Penn State!

This past weekend, Colin and I drove up to State College to visit Alison at Penn State. She is really enjoying her freshman year so far. It was fun to see her dorm room, eat in her cafeterias, and meet her friends! We were too busy having fun to take pictures, but we managed to take a few random ones.

Personalized tour of the campus

Enjoying ice cream from the creamery!

Colin and I went back before we drove home on Sunday to stock up for the ride.

In front of Alison's dorm

More Cooking...

Colin and I have been packing on the pounds now that we're cooking and baking all the time. Good thing we're also trying to run semi-frequently. Like, once a week.

Cream of Mushroom Soup

Butterfinger Cupcakes

http://annies-eats.com/2010/10/22/butterfinger-cupcakes/

Colin made absolutely delicious homemade honey wheat bread

Bread and Chili!

Hmm. Looks like that one got "taste-tested" before I could take a picture.

Best chili I've ever had...http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Terrific-Turkey-Chili/Detail.aspx

Happy Birthday, Liz!!

Today, November 6th, is Liz Jarvis' birthday! We celebrated last night with the Cullums, Edward Waud, and Caroline and Brian Smiley!! They were in town from Dallas for the weekend, and it was so great to see them. Caroline, Brian, and I all studied abroad in Santiago, Chile, together. It was fun to reminisce about our crazy travel adventures, as well as catch up on what we've been doing in the past few months. We had tons of yummy appetizers, as well as delicious minestrone soup and chili. Josh, our local beer guru, schooled us in the various tastes of some seasonal craft brews. Emily made delicious pumpkin bread and birthday cake for Liz, too!

Liz and Chris Jarvis, waiting for midnight to roll around. Happy Birthday, Liz!!!

This awkwardness of this picture sums up most of Chris and Colin's

interactions throughout the evening.

Today, we met up with the Smileys and Cullums again to walk around Arlington National Cemetery. It was such a pretty fall day... Josh plays in ANC many times throughout the week and knew all the interesting places to take us. Even though I have practically lived next to it for the past two years, I hadn't been since high school. Very fun!

Couldn't pass up a great DC shot with two wonderful friends!! Look how happy we are!!!

I'm not as tall as Colin, so I didn't get quite the same panoramic shot for the boys' picture

the Cullums & the Smileys

Thanks for coming, Brian and Caroline! Come back!!!!

Deliciousness

I've started cooking and baking more. I know, shocking news for many of you. Even more shockingly, the results have been mostly positive! It's incredible what a well-rated recipe on www.allrecipes.com can do for your culinary ego. In any case, I've started branching out to other websites, cookbooks, and blogs. Thanks, Colin, for eating all of the meals I prepare, no matter how crazy they are (one night last week we had sweet potato and brie pizza!)

Earlier this week, I made a yummy risotto. Colin grilled some chicken and we threw it on top. The recipe was in the October issue of Real Simple.

Then, my sweet tooth decided that it just HAD to have the famed Pioneer Woman cinnamon rolls. I have never made cinnamon rolls from scratch. It took forever, but was so worth it. I cut the recipe in half, and we still have so many cinnamon rolls left over! Yummmmmmm!

I'm not sure if this recipe called for enough butter, sugar, and cinnamon...

Looks sort of like a brain

So snuggly and cinnamony

Ozzie and Johanna came over around 10pm Thursday night to sample these babies. YUM!

Air Force Tuba Euphonium Quartet Recital

That's right, we went to a Tuba Euphonium Quartet Recital. Our great friend Josh Cullum is a fantastic euphonium player, though he also rocks the trombone for the Air Force Band. His wife, Emily, the Rossmaesslers, and Colin & I loved watching Josh play. He is so passionate and focused while playing, yet always was smiling and seeming relaxed between pieces. I also enjoyed watching him clean the spit out of his euphonium. It's like I'm around 6 year olds all day or something...

Josh is second from the left

Good lookin group!

Why not take sideview mirror pictures of your husband pumping gas?