Siostra!

Now that we are starting our second year of med school, we are finally starting to get some visitors.  My siostra, Sarah, came out to visit for Labor Day weekend.  The original plan was white water rafting, but after finding out she was pregnant, that was not an option.  Sarah's West Virginia adventure began with shopping at the beloved Gabe's.  A store very similar to "TJ Maxx," but cheaper.  We then hiked around Cooper's Rock and went to the look out with Johnny, once he had completed his test.



The overlook was beautiful.  You don't know it, but Johnny and I are standing on a fallen tree about 10 feet off the ground.  I was a little nervous, but John was very calm.  That evening we took Sarah to the Morgantown Brewery.  The food was amazing!  Sarah ordered some delicious 'Fish and Chips' which was exactly what the baby was craving.  She had felt sick a little earlier, but the greasy food for some reason calmed her stomach.
Saturday morning began with loud music around 7:30 am.  There was a WVU football game and Sarah got to experience first hand the tail-gating atmosphere.  We then went on a 6 mile walk on the rail-trails.  Next we ventured to Laural Caverns in PA.  (fyi caverns is not the plural for caves).  We had a very 'enthusiastic' tour guide.  Our evening ended with a swim in Cheat Lake.  John jumped out of a tree about 40 feet in the air and I went off the rope swing and almost forgot to let go.  Sarah enjoyed a relaxing swim and then John and I pulled her around on the floaty.
Sunday consisted of church, Sarah subbed for Primary.  In our ward we really like to put our visitors to work:)  Then dinner, relaxing and game-night with the neighbors.

Labor Day came too quickly which meant Sarah was going home.  We drove to Pittsburgh, stopping at Rita's so Sarah could experience "tasty sensation."

We then went shopping on the 'strip district.'  There were several shops and fruit stand along the way.  Sarah and decided to purchase matching belts.  Next was lunch and Primanti Brothers.  A famous restaurant in Pittsburgh.  The sandwich consisted of sourdough bread, cole slaw, french fries, vinegar and tomatoes.  At first glance it may not look like much, but Sarah and I barely spoke a word as we devoured our sandwiches.

Lastly, we road up the trolley cart on the hillside to a beautiful view of Pittsburgh.  From an aerial view, Pittsburgh is a very stunning city with all the steal bridges and Ohio River.

We ended the day with a walk.  Then sat in a park and chatted for a few hours.  As I drove Sarah to the airport, I tried to keep my emotions at bay, but couldn't.  As I hugged her and said good-bye, I started to cry.  I decided I hate good-byes.  Thanks for coming Siostra, I sure do love ya!

Journey out WEST!

Johnny and I had been looking forward to seeing our families back in the great state of Utah for sometime.  Thursday morning around 3am we had a chance to catch a ride with the Turner's to the Pittsburgh airport.  My sister picked us up and she and I were off for a day full of pampering.  John went golfing with his parents.

That night we went to our favorite restaurant of all time...Cafe Rio and then off course to the delicious Nielson's Frozen Custard.

The day was a special Squires family temple day then straight up to the cabin.  We rode four-wheelers and motorcyles.  Then of course shot a lot of guns.  Friday evening my wonderful mother had a small family devotional where everyone who went on their mission told a little bit about it-I learned a lot!

We had a family competition of dart-throwing and ping-pong.  Mama Squires also made her infamous barbequed chicken!

That Sunday, I had the opportunity to watch my little nephew Emmett get blessed.  We then went to Lizzy's house for a delicious Sunday dinner.  It was wonderful to be with my sisters.

The entire next week was BEACH TIME at Carlsbad, CA.  The Lattins picked us up from my parents home and off we were to the SLC airport once again.

We arrived in sunny San Diego and drove to Carlsbad to the Beach Terrace Inn to meet up with all the other Lattin siblings and families.

We spent the next five days playing in the waves, sitting on the beach and chatting, eating delicious food and having inspiring evening devotionals.

Josh digging a sand pit

Every other year the Lattin family gets a huge family picture.  John and I were warming up for the pictures by taking a couple of our own.

