July 24, 2011

Birthday Kids

July is our birthday month!  Alex turned twenty-five this year and I turned twenty-four!  It was my first birthday away from home, but Emily and Frank made it special :)  Thank you for all the sweet phone calls and cards!
  
Alex with his birthday balloons!!  There was a purple balloon too, but he did not survive the torrential rain storm outside of the Canonsburg grocery store :(
  
 Presents!
  
Emily and Frank had a birthday dinner for us last night.  We ate outside in their nice backyard. 
  
Our gluten-free, pink-spotted, brontosaurus cake!
 
Birthday cards!
  
We went out for a quick birthday drink!  It is so nice to be able to walk to fun (and safe) bars!
 
Birthday kids!  We were studying in the park today and got a little sun burnt.

July 17, 2011

Euro Trip

Alex and his family took a trip to Europe this summer!  Alex's dad is on sabbatical for two months, so it was the perfect time to do something spectacular as a family.  I could not go because of school, but luckily Alex and I were able to text throughout his trip.  The vacation started in Zurich and from there went to Vienna, Nice, Cortona, and Rome.  Alex had a great time, but I don't think I am willing to go so long without the hubby in the future :)
   
Emily in front of Juliette Avril in Chateauneuf du Pape.
  
At the ruins of Chateauneuf du Pape.  Emily took a picture in this same spot fourteen years ago!
  
It was a very windy day at the ruins.
 
More ruins
  
Looking out over Chateauneuf du Pape.
 
The family
  
The Scheers went to the walled-in city of Avignon.  Alex is standing in front of the Palais des Papes.
  
 Twins in Nice!
  
 Roman ruins outside of Nice by the Matisse Museum.
  
The house the Scheers stayed at in Tuscany had a huge backyard with a pool and grilling area.
   
The Scheers went in search of pizza in Italy for lunch, which apparently is not allowed.  So they ended up with spaghetti on a stick!
  
Hanging out by the pool with the owner's dog!
  
Finally found a Pizzeria that actually sold Pizza in Cortona.
    
  
Alex and Emily walked up to Saint Margherita's Church at the very top of the hill!
  
Still walking up :)
  
The view of Cortona.
  
Alex outside of the Pope's summer house which looked like it was on a volcano!
  
The Pope's summer house.  He was actually inside!
  
There were tons of cats running around near the Scheer's apartment in Rome.  There were also tons of signs saying not to feed the cats!  This little guy just wants some spaghetti.
 
Neat building
  
Alex outside of the Colosseum.
  
The sun setting behind an awesome statue.
  
The Pantheon!
  
Outside of the Pantheon.
     
  
Of course Alex and Frank had to goof around inside the Pantheon.
 
Alex loved the Trevi Fountain in Rome.
 
On a bus tour of Rome!
  
A tower that one of the original families of Rome constructed in order to defend themselves against their neighbors across the street.
  
This is part of the original city where the market was located.
  
A statue made in the honor of Saint Angelo for defeating the plague in Rome.
 
This is the guy who started the Tigris River.  If you look closely inside of the vase he is pouring, you can see the face of a tiger!
  
People got tired of carving classical statues so they made this lobster!
  
The Hall of Maps in the Vatican.
  
Family tour of the Hall of Maps!
 
Saint Peter's door that can only be opened once every twenty-five years by the Pope.
  
Alex at the Vatican!
  
Standing near the Spanish Steps!

July 5, 2011

Temporary Home

Today was the first day of my first rotation in Washington, Pennsylvania.  I wasn't scheduled to arrive until 3pm so it was a pretty short day of following a resident around the office.  Everyone I met was very friendly, but a little more information about the rotation beforehand would have been nice.  Apparently I am also going to be working in another city fifteen minutes from here and at a few other places as well.  I got the keys to my house and have discovered that the five people living here all have to share one bathroom :(  I am probably going to spend the majority, if not all of my nights in Pittsburgh from the looks of things.
  
Emily and Frank emptied out the third floor of their house for Alex and I to spend the summer there.  I will have to commute, but having my own bathroom and not sharing a house with strangers sounds better to me.
  
The bathroom for Alex and me!
  
Pretty wallpaper!
 
A desk we can use.
  
Emily and Frank's third floor has tons of shelves!  I already moved my stuff in.  Alex is still in Europe, but it looks like there are plenty of shelves for him :)
  
The office I will be spending the majority of my time at.
 
My house that I don't think I will spend any time in :)
  
My room!  I am going to pack up and go back to Pittsburgh tonight because I don't like it here :(
  
Other part of my room
 
The kitchen
  
Some empty room