We left Utah on a rainy Saturday morning, early. Both Wes and I had just finished up work the day before, and Wes had school on Monday and I had to be back at work. The drive across the country is never as fun, if you can even use that word to describe it, at the end of the summer, and we were dreading it that much more having two cars! But we were equipped with walkie-talkies and audio books and so it wasn't that bad. The plus side was not having to worry about cramming all of our stuff into the mustang since we have my jeep now.
We front loaded the first day and made it half way through Iowa. I got a speeding ticket in Wyoming, but it's really Wes' ticket. He was in the lead the whole trip and had the cruise control set at 89 mph. We were close to a town and it was around eight in the morning and I had fallen behind a little and was speeding to catch up to Wes. Of course a cop was around. Once I got to Wes, I see the cop right behind me out of no where and radio Wes to slow down. So we do. And the cop rides me for a couple of minutes. We move to the slow lane and then he decides to throw his lights on. Awesome. Wes keeps going while I pull over. He stops a mile up the road to wait for me. I'm freaking out and fuming and trying to get the sleepies out of my eyes. I was really hoping to get away with just a warning, but of course he gives me the ticket since I'm an out of state driver. He said he'd cut me a break since I was wearing my seat belt. Oh thanks officer, not.
All in all it could have been worse and I just ended up with a $60 ticket, a bruised ego, and a smug husband. Okay I'm exaggerating about Wes being smug, he very well could have been ticketed as well, but he did comment that I now have two tickets on my record and he's still squeaky clean. ;) I was mad but I got over it once we got to Nebraska. Then all thoughts turned to how much I hate Nebraska. It's way too long. And I was also paranoid about getting pulled over again. We still pushed it, because as Wes will tell you each 5 mph that you can go faster is another hour off of the trip, and didn't have any more encounters.
Until the next day in Illinois. But it wasn't with cops. It was with the toll road. We totally spaced getting cash for the tolls. Because they only take cash. Which makes no sense. But that's Illinois. And we have to stop every so often and pay another few dollars. For both cars. Ugh! We were able to take a voucher basically for the first two that let us pay online later but that's the most that you can pay online. So we stopped at a gas station that thankfully had an ATM. Now it was Wes' turn to be upset - this is the kind of stuff that ticks him off. We eventually made it home that day around two in the afternoon.
Our adventure wasn't over yet because then came the unpacking, cleaning, and organizing our apartment that hadn't been inhabited for three months. Thank goodness the Indiana summer hasn't been very warm, so the mustiness and bug situation wasn't nearly as bad as last year. Though our bathroom door was so swollen it wouldn't close and there was some kind of mushroom/fungus growing out of the carpet and the door jam by the bathroom. There was a leak from the ac in the apartment above, but that's all been taken care of now.
Time is a very strange thing. Once we got back, it felt like we never left South Bend. The only evidence that we had gone home were the memories in our heads because time keeps moving forward whether you go along with it or not. And time has brought us our third and final year at Notre Dame. Oh my goodness! We are so close! And I am ready for the time to speed by. But not too fast that we can't have a little fun and really make the most of our time left in South Bend.
So back to the grind we go. Wes jumped right back into school. It's going to be another good semester for him. And I'm back at the call center. But it's good. I feel a renewed motivation and have some good things to work towards. A pay raise can do that for you. It's back to the late hours, but I'm already used to it again.
We were released from our callings in the Plymouth Branch and so we are back in the Notre Dame ward. We're sad to not see our friends down in Plymouth anymore, but are excited to make new friends.
We had a great summer. We have been so blessed with how well things have fallen into place. And we will continue to have a great year. Now that the sadness has worn off, I'm excited. I'm excited to plow through these last few months and make the drive across the country one last time. I'm glad to be back in our apartment with all of our stuff. I missed my piano and my guitar! I've taken a hiatus from songwriting, but I'm feeling that itch inside me to start again. And most of all I'm glad to still have Wes by my side through everything. He's the reason why I'm Indiana, and it has been, and will always be, worth every second.
Thanks for reading and following along, and most importantly thanks for your love and support! So here's to another school year with a new look for the blog and more adventures and stories from Anna and Wes!
