Holiday Happenings

One of my favorite holiday festivities is walking around Temple Square and looking at all the pretty lights. I'm always reminded of the first year when Dave & I were dating...He took me to see the lights and right in front of the tabernacle, Dave kissed me and then yelled, and I mean YELLED, "She kissed me!! SHE KISSED ME!" Everybody around turned to look at us and all I could do was laugh.  

Dave's work Christmas party was held at the Gallavin Center this year.  We met up at the Marriott for hot chocolate, cookies and a Jolly Saint Nick (perhaps a little too much egg nog for the old man, I swear he was drunk). Then we headed out to the ice rink and attempted ice skating! Dave was a natural, of course. Me, not so much.

Holly Jolly Christmas

I was a little late getting our tree up for Christmas this year, but here is proof that it DID happen. 

Dave's family invited us to get a permit and go cut down our own real Christmas tree with them this year. It took us about .5 seconds to decline.  Later that night we headed to Tai Pan and picked up this tree. Pre-lit and fits perfect in the back of my Mazda. 

Dave makes fun of me because he thinks my wrapping looks a little too Martha Stewart... but I know I'm not the only one who does this....right?! 

Christmas Eve was spent with family, great food and lots of laughter. Look at all that food! Mmmmm.

Dave was so excited on Christmas morning. 

My favorite gift I gave to Dave...

You're thinking....what is so cool about car flags of the  Ducks, the Buffalos, the Cougars, the Bears, the Wildcats, the Trojans....noticing a trend yet? Yep, these are ALL pac 12 teams minus the Utes.  Now, anytime the Utes play these teams he can fly the opposing teams flag! Go Cougars! (Yes, I think I'm pretty funny!) 

Favorite gift from Dave...

My red KitchenAid! I've been wanting one of these since we got married. Now I have to learn to bake some things, or that's going to be an expensive kitchen decoration. 

Watching baby Nash on Christmas morning was so fun.  He was so cute and happy. 

It was a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Apple of My Eye

It's been 4 months since my last post. I suck. We've been back in Utah for 2 1/2 months now and I never thought I'd say this, but I kinda miss living in New York.  I don't miss the people, because I think they are kinda cranky and have a stick up their butt,  nor the traffic and the high cost of living; but I miss the scenery, the proximity to the ocean, shopping at Roosevelt Field, broadway shows, the Hamptons, Grandma's Pizza, crab shacks on the side of the road, shopping on fifth ave., the beautiful craftsman style houses, Fire Island and did I mention the shopping?! Sigh.

Chinatown

Holy-freakin-shady-ness! Can this really be the United States? We (Meg & I) took the subway to Canal Street and I felt like I was suddenly in another country.

Talk about sketchy! We're inside a store standing by the check-out and suddenly the wall flips open, we're rushed through the wall/door which leads outside and down into this creepy basement.  A man standing at the bottom of the stairs utters something like "won ton soup" and I have no idea what he means, but then he opened the door behind him and I suddenly felt relieved....AMERICANS! Oh ya,  and purses....Lots and lots of purses!

Guess what I paid for all of this? 2 scarves, a watch and a Coach wallet for a grand total of..... $33.  Bow-chica-wow-wow! Ya!

Montauk Lighthouse

Oldest lighthouse in New York. 

Fourth oldest active lighthouse in the U.S.  

Located on the most eastern point of Long Island. 

And only in New York would they charge $9.00 just to take a tour to see a lighthouse. 

We took the more adventurous and FREE route of walking along the rocky beach behind the lighthouse.  More fun and way better pictures! 

A Day in the City

Dave's parents and sister came to visit so this past week my little 2 bedroom New York apartment has turned into the Madsen Family Inn. It has been so fun to have a full house! On Sunday morning, the boys woke up early and drove to West Point.  The girls + Spencer slept in and took the train into the city. Spencer served his mission in New York so he was our human GPS and it was fantastic!
Walking around Times Square we ran into the famous "Naked Cowboy."  Ummmm..... I have no words.

