January 28, 2011

A Snowy Stroll

My walk to school yesterday was very snowy!  The two snow storms the day before dumped almost seventeen inches of snow by the end of the night!!  It was the strangest storm because it was lightening and thundering while snowing.  I just love the snow!
  
 The cars outside of our apartment
  
The park across the street
    
No one shoveled this sidewalk
   
  
The apartments in front of Drexel
    
    
Drexel!!  They have plows that work through the night to make sure the roads and sidewalks are clear.
  
Alumni bench all covered
  
The cold walk home
      
Alex's school was closed for snow so he came to Drexel in the afternoon to do some grading.  It was fun walking home together!  Our car all shoveled out!

January 23, 2011

PABC 2011

Last night was Drexel's 18th annual Pediatric Aids Benefit Concert.  The PABC helps to finance  many life saving programs and the opportunity to attend summer camp for the children in the Pediatric Aids program at St. Christopher's Hospital. Also, the money raised at the concert helps provide financial support for housing, transportation, and other expenses for the families affected by illness.  I didn't get to go to the concert last year so I was super excited to go this year. 
    
The concert was held at Drexel's main campus.  Dinner was in the lobby and the singing, dancing, and comedy acts were performed in the auditorium. 
  
Me, Emily, and Danielle
     
Dr. Novack's band with Adam and Victor!

January 17, 2011

Weekend Getaway to the City of Roses

For this Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, Alex and I went to Portland, Oregon!  Alex's dad had to move to Portland to be closer to his job last year, so the whole family decided to go visit his new town over the extended weekend!  We had a great time and can't wait to go visit again:)
         
 Eating out downtown
    
Alex and Emily
    
On Sunday, Emily, Alex and Dave were supposed to go to Mount Hood for some skiing and snowboarding, but it was raining too hard.  Instead, they took a scenic tour of the Oregon and Washington areas with Frank and Michele.  I stayed behind to do a little studying.
  
The rain made the rivers and waterfalls run out of control!!
  
Michele and Dave with a waterfall!
    
Alex and Emily were soaked!

January 14, 2011

Surprise!

Alex successfully completed the selection process for a position as a french teacher for the School District of Philadelphia this week!  He will be teaching french at Rhodes High School just ten minutes from our apartment.  We are all very proud of Alex so we threw him a surprise congratulations party last night :)  Danielle made brownies with Alex's favorite ingredients: chocolate and raspberry.  Hilary and Shawn made a yummy quiche.  Kia and Emily kept watch for Alex to come back from his voice lessons and we all jumped out from behind the couch when he walked in!
 
He was definitely surprised!!  And I forgot to take a single other picture the whole night :(

January 11, 2011

Weekend Visitors

Alex and I received a mirror for our bedroom this Christmas, but had no room in our car to bring it back to Philly.  Emily and Frank, being the friendly Pennsylvania neighbors that they are, brought the mirror up to Pittsburgh with them after Christmas break.  The mirror was the perfect excuse for the Schneiders to come for a weekend visit!  We had a lot of fun with Em and Frank!
  
 Our new mirror up on the wall!
  
It is not a Philly visit without a cheese steak :)

January 6, 2011

Making Whoopie!

Santa knows just how much I like to procrastinate so this year for Christmas, he brought me a whoopie pie pan!  I had never made whoopie pies before so I was super excited to try them.  Santa also brought me a whoopie recipe book so there will be lots of different flavors of whoopie to come :)
   
  My first batch!

They are just chocolate flavored with vanilla frosting so I decided to add a green bow for some color :)

January 4, 2011

Christmas Cards 2010

Thank you for all the beautiful Christmas cards!  We really enjoyed reading each of them :)
   

January 3, 2011

Happy New Year!!!

It was fun seeing everybody in North Carolina over break!  We wish everyone a very happy 2011!!
     
    New Years Eve

December 28, 2010

Christmas Festivities 2010

After returning home from the Dominican Republic, Alex and I dove head first into Christmas madness.  We did not get back to North Carolina until just after midnight on the 24th.  Being the last minute shopper that I am (or the busy medical student?!), I had to spend the better part of Christmas Eve morning fighting other shoppers at the mall.
 
We had our annual Christmas Eve party at our house later that evening.  This year was a special treat because the Shupes did not have to leave early to get Bay back to Tennessee for work.  Alex and I made off well from the cousin exchange and Uncle Ray won the Last Gift.  While cleaning out a closet, Uncle Ray found a letter that Vincey had written to his brothers and sisters from Santa back when they were all little.  It was fun to hear how proud and fond he was of each of his siblings.  Aunt Lis made her annual charm cake and Aunt Debbie found a charm, just as she does every year :)  Although it always seems like the party flies by, it was great to spend time with our wonderful family.
 
Christmas morning was fantastic as always.  We opened all of our presents and had Grandma’s special Christmas breakfast.  Alex and I got tons of awesome gifts!!  We are super excited to see how our new mirror looks in our room :)  Although we did not wake up to a white Christmas, we certainly went to bed to one!  It was the first time the triangle had snow on Christmas in 67 years and it was my first white Christmas (night)!!
 
After celebrating with my family, Alex and I went over to the Scheer household.  We were not supposed to get presents since the Dominican Republic trip was the big gift, but that Santa does love to spoil us!  With our new shirts from Ellen and Justin, we are now "officially" Sunshine fans (Eric's band).  We had a wonderful dinner complete with the prettiest Christmas place cards :)
   
  Christmas Eve party
       
   
   Some of the cousins
  
   The Last Gift competition!
  
   Lily is ready for Santa!
   
    Christmas morning
     
    My favorite tree :)
      
  Moo got a chirping birdie  
   
  The beautiful Christmas dinner table at the Scheer's!

  Snow the day after Christmas!!
  
  Our backyard winter wonderland

December 26, 2010

Dominican Republic

This December 24th was Dave's 50th birthday!!  To celebrate, the whole family went to the Dominican Republic and stayed five days at the Paradisus in Punta Cana.  The resort was beautiful and the food was endless.  We all had a wonderful time!  It was a fabulous way to start our Christmas vacation!
  
Just off the plane and blinded by the light!
  
 Our resort :)
   
The pool
    
Our room!!
   
Other half of our room
    
Dominican Republic six pack: four sodas and two beers :)
   
The view from our room
  
Flamingos!
   
 
Eating breakfast at the buffet
 
Beach!
    
 
Walking to the spa
 
It was chilly when it got cloudy, but that didn't stop anybody from sleeping on the beach!
  
Alex and Dave took a long walk down la playa to see the other resorts
    
 
Hanging out under the little huts

Sitting at the swim up bar!
 
Emily and Frank
 
Drinking from our coconuts... not as yummy as they look
 
Emily and Dave went parasailing
 
Heading home for Christmas