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
UTAH
We got back from Manhattan on Thursday afternoon. Unpacked to repack everything in the mustang, did laundry, bought some snacks and went to bed by eight. Got up at three and drove straight through from Indiana to Utah. We've gotten to know I-80 really well. We made it Friday night around eleven that night to the Harward's and began our summer!
I went right back to work on Monday. Liberty Mutual was good enough to let me transfer to a local office for the summer. What a blessing! I really enjoyed my time in the Riverton office. I met a lot of great people and continued to work hard at my job. It was also nice to work a regular nine to five shift and no weekends for a few months.
Wes started his job at the firm the following week. He absolutely loved working at Stoel Rives. The work, the people, the paycheck, everything! I loved being able to see his excitement and hear it in his voice as he would tell me what he could about his work. I am so happy that he loves what he has chosen to do professionally.
He worked in the Chase tower downtown Salt Lake, and I visited him on occasion to meet up for dinner and stuff. We got to go to several different firm activities and sponsored events such as dinners, a Real Salt Lake game, and a concert at Dear Valley. It was nice to get a taste of the future that we will have with this firm.
Between my job and Wes' we stayed very busy, but we did find time to see family and friends. And golf of course. We golfed once, if not twice, every week, and often with my brother Steve and my dad. I have really learned to love the game, and I improved so much over the course of the summer! We had a blast trying out different courses all around Utah.
Some other highlights would include my 23rd birthday, Wes' 26th, our 2nd anniversary, buying a 2nd car for me, and the many summer holidays and family get togethers. Our birthdays and anniversary were pretty low key this year because of our Manhattan trip and buying a jeep liberty for me, but still another great year celebrated together!
We stayed with Wes' parents for the first part of the summer and then moved in with Cassi and Logan into their beautiful new home. We are so grateful for their hospitality and loved being able to stay with family. We were all so busy we hardly got to do much together, but it was still a lot of fun. We just barely missed the birth of baby Shad by a couple of weeks. He looks darling from the pictures and we can't wait to meet the little guy.
We saw my family frequently as well on random weeknights and for Sunday dinners. There are several summer birthdays in the Peterson family so we had lots of celebrations and parties. I was also reunited with my cousin Becca who had returned from her mission in February!
It was just good to be home. In every sense of the word. Utah is my home. It's where I was raised, where my family still lives, and it's where I want to be. The summers at home these last two years have been such a great way to recharge my batteries. I've liked Indiana and I wouldn't trade my time here with Wes for anything, but that still doesn't make it hard for a girl from the West to be away from everything she loves and knows to be stuck in the Midwest. I miss the mountains and the dry heat. I miss the familiarity and the community. I miss my favorite local restaurants and all of the things to do. I forget about a lot of those things, except for the missing people, when I'm in South Bend and so it all comes back to me when I'm home. I'm so grateful that it's only eight months until we'll be back for good! We've never lived permanently in Utah as Anna and Wes, so I'm looking forward to that time.
The summer months always seem to go too fast. It was over before we knew it. We were able to squeeze in last bbq's and a camping trip and golf and then it was time to go...
I went right back to work on Monday. Liberty Mutual was good enough to let me transfer to a local office for the summer. What a blessing! I really enjoyed my time in the Riverton office. I met a lot of great people and continued to work hard at my job. It was also nice to work a regular nine to five shift and no weekends for a few months.
Wes started his job at the firm the following week. He absolutely loved working at Stoel Rives. The work, the people, the paycheck, everything! I loved being able to see his excitement and hear it in his voice as he would tell me what he could about his work. I am so happy that he loves what he has chosen to do professionally.
He worked in the Chase tower downtown Salt Lake, and I visited him on occasion to meet up for dinner and stuff. We got to go to several different firm activities and sponsored events such as dinners, a Real Salt Lake game, and a concert at Dear Valley. It was nice to get a taste of the future that we will have with this firm.
Between my job and Wes' we stayed very busy, but we did find time to see family and friends. And golf of course. We golfed once, if not twice, every week, and often with my brother Steve and my dad. I have really learned to love the game, and I improved so much over the course of the summer! We had a blast trying out different courses all around Utah.
Some other highlights would include my 23rd birthday, Wes' 26th, our 2nd anniversary, buying a 2nd car for me, and the many summer holidays and family get togethers. Our birthdays and anniversary were pretty low key this year because of our Manhattan trip and buying a jeep liberty for me, but still another great year celebrated together!