The picture to the left is my nephew Andrew.  I have never met someone with so much personality!

It was extremely fun to get to chat with everyone and get to know my Johnny's family much much better!  I can't wait until the next Lattin beach trip in 2014!



Saturday we journeyed home to Salt Lake.  We then had the chance to spend two more days with my family full of shopping, going out to eat, and playing my parents favorite card game 'Hand and Foot.'  I love the West, but love the opportunity to live in the East...."country road, take me home!"

Fourth of July!

John and I began the day rock climbing with a couple friends up at Cooper's Rock.  We were both a little rusty, but had a great time.  Next, was the ward activity.  It started off as a BBQ and was supposed to consist of the Olympic Games, but ended up a huge water balloon fight.  We then were invited to an evening with the wonderful Cena family which consisted of delicious steak, corn on the cob, and a very American dessert- a Fourth of July trifle.  We topped the day off with fireworks at the Waterfront-it was a very busy, but fun day!

DC and Liese times TWO!

Johnny and I again made the three hour drive to our nation's capital-Washington DC!  We left Friday evening after I had finished work.  As we began our travel, the wind was blowing quite heavily (later we heard up to 50 mph).  Morgantown seemed to have several areas without power as we headed to the highway.  Once we were on the 68 E, all seemed okay...so I fell asleep.  I awoke to Johnny off-roading, thank goodness for a Subaru.  All along the George Washington Memorial Parkway were fallen trees.  John kept having to veer off the road and travel around the fallen debree.   It was actually quite exciting!  I felt as though I was in the Nintendo game called 'Frogger.'  We were dodging trees, cars, and trying to see through the down pour.  Eventually, we made it to DC about an hour later than scheduled and stayed the first night with our good friend Mike Lemon.
The next morning we went on a bike ride towards Mt. Vernon and found several more fallen trees.

Along our path we had the chance to see the Teddy Roosevelt Memorial...John looks just like him, don't you think?

Liese, me, Lisa

The main reason for our trip was so I could visit my dear friend Liese Lou!  She is currently living in New York and had yet to see DC.  Our initial plan was to go to the temple and then eat Cafe Rio for lunch...but the power outage made none of that possible.  However, we still drove out to the DC temple and Liese was able to see the brillant whiteness and golden spires of the temple.  Of course, Liese and I caught up and discussed mutual friends from BYU 
That evening, I got to spend dinner with another one of my amazing friends, also called Lisa.  Lisa and I began our days together at 'Carden Memorial.'  Lisa took John, Mike and I to a delicious Thai food restaurant in Alexandria.  The boys jumped out of the car and made reservations while Lisa and I searched for a parking spot.  Afterwards, I wanted to introduce Lisa to Rita (Rita's ice cream that is), but it was also closed....this weekend seemed to be a disaster...we needed ice cream badly.  So, to the grocery store we went, then back to Lisa's where Liese met up with us.

Allison, me, Lisa

The next morning Liese Lou took the bus back to NYC, I was sad to see her go.  John and I ventured to church with Lisa, then had a snack and headed back to Morgantown.  Surprisingly enough, one of Lisa's good friends, Allison Brinkerhoff, was also a good friend of mine from BYU....small world and being from BYU and a Mormon makes it that much smaller.

Goodbyes

Sam and Gavin

the boys

The great thing about being in med school and living about a 3-days journey from home is the great friends you make.  Basically, your friends become your family.  We had the chance to babysit the Weed children, and the two boys, Sam and Gavin absolutely adored John.  They kind of liked me, but Johnny was their favorite.  We will really miss them!

Making funny faces with the Tippetts and Weed children! 

Weekend with Marmee and Papa!!!

Well, we just had our first visitors to Morgantown, WV.  Marmee and Papa Lattin, also known and Christine and Dan Lattin came for a visit.  We had a very delightful and action-packed weekend together.

 The fun began Friday morning.  We rented a couple of canoes and went down Cheat Lake.  The water was surprisingly calm and there were not many boats on the lake that day.  Marmee and papa were in one canoe with John and I in another. 

