June 21, 2011

Be Sure to Wear Some Flowers in Your Hair

My family and I spent the past four days in beautiful California!  Dave and Jeanyoung were getting married in wine country, so we decided to make a vacation out of it!  Alex had to work and could not come :(  It was nice to see all the Regans and Prices together again for another spectacular wedding.
    
Moo really wanted to come to the wedding.
 
The view from our hotel in San Francisco.  We were on the thirty-ninth floor!
   
  
Trolley Car!
 
Lisa and Kaylyn holding on!
 
Dad and Douglas
  
Lisa and Sami
 
Mommy, Teresa, and I enjoyed the ride from the seated position :)
  
Trolley car style
 
The adults at Fisherman's Wharf
  
My favorite part of Thursday... the sea lions!  I decided that they look more like bears than lions so they are now referred to as sea bears.
 
They were a hoot!
  
The view of Alcatraz from our yummy restaurant.
  
Walking back to the trolley, we passed a neat looking bakery that made bread in the shape of animals!
    
  
On Friday, we went on a tour of all of San Fransisco.  It started on a ferry, then traded off between a tour bus and walking tours.  It was a great way to see a large part of the city in just a few hours!  Our first stop was Sausalito!  It felt like we were in a different country with all the beautiful views, different shops, and variety of languages the tourists spoke!
 
Mommy and Daddy at the restaurant in Sausalito.
  
It was chilly.
  
Very chilly.
  
The Golden Gate Bridge!
      
  
I don't remember the name of this, but it is pretty.
 
We stopped at a beautiful Japanese garden.
  
   
 
These are the houses from Full House!
  
The most crooked street in the world!
  
The Prices stayed at the most beautiful house in Sonoma Valley.
 
  
The house was gorgeous!  Oh and the people were fun too!
  
 Connor, Tessa, and Lisa by the pool!
  
The house had a great outdoor fireplace for smores and a lovely porch for our awesome Saturday brunch.
  
On the front porch!
  
Bay's, John's, and David's families stayed in this beautiful Cali home.  It had the craziest art work and furniture.  Look at the huge fireplace!!
  
Zach in one of the strange chairs.
     
The house had a nice outdoor pool,
  
a tennis court,
     
 
a hot tub,
  
and a volley ball court!  They most have known the Regans were coming.  I think we enjoyed all of the outside amenities a little too much because the Sheriff had to come tell us to keep it down!
 
Before the wedding, we headed out to Muir Forest to see the redwoods.
  
The trees were huge!
  
We also went to Muir Beach.  Consensus was that North Carolina has better beaches :)
  
My favorite city was Tiburon.  We had lunch at the most wonderful little place on the water.
  
I also became a tomato in Tiburon.
  
The wedding setting!  My pictures just don't do it justice.
  
The wedding was at a vineyard nestled amongst the mountains.
  
Most of our eyes are closed, but I love this picture anyway.
  
 
  
We all got fancy umbrellas to shield ourselves from the sun.
  
  
The bridesmaids
  
Ella the flower girl!
  
The bride and groom!
 
So pretty!
  
Cocktail hour!  I planted myself behind the bread and cheese table so that I would never have to wait in line :)
    
We had a great table... the Ecklunds, Shupes, and Manesses!
  
Did I mention the beautiful location?!
 
First dance
 
Jeanyoung's mom traveled to Korea to get these traditional outfits.
 
Family
 
Goodbye San Fransisco!

June 15, 2011

Mission Accomplished

After five and a half weeks of studying more than fifty percent of every day for the USMLE Step 1 Boards, I am finished!!!  I have never been more excited to be finished with an exam!!  The night before the big test, we stayed at the Morris House Bed and Breakfast downtown.  Mommy and Daddy were nice enough to reserve the bed and breakfast for us so that I did not have to take a train or taxi to center city for my exam.  Eliminating all the stressors before an eight hour exam is most important :)  The hotel was beautiful and despite all of the anxiety, we both got a good night of sleep!
    
The Morris Bed and Breakfast
  
The view from the other side of the hotel.
   
Our room was beautiful and had the most comfortable pillows!
        
    
My hub, who put up with over five weeks of COMPLETE time consuming studying, pointless crying, and hysterical attitude :)
  
So excited to be finished studying :)
  
We checked into our hotel early enough for tea and cookies!
  
Tea and cookies are good :)
   
Alex's mom and dad sported for our nice dinner downtown at our favorite French restaurant :)
         
I am super excited to have my life back!!  It will be the most wonderful feeling in the world to go more than two consecutive waking hours without studying :)  Oh the little pleasures :)

May 30, 2011

Happy Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day!  Alex didn't have work today so he was super sweet and brought me lunch from Dalessandro's.  It was nice to take a break from studying to hang out with the hubs.
     
 We got a new camera on Sunday so Alex brought it to school to try it out :)
     
Alex brought his kindle so we could both read together.
 
Happy Memorial Day Moo girl!  She was excited to have someone at home to hang out with her :)

May 26, 2011

All Work and No Play Makes Laura A Dull Girl

Less than three weeks until I get my life back!!!  I have been doing nothing but studying for the boards since I got back to Philly and I am SICK of it!  I have not done anything even remotely fun, so unfortunately, no exciting pictures :( 
   
The study lounge I have been spending my life in.  I usually get there first so it is empty.
   
This is my desk.  I claimed it.  It has been mine all year and you will not sit in it if you know what is good for you!  If you go to Drexel, you know these facts.  I like it because it has walls and is in a corner so that I don't get distracted by people.
   
My little desk!  What a sad state of life... describing my desk for fun.

May 10, 2011

Lisa's College Graduation Weekend

I finished up with my exams last Tuesday and flew home to North Carolina that night for Lisa's graduation celebrations!  I had not been back to NC or seen my family in over five months!!  It was very nice to get a break from school and spend a few relaxing days with the family :)  Alex drove down to NC on Friday night with the furry one.  It was a quick trip, as usual, but we enjoyed seeing everyone!
     
Lisa and her friends at the Nursing Graduation Ceremony!
    
Lisa standing up to be honored for one of her many accomplishments.
  
Officially a nurse!
  
The Nursing Graduation was held in the Dean Dome!  I have not been in there since my Biology Graduation Ceremony two years ago.
   
With Mommy and Daddy
  
Lisa and Grandma
  
The siblings
  
Stewie's family had a graduation party that night at their house in Durham.
 
Lisa with friends from school
  
The celebration
  
The big graduation ceremony!!  It looked like it was about to rain during the entire ceremony until Chancellor Thorp pronounced the Class of 2011 as official graduates and the sun peeked through and lit up the student section for a few seconds!
  
Lisa and Stewie in front of the Bell Tower :)