HIlton Head

This past weekend, Alan had "Spring Break" (aka a 3 day weekend) so Ly+Alan decided to get in the car and go to one of their favorite places - Hilton Head. It was, as always, a wonderful weekend full of relaxation. Ly spent a glorious amount of time sitting in the sand soaking up the sunshine. She also came home with a lovely sunburn on her face as a souvenir from the time she fell asleep and forgot to reapply sunscreen. Awesome.

The trip wasn't all sunshine and sand though -- it did rain quite a bit. Luckily, Ly+Alan stayed at an awesome resort and so they spent some time watching movies, eating snacks, and relaxing in their glorious hotel room while listening to the sound of the rain hitting the balcony. Of course they did go on some nice long walks on the beach in the rain, which was relaxing. 

There is just something about the beach that makes all your worries wash away, even when it is raining.

Summer: InstaRecap

This summer Alan has been swamped at the hospital - surgical rotation and all - but Ly+Alan have managed to use every free moment possible to have some fun whether it was traveling, playing with geese, going to the drive-in, and of course moving.  Keep up with us on instagram @purplepandaquilts

Sayanara Summer!

Ly has been lucky enough to have an excellent summer. Not only did she get to see 14 states in less than 3 weeks, but she also got to fly across the united states to see family twice...and everyone knows how much Ly loves flying. The highlight of the summer, obviously, was the insane amount of time Ly got to spend with Alan without a medical textbook in sight. It was excellent! Camping in the woods, impromptu road trips, weekend getaways, and of course quality beach time. Sadly, every summer must come to an end as Alan starts his second year of med school this week.

Here's hoping this next year in med school goes smoothly -- especially as Alan preps for the Boards.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Alan + Ly spent the past week playing in the Smokies. It was beautiful, relaxing, and so very hot. It rained most of the time, which one would think would alleviate the heat but alas it only served to increase the humidity. Ick. Ly was glad to finally be in Tennessee and for the opportunity to appreciate the vastness and beauty of some of the oldest mountains in America.

A Trip to Maine

After their California adventures, Alan still had more time off from school and work at the hospital, so Ly+Alan decided last minute to drive up to Acadia National Park in Maine and go camping for a week with a stop in Boston. They had a great time despite some less than favorable (read: rainy) weather for a few days - which was appreciated because it decreased the number of bugs and crowds in the park. Ly learned how to BBQ and cooked dinner all by herself one night, and it was actually quite good. Alan focused on making roaring fires perfect for making s'mores and keeping warm.

They spent the days exploring Acadia - the tidal pools, the cliffs, the waterfalls, carriage roads and of course the infamous Park Loop Drive. Ly loved taking photos but was a bit sad at the lack of animal but she did see a beaver, a bald eagle, lots of seagulls, a ginormous black slug, some deer and a some nesting Peregrine Falcons.

After their Acadia adventures, Ly+Alan drove down to Boston for a few days. It was their first time back to Beantown since they got married. It was fun to see the Longfellow Chapel and their old stomping grounds as well as to explore downtown Boston. The best part, by far, was getting to catch up with some super close friends. If only Boston and Richmond were closer!

Muir Woods...a photo only post

California Highway 1

Recently Ly+Alan took a trip to Northern California to hang out with Ly's family and explore what Northern California has to offer. Of course they were not there for months at a time so they didn't have time to do everything. But one of the things they did do was drive on Highway 1 by the ocean. Alan had never driven on it before so it was a new experience for him. Ly had, of course, been up and down highway 1 multiple times and still got car sick from the curvy roads. This time Ly+Alan drove to Point Reyes National Seashore and stopped at Muir Beach for some fresh air and photo taking. The drive was beautiful -- California is such a gorgeous state that has it all - the ocean, mountains, trees, deserts...and sunshine. =)

Alan's First Spring Break

This year for Spring Break, Ly+Alan loaded up the corolla and drove down to the Everglades for five days of camping fun followed by a weekend of luxury on Hilton Head Island. It was exactly what the Doctor-to-be ordered. So much fun and relaxation!

Highlights of the trip included:

- Snorkeling in Key Largo...yes, Ly managed to overcome her fear of the ocean and loved every second of her snorkeling adventure where she swam with tons of fish including a reef shark.

- An early morning ranger guided canoe trip in the Everglades...Ly only got nervous once when they were feet away from an alligator eating his breakfast. But they also saw a ton of rare birds including a bald eagle and a giant (13 ft) American crocodile.

- An afternoon canoe trip in Biscayne National Park...where Ly + Alan spent some quality time with a very inquisitive manatee who hung out so close to the canoe that Ly could touch him.

- Watching the 'gators hunt on a moonlit walk...it was a bit creepy/super cool to see their eyes reflect the light of the flashlights.

- Bird watching in the Everglades...Alan loves the Anhinga birds who dive under the water for their food and live with the alligators.

