Andy & Leslie

The House

2008-08-16T12:55:00.002-06:00

Here are some pictures of our house and what we have been able to get done so far. As many of you homeowners know, the projects are endless, but we are doing our best to continue the work as our busy school year gets started.

England pics

2008-08-15T07:42:00.003-06:00

Hey Everyone,
Once again we are sorry it took so long to update the blog. Since we have been back we have been getting the house in order and starting a new school year. Andy is still teaching at Manzano, and this will be his 7th year and I will be at Sandia Base Elementary on the Air Force base in town.
To the right are our England pictures and we will have to put Italy on some other time. We still need to post pics of our new house as well. We will do that as soon as we are able.

Back home

2008-07-18T18:17:00.000-06:00

Leslie and I safely arrived from Heathrow to LA last night and didn't lose any time in reacclimating ourselves into the american cuisine. Here we are at In and Out Burger. We'll fly to our home full of boxes tomorrow. PS, the rest of our Italy was awesome, complete with cuisine, snorkeling in the coves, gellati!

Day 15 -16 Italia!

2008-07-14T14:12:00.002-06:00

Yesterday Leslie and I arrived at one of the most beautiful towns either of us has ever been to: Vernazza! We took an interesting flight on Ryan Air, but hey, it was cheap! When we got off the plane we were talking to the people behind us and it just so happened that she was an English teacher that lived close to the train station we needed to go to, so she took Leslie and I there. We then promptly boarded the wrong train and had to back track, but it was worth it. After a few curveballs, Leslie and I arrived 3.5 hours late to Pensione Sorriso. We then went to the piazza and had a wonderful dinner by the Medeteranian Sea. Today we explored the other towns by walking to them and taking the train. We went to one of the beaches which was a blast and very relaxing. Then we decided to go one town over to our Vernazza, but got on the wrong train and it took us to Riomaggiore. So we decided to have dinner there at Gigi's to have the four cheese pizza that Jon and Lainskee told us we had to have. It was pretty good, but everyone kept looking at us funny when we asked for Gigi's, because it totally wasn't the name of the place. But whatevs. We then walked one town over and caught the train. Magnifique!

Days 12 and 13 - Transition

2008-07-12T13:39:00.003-06:00

Yesterday we spent confirming flights and reservations, changing money, and cleaning up a bit in preperation for our trip to Italy on Sunday. We went into Norwich and had our first official shopping spree which was really fun. We finally got some official pictures of Norwich the city as we went back that night for a meal and dessert out with Alex and Ellie. It was so fun and we found ourselves deep in conversation yet again. Today we were very excited to pack and prepare for our trip as well as a small bbq Alex and Ellie were having for some friends of theirs while they're in town. It's been very fun and we are now officially extremely excited to leave for Italy tomorrow morning!

Day 11 - Cambridge

2008-07-10T13:09:00.003-06:00

Today, Leslie and I took a day train to Cambridge and had a little look around. We saw King's College and had fish and chips, part III, for me. We had a good time passing through a museum and stopping here and there for ice cream and shopping and such. We then took the train back and were picked up by a freshly be-haircutted Alex who whisked us home to a delicious homemade chicken salad dinner made by his wife. The three are pictured here having just completed their first ultrasound. Getting really excited for our anniversary trip to Italy!

Days 8 -10 Mulbarton/Norwich

2008-07-09T10:57:00.002-06:00

These past few days have been the perfect change of pace. Our home away from home in Mulbarton has been a perfect blend of seclusion and proximity to Norwich. We've had fun playing lots of games and doing lots of reading and thinking and praying. On Monday after such activity, we struck out to discover a little of Norwich sans camera and we were disappointed that we didn't bring it. Norwich is a very old town where most of the buildings are from the 1500's. We went into their magnificent cathedral and toured about, then Alex and Ellie dropped us off at the theater and we had dinner and a movie along the strip of shops by the river. The next day we discoverd the attic where the drums and the table tennis reside and had a blast. Then we biked into town and saw the old University of East Anglia and had our first pub lunch. It was great. Cap it all off with a cookout of Salmon a-la-Andy and THREE episodes of the Cosby Show 2nd season. Today after much lounging around on a rainy day, we decided we needed to get out of the house so we went bowling for about two hours. We're all a lot better (and soarer) than we were two hours ago. Now it's off to curry night at the rectory!

Happy Birthday!

2008-07-08T13:30:00.003-06:00

Day 6 and 7 - Wimbeldon!

