A brief pause to reminisce...

This doesn't really have anything to do with anything, but I just got this pic from our going-away party for Princess.Aren't we an impressive group of girls??  Now we're all missing our daily dose of Princess out here, but somehow we still get by.

And, this is what it looks like on my campus right now.  I heart the fall out here.  

P.S. I posted some more theme park pics a couple entries ago.

I still heart NYC

What an awesome weekend.  And I have not a single picture to show for it.  I'll see if I can make up for it with artificial renditions of what it was really like...

I took the Vamoose bus up to NYC with my classmate, Caitie, so we could hit up a career fair in Stamford, CT.  This was my second career fair and not NEARLY as overwhelming as the first one.  All in all, I'd say it was a worthwhile excursion.

This was a very laid-back trip to NY for me.  I've seen the sights before, so I was just taking my time and enjoying myself.  

Both Caitie and I have friends in Manhattan, so we spent our nights there.  I stayed with an old friend from the Hawaii days, Kate.  

She's attending Hunter College, and her dorm is in a building that used to be an insane asylum.  Isn't that awesome?  I had a great time catching up with her - she's been on a mission since I last saw her!  

We visited the Frick Museum,

 

and while she was in class, I got to kick it in Central Park, my favorite New York location of all time.  

It's beautiful right now with all the fall leaves, and you just can't beat people-watching in Central Park.  It felt great to be doing essentially nothing, especially in light of the city I was in.

We also got to meet up with Caitie and her mom and aunt to eat at Agave, 

a mexican restaurant that was actually pretty good!  

But that was only the beginning of my weekend.  Once I got back to DC, I played laser tag with some friends, paid a visit to Ben's Chili Bowl, and attended a pumpkin party (everything pumpkin that is edible) and a "call to cake" party for four people who pretty much have birthdays at the same time.  I love my life.

More apples, pumpkins, and family

I love having easy access to major airports. It gives me so many more excuses to see family, because they have to go through me to get to others. I am the gatekeeper!  Such has been the case throughout October, as people keep coming out to see cute little Asher. Most recently, my dad came out and we all went down to Broadway to join the clan that was already there for Asher's blessing. (More face time with the kids?! Okay!!) Look at this face. I just love the little wrinkles.  All together now..."Awwwwwwwww!"

We also went out to an apple orchard/pumpkin patch right outside of Charlottesville. We had every intention of actually picking apples, but it was freezing! So instead we drank some cider, took advantage of some photo ops, yoinked some pre-picked apples out of the barrel, and were on our merry way. (Yep, more apples! Which of course means more apple delicacies! Today Marcia, Kassandra, and I made not one but TWO delicious apple desserts. Hmm...who to share with? Anyone? Anyone??)
I let Mia play with my camera during lunch. In the spirit of the Halloween season, she immediately started wandering around telling everyone to make a scary face, and then capturing it. Look at all these faces! Aren't you scared?  I'm terrified! (Her scary face-making ability is a source of pride for me. Taught her everything I know. :o)

I also got to visit the Pentagon Memorial with my parents (yep, only time I ever see new DC things is when other people come to town and request it). It was just finished in time for the 7th anniversary of 9-11 this year. Here are some shots, for those of you who may not have made it there yet...which I'm guessing is probably all of you.
Each of these represent a person, and there is water in the little trough beneath them, flowing in different directions.  
Yes, I know that the lighting is bad on these last two shots.  It was either us or the memorials that would stand out, and I chose not us.  (See the Air Force one too, in the background?)
That's the Pentagon behind us.  I believe this is the side that was hit.

Apples and Kings

A few weekends ago I decided I just needed to not be in DC.  It's the fall!  Why not!  So I spent the morning in Shenandoah picking apples with Simone and Lauren and some other friends. 

It was a beautiful day, and I got to make brown bag apple pie!  (Big hit with everyone, by the way.)

Maybe that would be enough for someone, but not me.  After I got back, I went down to Kings Dominion with Jocelyn and Jeph.  They haunted it for Halloween! 

 

I'd never been before and I was impressed with the wide selection of roller coasters.  

And of course, we had to play on the bumper cars. 

