The day I was born...

Exactly 20 years ago today, on November 25, 1991....

The top song was "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss" by P.M. Dawn

The top country song was "Shameless" by Garth Brooks

These magazine issues were on sale

The French matador Nimeño II died

The Italian soccer player Luca Tremolada was born

People around the world were (and do every year on my birthday) celebrating the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

This tike was born:

The best of Provo and Salt Lake

Last Friday night my roommates and I left our ward talent show early so we could brave the snowstorm and come up to Salt Lake for the night.  Before going home we stopped by The Sweet Tooth fairy Bakery and Dans grocery store to pick up some essentials to make pizza.

too bad my bangs are in the way

Tess 

Saturday morning we woke up and went to the Salt Lake temple to do baptisms before heading back to Provo.  It was Cara, Tess, and Rachel's first time doing baptisms in the Salt Lake temple.

Explanation on this picture:  Tess' boyfriend is 6' 7" and so we had to take a picture
underneath the sign because he wouldn't even fit under this.

Saturday night Tess and I went with our friends Melisa and Rebecca to Cafe Rio and then to the Riverwoods to see the Christmas lights (yes I know it is early, but it was definitely worth it)

Melisa, Rebecca, and I

Tess, Santa, and I with Becca creepin' in the back

Tess and I

Tess and I then ended the night by watching The Princess Bride.

Just when I thought our weekend couldn't get any busier, Sunday came along.  After church (which is at 8:30 in the morning) we had to make pizza for apt. 90.  We bet them a couple weeks ago that our apartment could beat theirs at Nerts (the card game) but sadly we got totally crushed by Eric and Jason, so on Sunday they came over for some homemade pizza; which was delicious if I say so myself.

Also that day, my friend Richard (F.H.E. dad) hosted a dinner taco party for some of his friends.  Those were also delicious.  After the taco party and ward prayer we finished off the weekend by watching Pocahontas with Evan and Mike P.

Do you see what we saw in the tortilla?  It took me about 5 minutes after everyone else to see it

Well I hope you had just as fun of a weekend as I did.  Thanks for actually reading down to the end!

Something on my thankful list

At the beginning of every Biology class a different students shares a spiritual thought.  Today a boy who has cerebral palsy stood up and shared this video:

At the end of this video he bore a spiritual testimony and said only two people have died for him: Jesus Christ and the American soldier.  He then ended by saying how sad he was because of how many seats will be empty on Thursday and how many unwrapped presents there will be on Christmas.  

It really hit home for me when he pointed out that seats will be empty this Thanksgiving because one seat will be empty for my family this year.  My cousin Troy is serving in the Army and although he is not in Afghanistan this Thanksgiving (he was a couple years ago) he is stationed in Germany right now.  I'm so grateful for his willingness and dedication to serve our country.  He is such a great example to me and I know we all miss him, especially this time of year!

What I love most about Thanksgiving

I stole this off my mom's blog from last November.  

My Dad is an artist; always has been.  He ties flies, paints a little, and makes things in his workshop (once he made 4-person canoe).  My Dad also made the best snowmen on the block, but he didn't just make snowmen.  He made igloos big enough so that all of us could stand up inside them (at the same time), giant snow dogs, snow forts, and all kinds of snow sculpture.  He once made a life-size plaster-of-Paris hand painted/sculpted Santa. It stood in our living room during the month of December.
He drew and painted large wooden cut-outs of Santa sitting in an arm chair with his orange soda in hand and eight reindeer hooked up to Santa's sleigh waiting for Santa to hop in and take off from our well-lit roof (as soon as he finished his drink, of course).  We even had Rudolf, the Red-nosed reindeer.  My Dad's not a large man but he has a BIG imagination.

Dad's Holiday tradition started about 15 years ago.  He carved 6 Santas, one each for his 5 children and one for my Mom; each hand painted and unique. On Thanksgiving, Mom wrapped them up and we took turns choosing a package.  That was many Santas ago.  Each year on Thanksgiving day, my Mom passes out the wrapped packages and we choose the newest carving from my Dad. I'm sure that he is tired of carving 6 of the same figures each year, but we treasure them and anticipate them as much or more than the Thanksgiving meal.  I actually have friends who call after Thanksgiving Day to ask about the new carving .  Some years Santa comes equipped with a chair or a sled; a removable gift; wire eyeglasses; a basket with removable fruit; a separate hat rack with a removable hat; and a mug of hot chocolate with teeny-tiny marshmallows.  The details are amazing.