Taking a break for lunch

We enjoyed the very green scenery and then ate a lunch of bagels, carrot sticks, and apples.  The hardest part was transporting the canoes, but luckily nothing terrible happened.
We then hiked around the WVU Arboretum and saw chipmunks, birds, and to my dismay, a snake.

Dinner was next on the list and had to take our visitors to a local Morgantown restaurant-'Black Bear.'  When we arrived it was pretty packed, but there was a local banjo-player performing and the food, although a little spicy, was delicious.

At the end of our hike in Ohiopyle

Johnny carrying me so I didn't have to get my feet wet

Saturday morning began with a filling breakfast at the Marriott.  We then ventured to Ohiopyle-a national park just north of Morgantown.  We went along a gorgeous hike and enjoyed good conversation, a couple of big dogs and some more bagels for lunch.  On our hike we were surrounded by more green and several soft falling waterfalls.

Ohiopyle has a couple of natural water slides.  John and I tried to convince Marmee and Papa to join us on the natural water slide, but were unsuccessful.  It was a good experience.

John went a little further than myself through the section of the slide entitled, 'the Meat Grinder,' I was not as daring.

We then ate delicious ice cream and walked along the bridge overlooking more waterfalls.  Ohiopyle is a very beautiful national park.  I am still unsure as to why it is called Ohiopyle because no part of the park is actually in Ohio, however, many West Virginian and Pennsylvania residents enjoy it.

Lastly, we were able to visit the grounds of 'Fallingwater.'  Built, in 1935, by the renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright, this beautiful home draws many visitors (I sound like a tour guide).  The grounds were breath-taking and the architecture was really quite remarkable.  Johnny and I both noted a gym would not be required if we owned this amount of personal property.
For dinner we decided an a quieter, more traditional restaurant.  Marmee and Papa enjoyed Talapia fish, I had tasty coconut shrimp as did Johnny.  Games were next.  We introduced Marmee and Papa to the game 'Apples to Apples,' and laughed a lot while playing it.

Outside our apartment on Sunday

Sunday was a beautiful day, as usual.  Church always makes life better.  I was excited to introduce Marmee and Papa to all the wonderful people in our ward and allow them to put a name with the face.  Marmee was actually needed in Primary.  She helped out as the Primary chorister while I played the piano-the children loved her.

Finally, there visit to West Virginia would not be complete without a calming Sunday drive out to Cooper's Rock and the overlook.  All that can be seen is a sea of green and a great view of our little Morgantown.  As you can tell from the picture it was very sunny.

I was very saddened our visitors trip was almost to an end.  We ended the eventful weekend by creating a Sunday dinner and cooking Marmee's famous cinnamon rolls.  I think Papa and Johnny enjoyed them the most!  Thanks for coming out and visiting us in Wild and Wonderful West Virginia!!

Columbus, I go!

Over the long Memorial Day weekend, my Johnny was going to be studying his hardest to complete his final class of his first year of med school.  I had Friday and Monday off of work, therefore to Columbus, OH, I went.  I stayed with one of the funnest, happiest, coolest women alive Jill Mangum (previously known as Jill Gill).  We had experience several adventures in Provo, mostly biking.  So, of course, we had to go on a bike ride.  We rode all along the gorgeous rail trail and OSU campus.  Jill and I ate ice cream, walked a lot, ventured out to a bbq and a Memorial day breakfast together.

 On Sunday we roamed the delightful streets of Columbus.  Here, Jill is showing me the large trees which line many of the streets of Columbus.  Columbus is very similar to Morgantown, no sidewalks, but different in that the roads are wider. 







After remembering good times as anatomy TA's together, it was time for me to leave.  I will never forget the wonderful weekend I spent in Columbus with Jill.  Nor, the spectacular pecan cheesecake Jill's mother-in-law created (it honestly riveled The Cheesecake Factory).  I gave my Jill Gill a big hug good-bye and started the 3 hour drive home- I had missed my Johnny.  Actually, the first night away from him, I could not fall asleep and finally text him at 2 am...to my delight he could not sleep either.  We missed each other!