We made friends with a little 13-year-old girl who was there with her family but kept going on rides all by herself.  We bumped into her a few times throughout the course of the night.  Brave girl!  Her favorite ride is Volcano!  I'm just glad she befriended us and not someone else who was...not us.   

My newest favorite boys

I'm pleased to introduce Asher Matthew Scott Croshaw...

...and Cole Wright Croshaw.

They are the newest additions to my ever-growing list of nephews and nieces, and by some astounding stroke of luck, I've gotten to visit both of them over the past week. Each is a miracle, and is perfect in every way. This brings my total of those with whom I have aunt stewardship over, to 11. (And 12 is coming soon!) And you know what? It never gets old. Every single one of them is exactly the same amount of exciting as the one before. They're all favorites.

Unfortunately, my trip to see Asher was a quick one, and was spent entirely at the hospital. But there will be more soon. :) I did get to spend a little time in Cleveland while visiting Cole. Colin and Lori took us kids to the Science Center (Mia: I am NOT a grown-up!), and we got to explore around all the fun exhibits. After that, Mia and Jack completely wore me out by playing tag and tackling me on the grass outside. I loved every bit of the whirlwind trip.

Here's a few of my favorite shots from the weekend.

Ben, Ben, and Ben's

That is correct.  Three of them, all on the same night.

Not too long ago, I bumped into an old friend from the BYU days, Ben (1).  Turns out he's out here going to school, too!!  And he's been here a year!!  First time I saw him was just a few weeks ago.  I'm excited about this.  He's my favorite Salsa dancing/skiing buddy, and I haven't been doing either of those as much as I should.  Anyway, last week we went to see Ben Folds (2).  Dude is amazing.  I was inspired.  Here's a taste:

After that, all I wanted to do was go to school the next day and bang on one of the practice pianos on campus.  ...I didn't, but I definitely thought about it a lot.

Ben (1) humored me by letting me stick to my usual concert tradition of visiting Ben's Chili Bowl (3) after the show.  Good times were had by all, thanks to Ben (1,2,3)!

Colonial Idol

Here's a vid to tide everyone over.  This guy just finished singing "Hinges," complete with all the actions and a pretty impressive handstand.  I keep hoping someone will send me a Paula picture they took when I wasn't paying attention, but this fuzzy, far-away image will have to suffice unless I hear otherwise...

UPDATE: I heard otherwise!!  Not close-up or anything, but here we are with all of our contestants.

Retreat from real life

So, I don't have class on Wednesdays, isn't that cool? Last week I decided to take advantage of it. Jeph and I headed over to the waterfront and went kayaking on the beautiful, clear Potomac River - something I've wanted to do for some time, despite the actual disgustingness of the water. It was a great time exploring under Key Bridge and around George- town (pictured behind us) and discussing how we wanted to invent a combination kayak/paddle boat and call it Kttksvrdrdgn. Marcia and I have since decided that Jeph has secret Jedi powers that enable him to convince people that not only do they want to do whatever Jeph wants to do, but also that it's the greatest and most fun idea they've ever heard. And in all fairness, it usually is.

This weekend was my ward's annual big "camping" trip/retreat at Camp Greentop. Always a fun chance to make new friends, catch up with old friends I'd been thinking about, and just chill out and enjoy the beauty that is nature. Which I needed. We even pulled out our home-made game of horseshoes (except it's with golf balls on strings that you try to wrap around PVC pipes. It's more fun!)

and we got some new fans!

Our service project got rained out, so a few of us took a side trip to Gettysburg, which I'd never seen before.

Very sobering, although I've never seen such an abundance of monuments in one location before. And I live in DC!!

Marcia and I kept the tradition alive by doing a dance for skit night. Last year we fulfilled my dream, this year it was her turn:

My hands are actually bruised from how hard we clapped. We put that together in two weeks! Not bad, if I do say so myself. We also did a spoof on American Idol with all the contestants singing Primary songs. I was Paula. (I've never worn so much makeup and bling. Ever.) I told everyone they were beautiful and unique and authentic. I think I told one girl I wanted to hang her from my rear-view mirror. While this skit came secondary to me in importance, I got a lot more compliments on my Paula performance. Oh well. Sad to say, I have no pictures. You'll have to take my word for it.