We cherish these folk-art carvings.  Some day they will be divided up amongst my children, but for now they reside on the living room mantel from Thanksgiving until New Year's each holiday season.

I wholeheartedly agree with my mom when she says we cherish grandpa's Santa carvings more than any other Christmas decoration (yes family, I love them even more than my ornaments).  I'm grateful that my grandpa has put so much time and effort into making these for my family.  If he ever reads this I want him to know that the carvings he has given me are among my most prized possessions and I will treasure them forever.  Whenever I see any of his carvings (which there are a couple displayed around my house year round) it is a reminder of how wonderful he and grandma are, and how much they love and care for their children and grandchildren.  My grandparents are seriously the two most selfless people I know; they would do ANYTHING for me.  I'll reiterate what my mom said about my grandpa- "he has a BIG imagination," and I'll add that "he has an even BIGGER heart."  Even though I don't see him or grandma on a regular basis I love it when I can go to Ogden for family dinners, give grandma a hug, and hear grandpa call me "Gabby Abby."

I am anxious to hopefully get another Santa in exactly two weeks, but more than that I'm excited to see my family on Thanksgiving.  This season I am thankful for and love my Franklin family!

Weird day at the library

This year my favorite place to study has been on the second floor in the map section.  Today I went to meet Rae Fish like I always do.  I sat down and looked at the kid across from me and low and behold, it's a boy who is always down there who I think is pretty cute so I was fine with sharing the table.  Two minutes after I sit down three boys behind us start talking in some language I couldn't understand.  Two of them were helping the third on some homework.  It would've been ok except not only were they loud, they were making us laugh because of what they were saying.  They were each saying "jjjjjjjjjjjjhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaa.....jjjjjhhhhhaaaa....jjjjjjhhhhhhhunca."  So less than 3 minutes after sitting down, Rachel and I packed up and headed out (much to my dismay because of the cute boy sitting across from me).

We headed up to the 4th floor and started to put our stuff down on a table when we realized how close we were to the stairwell (where talking is allowed) and immediately looked at each other and at the same time we grabbed our stuff and started looking for seat #3.

We finally found a suitable place in the children's literature section.  After a while we had the table to ourselves, which is what everyone wants: space.  A little while after that something caught my eye and I looked up.  There was a 50 something year old man with an afro that was totally fake.  I leaned to Rachel and asked, "do you think that hair is real?"  I tried not to giggle because I didn't want to seem rude but then the man came, sat at our table with a childrens book, and laxidasically put his leg up on the table.  Rachel couldn't contain herself and had to leave because she was having a laughing fit.  I didn't want to stare, but then the man started to sing "Rise and Shout."  He was singing all opera-like and started gaining volume.  Soon enough everyone was looking at my table and then this was what happened next:

Man: "everybody join me, start singing.".......silence

.........silence..............

Man: "What you have no school spirit?  Rise and Shout the Cougars are out......"

.........silence...............

Boy at table next to me: "This is a quite floor."

Man, while standing up: "Well I guess I'll go to the University of Utah. They have more spirit."

After the man walked away.....

Boy at table next to me: "I bet that was a psych professor just doing some study."

Rachel came back after recovering from her laughing fit.....too bad she missed the singing.  Needless to say I didn't get much done today at the library....and I'm guessing Rachel didn't either since at the moment she is walking in our front door.  Now we are trying to study at home.

Where does the time go?

Right now I am sitting in the library being bored.  I have a test in an hour but I am sick of studying for it because I've done all 4 of the practice tests 3 times each! So now I write...

I can't believe I've neglected my blog for this long.  I know I can't catch up on everything that has happened over the past two months but I will post pictures (with captions).  However I must say, I can't believe it is already the end of October, and that the semester is more than half way done.  I have mixed feelings about this because as most of you know I won't be here next semester; I'll be in London.  I'm super stoked for London but I also don't want to leave Provo right now.  I love my apartment, roommates, and ward.  I guess I better just take advantage of it all now before the semester ends.

I guess I better recap about school (this is mostly for me, but if you're interested....read on).  I actually really love my school schedule right now, except for the random 1 or 2 hour breaks here and there....so I guess I should say I really love my classes.  I'm taking Math (G.E.), Bio (G.E.), American Humanities, Choir, Joseph Smith and the Restoration, and Doctrine and Covenants.  And just last week I started taking my London prep class.  The only bad thing about the London prep class is that I have to be on campus from 9:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. every Thursday.  Because of reviews and other random appointments, I was on campus from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. yesterday.  But I am grateful for the Rachels; Rae Fish (my new nickname for my roommate since distinguishing between the two Rachels was getting difficult) because she made the whole apartment dinner for her nutrition class, and Chol (sister Rachel) for picking me up from campus.

