Oh Steph!: 2010

We hope you have a Merry Christmas

& Happy New Year!

Much Love: Steph & Eric

Sisters, Sisters....

I so can't wait to watch White Christmas with Chira this Friday!! It is the only thing getting me through this last week of teaching.

While I don't particularly like Christmas (the family drama and all) I do love giving Christmas gifts. However, I get so excited about what I buy for my family that I usually end up telling them what I bought them before Christmas even arrives. I don't think LB has ever once been surprised on Christmas (or his birthday) by my gifts since I usually blurt out what I bought him weeks before.

This year LB gets nothing because he bought a bike. My brothers and I have worked out a system where we call each other and tell one another what to buy so they already know their gifts. But my mom has no idea what I bought her, and it is really cool, and I totally love it - and it is killing me to not tell her. Gee, I really hope she likes it as much as I do now. Let just hope I can keep my mouth shut for another 12 days!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

What I would not give to be in Swan Lake Idaho with my family eating it up and kicking butt at Pinochle, but luckily enough we get to spend Thanksgiving with my dear dear friend of 15 years, Chira! We have both been cooking for the last two days and I am sure that we have more food then we are going to know what to do with, but oh well. Then tomorrow we are off with friends to Philadelphia and Lancaster County for a little get-a-way.

Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and know that we love you!

P.S. The picture above is what will great you if you drive though Swan Lake, Idaho during the month of November. My aunt and uncle are the creative geniuses behind the awesome turkey above.

NYC

About a month ago LB had a job interview in New York City and since the law firm that he was interviewing with was footing the bill I decided I needed to tag along. Since this was LB's first time to NYC I decided that he needed to see all of the best tourist traps. So the first night we ate at the famed Carnegie Deli, saw the Broadway show Wicked and made a stop at Serendipity 8 for my absolute favorite, Frozen Hot Chocolate.

The next day we managed to hang out in Central Park, walk to the middle of the Brooklyn Bridge, visit Battery Park to stare at the Statue of Liberty, and take the many elevators to the top of the Empire Sate Building. It was a fabulous weekend even though LB did not end up getting the job (which I was secretly happy about)!

Post Script: The night before I left to meet LB in NYC (he went the day before me) I pulled our NEW point and shoot camera out and realized I had shattered the LCD screen, so the camera worked but you could not tell what you were taking a picture of. Since there was no time to replace it we just made do - so that is why these pictures suck.

The best Matzo Ball Soup

In Times Square waiting for the show to start

Me and Alice - Central Park

Chess Match in the Park - There were hundreds on elementary school children playing

Me and the NYC Skyline

Brooklyn Bridge - self picture

LB at the top of the Empire State Building - he insisted on going to the top because of his obsession with The Fountainhead (which is a great book).

Did you hear the news?

I am teaching ballet, a lot of ballet, to a lot of children and teenagers and there is even some Nutcracker rehearsing. It is a bit surreal and I have moments when I stop and think "wait how did I get here, and why am I wearing a leotard"! But while going back to ballet was not part of the plan I am happy, really happy and that is so nice to say after so many deep dark months. To hell with the plan anyway!

The End of Summer

It is no secret that it has been one hot summer and while I am usually really excited for Autumn, Halloween &Thanksgiving I am quite sad that we don't have another month of hot lazy days. On that note here are a few pictures of our last two adventures.

We took a day trip with our good friends the Cardon's to The Luray Caverns. It was by far the coolest cave I have ever been in (since I have been in so many - try 2 others). The cavern even has a organ that uses the rock formations as pipes!

We also attended the Ward Camp-out at Burke Lake. However, because we have to work we got there after dark so there are no photos. Since we were going car camping LB did not want to sleep in our tiny backpacking tent which only has enough room for 1.5 people so we went to WalMart and bought a 6 person tent and then set in up in our living room. Camping was fun but it really made me miss backpacking!

i'm looking forward...