We stayed with Wes' parents for the first part of the summer and then moved in with Cassi and Logan into their beautiful new home. We are so grateful for their hospitality and loved being able to stay with family. We were all so busy we hardly got to do much together, but it was still a lot of fun. We just barely missed the birth of baby Shad by a couple of weeks. He looks darling from the pictures and we can't wait to meet the little guy.
We saw my family frequently as well on random weeknights and for Sunday dinners. There are several summer birthdays in the Peterson family so we had lots of celebrations and parties. I was also reunited with my cousin Becca who had returned from her mission in February!
It was just good to be home. In every sense of the word. Utah is my home. It's where I was raised, where my family still lives, and it's where I want to be. The summers at home these last two years have been such a great way to recharge my batteries. I've liked Indiana and I wouldn't trade my time here with Wes for anything, but that still doesn't make it hard for a girl from the West to be away from everything she loves and knows to be stuck in the Midwest. I miss the mountains and the dry heat. I miss the familiarity and the community. I miss my favorite local restaurants and all of the things to do. I forget about a lot of those things, except for the missing people, when I'm in South Bend and so it all comes back to me when I'm home. I'm so grateful that it's only eight months until we'll be back for good! We've never lived permanently in Utah as Anna and Wes, so I'm looking forward to that time.
The summer months always seem to go too fast. It was over before we knew it. We were able to squeeze in last bbq's and a camping trip and golf and then it was time to go...
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Manhattan
It's been a little while. Time to sum up the last four months...First up, Manhattan.
That city is simply incredible. I now understand the draw and the desire to be there. Truly a one of a kind place.
We flew out on a Friday morning with our friends Baley and Ryan and made it to the city by lunchtime. Took a taxi from the airport to our hotel. Oh the hotel... It was a great location for our nonstop trip but it was tiny and old and hot and literally at the back door of the Ritz. We can all laugh about it now, but at the time it wasn't the funniest. Anyway, we dropped off our bags and headed out to explore Times Square.
I'll be honest - my first impression was "It's so dirty and it smells like cigarettes and garbage!" Hahaha but I got over that quickly and the city eventually stole my heart. And I stopped looking down at the ground and started looking up. Up to not run into people and up to look at all of the amazing buildings! It's shocking how massive they are!
So anyway, Times Square. Our first stop was Hard Rock Cafe because we were starving. I know Hard Rock is not just in NY, but this was my first time eating there, and it was delicious. I soon found out that everything just tasted better in NY. Then we just wandered around all of the stores. There is so much to see. And I am awful at remembering to take pictures. I may get around to posting some but Baley is the photographer and you should wander over to her blog to see pics. That night was all about Wicked at the Gershwin theater. Oh my goodness!!! It is worth all of the hype because it is an amazing show! Still my favorite show we saw and the highlight of the trip for me.
Saturday was spent on 5th avenue. And this was Wes' favorite day because he bought his briefcase. From Tiffany's. Very fancy :) It was fun to window shop and guess the prices of sometimes hideous articles of clothing. I kept thinking how much my sister Rachel would love to be in the fashion district! She lives and breathes this stuff. We saw Aladdin on Broadway that night. Another fantastic show!
Sunday was spent in Central Park at the Metropolitan. A single afternoon is not nearly enough time to explore this place. Seeing the history and the art was incredible. We took a breather and then had reservations at Tavern on the Green. What a beautiful restaurant. And delicious food! And a very pleasant way to spend Mother's Day.
Monday was our very touristy day at the Statue of Liberty, Elis Island, and Ground Zero. I am very grateful for each of these sites and what these monuments mean. It's fitting that today is 9/11.
We went to the Top of the Rockefeller that night and saw the incredible view. The city is something else at night. When I think Manhattan, that is the first picture that comes to mind.
Our final two days were a blur of more site seeing - a carriage ride through Central Park thanks to Baley's cousin, another broadway show, Matilda, more shopping, more food, Wall Street for Wes, Chinatown, Little Italy, Grand Central Station, Junior's Cheesecake, and a boat cruise around the island, not all in that order. I came away with an I heart NY shirt, two scarves and a fake Luis Vuitton from Chinatown, the cutest wedges from Macy's and two adorable Dooney and Burke handbags, and a love for the city that will never go away.