Because I have procrastinated writing for so long I don't even remember what I was going to write about, so these pictures will do most of the recapping for me.

(these are not in chronological order)

In the middle of the BYU vs. Utah game.
We were getting crushed, so we left early
(me, Rae Fish, E. Malone)

Painting our wall blue.  Can you see our initials?
(Tess, me, Rae Fish)

I don't even really like this picture of me, but I still think it's hilarious.
This was taken in Spring City when the fam and some friends went to get snow cremes.
In case you can't read the apron it says "I used to skinny dip.  Now I chunky dunk!"

Ice blocking for FHE. It looks like we're praying; we're not.
Down this run Rae Fish's ice block and my block came out from under us
so we were basically floating down the hill....it was the coolest sensation.
(Hannah Mae, McKenzie, Rae Fish, me, Cara)

BYU football games.
(Evan, me, Rae Fish)

Friday night at Sammy's
(Rae Fish, Haleigh (Cara's friend), me, Tess, Cara) 

Rachel did a triathlon last weekend in Lake Powell.
(Chol and me)

Random homework break having (too much) fun with photo booth.
(Cara, Evan, me, Tess)

What we do when Rae Fish goes to the library.
(Cara, Evan, me, Tess)

As you can see by these last two photos, we would randomly start taking pictures during study breaks.  However, now we spend our study breaks doing something much more productive -- playing nerts.  Yes, nerts the card game.  We have a wager with another apartment that whichever apartment wins at nerts, cooks the other apartment dinner.  Little do they know we've been practicing all week, so...

bring it on boys.

Happy Birthday Tess!

Today is my roommate Tess's birthday.  She is the first one of us to turn the big 2-0.  She is such a wonderful, caring, sweet, beautiful, talented girl and I love her to death.  Happy Birthday Tess, I hope you've had a great day.

This picture is from last year's birthday

This picture is from today...one of the first pictures of Tess at the age of 20

This picture is not very good of any of us but oh well, we had to document it.
Can you tell the candles are suppose to be in the shape of 20?

Jumping the Pond

It's official, I'm going to London for Winter semester 2012 with BYUs study abroad program!

Welcome Back Davies!

Have you read this article?  If not, you should.  It applauses Brandon Davies for not running or hiding, when suffering through the public humiliation of his actions earlier this year.  He didn't blame anyone for what he did.  He didn't criticize BYU for their standards.

Arthur Ashe said it best by saying:
"If you demand more from people, people will rise to meet the higher standards. You can get what you insist upon. So don't sell people's capacity to do the right thing short. People do summon their best selves when it's required of them."

Davies rose and trekked back, and we're glad to have him.

It's my blog, so I can post twice in one day if I want to.

Everyday I browse Deseret News.com and KSL.com.  While clicking random stories in today's Deseret News I came along this article.  Read it.  Enjoy it. And know where Provo is.

No longer a freshman....

Well I've officially been in school for one whole week, which means I am officially a sophomore.  There are good things and bad things about that.  I'm definitely going to miss being a freshman but a lot has changed in these short 4 months of summer.  Here is a list of things I missed and definitely did not miss over the past 4 months.

Over the summer I missed:

• devotionals
• friends
• sticking to a schedule
• going to the gym when it's still cold outside
• meeting the sis' on campus
• periodicals
• my cubicle in the corner on the second floor
• FHE
• ward prayers

Over the summer I DIDN'T miss:

• homework, homework, and homework
• sitting through lectures given by monotoned professors
• walking to class and then sweating once in the building
• doing homework until late into the night

This upcoming year I will definitely miss:

• my meal plan
• only having to walk 3 minutes to class
• not being in classes where married couples cuddle together

Story of the Week

Seeing that this week was the first week of school, and most students probably feel overwhelmed I thought this story from President Monson might be a little reassuring that you are not alone.  Everybody, generally speaking, has a hard time in school.

“Study and prepare for your life’s work in a field that you enjoy, because you are going to spend a good share of your life in that field. . . .

“Have discipline in your preparations. Have checkpoints where you can determine if you’re on course.

“I hope that you are not afraid of tough classes. I never did have a ‘cinch’ class. I hope that you are not afraid of lengthy periods of preparation. Burn the midnight oil. Don’t procrastinate like my older sister, who after a late date rationalized, ‘I have a test tomorrow, but I am weary. What is more important, my health or my test? Aha, my health! I need my sleep.’ So she slept. I won’t say what happened to the test. 

