What's his name?

The new puppy has gone through quite a personality disorder since we got him. We picked him up on Saturday July 25. He came with the name Tantoes (because he was the only puppy in the litter with tan feet). From there he became Tanto (obvious), Tigger, Dexter, Yoda (he kinda looks like him), Boris (because he is ugly) and Spock. But somehow he became Bones.

Bones was born April 23. He is active and cuddly. He runs circles around the house and has learned how to go up and down some of the stairs in the house. He has no interest in the upstairs (since we don't spend much time up there). But he loves to fly off the steps - Superman fashion. He is also a little too short for the couch and struggles a little bit. But then he gets a running start and makes it. He throws toys for himself and loves squeakers. He hasn't realized that he is smaller than Misty and Max and likes to chase Max. But when he potties in the house he is Matt's dog.

Click here for lots of photos!

Aspen 2009

After a little under a week at home, Matt came to join Misty and I in Connecticut. The very next morning, we woke up before dawn and went to Colorado. Every summer, my Grandparents rent a home in Aspen. Aspen has a wonderful music festival during the summer, as well as great hiking up and down the mountains and valleys.

Matt and I, along with my parents, spent three full days in Aspen. We arrived on Friday in time for lunch with the Cantor-Stones and Angie. We had a Mexican fajita lunch next to the river. Back to the house for goodbyes and NAPS! I have gotten sick from the altitude for the past decade, so I have to sleep and drink a lot of water. Matt and I woke up and walked around town while the folks went and listened to Chamber Music in the tent.

On Saturday, Matt climbed to the top of the mountain again. Last year I did it with him, but this year, he wanted to go faster so I didn't go. Instead, my parents and I met him at the top of the mountain with a picnic. There was also a brass quintet playing at the top of the mountain so we stayed and listened. They were great. However, we forgot to bring house keys with us and by the time we got back to the house, my Grandparents had left and we were locked out. Matt climbed the side of the house and brought my book down off the porch and then went biking. I guarded the door until my Grandparents came home. That night Matt and I joined my Grandparents for La Boheme (the opera that Rent is based on) in the park. We picnicked and listened to opera.

On Sunday, Matt woke up and biked from Aspen to Ashcroft. Ashcroft is a ghost town since 1939 when the last resident died. He biked all morning. In the afternoon, my parents and I went to the arts festival and I bought my first holiday gift of the year (craziness!). We went out for a delicious dinner that evening also.

On Monday, Matt and I went out for breakfast with my Grandfather. Then we went for a hike with my Mom. Whenever we have flown to Denver and then driven to Aspen, we drive past an exit called Hanging Lake. So this year we drove out there and went for a beautiful hike. It is a mile up climbing over rocks. I went slow on the way up since I still have a hard time with the altitude. Check out the pictures. When we got to the top there was a pristine lake with a huge waterfall. It was so beautiful! Maybe another 100 feet up we could climb under the waterfall. We have some great shots up there. We had lunch at the lake and then climbed back down.

We went home for a shower and then right back out to visit Angie and Shag's cabin. I forgot to bring my camera, sorry. They have a log cabin built on the side of the mountain. Since Angie has moved in (almost a decade) they have been terracing the mountain. there are large gardens with every vegetable and flower imaginable as well as ponds for trout. They also have deer and turkeys that eat on their porch regularly. Not to mention the hummingbirds on one side of the cabin and little birds on the other. It is so beautiful! And then out to dinner.

On Tuesday, we woke up with the sun and came home.

Karen's Bridal Shower

So I finished all my summer classes on Thursday and drove up to Connecticut on Friday for a two week stay. I mean, I have nothing to do in Maryland, I might as well stay and visit my family for as long as I want! Karen and Gary came over for Shabbat and then there was pong in the basement with Dan's friends.

Saturday. Karen threw me a Bridal shower. It was wonderful! My college roommates were able to come, as well as some of my favorite Stamford people. Karen made the most delicious lunch, and Janna and Emily planned great games. We played scategories with the word BRIDE, tried to guess how old I was in pictures (I did better than Mom), and of course there was Bingo. It was a wonderful, loving, luncheon. I could not have felt more loved.

I don't have a lot of pictures, because I was busy, but I should add more later. Click here.

Pool Party!

Our friend Alicia's father has a great backyard that we have been taking advantage of for a few years now. Yesterday, in honor of July 4th, she invited all of us over, and Misty too! Every time that Misty has gone to this house, she has been thrown in the pool. She is one of the worst swimmers ever! Matt carries her into the pool and supports her (like a child learning to swim) and then he lets go. She attacks the water with loud smacks as she tries to doggie paddle but mostly fails. It is very sad to watch.

But we got to hang out with friends that we haven't seen since... the end of May... crazy. We had a great, relaxing holiday weekend!

Independence Day!

Happy 4th of July! This year we had dinner with Tim, Sarah, and Ken at Sarah's parents' house. They live a stone's throw from NW DC. Sarah's mother also works at the Naval Observatory (where the VP lives!). So we went there to watch the fireworks. The thing you never knew was that everyone has fireworks going off at the same time. We were on top of the observatory watching the fireworks over the monuments, but we could see all the fireworks going off in a lot of the surrounding areas. We could see Virginia and lots of other fireworks going off. If we scanned the horizon all we saw were fireworks. They were far away and smaller but it was extraordinary! I have a video to post later. Crazy beautiful.

Check out this video. (Facebook)

--PS-- guess who didn't mind celebrating this year? Oh yea, that was me. I actually enjoyed this and wasn't synical at all!

Wedding Shoes

Did you know that in order to get your dress fitted you have to bring the exact shoes you are going to wear? I didn't. So Becky and I went shoe shopping today and found a cute pair of shoes for the wedding. Can you guess which ones?