Everything about the trip was perfect, and we loved having our friends with us! I also loved watching Wes in his element. This was his third trip and he was an excellent tour guide. I know that if he wasn't married and didn't want to have a family he would most definitely be working his way to a large firm in the city. But I'm glad that I am married to him and he doesn't have to work the ridiculous hours and we can just visit this place we both love often.
The week long adventure made my feet and ankles swell up like a grandmas and Wes' heels were literally bruised from all of the nonstop walking. This made for a welcome drive across the country where we got to sit down for a whole day. But really. This drive from Indiana to Utah was one of the easiest and quickest things ever. But I'll save the rest of that for part two: Utah!
That city is simply incredible. I now understand the draw and the desire to be there. Truly a one of a kind place.
We flew out on a Friday morning with our friends Baley and Ryan and made it to the city by lunchtime. Took a taxi from the airport to our hotel. Oh the hotel... It was a great location for our nonstop trip but it was tiny and old and hot and literally at the back door of the Ritz. We can all laugh about it now, but at the time it wasn't the funniest. Anyway, we dropped off our bags and headed out to explore Times Square.
I'll be honest - my first impression was "It's so dirty and it smells like cigarettes and garbage!" Hahaha but I got over that quickly and the city eventually stole my heart. And I stopped looking down at the ground and started looking up. Up to not run into people and up to look at all of the amazing buildings! It's shocking how massive they are!
So anyway, Times Square. Our first stop was Hard Rock Cafe because we were starving. I know Hard Rock is not just in NY, but this was my first time eating there, and it was delicious. I soon found out that everything just tasted better in NY. Then we just wandered around all of the stores. There is so much to see. And I am awful at remembering to take pictures. I may get around to posting some but Baley is the photographer and you should wander over to her blog to see pics. That night was all about Wicked at the Gershwin theater. Oh my goodness!!! It is worth all of the hype because it is an amazing show! Still my favorite show we saw and the highlight of the trip for me.
Saturday was spent on 5th avenue. And this was Wes' favorite day because he bought his briefcase. From Tiffany's. Very fancy :) It was fun to window shop and guess the prices of sometimes hideous articles of clothing. I kept thinking how much my sister Rachel would love to be in the fashion district! She lives and breathes this stuff. We saw Aladdin on Broadway that night. Another fantastic show!
Sunday was spent in Central Park at the Metropolitan. A single afternoon is not nearly enough time to explore this place. Seeing the history and the art was incredible. We took a breather and then had reservations at Tavern on the Green. What a beautiful restaurant. And delicious food! And a very pleasant way to spend Mother's Day.
Monday was our very touristy day at the Statue of Liberty, Elis Island, and Ground Zero. I am very grateful for each of these sites and what these monuments mean. It's fitting that today is 9/11.
We went to the Top of the Rockefeller that night and saw the incredible view. The city is something else at night. When I think Manhattan, that is the first picture that comes to mind.
Our final two days were a blur of more site seeing - a carriage ride through Central Park thanks to Baley's cousin, another broadway show, Matilda, more shopping, more food, Wall Street for Wes, Chinatown, Little Italy, Grand Central Station, Junior's Cheesecake, and a boat cruise around the island, not all in that order. I came away with an I heart NY shirt, two scarves and a fake Luis Vuitton from Chinatown, the cutest wedges from Macy's and two adorable Dooney and Burke handbags, and a love for the city that will never go away.
Everything about the trip was perfect, and we loved having our friends with us! I also loved watching Wes in his element. This was his third trip and he was an excellent tour guide. I know that if he wasn't married and didn't want to have a family he would most definitely be working his way to a large firm in the city. But I'm glad that I am married to him and he doesn't have to work the ridiculous hours and we can just visit this place we both love often.
The week long adventure made my feet and ankles swell up like a grandmas and Wes' heels were literally bruised from all of the nonstop walking. This made for a welcome drive across the country where we got to sit down for a whole day. But really. This drive from Indiana to Utah was one of the easiest and quickest things ever. But I'll save the rest of that for part two: Utah!
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