Snow Fun in New Hampshire

At the end of February we needed a little break from a very long winter. Rather than head south to the sun as one would expect (and as I would normally want), we headed even farther north! To more snow and even colder temperatures! However, we went north to visit family friends and actually enjoy some of what winter has to offer, rather than just being cooped up inside, watching the endless snow storms. Wis and Tom live right near Mount Washington, with plenty of winter activities to experience!

We had lots of winter fun during our long weekend. Owen spent a day hiking Mount Washington. Tom and I went out on the snowmobiles (aka sleds), which is really cool being able to leave right from their home and onto the trails. One day Wis, my mom, and I explored the Mount Washington Hotel and had lunch while Owen and Tom went out on the sleds. Another day Wis, Owen, and I went skiing at Bretton Woods, which went a lot better for me this time, great weather, quiet runs, much better shape to actually ski, and Wis being very encouraging! Owen and I also borrowed snowshoes from friends in CT and brought them up to try. We snowshoed to the top of Mount Prospect at Weeks State Park to get a great view of the Presidential Range. We also drove on a frozen lake for the first time ever!

It was great to actually get out and enjoy winter a bit!! We also had a great time catching up with Wis and Tom! It was great to spend time with them, celebrate my mom's birthday, have lots of awesome food and drinks, and enjoy their hospitality. Thank you Wis and Tom for hosting us and showing us such a great time, full of winter fun!

Tom and I heading out on the sleds

Tom and Owen heading out on the sleds

Mount Washington

Heading out to Bretton Woods

Giving skiing another go! Smiling at the start of the day

Can't beat the view while skiing!

Wis and I, Mount Washington in the back

A little cold but at least it was sunny most of the day!

Still smiling even towards the end of the day!!

One of the last runs, so quiet that day!

Mount Washington Hotel

View from lunch at the Mount Washington Hotel

Cleared up enough to see the observatory!

Snowshoeing, trail on the left between the trees

Mount Prospect, Weeks State Park, View of Presidential Range

Beautiful Owl we saw while snowshoeing

Check out the GPS!

Me, Owen, Tom, my mom, & Wis

Quick stop at King Arthur's Baking Company on our way home

Multiple Christmases 2014

As usual, I am a bit behind on blogging ;) So in the interest of time and catching up, here's a overview post from our Christmas season with picture highlights. We spent the first part of December in Connecticut, with a trip up to Syracuse for an interview. I surprised Owen with an early Christmas gift, tickets to see The Piano Guys, who were just as amazing to see in person as on their videos! Then we headed out to Michigan for another interview and Christmas with Owen's family. We had a great time seeing everyone, it was especially nice that his sisters were on school break, so lots of extra time with them. We got to see his Grandparents on his Mom's side and some of his cousins. We also were able to make a trip up north in Michigan to see his Grandpa on his Dad's side. We also met Todd's son and his wife. And we got a chance to see Tim and Stacey a couple times and their adorable little ones. We had a few different Christmas celebrations with all of Owen's family, even skyping in with his brother and sister-in-law in California, each were a lot of fun. We even had a little dusting of snow for Christmas! After New Years, we headed back to Connecticut and celebrated another Christmas, this time with my family, and we even got snow for that "Christmas Day." It was a great Christmas season and we are so thankful we were able to celebrate with everyone on both sides this year, thank you all for making it a great Christmas! Here are a couple pictures, additional pictures are at Christmas 2014.

Owen's 2014 ornament to commemorate med school graduation!!

The Piano Guys

Crazy Christmas light show in nearby neighborhood

The aftermath of Christmas #1

Christmas morning, #2

School vacation = fun times!

3 generations of Grove men

New Years

Splitting wood

2014 ornaments

White Christmas for #4

It's not Christmas without the Red Cake....

.....and some fire!

The END of med school in Miami!!

JUST ADDED
***We just found out (Feb 4) Owen passed his skills exam (taken in November)!!!
(the last piece we've been waiting on, since all requirements have been done since November/Miami)

SO HE IS OFFICIALLY DONE WITH MEDICAL SCHOOL!!! 

CONGRATULATIONS DR. GROVE

I told him to pretend not to be stoic for once ;)

Graduation gift, foods from all the countries/places we've lived during med school!!
Ornament frame to be filled with graduation picture from St Maarten in May!

-- Okay now back to the end of med school in Miami ;) --

Owen's final 2 weeks of clincial rotations were in Miami over Thanksgiving. I had not planned on going with him, figured it was easier to have him couch surf for 2 weeks than both of us. However, after a week of him being in Miami with several of our friends in warm, sunny weather and with a snow storm coming, I spontaneously booked a ticket less than 24 hours before traveling to surprise him (something I've always wanted to do, thankfully we're flexible and able to do that for a little bit longer anyway ;) ). So I coordinated with our friends for rides and couch space and was able to surprise him!! Special thanks to Jason, Cayleigh, and Kirsten for helping make the surprise happen! Not only did I get some unexpected extra tropical weather before winter and get to spend Thanksgiving with Owen and friends, but most importantly I was able to celebrate Owen's very last day of medical school with him!!! So here are the highlights from Miami and a few pictures. Check out some more here :)

• Exploring Coconut Grove with Cayleigh while Owen finished up rotations
•  Warm weather and tropical Christmas decorations, love palms and Christmas lights
• Turkey Day 5K with Owen and Kirsten Thanksgiving morning
• Thanksgiving with friends, watching the parade, baking/cooking for the potluck, football
• End of med school celebrations!! We ended it the same way it began, on a tropical (well semi) beach! We spent the afternoon at Key Biscayne :) Then dinner at a fancy burger place
• Airboat ride in the Everglades, Alaina was even able to join us! Even though it was 'cooler' weather, we saw a couple alligators
• Hollywood Beach with Kirsten, enjoying the sun despite the wind ;) 
• Visited Owen's school offices 
• A few runs in the beautiful weather
• Great time catching up with island friends

Coconut Grove

Okay not actually in Miami, but Alaina was in Connecticut the weekend before,
so I saw her twice in a week in 2 different states!

Pre-race turkeys

We ran with Kirsten, she ran the whole 5K (first time!) and finished just under 35 mins!

View Thanksgiving morning (just after the race)

Thanksgiving island/med school style

View of Miami from the bridge to Key Biscayne

Key Biscayne

You'd almost think it was the Caribbean ;)

Med School is ALL DONE!!!!! We're both a little excited ;)

Ended just like it began, on a tropical island ;)
Left: around the first day of Med School on St Maarten/ Right: last day of Med School on Key Biscayne!!!

Okay really bad picture, but us with Jason and Cayleigh for the Everglades Airboat tour

Finally saw a gator right at the end

Nice view for lunch, boardwalk at Hollywood Beach

Even Owen had fun at the beach ;)

The Miami offices