“You simply have to apply yourself. I hope that you want to be so well equipped that you can compete in this competitive world. I hope that you will learn to take responsibility for your decisions, whether they be in your courses of study which you elect to take, or whether they be in the direction of the academic attainments which you strive to achieve. 

“Should you become discouraged or feel burdened down, remember that others have passed this same way; they have endured and then have achieved. When we have done all that we are able to do, we can then rely on God’s promised help.”

Last Hoorah

   Last Monday I started the end of my summer by flying into Long Beach to visit my roommate Rachel in Lakewood.  It was great to see her and my other two roommates, who flew in from Alaska, again.  My vacation started on Monday when I left home at 7 A.M. to catch a flight into Long Beach.  I had never flown by myself before so I was a little nervous.  The guy I sat next to on the plane was nice enough but we had exhausted all small-talk before we even reached the runway.  In the middle of the flight though he started to ask me what my friends and I would be doing for fun, and if we were going to go clubbing.  I told him that we don't drink or do drugs.  To this he replied, "that's smart, because you'll wake up the next morning remembering what you did the night before.  If I was younger I would probably know where the hot L.A. clubs are but now that I'm older I've stopped my wild ways."  After an awkward silence I said that my friends and I were maybe going to do a bonfire on the beach.  He smiled and asked me if I had seen Hangover 2, which I hadn't, and then told me the premise of it.  Apparently the premise is about these men who wake up one morning and can't remember what they did last night even though they hadn't had a drop of alcohol.  I guess then they realize that someone had put weed or pot or something in the marshmallows used for the s'mores.  So the nice 60 year old man next to me on the plane advises me, "if there are boys going with you girls, don't eat their marshmallows."  I was about dying of laughter inside because I didn't think we would have that problem.  After that conversation I was thankful that we were landing so I didn't have to make awkward small-talk with strangers.

   After I landed Rachel, Tess, and Cara picked my up and took my stuff to Rachel's house.  We drove to the mall and then spent most of Monday at Seal Beach with us four where....wait for it..... I didn't get sunburned.  That night we watched a movie called Arthur.  Wasn't my favorite movie but it was kinda funny.  I don't think my family would like it though because it's about a 30 something old who still has a nanny.

   On Tuesday we woke up and went kayaking at Huntington Harbor with Rachel's brother, Matthew.  I must say it was a fun place to go kayaking for your first time.  I was afraid I would tip over but I didn't, which was good.  That night Rachel, Tess, Cara, and I drove to Anaheim to watch the fireworks at Downtown Disney.  Driving home at 11 o'clock at night we heard a loud bang or pop sound and it sounded like something had just hit our car.  I thought my door had become opened somehow and then felt myself start to sink a little bit.  I told Rachel I thought she had a flat tire so we pulled over, and sure enough the tire on my side was totally flat.  I was a little worried that we had a flat on an L.A. freeway at 11 P.M. but thankfully Rachel's dad and brother came to change the tire for us.

   On Wednesday we waited for the car to get a new tire and then us four girls and Matthew headed to Huntington Beach for the afternoon.  At Seal Beach I hadn't gotten in the water because I didn't want to get wet but on Wednesday I gave in and plunged into the cold ocean.  I swallowed a ton of salt water but it was worth it to be in the water.  Mom will also be glad to know that I didn't get sunburned on that day either.  After we got back from the beach we ate dinner and watched Sidney White.  It's an Amanda Bynes movie that I had never heard of but again I thought I was pretty funny.  I don't think my family would like this movie though either because, well, it has Amanda Bynes in it.  After the movie we retired to bed because we had to get up really early the next morning.

   Thursday morning we woke up at 3:30 A.M. and got on the road at 4:02 to drive back to Provo.  We surprisingly fit Rachel's bag, Matthews bag, Rachel's moms bag, Tess' bag, and my bag in the car.  Cara's we had to strap to the top of the car.  We drove to St. George where we took a break to visit Rachel's cousins.  Her cousin Paul was attacked by two lions on his mission a couple months ago and it was the first time Rachel had seen him since he got back.  He had to have his left arm amputated right above the elbow but he was in really good spirits.  It's amazing how trials come into our lives but how the Lord gives us strength to carry on and not let those trials keep us from living life.

