New Baby in the Buys Family

Congrats Travis and Melanie!
We are a new aunt and uncle to a beautiful baby boy named Lucas Alan. Todd's brother Travis and sister-in-law Melanie had their first child yesterday. We are so happy for you guys and wish that we could be there to celebrate with you. We can't wait to see him at Thanksgiving!

I Want to Move!!

Even though Todd and I have moved to Boston and he has started work, we are not moving into our apartment until Saturday. So, for two weeks, this is what we are living in. My relatives were nice enough to let us store our stuff and stay at their house for while they are out of town, but I am sick of living out of a suitcase and maneuvering around all our furniture and boxes. Saturday cannot come fast enough!

Brazil Pictures

For those of you who don't know, our trip to Brazil consisted of 2 days in Rio, 1 day in Manaus (city outside of the Amazon), 3 days in the Amazon, 5 days in Salvador, 2 days in Iguassu Falls (larger than Niagara) and then 2 more days in Rio. It was a much needed vacation and reward after Todd and I finished up our Masters. The highlights of the trip for me were the Christ statue that I have been wanting to see for years, the monkey jungle in the Amazon where about 30 wild monkeys are rehabilitated, the Iguassu falls which were beautiful and powerful, and hang gliding.

This is a photo montage of our trip - hope you enjoy it! (It is a little long, but I couldn't cut the pictures down anymore - we had about 1700, and this is only 300.)

Hang Gliding!!!

Yes, that's right, Todd and I went hang gliding. It was Todd's idea, and I was quite scared standing at the top of a mountain looking at the wooden platform that I would have to run off of into thin air. Luckily I had a great pilot, whom I questioned about his credentials as we were about to run off the cliff - he has been flying for over 26 years and has over 18,000 flights, so needless to say I felt pretty safe. All he kept saying was "Just keep running!" He made it very clear that if I did not freely run off the cliff, there would be problems, he couldn't drag me. So, I RAN.

It was AMAZING!! There is no crazy drop where you lose your stomach (which I hate) and you have the amazing feeling of flying. The views were out of this world. We flew over the famous Tijuca Forest in Rio, the ocean and landed right on the beach.

This is a video of my takeoff and part of the flight that Todd took.

Welcome!

Well, I never thought that I would become a blogger, but when you move to a new city miles away, you want to keep connected - thus the title of the blog ;) I hope that this blog with help you keep connected with me and vice versa.

Todd and I just got back from an amazing 16 day vacation in Brazil! I will be posting a lot of pictures and video slowly, so check back often. We have also just settled in our new city of Boston. Todd started his new job Monday and I am preparing my teaching materials for the start of the school year in September - more to come on both those topics I am sure.

Thanks for reading!