Birthday Fun

Despite the fact Alan had 2 major exams the week of Ly's birthday (including a national shelf exam) he still managed to make Ly's birthday fun. The morning started off with such a nice surprise - breakfast, Starbucks, and of course gerber daisies (Ly's favorite). Such a nice small gesture really made Ly feel special, especially considering the fact that Alan didn't have much time to spend on her actual birthday (due to the service).

Later in the week, Ly + Alan went on a day trip to Shenandoah, apple picking, quilt store shopping, and even had a mini birthday party complete with homemade chocolate cake AND apple pie. Gotta love Alan's interest in baking. Ly also got showered with gifts. Yay for cookbooks, fabric (lots of fabric!), sewing supplies, books and of course fashion accessories...but the best gift of course were all the birthday phone calls, cards, messages and emails from friends and family. So here's to an awesome birthday week and a new year of adventures!

It's that time of year again...

Well today is Lily's 22nd birthday. Usually Ly writes a long list of the reasons why Lily is the best sister in the entire world, but she has decided to change it up with a poem from their childhood:

My name is Lily

I am silly

I am Lily not Billy!

But in all seriousness, Ly has been lucky enough to get to see Lily on two different occasions this year despite the 3,000 mile distance between them.

1. She got to see Lily when Lil flew out to Richmond for thanksgiving and they made tamales instead of turkey...a tradition in the making. Lily also successfully helped Ly parallel park her car, an event that to this day is legendary.

Proof we actually made tamales!

2. She got to see Lily when she graduated college and they introduced her dad to the wonders of veggie burgers and rode all the carnival rides they could at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk (an event 26 years in the making).

LK + LL after graduation

Twirling really really fast...so fun and worth the 27 year wait!

Unfortunately, the two sisters don't get to spend their birthdays together but hopefully Lil will celebrate enough for the both of them!

So here's to the next year of adventures both abroad and at home! =)

The week of natural disasters

Well last week was the week of natural disasters around here. First there was an earthquake and then a few days a hurricane. Having never been in a hurricane before Ly thought that was much more exciting if you will. So exciting in fact that the power went out early Saturday and has yet to be turned back on.

Luckily (depending on your point of view) VCU didn't run out of power so not only was school and exams not cancelled, but Ly was able to go "borrow" the internet/watch movies/charge her phone and computer on campus while Alan studied.

Here are some photos of our neighborhood after the storm

Study. Study. Study.

Alan has a test in the morning and he's been studying for what seems like days. At least he is enjoying his comfy new chair.

Fifty Cent Book Sale

Ly is addicted to books.

She is also addicted to buying books.

During the time the Ly+Alan lived across the street from the bookstore there was a significant increase in money spent on books in the monthly budget. Alan has since banned Ly from purchasing numerous books at once (citing the fact that they are expensive and Ly finishes them in an hour) and so Ly has become friends with her local library. Yesterday afternoon on her way home from the library, Ly noticed that they were selling books for fifty cents. That's half a dollar for all you non-money-thinking people. There were hundreds of books she wanted but managed to weed some out and came home with three new books. 3 books under 2 bucks? Awesome.

Morning Surprise

This morning as Ly went to make herself some scrambled eggs for breakfast this is what she saw:

Love notes via eggs. What a nice/creative/different surprise from Alan who has been rather busy this week with a pharmacology exam coming up on Friday.

It's the little things that get Ly+Alan through test weeks.