Nuggets of awesome

So, two completely unrelated people told me today that I need to give an update. I had no idea my adventures were in such high demand. School has been a crazy adjustment but it hasn't been hard enough to slow me down yet...I've just never had a camera when fun goes on. But since everyone asked so nice, I'll dredge up what nuggets of adventure I can think of to share...

Lately a lot of friends and family have been sending me pictures of the new additions to their families. Well, here are MY newest additions. I'd like you to meet Strategy, Statistics, Economics, and Accounting. They're very nice. 

Labor Day was a day of spontaneity. I went swimming with Lauren, and I went to a Nats game in the new stadium with Jocelyn and Jeph. (First time I've been inside - it's pretty nice! And they have Ben's Chili Bowl inside, can life get better? I submit that it can NOT!) Nats

actually beat Philly soundly, which is odd. After that, we all went to a cookout we'd heard about. Not one thing planned in advance. Love it. Here you can all see the wonder that is Nationals Park, made famous by a visit from the Pope earlier this year.

I messed up my ankle right before my race and wasn't allowed to run again until my ankle stopped swelling. Doctor Dad's orders. All the pain finally went away earlier this week, so I got to run!  I explored the neighborhood near campus. Nice area. I found Yuma Street, isn't that awesome? Some lady tried to solicit me to sign her petition to let her run for some public office as I ran by. I love that it's that simple to be eligible. Hooray for Democracy.

I found the piano practice rooms today at AU and got to bang away on the keys for a bit.  Joyness!

Let me introduce you to my Salsa dancing shoes. I bought them in Spain, which is ironic because no one Salsa dances there. 

I feel the need to make introductions because it has been so long since I have crossed paths with said shoes. But tonight we got to spend a little quality time together when I went with some classmates to Club Lima. (Restaurant by day, Salsa club by night! Lessons every Monday night and ladies are free until 11!) It felt so good to be dancing. Worth every blister that I now have.  (Also of note: you see a small portion of the amazing quilt my mom made for me.  One example of her coolness.  Here's one more: today I got a little surprise package from her in the mail.  One of them was a note that said, "I accidentally opened your fortune cookie." with a fortune that says "Soon you will be sitting on top of the world."  See what I mean?  Coolness.)

The upcoming weekends will be replete with awesomeness of blissful proportions.  There's some good stuff on the agenda.  I promise to share it all with everyone as quickly as possible.

It's a race!

This weekend I ran in a triathlon in beautiful Luray, VA with my friends, Lauren and Kara.  In celebration of current world events, my friends and I did the Olympic-distance tri.  And, in celebration of not having enough time or motivation on our hands, we did a relay, each of us contributing just one leg of the journey.  That actually ended up being very cool because I got to watch and enjoy the rest of the race.  I did the run, and I'm pretty sure it was the fastest time I've ever gotten in a 10-K.  Yay, me!  (My motivation: I had to finish before a girl whose teammate had been trash-talking one of my teammates during the bike leg.  Not cool, biker dude!)

I think we finished in about 3 hours.  Action shots will be posted once they become available.  The whole race was very scenic and beautiful, and only a little bit hot for my leg.  (But not humid, which was a dream come true!)  Humor me, while I share just a few examples of the scenic beauty.  It makes my mountain/lake-loving heart smile.

This little boy was cheering for his daddy.  He was definitely the biggest fan in attendance.

(I had to sneak in just one cool DC shot that I got when I went to see Superman at Screen on the Green for FHE. :o)

Finally I see the Baltimore aquarium

That's right, and it only took me 3 years to do it.  I went up with a couple friends, Jen and Nick, and we had ourselves a grand ol' time.  I must say, it really is pretty awesome.  Worth the hype - but I'm not sure if it's worth the $29 entry fee.  Good thing Nick hooked us all up with his military discount.

They've got a three-legged sea turtle,

(I hear they're making a prosthetic leg for the little guy. So nice of them.)

more different turtles with really long necks,

 anemones,


frogs, birds, and lots and lots of beautiful fish.  And some that aren't so beautiful.  

My personal favorite was probably the Marbled prehensile-tailed lizard, for obvious reasons.