Spencer & Meg...A.K.A   The oh-so-ewey-gooey-mushy-gushy couple. 

And again in Central Park. 

I loooooove people watching.....especially in NewYork. And this one, well I just couldn't resist posting this. Thank you, tall shirtless butt-crack cowboy man, you made me chuckle.

Next stop: SERENDIPITY

For some reason, we all thought they had really good cupcakes there....but they didn't.  When I asked the hostess about their dessert he looked at me like I was crazy.  So we left. 

And went here instead. Fantastic flavor....but I don't like the texture of the rice. Me picky? Never! 

Final Destination: DASH. 

I am secretly, or rather NOT so secretly obsessed with the Kardashian sisters. I think Khloe and I would be good friends. 

I was desperately hoping to turn the corner and see Khloe or Kim sitting at the counter, but all we saw were these posters. 

The End.   

Banana Bob

Semi-trucks converted into roller coaster rides. Fried twinkies. Oversized stuffed animal prizes. Oh how I   love the local carnival!  Dave was determined to win the basketball toss....and that is just what he did!

Do you think they will let me take him as my "personal item" on my plane ride back to Utah?

13.1

I did it! 13.1 miles in 2 hours and 1 minute. Next time I want to be faster, but for now...I am completely happy with the fact that I FINISHED!

My in-laws came to support me. Janessa and her sister came to watch me cross the finish line as well!

June 9, 2012 --- FULL MARATHON! Who's with me!??!

Big City, Bright Lights

Last week Meg came to visit ME in Long Island.  Ok, not really just me, her fiance Spencer is out here too, so she may have come to visit him also.

We were brave & decided to drive to Manhattan. Two out-of-town girls driving in the big apple....Yikes! Let me just tell you, NYC is a chaotic mess of traffic and pedestrians. I don't know how I managed to not hit another car or person, but luckily we survived and made it to Time Square.

I loved seeing all the jumbo screens & looking at all the billboards of broadways I hope to see one day.
And the SHOPPING. Oh the shopping! 34th Street, Broadway, Fashion Ave, 5th Ave....glorious.
We also walked over to the Rockefeller Plaza.

And I made friends with these nice ladies from Korea.

After non-stop shopping, walking and eating some amazing pizza, we headed back to the car. We walked several blocks in the wrong direction but finally made it to the truck just as the sun was setting. Here we are braving the crazy city night traffic. We survived. But next time I go to the city, I'm making Dave drive!

Unbroken

Read this book.
Best book I've read in a long time.

Inside Cover: "On a May afternoon in 1943, an Army air Forces bomber crashed into the Pacific Ocean and disappeared, leaving only a spray of debris and a slick of oil, gasoline, and blood. Then, on the ocean surface, a face appeared. It was that of a young lieutenant, the plan's bombardier, who was struggling to a life raft and pulling himself aboard. So began on of the most extraordinary odysseys of the Second World War.
     The lieutenant's name was Louis Zamperini.  In boyhood, he'd been a cunning and incorrigible delinquent, breaking into houses, brawling and fleeing his home to ride the rails.  As a teenager, he had channeled his defiance into running, discovering a prodigious talent that had carried him to the Berlin Olympics and within sight of the four minute mile. But when war had come, the athlete had become and airman, embarking on a journey that led to his doomed flight, a tiny raft, and a drift into the unknown..."
  

Central Park

I already posted this a few days ago, but I logged onto blogger today and the post had disappeared. Weird. So I'm posting again.

On Mother's Day Dave & I drove into the City.  We started out at the Metropolitan Museum.  We didn't take the tour, but I'm hoping to do that on another day.

Our first and most crucial stop: Food.  So what better than a hot dog from the street vendor. 

After walking on 5th Ave for a few blocks, we found an entrance into Central Park. 

The Belvedere Castle.

View from the base of the castle overlooking the turtle pond and great lawn. 

We had so much fun wandering through the park. Perfect way to spend our Sunday together.