Graduate school on our minds...

So Ryan and I have been thinking a whole lot about graduate school lately. It's a little bit crazy. I mean, I never really thought about grad. school super seriously, until now. But I've been looking at GRE study books and looking a little and grad. programs and it really excites me. I can't believe that one year from now we'll know where we're headed for the fall and be off and on our way to a brand-new experience!

Now, I'm not 100% sure if I'm going to grad. school, but let me tell you, after taking a practice verbal section, I feel dumber than a rock. All of these vocabulary words from the SAT and Honors English are totally fleeing my mind! Did you know what nonplussed means? Or penury? Or sycophantic?

Ugh.

In case you didn't know, the verbal section has some reading comprehension, some antonyms, and analogy. As Ryan tried to console me after having to look up 38 vocabulary words (no lie) and after I decided that we HAVE to buy 3x5 index cards at Target tomorrow, he told me this little gem:

Ryan: LSAT :: Emily: GRE

Meaning, we've got a lot of work to do. At least it's comforting to know that even my super-smart husband isn't super-smart at everything. I guess that's what humility is all about.

At the same time, if he's super-smart and didn't ace the test automatically, then what does that mean for me... Oh well. I'll keep you posted on how we do in the future. I got a 13/30 the first time, so it can only go up from there, right?!


(ps: Do y'all like the re-vamping of our blog? I thought it needed a bit of a makeover.)

Mom and Dad Dalby

I love my parents. 

Especially when they vacation where I live just to hang out with me!

My parents came a few weeks ago and I had so much fun being with them. Ryan and I spent Thursday evening with them, then I spent Friday morning with them and Ryan joined us in the evening. Then we al spent Saturday together and took a road trip to the beach in Delaware! Then we went to church together and spent a few hours together afterward. Then I spent all day Monday with them. Whew, it was a TON of walking, but a ton of laughing too. I seriously love my parents so much and I don't know what I would do or where I would be without them.

Thanks mom and dad for being AMAZING.

Here are some photos from the fabulous weekend of food, traveling, and sightseeing:

1. my parents are SUPER fabulous and are a stunning team

2. My mom is the most beautiful person in the entire world

3. she cooks amazing food and teaches me so much, in the kitchen and out.

4. I can't help it. Everytime I go to the Library of Congress I have to take this picture. I love it.

5. I love pizza. I'm pretty sure I loved it before I met Ryan, but now I love it even more. I love love love brick oven pizzas. I think my dream home will have a brick oven located somewhere on the premises.

6. I introduced them to Gtown Cupcake. It was a hit.

7. See? Still beautiful

8. And still very handsome.

9. Orange blossom. SOO GOOD!!

10. I blame my mom for my never-ending love for the sun. 

11. Too bad she's got a beautiful tan complexion, so the sun loves her back :)

12. Say it with me, "wawa" [[wah-wah]]. Glorious

Thank you mom and dad.

For everything.

NYC Part 6: The End

I know, I know, we went to New York about forever ago, but here are the final pictures of our stay/whatever I haven't posted yet.

We loved it and we can't wait to go back! Here's to fingers crossed that Ry gets into an East Coast law school and that the offer is good enough that we take it so we can come back!!

rockerfeller plaza

30 rock :)

the nbc store. yes, i'm an adult.

the new yankee stadium--gotta love those boys in stripes (or hate them...)

delicious banana pudding. i. want. more. now.

central park

the financial district/Wall St.

the craziness of chinatown. seriously, its crazy.

the gloriousness of times square at night

little italy

statue that used to be in the world trade centers' plaza

we're on the brooklyn bridge!!

Did you know that Ryan LOVES LOVES LOVES that bridge? 

Now you do.

Seriously, he loves it.

Check out that cheesy big smile. 

That's when you know it's real.

NEW YORK, WE LOVE YOU!

Amanda's Bonanza

Ryan and I came up with a sweet name for Amanda's 21st birthday party: the Amanda Bonanza.

I know, we should be in marketing.

The party was a blast and I hired myself as the event photographer. Although I'm definitely not a pro, I love practicing my hobby with more than just Ryan to photograph. I mean, I wish he'd let me photograph him all day long, but since he won't let me, I have to find more specimens...ha.

Anyway, the party was a hit. Here are a few of my favorite pictures of the night:

Props to the FAB birthday party of one of my newly-found favorite people.

NYC: Part 5

The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island!