- A visit to Cape Canaveral National Seashore - one of the most gorgeous beaches ever

- Relaxing on the beach of Hilton Head and then playing in the Atlantic Ocean as the tide came back in

- Riding bikes on the beach...Ly did mange to go a whopping 30 feet in the hour without Alan holding her bike. It was a fun adventure and she vows to learn to ride a bike before their next trip to Hilton Head.

- Really yummy fresh caught seafood.

Anyway the trip was a success and easily one of the best vacations Ly+Alan have been on in a long time.

2010 wrap up

2010 is finally over and done with...and while it wasn't the best year on record (surgeries, near death experiences, moves, job hunts, etc.) it ended on a high note.

Alan had a long winter break from school so Ly + Alan got in the car and drove 12 hours south to Florida. Then they spent a glorious week at the Happiest Place on Earth aka Disney WORLD! It. Was. So. Much. Fun. The crowds were low, the magic was high and it was certainly worth every penny spent. They stayed on the park grounds, got free dining (and thereby ate at some fantastic restaurants) and partied quite hard - stayed in the parks from before rope drop (7 in the morning) 'til sometimes 3 in the morning. Highlights included: Being stuck on Big Thunder at 2 am on the top during the Lunar Eclipse, Riding Big Thunder 6 times in a row, Alan surprising Ly with light up mickey mouse ears, watching awesome fireworks shows, Riding Mission: Space multiple times in a row, Extra Magic Hours at Magic Kingdom 'til 3 am, Behind the Seeds Tour at Epcot, Toy Story Mania, and of course just enjoying some much needed time together.

the castle at night, covered in ice. So beautiful!

Standing in front of Toy Story Mania...an awesome ride and the best themed part of Hollywood Studios.

Just after Alan surprised Ly with light up mickey ears.

A mickey mouse tomato from the behind the seeds tour

On the teacups...Alan spun them so fast Ly couldn't walk straight

At the entrance of Magic Kingdom!!

After returning from their magical getaway, Ly+Alan still had a week of blissful time together before Alan had to return to school. The annual Christmas Eve Tree Hunt occurred, quite successfully with an end at, of all places, Home Depot. Next a bi-coastal tree decorating party occurred via skype...which was tons of fun. This year's new addition to the tree included a Wall-E ornament and a mickey mouse head purchased at Disney World. Christmas Day included opening presents via skype, a 3 course meal, and lots of relaxation. Thanks to skype, Ly+Alan were able to enjoy their first Christmas just the two of them AND got to spend time with their extended family.

The new Mickey Mouse Christmas Ornament

Wall-E! Only the best ornament ever =)

2010 Christmas Tree

On New Years Eve Ly + Alan bid a welcome farewell to 2010 from the comfort of their own home. A movie marathon, some yummy food, and work on a few projects allowed for a relaxing transition from 2010 to 2011...a million times better than last years hospital extravaganza.

Philly

This past weekend, Ly+Alan finally went to Philly with some of their friends. They braved the crazy July 4th crowds and got to see everything on her list (well except the Betsy Ross house cuz Ly discovered that it was fake and apparently Ms. Ross didn't even make the first American flag). The best part was hanging out with friends. Here are a few pictures from their adventures in the city of love.

Pennsylvania Dutch Country

Today Ly+Alan took Ly's dad to go visit Pennsylvania. Our first stop was Hershey where Rory was enamoured with the Hershey kiss lights and the chocolate factory tour. Everyone enjoyed the tour - especially Alan who ended up with nine pieces of candy at the conclusion of the tour. After the stop in Hershey, Alan drove everyone up to Lancaster County for what had to be the highlight of the day. Ly's dad grew up in Northern PA and since he arrived in DC would not stop talking about the following things he wanted to experience while on the east coast: Snow storms, scrapple, goods potato chips, and shoofly pie. While we had the snow thing covered, we were a bit lacking on the food parts - hence the trip to Lancaster County. While there Ly + Alan watched in amazement while Ly's dad discovered all his favorite childhood treats in an Amish market. After Ly's dad mini feast in the market, we drove back to Hershey for dinner at a yummy restaurant and then back home for an evening of games.

Somehow Ly's dad managed to convince a nice Amish lady to give him a "sample" (aka piece) of shoofly pie for free which he promptly ate while roaming the marketplace.

Ly's dad with his scrapple, which he bought and stored in a cooler and then cooked at home. He even made Ly try a bite of it. Which she did because she is an excellent daughter (she hated it)

Xmas Time in NYC

Last weekend Ly + Alan went up to visit Rich in NYC for the weekend. The weather was icky - it rained a lot and was freezing cold, but that didn't stop Ly from insisting on going to see the various holiday sights around the city. Alan and Rich indulged her holiday desires as long as Ly promised to enjoy an evening of Chinese food and movies. It was a win-win situation for all involved. In addition to seeing the holiday festivities, Ly also got in some shopping on fifth avenue.

Ly + Alan loved seeing Rich before Christmas and hope to get up to NYC again soon.