   After leaving her cousins house we ate lunch at Costco, where Cara and Tess had their first polygamist siting, and then got back in the car and drove for another 4 hours.  In the car we watched Kung Fu Panda and Holes.  Even though we were distracted from the long car ride it was nice to come into Utah valley and see the Y on the mountain.  That night Cara, Cara's brother, Tess, and I went over to Cara and David's aunts house for dinner.  After David let us come see the new Heritage dorms.  Man those dorms are huge, they make my dorm from last year look like a dump.  My apartment this year looks like a shack compared to it, but regardless we moved stuff in to our apartment and did a lot of deep cleaning that night.

   It's nice to be out of the dorms but at the same time I miss it.  Last night our friend Tricia came to visit us and there was an awesome lightning storm outside so we decided to take a drive above the temple to watch it.  When we were driving past Helaman Halls, we wanted to walk through our old hall and then go say hi to our friend Chris who is an R.A. in a different building.  It was weird walking past my old room because it feels like it had only been like two weeks since I had been there.

   Well this has been a very long post and I'd be surprised if you even read down this far.  But I'll close this post now but saying Happy Sunday and I hope the semester starts well tomorrow.

End of Summer

It's that time of year again.  Usually I'm excited to get back to school but this past week I've been surprisingly wanting it to stay summer.  I'm excited to get back to Provo but I've had a pretty amazing summer and it's not over yet.

Last Tuesday Rachel, mom, dad, and I left for California.  We stayed over in Truckee and then finished our drive the next day to San Francisco.  If you've ever made the drive from Utah to Northern California you know the Nevada portion is pretty dull and long.  Only when we got out of Nevada did I begin to enjoy the drive.  The best part was when we passed a mini golf course in Sacramento whose sign said "Jimmer plays free."

So here is how our trip panned out:

Tuesday:  Leave Salt Lake

Wednesday:  Shop at the outlets in Vacaville, lunch in Sonoma, Golden Gate bridge, Bi-Rite ice cream (if you ever go, get ricanela which is basically snickerdoodle), Humphry Slocombe ice cream (yes, we did two ice cream places in one outing, but definitely skip this store next time you're in San Francisco.  It' has the weirdest flavors),  Pacific Catch for dinner (one of our favorites), China Beach, and drive thru Sea Cliff

Thursday:  Breakfast at Tartines, pick Brooke up from the Oakland airport,  pick her bags up from the San Francisco airport, lunch on the marina, "shop" on Fillmore street, shop in Union Square, Fort Point, dinner at La Canasta, and nighttime walk thru Cow Hollow neighborhood

Friday: Breakfast at Tartines (again), baptisms at the Oakland temple, antique and lace stores in Berkeley, lunch at Netties, Cable Car museum with dad, walk back thru dad's old neighborhood, Ghirardellis

Saturday:  go back to Oakland to pick up Brookes camera from the temple, go back to the Vacaville outlets to shop a little more, walk along the Nevada freeway to pick up part of the car that blew off, watch Undercover Boss to pass time, and arrive home at 11:45 P.M.

Oakland airport 

Fort Point

Walking back from the Cable Car museum with the Transamerica building in the background

Mom and dad's old apartment on Pacific

Now, less than 18 hours after getting home I am doing laundry and packing again to head back to California, this time Long Beach.  I'll report on that later.

Christmas in August?

As most of the people reading this blog know, I absolutely L.O.V.E. the holidays.  If I could, I would just have September, October, November, and December rotate in a calendar year.  Well this year I seem to have caught the Christmas bug a little bit early.  It all started the other day I was talking to my friend James about the good old days of singing with Madrigals at Christmas time.  Well now I have seasonal depression because I wish it was winter.  I watched Miracle on 34th Street tonight and now I'm listening to my Pop Christmas station on Pandora.  Yes, I know, it's weird that I am listening to holiday music in August.  Although I can't help myself.

It's kind of a family joke about me and Christmas.  I love decorating the tree on my birthday (which is always over Thanksgiving break) and dragging one of my sisters to shop at Modern Display at least twice during December, and I usually add 3 or 4 glass ornaments to my collection.  This year I started my shopping early.  On our vacation a couple weeks ago we found a store across from Quincy Market called Christmas in Boston.  I was seriously in heaven and wanted to move there just to work at the store.  Let's just say I got a few ornaments.  After we walked out about $100 poorer, Erin joked that when my parents die all my sisters will get the furniture and valuable stuff and, well, I'll get the Christmas ornaments.  But hey, I wouldn't complain! And at least my house will look festive.

