Raleigh: Week Two

Todd started his job yesterday! The summer went by so quickly and so slowly--it seems like eternity since graduation, but it's only been two months. He's only two days in, but loves it so far! He really likes the company and his boss, he's excited about his opportunities, and he has his own office.

I basically chill at home watching the Olympics, organizing, and doing chores. I've made homemade cleaning supplies and started growing my own green onions. It's getting a little old after only two days (this does not bode well) but my new/old job is officially in the works, so hopefully I'll have plenty to do soon.

Our apartment is still not looking like home-- too many unopened boxes and unmade decorating decisions (bought the above curtains, now questioning those and the pillows...story of my life). But we laugh at least once a day at what a dump we used to live in compared to where we are now! Though when we got home from Utah, we had an ant invasion and I found a squirmy bug on my toothbrush. Other than that... good. :)

It's still weird that we live in Raleigh, but hopefully it will feel more and more like home.

Utah: Hagen Reunion

As luck would have it, we made it to the bi-annual Hagen Family Reunion at the beautiful Pineview Reservoir in Huntsville. Parker and Hayden were so excited to see us, Todd especially. They thought the rental condo was our house.

Todd played lots of games outside with the nephews. Mostly very raucous and active.

Right after this, Hayden turned to Jana and said "Uncle Todd is so cool!" in his little Boston-accent lisp.

I went out on the lake with Todd, Trent, Tanner, Tyler, and Jim. I was just there to photograph the carnage.

The lake was pretty choppy, so Jim eased up on his legendary tube towing. But he still managed to knock off Trent and Tanner.

Todd fell off electively.

We got to catch up with Grandpa & Grandma Hagen. We've missed going over to their house and working in the garden. They are so great!

We taught them how to make s'mores... I can't believe they'd never had them previously, but they said it was the first time!

Marian especially loved them. She is the coolest grandma around.

We also met one of our new nieces, Payton. She is so sweet and has the greatest wispy red hair. She was transfixed by Uncle Todd and his silly faces. 

I get why parents say they could just stare at their baby all day-- EVERYTHING THEY DO IS ADORABLE. Especially the smiles.

The whole Lee Hagen family minus Robbie, Luke, Reed, Gina, Janae, and Dane. 

Since the last reunion two years ago, the group has expanded by six kids and one spouse.

It's fun to see the different phases families go through-- Todd is one of the oldest Hagen grandkids (all but three of them are pictured), and I'm in the middle of the Ballantynes. My extended family is too big to have a reunion anymore!

 Jim & Cheri's Family

Minus most of the Zornes kids, who we haven't seen in far too long.

As is usual with family, some of the best times were spent doing a whole lot of nothing in particular.

Utah: Provo

Because Todd's new job starts later than his old one was supposed to, we got to go out to Utah for 9 days. Going to Utah is always a weird experience--it's a great place in some ways and straight up weird in others. We're out of the Utah Mormon Culture loop now and I don't understand Davis County's love of Kate Gosselin hair, Ed Hardy knockoffs, and mispronouncing Ts and words ending in -ing (snarky... also true). But I love being at Mom & Dad's house in Provo.

We spent the first half of the trip in Provo. We taught Cait how to swing a (real) golf club, went mini golfing (she's a cheat) and spent an afternoon driving Provo Canyon and the Alpine Loop.



Utah looks astonishingly brown from the air, especially coming from the bug jungle where we now live. But from the ground, it is beautiful--especially Provo Canyon.

And you really cannot beat Sundance. If we hadn't been married in Nauvoo, I would have chosen Sundance for our wedding reception. It's one of my favorite places in the state, after home and possibly the south campus path at BYU.

 Todd tried hard to get Scooter running, but she seemed to be past saving.

Cute Cait, cute scoot.

We also celebrated my birthday. It's still two weeks away--longest. celebration. ever. It was weird to celebrate just my birthday-- Richard's birthday is two days before mine, so they've always been celebrated together! But he was in Seattle, so it was just me this time.

Mom and Dad were sneaky and got me to the Apple Store after lunch at Tucanos. I was supposed to tell Todd exactly what I wanted so he and Dad could come back later to buy it and surprise me. But unless I'm given a directive, I blab and philosophize and generally do not give a straight answer. So they gave up and just told me to pick something out. New MacBook Air, hooray! 

My after-dinner party request was badminton. Playing with Cait was a riot, like wet-your-pants funny. We were horrible-- but you can't beat the view from home!

Raleigh: Week One

We've been in Raleigh for a week now. Todd's Uncle Dave and Aunt Stephanie helped us move in--the guys were champs hauling all our stuff up to the third floor! It was exhausting and I only did the light stuff.

Other than that, we love our apartment! It is infinitely better than our last. (I know I made it look decent and the pictures do not show it, but it was gross.) We feel like we live in a palace now--a laundry room, good water pressure and no mold! Human again!

The area we live in is a lot like Todd's hometown (West Linn, Oregon). There are nice homes, a country club, lots of pine trees, it's been overcast a lot... maybe we actually are in Oregon? No hippies though. And WAY too hot.

I want to get out and do things, but I don't have a list of Raleigh must-sees. There must be something--Business Week named it America's best city (and they didn't even factor in the low cost of living!). We don't have any friends yet, but the people at church were very friendly and welcoming.

It's still weird that we're here and not in Charlottesville, but we like it alright so far.

Who's amazing?

This is our luggage for a 9-day trip to Utah.

The giant backpack only has our computers in it.

The tote is empty (for souvenirs), though I may add a pair of shoes if my OCD can handle it.

The suitcase has our regular clothes plus swim gear and dress clothes.

And I feel like I've seriously overpacked. 

*applause*

You can always go downtown.

I talked Todd into checking out downtown Raleigh this afternoon. He is not a city mouse.

We drove all the way to the center of downtown in NO TRAFFIC and the parking was FREE. We weren't sure we were in the right place. I know it's not Chicago or DC, but a clean, quiet, uncrowded city? Found it.

We checked out the state capital and the NC Museum of History. Both free, both cool, go Raleigh.

All statues of male historical figures are posed the same way.

Goodbye, Charlottesville

 The whole time we lived in Charlottesville, I wanted to hire a photographer to take pictures of us at Darden. We were never able to schedule it due to our unpredictable, long recruiting experience. So I gave up and decided to take some myself.

Then we had two weeks of temperatures topping 100 degrees and had to visit Raleigh to look for a place to live. Then we had to pack. Then I sold the cabinet in which I kept the camera and accidentally left the camera in it (OH MY GOSH). There were tears.

The morning before we left, I got the camera back. So the actual morning we drove out of Charlottesville, Todd and I walked up to Darden to take some pictures. It was so humid. The minute we walked out the door, it started sprinkling AND the tripod attachment snapped off. Did I mention we slept (ha) on an air mattress the night before? And these pictures were taken before 7 a.m.?

What I'm trying to say is, it's a miracle these pictures ever happened.

As imperfect as they are, I'm glad to have them. This place represents a lot of memories.

I already miss it!