MONDAY
Was a busy rush of trying to clean the house so well that the roaches wouldn't set up shop in our absents, as well as packing up the car and a few bags to head down to Penn State for Travis's interview (4hr drive, not bad). We ended up taking Nala because a kennel there was $20 a night vs New York's $60 a night (I don't think so, Tim) and the boys LOVED having their dog in the car with them.
As we drove in to State College I had this sense of deja vu. There was a building with "happy Valley" glowing in the dark. Their main street was eerily similar to Provo's, and out each window there were college students...everywhere. Good. Clean. College students. It was like being home. It got weirder as we passed all the blue and white banners with cougar tracks on them; turns out they are the "Nittany Lions," which are cougars. Blue and White Cougars. Blew our minds. At the hotel there was much bouncing on the beds, swimming in the pool, and we all got our own giant beds! The boys loved it. 
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| Practicing kicking |
TUESDAY
Travis was off to be wined and dined while we spent the morning watching as many cartoons as we wanted, eating breakfast in bed, playing hide 'n' seek in the room, and then exploring the town. At the park we met the nicest women and kids that we ended up spending our remaining two hours there, just falling in love with the town and the people. Before we picked up Travis we headed to their... get this... famous campus creamery! Again, all decked out in cougar tracks in the blue and white colors; trippy. So then it was off to get Nala. Off to get Travis. Back on the road. We loved everything about that quick little trip of ours, and Travis really liked the program there, so Penn State... we might just be seen you again. 
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| State College was so beautiful |
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| Accidentally ordered way too much ice cream! |
WEDNESDAY
We just recouped. Travis loved looking at x-rays and then getting to come home in time for lunch. I worked on homework. The boys were basically free to play and watch cartoons as we recovered from two nights a very little sleep
THURSDAY
Major scootering, Monster Nachos, Massive laundry run, and a night out for me and my friend Whitney that resulted in a little Christmas shopping (loved it since Christmas is strictly contraband in our home until after Thanksgiving. As I hung out near the Christmas trees I kept breathing in the fake sent in hopes it would sustain me another week; I imagine that's a big of how a junkie feels.
FRIDAY
Cleaning. Homeschool. Recess. And then to the park for end of the day family fun; this was another highlight of the week for me.
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| If you look in the top left and right corners you can see world trade center one, and the empire state building in the other. |
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| Learned to roll down the hill |
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| wrote his name in the sand all by himself! "Maddix Liam" |
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| I love our park |
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| I love our town. "This town..." -Frank Sinatra |
Church leaning and a talent show at the end, performed by the children of the cleaning parents; made the cleaning worth. We all laughed our heads off. Family Movie and take-out.
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| they sang songs, did magic tricks, karate and dance moves, and even pulled a member from the audience to assist. |
SUNDAY
As we sat in sacrament, surprised the boys were behaving so well, I noticed a few signs that made my stomach drop. Long story short, I had the realization it was my Sunday to teach R.S., something I was convinced was next week. The topic was Blessings of the Temple, and I had been so excited to plan a really wonderful lesson because i LOVE this topic, and I blew it. Thanks to Travis's help during Sunday school, one hour later I stood in front of the class with some great topics and stories. I'll tell you that lesson went exactly how the Lord wanted it, I think. I think for once, procrastination as actually better; and I'm glad that's over again for another month! Then we had the sister's over for dinner and spent a little extra time talking because we are probably losing our Sis. Batsuuri to transfers today; we just love the sisters here.
