Reflective Ramblings

My thoughts about life lately:

1. Nothing is better than sleeping in a cold room under a warm blanket. Nothing. 
2. Co-workers will never be the same thing as real friends.
3. Pregnancy is much more exhausting than anyone let me believe. But feeling my baby kick is also one of the coolest things in the world. 
4. Having a husband in med school doesn’t mean I’m a “med school widow” and it’s not as bad as everyone led me to think.
5. Studying for the GMAT makes me feel both stupid and incredibly smart at the same time.
6. Clean spaces make me happy, regardless of how big the space is.
7. There is an amazing amount of good in the world, and people truly do want to look out for and love each other.
8. In contrast, there will always be people who will disappoint you.
9. President Monson tells the best stories.
10. Work, while fulfilling, will almost always be frustrating. I suppose that’s why it’s called work.
11. Traveling still makes me the happiest. Nothing makes me feel more alive than adventuring in a new place.
12. Family is the most important thing.
13. Discussing politics will almost never going to lead to a satisfying conclusion.
14. Medicine and healthcare are crazy expensive.
15. Homemade berry pie is the perfect taste of summer.
16. Being an adult is rough sometimes.
17. Additional responsibility rarely comes at a moment when you’re prepared. 
18. Some people have naturally beautiful faces. Not because they’re aesthetically pleasing, but because they radiate internal happiness.
19. Passion is contagious.
20. I could easily live in Stars Hollow.

Journeys through the Last Frontier

As some of you may be aware, Phil and I spent six weeks in Alaska for his internal medicine rotation. It was right after we found out I was pregnant, so I wasn't super adventurous. However, between morning sickness and massive amounts of Tums, we managed to sneak in some pretty amazing memories.

This place really is special, and not just because it never seemed to get dark when we were there.

Goose Lake... A Two Minute Walk from Our Condo

Wandering Like He Owns the Place

He Still Skips Rocks Like a Boy Scout

Oh Anchorage!

Philly the Squirrel Man

Moose Watch at the Wild Animal Park

This Was Right Before He Attacked His Brother.

Anchorage Temple Trip

Yurt Love in Talkeetna!

If You're Ever in Talkeetna, Eat Pancakes Here Please. 

Treading through the Icy Waterfalls

Gorgeous!

The Best Salmon I've Ever Eaten!

Homemade Ice Cream Sold in a Shed

A Little Perspective on the Size of Moose Antlers

Glaciers on Glaciers. 

The Crepeau Explorers

We Ate All the Seafood

Fish and Garlic Fries, with a Side of Clam Chowder

Seward through the Mist, Right Before We Saw the Cutest Otter

The Closest We Got to Eskimos

Memories of Moscow

Now that we're settled in Seattle, I thought it would be a good time to write my favorite memories and highlights of our home in Idaho.

Before we moved, I certainly did my fair share of complaining about Idaho. But looking back, I realize how many amazing memories and blessings those eighteen months were for Phil and me. So, for future posterity's sake, here are the best parts of Moscow, ID.

1. The People! I think this may be true in about every place I've lived, but the people we met in Idaho are such dear friends to me now. Everyone from Phil's classmates to our ward (especially my beautiful young women class) to our WWAMI moms... All incredible! I can't imagine my life without these beautiful souls.
2. The Food. Is it bad that I'm putting this second on the list? Seriously though, Moscow (as with most college towns) had some of the best restaurants ever! Still no Cafe Rio, but maybe someday... And nothing beats living about four minutes away from a Win Co. 
3. The Small Town Charm. Locally owned restaurants, bookstores, consignment shops. Moscow really had the small town charm going for it. Where can you still find a town with a travel agency right next to a video store? Or a town that holds an entire celebration just for lentils? Like a good old fashioned blast from the past. 
4. The Pastoral Panoramas. The U of I campus highlighted all things rural, from a beautiful, secluded arboretum, to a barn, to a pasture with sheep. I'll definitely miss our family walks to see the little lambs. 

Now, while Moscow had many endearing qualities, it certainly had some quirks that made life interesting. 

1. Trucks and Subarus. This town certainly had a stark divide. Phil and I called it the truck or Subaru division. There's the Second Amendment defenders driving their trucks and wearing their Wranglers, who live right next door to the Sanders supporting, Birkenstock wearing, recycling gang. Polar opposites that don't seem to get along, and yet they seem to peacefully co-exist. 
2. Snow Plowing Optional. I'm not sure how anyone drives during winter in Moscow. Plowing the streets and parking lots seems to be a low priority. As in, our parking lot got plowed maybe once the entire winter, and the streets by our apartment wouldn't get plowed until they were packed into ice... In which case plowing simply becomes scraping marks into the top layer of the ice. Oh, and they don't use salt, so the ice is there to stay until spring. 
3. One Way Streets. I've never been in a town where driving was more confusing. Maybe I got too used to the grid system in Utah. But I could still easily get lost in Moscow (especially on the side streets). Tell me this, who really thinks a one way street is a good idea anyway? 

Oh Moscow... You're full of such great memories. 

Escapades in Europe

This year we celebrated Phil finishing his boards with a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Europe. We hit the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. It seems like everything in Europe is magical, and I'd go back in a heartbeat! Staying in Haarlem, just down the street from my grandmother's childhood home was so special. I loved seeing the land of my ancestors. Plus, exploring Brugge and Paris was the best weekend ever!

Unfortunately, after my trip, I lost my phone, so some of my photos seem to have disappeared. However, I was able to recover some of the best highlights. Not pictured are the mountains of bread and cheese we ate (plus heaps of chocolate), all the beautiful miles we pedaled bikes in Holland, the thousands of masterpieces we saw in museums, and the hours spent on trains.

Europe, I love you!

Adriaan's Windmill in Haarlem.

Grote Kerk. Handel Played the Organ Inside this Church. 

Posing Like a Native in the Cheese Museum. 

CHEESE!!

Phil Said This Was His Favorite Museum. 

Amsterdam!

My Lover in Europe. 

Exploring the Colors of Van Gogh. 

Amsterdam City Hall. NBD. 

Pensive Train Ride: Part One.

Pensive Train Ride: Part Two.

Rijksmuseum. An Ode to Remembrandt.

Moeder's Restaurant. All the Pictures on the Wall Are Patrons' Moms. 

First Signs of Spring. 

Traditional Dutch Poffertjes.

Hanging with Philly Outside the Anne Frank House. Best Museum Ever!

The Kinderdijk!!! Biking Around this Place Was Heaven!!

Gateway to Brugge

The Main Bell Tower in Brugge

The View of Brugge from the Bell Tower

It's True What They Say, Belgian Fries Rule

Markt Square in Brugge

Fueled by Simple Carbs and Belgian Charm

Those Waffles Though!

Cutest Convent in the City. 

My Future Home

Lover's Bridge in Paris. 

His Reaction to His First French Crepe

Gazing at Monet Never Gets Old

Jumping for Joy Outside the Louvre

The Notre Dame. In-credible!

Magical. Just Magical.