Hurricane Sandy

So, last night we had a hurricane hit New Jersey last night.
The good news is that we are safe and happy. But I thought I'd share some pictures today (instead of in 3 months as is my typical blogging style).

We made some preparation, like most New Jerseyians. In fact, when I went to Walmart Saturday the shelves for flashlights and water were totally empty. I think hurricanes are a lucky natural disaster because you have quite a bit of notice of impending doom.

 Yesterday we started filling up water bottles (our water source is still good, but the city next to us, New Brunswick, had their water source contaminated today.)

Against my initial wishes - Paul convinced me to go for a pre-hurricane walk. It was windy and slightly rainy all day and so Paul practiced his skills for his new found dream job: Hurricane News Reporter. 

And I just tried to walk against the wind. It was nice to get out after all day inside, and knowing we'd be inside for the next several hours.

Once it started getting dark around 6 or 7 the storm really started picking up.

We ate dinner, and watched the news and the storm. It got windier and windier. Eventually, the transformer show began. Bright blue/green flashes in every direction. Paul's best analogy was that Voldemort was on a killing spree. Avada Kedavra! 
We lost power around 8 pm. Luckily, right the power went out right after I had heated up some water for hot chocolate! :)
I took some video, so here is a crappy screen shot!

Candles are pretty useful things! It was fun to read and watch the storm for a while. 

 We went to sleep and slept pretty well, amidst the noisy storm. We woke up and were still without power so we decided to go on a bike ride to check out the damage. It was still a little windy but not raining. 

We had watched this tree snap from our window last night - it's just across the street from us.  

Our bike path included some detours and Paul's cyclocross skills definitely came in handy. 

We rode over the top of the river to see how high it was. It was reaching the branches of the trees on it's banks, and was high on the Landing Lane bridge, but wasn't crazy as when Irene hit.

Coming down the path, you could see where the river had risen to. 

  The river had gone back within it's banks but there was still lots of flooding in Johnson Park.

 

Trees were down all over the place. Huge trees, totally uprooted, limbs broken off, tops of trees broken off. 

 You can see a "domino" effect of fallen trees behind the water in this picture.

 We were more and more convinced that cyclocross bikes are the ideal post-destruction way to get around.

The birds were lovin' it.

 

The roads were covered in leaves. Cyclcross bikes for the win!

We went to survey damage on our favorite thing: the towpath, but had to move this tree out of the way to get across the bridge.

The towpath is blocked by a tree, and the spillway is super overflowed - but hopefully the towpath itself didn't get washed out like it did with Irene. We are crossing our fingers! 

 This sign was just upside and laying in the road (and super heavy so sorry for that awkward pose we have going on).

 Big trees in the road. We kept saying how it felt like Christmas because of 1. the quiet/empty roads and 2. it smelled like Christmas trees (or a woodshop) with all the broken wood everywhere.

 
In other news we got free vouchers to go get breakfast (too bad they didn't have electricity at the student center either so it was cold bagels and fruit) but still a fun experience.

I forgot (slash Paul got sick of me taking pictures) of the giant trees that were uprooted so our friend Drew sent some to me (Drew and Kerri and cute baby Kate still don't have power so we got to go rescue them and enjoy their company tonight - sometimes we just need friends in these situations):

We're so grateful for everyone that checked in on our safety and for everyone praying for the East Coast. We feel lucky to be safe and especially lucky to have power back already, and hope that for everyone else around us.

home states here we come: utah and idaho.

In May I signed up for a marathon in Utah.

The next week I bought plane tickets home.

I love the rare chances we have to go home, see our families, breathe the dry desert air, and enjoy mountains and new landscapes. We fit as many adventures as possible into this trip.

But first - I packed. 

And then we flew. 

I have no idea when or how these  photos happened. Cross country plane rides do crazy things to you!

 And finally there they were.

Lakes!

Mountains!

 Provo!

 Dirty lakes (Utah Lake).

 and finally... Home. 

Murray, Utah

Paul's bike made the trip as well. 

And his first order of business upon arrival was assembling then riding. 

And then we made the drive up to Morgan to attend my Grandma Carruth's 80th birthday party.

It was such a nice coincidence to be able to be there. 

Mountain Green is so nice.  

These are my roots (both sides of my family live in Morgan County) and I'm so proud of them. 

My aunts did a great job displaying some features of my grandma's life.  

My sweet grandma.  

Eric got some good baby-holding-while-eating practice with my cousin's new baby. His wife Kimberly is due in December! First Carruth grandchild and the second is coming in April (yay Celeste and Brandon!) 

My favorite part of the program was my sweet grandpa singing a melody of songs for my grandma. I love his singing voice, but I also admire the sweet love that they share. I wish you all could have been there to hear it.  

 On Sunday we spent some time with Paul's family for Drake's birthday and ordination to the priesthood. 

Pre-church Amari and I built her fort.  

That evening we enjoyed a nice drive to Idaho with Donna. No music or entertainment required, just three hours of nice conversation - and me just staring out the window and being able to see for so many miles. I really miss that in the East.  

We had a great time in Idaho.

I had to work during the days, but after work we had lots of adventures to pack in. First up was a trip to Reed's Dairy, with all our animal friends. 

And my favorite chocolate milk.  

And a brown cow (chocolate milk and ice cream).  

On the drive over to Justin and Megan's Donna and Paul started planning our Yellowstone trip.   

Monday Night Football at J + M's meant soldier time with Lukey... 

and brewskies with the older twins. 

Soda is a rare occasion in their lives (sometimes that happens when your dad is a Dentist), but they were just best buds sharing their rootbeer and cream sodas in their NFL jerseys.  

Tuesday night, after Dentist appointments, we went to the older twins soccer games, and I loved this (and every other) chance I had to see the new twins. This picture describes their personalities well - Jane, beautiful and reserved, Owen, handsome and alllllwayyyysss smiling. 

I love them so much and want move them to New Jersey right now. 

Every time we go back to Idaho Paul and I request Donna's popcorn. 

She is always making our dreams come true.  

My other dream for Idaho was to do my last marathon training run around the Snake River. 

So, right after my dentist appointment, numb cheeks and all - I made it happen. 

And my last Idaho dream was to go to Yellowstone, which we did right after this perfect run.