these lights will inspire you...

Mike and I had a great time on our quick trip to NY.  A HUGE Thank you to my friend Mary for willingly offering to watch my kids so Mike and I could go together. Seriously what would I do without you?

So we left Wed. afternoon and got back late Thursday night, so it really was a quick trip but we got to add some "first."  We drove down thru Mass, then through Connecticut.  Just driving thru, you could tell Conn. is a charming place to live.  

As we arrived in LI it was night and we got to see the lights of NYC.  AWESOME.!  

Since Mikes interview wasn't until the afternoon we took the opportunity to drive to fire island a island right off of LI.  Beautiful beaches, and the super gorgeous FI lighthouse.  

   

 Something unique about FI is that there are a lot of wildlife on the island.  Like Deer!  How did those deer get there?  Bridge?  Swim?  It's a mystery to me.

The following pictures are my car tour of NYC!!!! After Mike's interview at Farmingdale State College I talked him into driving into the city, but the agreement was we could not park and walk around, since we wanted to get back to the kiddos and it was getting late.  

This guy welcomed us as we entered the city...Hello NYC!

EMPIRE STATE BUILDING! (or not...who knows from this angle)

Driving through Central Park...

Aaahhh, we're Taxi-trapped.  Seriously They are everywhere.

Leaving the city, Mike was only slightly frazzled, and I was awestruck by all the beautiful buildings, people, and the entire experience.   I can't wait go back another time.  And I dare anyone to drive through the city and NOT sing every NY song you know.  IT's impossible. 

a quick trip...

I have put off posting about our life right now.  Mostly because there are so many unknowns, but this is our family journal and I should record some of these events.  

Mike is currently finishing up his dissertation and has plans to graduate this spring (yikes, did I just jinx it)  he is really aiming high and there is still the possibility that the stars won't align and he will have to graduate next fall.  

But since he is close, he has put out job applications all over the country at various colleges and universities.  So far,  not very many have gotten back to him (stupid economy).   He has had a few phone interviews that panned out to be nothing, and he made it to the top 6 at one university we really wanted.  But what good is being in the top 6 if the first choice takes the job? So that brings us to this point...

He has a job interview in Long Island tomorrow!  (again...am I jinxing it?  I won't tell him I posted this till after).  I don't want to share too much about how were feeling about this interview.  But I do want to share this.  Throughout this whole process I have been on a small emotional rollercoaster.  I'm not sure I want to move, but I do.  I hate to leave our life here, but I know we'll make a new life somewhere else.  etc. etc. etc.

I feel overwhelmingly confident that the Lord has a plan for us and if we are patient (not one of my characteristics) and do all we can do, we will be led to a job/life that will fit our family and help us grow in the gospel. 

 And if nothing works out and we end up staying in NH for another year, at least we know we love it here, we have wonderful friends and a great ward.  

Flat Stanley comes to New Hampshire

My cousin, Tress, asked me to participate in her daughters classes flat Stanley project.  Well, poor FS got lost in the mail (I'm sure he was having wild adventures) luckily we had a FS in the back of one of our books. So we cut him out and the girls and I took him shopping with us on Saturday.  

Here's FS going thru the tolls

Here's FS noticing all the TREES!

 Our fav. shopping stop is just over the border into Maine at the outlets, so we snapped his photo by the Maine sign.

Before we shopped we drove up the coast to our fav. lighthouse.

How cute are these lobstah traps?  Set up in front of Fox's a yummy spot for a fresh lobstah dinner.

This is my favorite photo, FS just had to dip his feet in the Atlantic ocean!

"Hello Ocean"

We had to stop at Kittery Trading Post for a scouting thing for Miles and FS wanted his photo by the moose that greets you at the door.  I think we showed him a great time in Maine, maybe he'll come back again and we'll show him more of NH and some of Mass.