So I just wanted to give everyone a sneak peak of some of the pictures Josh has taken while in Switzerland! He says its been snowing there almost everyday! He actually got to go on a 12 mile run there today! I think thats awesome to say the least! So far Josh has gotten to see Italy, Germany and Switzerland! Pretty outstanding!

I can't wait for another insturment repair! Hopefully I can make an appearance and go explore with him! And he'll be home in 4 days!!! I can't wait! I have missed him a ton!!!

Buttons

SO I thought I would share my latest creations with you. To begin with I have a new found love for buttons. I have a huge bag of them that I just keep adding to whenever I can. One of my favorite things to do is go to this really cool vintage shop on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill and sort through their buttons. They have an old red wagon just filled with them...all kinds and colors. It paradise for someone like me. I think Josh gets a kick out of it too...its like I'm on a treasure hunt trying to find the most unique buttons I can.

Now to go back to the beginning though I first started working with buttons last year. I made my mom a mothers day present last year and the idea was to use buttons to represent thr foliage of a tree. It was really cool in my opinion and from there I decided that I wanted to make another button tree for my house as well!

The other button project that I took on tonight was making button flowers as I call them. I saw something very similar to them on a trip this past summer and I fell in love with them. I hope you enjoy my latest creations! I had a good time today making them! I miss making art...its something that I wish I had more time for!

Its Snowing!!!

So the one time Josh goes out of town of course there has to be an extreme snow storm!!! We have about 5-6inches of snow on the ground and its still coming! Now let me give you some background information on me...I don't do cold. There is nothing joyous or happy about it being so cold that water freezes before it hits the ground! I have never lived anywhere where snow is a common phenomenon! But since I am one of those "glass half-ful" people I decided that I would go romp around outside and have some fun...that was until my fingers froze and I came back inside and sat by my fire place until I thawed back out!

Since this is my first snow experience here in Durham I figured that it was only right to build a snowman and use buttons for his eyes and nose...I think my favorite part of him are his stick arms though! He isn't very tall but for my first one here in Durham I didn't think he was half bad! Now Nina (our great dane)and I are camped out for the rest of the weekend. I can't really tell if she likes the snow or not...she just keeps running around trying to figure out why her feet keep sinking! My neighbors are all outside sledding on the ice slick that is now our street...I think I'm going to have to pass on that one because I like my bones to stay in one piece! I know, I know...I should probably go out and give it a try but I think I'll hold out till I go somewhere that does have a base layer of cement and asphalt! So I think the rest of the day will be filled with painting, riding my trainer, doing school work and reading books! I'll be sure to keep you posted though since I won't be going anywhere anytime soon!

Quite a busy start to the new year!

So far this year is starting off with many "firsts" to say the least! To just name a few I started my PhD this month at NC State University. I'll be getting a degree in Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Science...very long winded I know! I basically want to teach at a college level when I get done in some type of environmental science department. I think that one of the biggest crimes happening right now is when uninformed people try to inform other uninformed people on how to make an informed discussion. I want to help teach people...I want them to want to learn. Another first of this year is that Josh is going on an adventure to Switzerland! I am so jealous (I will be hanging out at home probably watching chick flicks and working out for 10 days on my own...let me know if you want to come visit)! I wish I could go with him! He is going to get to go to three places this trip and see some pretty amazing things! He leaves this Saturday!

The other big first of this year is that Josh's brother John just had successful heart surgery this past weekend! He had to have a valve replaced and everything went great! He got up and walked around some today! Although he has a long road of recovery ahead of him everything is looking good! We are so thankful that everything went so well this past weekend!

Gainseville, Florida

I just got back from my mini-vacay in Florida with the best! We sat around and watched movies and drank red wine for three days...life was good! Now its back to the real world...school starts tomorrow and I am a nervous wreck! Here goes nothing...all I have to say is after reading the syllabus for one of my classes Josh had to come up and tell me that I would survive and to keep breathing!

Happy New Year!

I feel as if 2009 just blew right on by! A lot happened last year and I can't wait to see what this year has in store! This year marks the start of me one day becoming Dr. Jen! Josh and I don't really believe in New Years Resolutions...we feel like if you want to change something about your life you should just change it, but this year I did decide to make one resolution...its a little silly, but I am going to work on being a calmer driver...I know hard to imagine little ole me that mad, but I have awful road rage. So in order to start this I have made a Bob Marley CD and everytime I get anxious I turn it. Seems to be doing the trick thus far! Wish me luck! My slogan is "Bob is my co-pilot!"

We rang in the new year with Joe and Mel! As always we had an amazing time! Amazing food, 80's cover band, jenga, antique shopping (the boys went and looked at bikes and guns!), Avatar, and Indochine! Couldn't have asked for a better way to start off the new year! We are continuosly blessed to have such amazing family and friends!

Josh and Jen's Excellent Adventure

Josh and I have just bought a house in Durham, NC and this is our new attemp to get excited about the area that we are in and share it with my family and friends! I hope you enjoy the random things we come up with to blog about! Living here is going to be an adventure and we are bound and determined to embrace it (even if the ocean is far away!)