As a friend just stated right now and you're probably thinking, "Abby. Stop that right now! Summer needs to stay."  Well agree with her or not, but for now I'm going to fall asleep and hopefully dream of snow, Christmas lights, Grandpas carved Santas, and Mannheim steamroller music.

The before and after of last years tree

Rise and Shout

Today is the day that BYU all-sports passes go on sale.  I thought that this year since I'm actually buying one I should probably learn the fight song.  I'm totally behind because if I was this kid my parent's would've taught it to me 17 years ago.  I guess you're never too young to learn the BYU fight song.  In case you can't understand what he's saying, I've posted the lyrics for your benefit.

Rise, all loyal Cougars

And hurl your challenge to the foe.

We will fight, day or night,

Rain or snow.

Loyal, strong and true,

Wear the White and Blue.

As we sing, get set to spring.

Come on Cougars, it's up to you!

(STAND)

So Rise and Shout, the Cougars are out

We're on a trail to fame and glory,

Rise and shout, our cheers will ring out

As we unfold our vict'ry story.

On we go to vanquish the foe

For Alma Mater's sons and daughters

As we join in song,

In praise of you, our faith is strong.

We'll raise our colors high in the blue

And cheer our Cougars of BYU.

Who said vacations were suppose to be relaxing?!

First off, sorry if this gets long or boring but since I pretty much stink at keeping up to date on my journal writing I have to archive my family adventures somewhere, right?  So here is the water-downed version of the Barker family vacation these past two weeks:

Day 1 - Monday (Salt Lake City --> Montpelier, Vermont)

• Find my families shoe apparel for this years Christmas card in the SkyMall magazine.  They are quite stylish if I say so myself.  Haha, yeah right.
• Fly into Boston
• Arrive in Montpelier

***Props to my mom for actually getting on the airplane.  Her worst fear is flying so this was a huge thing for her.

Day 2 - Tuesday (Montpelier)

• Home of Saint-Gaudens
• Covered bridge hunting
• Enfield
• King Arthur Flour Co.
• Erin's reading (from her book Light.  I recommend buying it when she becomes a famous author)
• Maple cremees

Day 3 - Wednesday (Montpelier)

• Rock of Ages
• Bragg Family Farm (maple farm)
• Erin's graduation

Day 4 - Thursday (Montpelier --> Burlington, Vermont)

• Tour state capitol
• Morse Farm (maple farm)
• Otis the girl goat (she supposedly did her own tricks)
• Sharon, Vermont
• Ben and Jerry's tour
• the Flying Pig Bookstore
• Shelburne Museum (stifling hot)

Day 5 - Friday (Burlington --> Glens Falls, New York)

• Shelburne Museum
• Ferry Ride (Erin was pretty excited about this)
• Fort Ticonderoga
• Lake George
• Martha's Dandee Creme
• Target

Day 6 - Saturday (Glens Falls --> Rochester, New York)

• Drive by Jimmer's house (yes, we tracked down Jimmer's address in Glens Falls, New York)
• Palmyra (Joseph Smith farm, Sacred Grove, Grandin's bookstore, Hill Cumorah, Fayette)

Day 7 - Sunday (Rochester --> Albany, New York)

• Niagara Falls
• Teach mom how to use the GPS on dads iPhone
• Erie Canal locks
• Long drive back to Albany

Day 8 - Monday (Albany --> Salem, Massachusetts)

• Hancock Shaker Village
• Finz (best dinner I've ever had)

Day 9 - Tuesday (Salem --> Boston, Massachusetts)

• The House of Seven Gables
• Marblehead
• Challenge to find the earliest built house
• Lexington and Concord
• Walden Pond (which is actually like a lake)
• Sleepy Hollow Cemetery
• Louisa May Alcott's home
• Boston Public Library
• Boston Common

Day 10 - Wednesday (Boston)

• Freedom trail tour (Faneuil Hall, State House, old South and North Church, Paul Revere's house, etc.)
• Quincy Market
• Boston Barker's for lunch (worst hot dog ever.  Sad that my name is connected to it.)
• Christmas in Boston (Best stop of the trip.  This store had hundreds of christmas ornaments, which I am a sucker for)
• Granary Burying Ground (my great-great-great-great-great-great grandparents are buried there)
• Free night at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts

Day 11 - Thursday (Boston --> Salt Lake City, Utah)

• Boston Duck Tours
• Cambridge
• Fenway Park
• Plane ride home
• Welcomed back in the long-term parking by Chug

***Double props to my mom for actually getting back on the plane to come home.  She handled the turbulence better than I did.  I'm very proud of her.