2008-07-08T12:16:00.005-06:00

This past weekend was consumed with the Wimbeldon Finals. And Oh! What games they were! We watched a little of the match between the Williams sisters and then headed back to Mulbarton from the cottage after having intersected with Jess and Ann Mary (Ellie's folks) before our departure. Then we arrived home to the rectory and got settled in to our much bigger home for the next week. On Sunday we went to Gateway Vineyard in Norwich, than a trip to the grocery store, and then hurry home for the finals between Federer and Nadal. We watched the entire match, all seven hours of it (rain delays included). But at the end it was worth it, as you can see from the video. We had to walk around the Commons once just to wind down after such an epic match up.

Day 5 - About the country side

2008-07-06T13:24:00.004-06:00

Friday was the fourth of July and it found me wearing my England T-shirt as sort of an apology and, "Hope we can still be friends." We went to Blickling Hall and actually got to go inside it and around the gardens. We later renamed it BlingBling Hall. It was really amazing going through all its rooms and halls, but the garden was the most magnificent. After our tour there, however, we were able to walk through the gardens, which were phenomenally beautiful. At the end of our tour we even got to play a game of croquet on the south end...and the Americans did their country proud, pulling off a one-two shut out! We then took the long way home and enjoyed the best fish and chips dinner we've ever had.

Day 4 - The Cottage

2008-07-05T14:59:00.002-06:00

Today we enjoyed our first full day at the cottage. This dwelling is over 300 years old and was made for and by much shorter people, but it is absolutely charming. We woke up at a goodly hour and then started out for a day of sight-seeing about the country side. We see our first estate, much to Leslie's delight, called Holkham hall. Then we had a picnic by the sea. After that we went to another town where we got ice cream and immediately got caught in the rain. We held up in an old stone basement/ruin for a few minutes than decided to duck into a cafe before it got really bad, which it did as soon as we left the shelter in search of the cafe. Water damage was nill and the tea was perfect. I popped in and lifted up my head and realized: "I've been here before." Indeed I had when I'd been visiting seven years ago. We popped in and out of a few more little towns along the coast and then headed home for a nice dinner of fajitas and a walk in a beautiful nature reserve just outside the cottage. Then back home for some Cosby Show.

Back from the Cottage

2008-07-05T11:56:00.003-06:00

We've just returned this afternoon from three wonderful days in what is exactly what you would imagine when I mention the term: English Cottage. Ducking in from room to room, a starecase no bigger than a closet, and memories as far as the mind's eye can see. Hopefully tonight we will be able to post some highlights. We'll most likely call tomorrow if we can get our calling card situation straightened out. We'll be watching Wembeldon for sure tomorrow at 2PM as Nadal meets Federer. We've really been engrossed in the action. More to come.

Day 3 - To the Cottage

2008-07-02T08:55:00.003-06:00

Today, Leslie, Ellie, Alex, and I drove the 2.5 hour drive north to Mulbarton where Ellie's parents live. I got to see the church where Alex and Ellie were married. It was the first time I'd seen it in six years! We had a lovely lunch waiting for us when we arrived. In an hour or so, we're going to head to the cottage, a fifty minute drive away, where we'll spend our days looking at olde English estates and eating on the shore at restaurants that I'm sure invented fish and chips. We'll be there until Saturday so updates will be sparce as I'm pretty sure the cottage is not equipped with high speed internet, or a computer. Should be fun.
PS Jenn's cookies have been famously received now in two different parts of England. Ellie mom loved hers this afternoon. These sweeties are litrally world famous!

London - Day 2

2008-07-02T08:38:00.002-06:00

On Tuesday, Leslie and I had some time to ourselves to bash about London. We saw the changing of the guards which made our legs, back, and skin sore and was otherwise not too remarkable. Then we walked through St. James Park and sat down to study the Bible (Leslie) and sleep (Andy). We then found a fun restaurant off the Thames river, had lunch, then met up with Alex and Ellie at Covent Garden. They had a bunch of cool shops and wonderful street performers. Most of the pictures are too big to post and forget about the videos, so we'll have to have a slide show at our new house shortly after we return. The most memorable part of the day was when we when out to dinner with Alex and Ellie that night and then saw A Mid-Summer Night's Dream in the Globe theater, where Shakespeare's plays were originally performed. We got home late and slept even later.