-to reading Mockingjay (no one spoil it for me it is my reward for taking the GRE)
-to going camping
-to cooler weather
-to teaching more ballet and not selling coffee
-to finding an apartment
-to maybe getting a kitty
-to exercising again
-to maybe getting a bike
-to our trip to NYC
-to Thanksgiving (even though we have to stay in VA)
-to Christmas (well to parts of it)
-to the end of law school

-to having more things to look forward to.

Back at the Ranch

I took a little trip back to the west to hang out with my mom and visit with Bob and Gwen (my grandparents). Here is a little recap of my trip...

Got off the plane and went right to Cafe Rio - oh how I have missed Cafe Rio!

(word on the street is Cafe Rio is coming to VA)

Played Pinochle (aka greatest card game ever) with the fam.

No trip to Swan Lake, Idaho is complete with out a trip to Preston and breakfast at Tattles!

The scones at Tattles are by far the best - we had two!

Stopped in Preston at Kings - which happens to have the best candy aisle - I also bought a hat because I can't resist a good hat especially for $8!

Mom, Grams and I stopped at the gas station for loto cards -

unfortunately we did not win big!

View from Whitney Idaho - Idaho Trivia: Which LDS prophet is from Whitney ID?

I had a great time - I love love love Swan Lake Idaho. It's a good thing I love my husband or I would have just stayed!

The Ryder Vacation

The Ryder family came to DC/Virgina Beach last week for a Family Reunion. Here are a few pictures of our adventures. Sorry there are no pictures from our time touring DC - with temperatures over 100 degrees taking pictures of us sweating did not seem so appealing.

The fam rented a house at Virgina Beach and while there we had Maryland Blue Crabs. It was great mess - while I love crab the goo inside was gross but I did love the claws!

Me and my first whole crab ever!

The great mess!

Marsha and my sweet cousin Molly

Virgina Beach had several funny signs that I couldn't help but take pictures of:

NO Fishing in the Fountain in front of this Hotel!

No Swearing!

Eating at Margie & Ray's

LB & I

Cousins - Maggie & Molly

On the way home I made LB stop at Sonic in Fredericksburg (since there is no Sonic near DC) so I could get my favorite Chocolate Cream Pie Shake only to find out that they no longer make them.

Overall we had a great time at the beach , I learned to boogie-board - that is after I crashed, bleed, and flashed the beach, we caught up with family and met some cousins we did not know we had, and learned dirty family secrets.

It was great fun!

What we have been up to...

It has been on busy summer with LB working as well as interning and me teaching ballet. However, here are a few pictures of what we have been up to.

One Friday we headed down to the National Museum of Art to the Chester Dale exhibit. We are trying to be more Artsy Fartsy, well not really but rather more culturally enriched. We are also trying to master the self photo - apparently we are still learning.

I learned that the only way to survive a DC Summer with Mormon underwear is to invest in some great skirts and t-shirts. Above is my summer uniform - I now own in it just about every color combination.

On the 4th we had a BBQ with friends from Church and watched the National Fireworks from our friend's balcony. My camera does not do the fireworks justice.

On July 5th we braved the heat and checked out the National FolkLife Festival. This year there was food demos, performances, and booths from Mexico, South America, and Thailand. The food was amazing and if I had not been so hungry I would have pulled out the camera to take a picture.

Dancers from Mexico do the "hip shoulder wiggle" dance (at least that is how they described it)

Check out my garden Mr. Jefferson

I live a sad pathetic existance where I work at a coffee shop and I clean house - poorly I might add. So I developed two recent obsessions- sewing, and gardening - and I am really proud of my garden! Recently my garden produced some great tomatoes and two strawberries. Lets just say this is my first step to having a garden like Thomas Jefferson's!

the berries

explanation of outfit: post swimming

Celebrating the Marriage

On our Anniversary we took a little day trip to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. Thomas Jefferson is one of LB's favorite historical figures and after our trip, Mr. Jefferson is definitely on my list of people from history that I would love to meet.

LB trying out a real feather Quill

On the Garden - I am so in love with Mr. Jefferson's Garden! It was amazing - with over 250 different veggies. I have big plans for my future garden now.