Newport Beach, Cali

We started our 19 day trip in Newport Beach, California, on Balboa Island more specifically. We stayed with some friends who live there on the island. We loved getting to stay and play with them and made use of our time in the sun.

Day 3: Jeff and I rode their beach cruisers to Huntington Beach

Day 2: Disneyland and California Adventure!



the new Little Mermaid ride









Balboa Island Ferry

Day 1: Dayna Point for surfing lessons, taught by Tanner






Thanks for a fun weekend Tanner and Margot!

Hurricane Irene

Hurricane Irene really freaked us (me) out but probably not in the way you would expect.. I wasn't so much worried about rain, flooding, being without electricity, food storage, etc. I was however, majorly stressing out over the fact that Irene was scheduled to hit the coast on saturday evening and all day sunday and we were scheduled to fly out of JFK the following monday. All I was thinking was hell or highwater, literally either way I was making that flight!

This was our "emergency" stash

Jeff getting ready to go out and move the car (we were parked under a large tree)

Our water supply, probably only would have kept us going for a day, maybe

We really lucked out in our area and were spared major flooding and damage, in fact it cleared up so early that I drove into work at 230 pm on sunday afternoon. I didn't care though, cause that just meant that our chances of getting out on time on monday were better, and we lucked out! We even departed JFK a few minutes early ;)

New England with Dave and Becky

While Dave and Becky were here for Jeff's graduation we took the opportunity to show them the New England area that we have called home for the last 2 1/2 years. We drove from one corner to the other and saw everything in between.

New York City, NY

Walking the new Highline in the city.

Day 4

Mystic Seaport, Connecticut
Day 3

lunch @ Costello's Clam Shak

Sailing school







representing our Vera

Newport, Rhode Island

Day 2

We went up on sunday afternoon and toured 2 of the mansions
Back view of the Elms mansion and yard

The Elms was home to Mr. Berwind and his wife.

Berwind made his fortune in the Pennsylvania coal industry

The Breakers, home of the Vanderbilt's.

Mr. Vanderbilt made his fortune in the railroads.

Dave and Beck on their audio tour


They don't allow pictures to be taken inside but here is one pulled from the website just to give you an idea of the grandeur on the inside of the mansions

Hartford (the mall anyway)

Day 1

We had a great time and were so happy that Dave and Becky were able to come out and visit and more importantly able to be with us for Jeff's graduation!