London - Day 1

2008-06-30T15:02:00.002-06:00

Leslie and I arrived safely yesterday afternoon to the smiles of Alex and Ellie. We hopped in the car, popped open the bin of cookies that Jenn sent over with us, and headed out for Alex's parents' house. Roger and Irene are two of the sweetest people we've ever met, and we hope you'll all join us in pressuring them to come visit us some day. We had an amazing dinner, as anyone will when eating Irene's cooking, and then Leslie and I caught up on some very sweet sleep. The morning was beautiful as we had breakfast in the back garden (yard) and then we headed to London proper by way of the underground. We saw Big Ben - actually we saw the clock that encases Big Ben (the bell within the clock tower). We saw the house of parliment and Westminister Abbey and the Globe Theater, in which we will see A Mid Summer Night's Dream tomorrow night if all goes to plan, and generally had a wonderful time exploring London and all of her museums, St. Paul's cathedral, and all of her other diversions. St. Paul's was the most amazing cathedral I've ever been in, but we weren't permitted to take pictures, so these will have to suffice.

12 Hour Layover

2008-06-30T14:55:00.002-06:00

On Saturday our flight arrived from Albuquerque to LA at 7:55AM and our departure to Heathrow didn't occur until 9:30 that night, so it actually ended up being a thirteen and a half hour layover. Luckily, Uncle Larry* picked us up for lunch and let us see the costume shop that they owned. The shop was really cool and had tons different kinds of costumes. The restaurant was aweseome, too right off the harbor at seal beach. Our family's been their once before when TJ and I were smaller. Thanks, Uncle Larry!

*not my real uncle

Manitou pictures posted ->

2008-06-11T14:41:00.000-06:00

Check it out! We had a good time with the whole fam at Dad's stomping ground.

Wonder Cocoa

2008-06-06T07:58:00.001-06:00

This morning, before we hit the road, we had a breakfast of oatmeal for Lesie and granola in soy milk for me. It was awesome. But there something even more awesome that I had: my first cup of hot cocoa in over two years. I stopped taking caffiene a long time ago when I found out how crazy it made me. But my wife, who continually enriches my life in big and small ways alike, found me Wonder Cocoa, which is 99.7% caffiene free. I mixed it with soy milk, which is perfect for camping because it doesn't have to be refrigerated until you open it and comes in small boxes that fit easily into these tiny trailor fridges. I also topped it off with sugar. I feel like Ruth sharing my recipes and secrets of the heart!

Farewell

2008-06-05T20:31:00.000-06:00

On our last night of vacay, after everyone but us and the folks had left, we decided to head up to Woodland Park. The Hutchsters said it was a really cool place and we'd have to concure. We found this cool pizza place and passed a wonderful evening with these fine peops that will celebrate their 38th anniversary tomorrow. In these latter years they have become pros at taking pleasure in their family. Thanks for this awesome week, fam. We love you!

We did it!

2008-06-04T16:43:00.001-06:00

We're now sitting in the cog rail qay. It takes us right doown the mountain in an hour and a half...the same distance Dan and I just covered in 7.5 hours. We just saw a black bear, too. It was so cool! They don't have maany around these parts. My next challenge, getting to the bottom with no bathroom on this train!

13000 feet

2008-06-04T13:07:00.000-06:00

We are currently at that elevation and still have 1100 feet to climb. I was not expecting climbing Pikes Peak to be part of my vacay time, but I'm glad it's worked out that way. There's also a pic of Barr Camp, the half way point, where we met the care takers who have lived up there for three years with one vacation. They can never both of them leave at the same time, and when they do they run the six miles down to the base once a week and take the train back up.

From Tent to House

2008-06-04T06:31:00.000-06:00

Well, day three finds us resting up in one of the slide out beds reading and smelling the aroma of italian food wafting from the kitchen. Today we had a great time walking back and forth through Manitou Springs, an amazing town outside Colorado Springs. There was an amazing arcade built over the river on a boardwalk. My ear is sore because Ispent most of the phone with lenders trying to secure the best rate for the house we got on Sunday! It's a cool little number well withing our price range and near school.

Pikes Peak

2008-06-04T06:15:00.000-06:00

Here we are waiting for our breakfast at Uncle Sam's, the only place opened at 6AM in the sleepy little town of Manitou Springs. Dan and I are fixing to hike the 13 miles and climb the 7000 feet in elevation to go to the top of Pikes Peak (14,100 feet).

Flying W

2008-06-03T17:27:00.000-06:00

Last night we went to the Flying W Ranch and had a huge chuckwaagon cookout complete with chunky applesauce, beef, chicken, biscuits, spice cake, and beans (or whistle berries as they call them here). It was amazing and the weather was perfect.

On the road

2008-06-01T14:27:00.000-06:00

Well, we've comenced our vacay and several strange things have already happened. First: we went to McDonald's for the first time in years. I have a feeling we'll probably go more when/if we have kiddos. We also witnessed these strange works of art. The eagle van and the Mona French Fry.