I had seen it before, mind you. But it was from the Newark Airport. Which isn't as cool as actually being on Liberty Isle, so it was so much fun. We didn't have tickets to go into the statue, but the little island is cute and green and we had fun walking around.

That's right. A bird decided to go to the bathroom on my shirt right after we got off the fairy. It would happen to me...

Tomorrow is a Long Time

It's a song origionally by Bob Dylan.

I'm in love with Nickelcreek's version.

I love her voice.

I love the instraments.

I love music.

It warms the heart and soul.

Don't laugh.

You know you love the way a good song feels.

NYC: Part 4

I know, I know, I still haven't finished my New York posts. Since I don't have much time tonight (Ry and I went to Costco with Amy E after work, then I watched 2 episodes of Top Chef DC and half an episode of Law and Order...) I'll just post a few more pictures.

Seriously, I can't wait to go back and do a bajillion more things.

Here's the story: We went to Littly Italy. Ryan bought a 6-pack of Chinotto, his favorite little Italian drink ever. Then we wanted to go to the Met. Too bad the drinks were glass. The bag-check lady totally thought they were beer. Yes, my name is Emily and I take beer to an art museum. So we then had to consume 4 little bottles. The drink is....bitter (and a little gross, I think), so I made myself down a bottle and a half and Ryan drank 3 1/2, then we hid the other bottle in the bushes so we could just get into the Met. Oh yea, and we had to go to the pretzel/hot dog vendor each time we opened a bottle since they have metal lids and need a bottle opener of some sort.

Needless to say, we only gave the Met 94 cents to get in. 

Mmm...kinda.

So we took a few power naps in the Met. Have you done that? You should.

And saw beautiful works of art. Seriously.

Seriously.

Don't you quit.

As I was doing some blog reading the other day, I came across this link. I absolutely love what Elder Holland says, and I couldn't help but cry...even though I was totally watching the video on mute, since my work computer doesn't have speakers. It just got to me.

Ryan and I are starting out on a new path of our life together, with me graduating and looking for jobs back in Utah and him studying for the LSAT and deciding on which colleges to apply for, and I can't help but put ourselves in the same position as the family from the video. We've got so far to go in life and we're only  now beginning.

I've decided: we're not quitting.

We all have our share of obstacles and decisions to be made on a daily basis that are shaping our future. I know that we've got many more challenges on the horizon, but this video makes me excited to keep going and keep trying, no matter how hard the road may seem.

Happy Birthday Amanda!

Happy 21st to the best next-door neighbor in the Barlow Center!

And one day we can have sweet sun hats, too!

Happy F Day Mr. D!

The subject line is what my little sister's friend said to my dad on Father's Day a couple of years ago and it just stuck. Oh the shortening of words...

Anyway, my dad rocks and when my parent's came to visit last weekend (pictures to come, I promise...I'm so behind...) I took this little gem at our apartment as we were all eating our Gtown cupcakes.

Isn't he so presh*?

So ador*?

So redic*?

Love you daddy-o!

* Once, Brynn used all three of these words in a sentence during the Christmas break. Kaylea and I used them throughout the day...and year, even though Brynn decided that we had to pay her each time we use them (I love you too, B).

I love Liz Lemon

Last night Ryan and I watched a few episodes of 30 Rock (thanks DC public library!) and today, after eating my lunch, this conversation between Liz and her assistant Cerie came to my mind...

Cerie Xerox: "Like how did you dress before you were married?"


Liz Lemon: "...I'm not married Cerie."

Cerie Xerox: "Oh, for some reason I though you had like three kids... "

Liz Lemon: "No, never married, no kids..."

Cerie Xerox: "'cus somtimes you have like food stains on your shirt and stuff... I just assumed that it was kids..."

Not going to lie, I was pretty proud of myself for thinking of this little quote convo. I'm definitely not as funny as Liz is, but today I felt just like her. I didn't even realize until after eating that I totally got food on my shirt.

This, my friends, is why I wear cardigans. They're lifesavers!

NYC: Part 3

Remember that time Ryan and I went to New York? It seems like forever and I've been such a slacker on blogging lately, but we've both been working really hard in real life, promise.

Here are a few more pictures of our trip, for your viewing pleasure:

Before we went to the Yankees game on Friday, we stopped by the LDS temple near the Upper West Side. It's so cool that there's such a sacred place near the hustle and bustle of NYC. It's so pretty and definitely adds a little something extra to the hodge podge of buildings in Manhattan.