New York!

We had a great time in New York! I can't believe how much we packed into two days! The subway turned out to be very efficient and made it possible for us to cover so much ground. We woke up at 2:50 a.m. Thanksgiving morning and were at the subway station by 3:30. This is the view we saw as we got off the subway at Herald Square! This is what the show looks like at 4:20 a.m. if anyone was wondering. The crowds weren't bad at all and there were tons of open spots along the barricades to get a spot. However, the public isn't allowed to view the parade on 34th street at all. So we got the closest possible spot to Herald Square, which was a few blocks north.

Apparently each act gets a chance to practice their performance in Herald Square before the parade starts, so thats what was happening when we arrived.

Even though the parade starts at 9, because we were at the end of the parade route, it didn't begin for us until 10, so we had been waiting 5 1/2 hours outside before the parade even began! So total, we were at our spot for 8 1/2 hours! We were frozen through by the time it was over.

Here are some photos! We were shaking when it started and couldn't decide if it was because we were cold or excited

Tom Turkey!

Kanye West, I booed as he went by cause he's an idiot

Jimmy Falon

Jessica Simpson

And the true star of the show, Santa

After the parade we shopped and it started to rain, so we headed back to the apartment in Brooklyn. We then scouted out an open restaurant and ate Thanksgiving dinner at Applebee's. We went to bed at 8 p.m.

Here's the place we stayed! Thanks again Lydia for helping us find a place!

Friday morning we slept in a little bit, and rode the subway into Manhattan.

We went to Times Square

The Today Show

The Christmas Tree

We saw a matinee show of Mary Poppins!

The Metropolitan Museum!

And we ended our day at Serendipity's for dinner and Frozen Hot Chocolates! What a long day.

We made it to bed around midnight and woke up at five to drop Abby off at the airport and drive the 11 hours back home. It was a wonderful trip and I still can't believe that it all happened in just 3 days!

The Big Apple

So here's the plan....
Taurean and I are heading to New York to see the MACY'S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE!
And even more exciting, my sister, Abby is coming with us too! I'm so excited! Through some wonderful generosity, we have a free place to stay and will be in the city for 3 nights! Wahoo! We're going to sing Christmas songs and watch holiday movies the whole 12 hours in the car. God Bless us...Every one.
My plan is to look like this while at the parade... but it's supposed to be raining, and we'll be standing on the side of the road at 4 a.m... so we'll see how my plan works out

Halloween

No explanation needed

Fall

Well, it feels like fall is finally here! Here are a few photos from the last couple months. I went to Huber farms with some friends to pick apples!

And I thought I'd give a shout out to my little plant that I've had since May! It's died and come back to life several times! Since we don't have kids or pets, I guess I'll talk about my plants. :)

Happy Birthday Amy!

Happy Birthday to a dear friend! So many wonderful memories. I especially love this picture because we're riding in a gondola in Venice! Let's go on another trip!

White Coat Ceremony

A few weeks ago Taurean had his white coat ceremony, where all the dental students get their white coats. Taurean's mom flew out for the occasion and we had a great weekend. Here are some photos. These are all the LDS students in Taurean's dental class, 21 total! He's lucky to have so many LDS friends with him in school.

Back 2 School

This is where I will be spending my Tuesdays and Thursdays until December! I get to work with the school counselor and teach kids how to get along, be polite, get good grades, cope with life and other fun stuff. It's a private elementary school grades Pre K-8th. The kids are all really cute in their little uniforms and they are all really polite. Here are some major highlights from my day

1. School is a sad place. The teachers and adults are so mean to the kids. "Be Quiet!, Get back in line!!! Don't touch anyone!!! Say Please" I even heard one of the teachers rudely say "Be Polite!!" If adults talked to each other like this we'd all be punching each other.

2. The teachers lounge isn't as cool as I always imagined it to be. I distinctly remember the faculty lounge being a mysterious place where children weren't allowed. Today I was sad when I realized it's just a room with tables and a fridge. What a let down.

3. School counseling is the perfect job for me! I'm really excited to work as a counselor some day. The counselor gets to be the nice person in the school. I'll never have to yell, I have fun games in my office to help kids relax and I get to be the friend that the kids can trust.

I'll be sure to keep you posted on what other great things I learn while living in the elementary world.

Utah

Taurean has been using my computer for school, so I'm way behind on blogging. I went home to Utah last month. It was good to see family and friends.

Take a look at these giant water slides! Can you say lucky grandkids?

Nothing like a night out with the friends

Abby and I spent an afternoon with Tia! It was really good to see her

While I was home we were able to get away to Vegas for the weekend! We ate wonderful food, shopped and got to see the Lion King and the Beetles 'Love' Show

Serendipity's frozen hot chocolate! It was delicious!

Summer Fun

We have had a really busy July. Here are just a few highlights from the past eleven days.

The photo we've all been waiting for!

Taurean wearing his scrubs on his first day of Dental School! I thought it was pretty funny that he was brushing his teeth when I asked him to pause for a picture. I think it completes the outfit. He's got his name tag on that says "Taurean Smith- Student Doctor"

So exciting!

I've been doing A LOT of swimming at the pool at our apartment complex. Every now and then friends from the ward will come and escape the heat. We've had lots of fun swimming!

U of L's Dental School hosted a "night at the downs" party for all the first year dental students. There is nothing better than a free night at churchill downs and $20 in food vouchers! We had a great time and I got to meet all of the LDS students in Taurean's dental class. There are a ton of them!

Taurean had his birthday. Since his birthday was on a Sunday (not only a Sunday, but a fast Sunday) Taurean wasn't expecting much for his birthday. Well! I sure showed him wrong. I sent him on an Amazing Race that led him to clues to find his birthday cake and his one present, A flat screen for our bedroom! We had an unforgettable dinner at the Anderson's with some amazing steaks. Thanks again Lance and Tiffany, especially since Tiffany went into labor the next morning and had their baby girl Macie.

Yesterday we went boating with the Stake President. Us and two other couples bid on a 'day on Taylorsville Lake with President Stuki' at a young mens silent auction. We had a blast! President Stuki was so nice to take us out all day. The weather was perfect and we all got some good sun.

Don't worry, in spite of the busy schedule, we managed complete this puzzle I found at a garage sale for 50 cents!!!! Possibly the greatest purchase of my life!

Oh, I almost forgot. On top of all the fun activities, we moved. Because our rent was about to raise $120 per month, we moved to a new two bedroom apartment. Moving was terrible, but I'm really enjoying all the space of our new apartment, even though we can't go to the pool anymore :( Here are a few photos.

The bedroom. Taurean's birthday present is on the dresser. We love it!

The dining area and washer/dryer! After being married almost 2 years, we are finally the proud owners of a washer and dryer!

The living room

And the Kitchen

It's been a great month so far and I expect the fun to continue since I'm going home to Utah for a few weeks on Tuesday! I love summer