Summer Nights

We are loving these laid back summer nights.  Our favorite way to spend an evening right now is to grill something delicious and summery and then take a walk.  The other night we had burgers and watermelon.  We started calling our nightly walk our "fruit walk" because there are wild blackberries, cherries and strawberries along the way.   This is why summer is my favorite season! 

beautiful sunset views

A New Love- Farm Fresh Eggs

A few weeks ago when Nick and I were riding our bikes we saw a sign for farm fresh eggs.  We decided to pick some up and we have been hooked ever since.  

It doesn't get much fresher or free range.  The lady marks each egg with the date it was laid.  You pick  them up from the refrigerator on her front porch and leave your money in the jar.  Farm fresh eggs really make a huge difference in cooking and eating.  Definitely one of the perks to living in a small town!

Nick's Graduation

Yesterday we celebrated Nick's graduation!  Nick graduated from Virginia Tech with his Masters in Urban and Regional Planning and I couldn't be prouder of him!  The past two years have flown by.  This makes all those long nights in the library and dinner for him in the office worth it- he has worked so hard!  I am blown away by God's faithfulness and provision for us during this time and I am SO thankful we made the decision for Nick to go back to school.  You did it!!!  

 

Nick's parents came up to celebrate with us.  We had a great time with you guys!  We are all so proud of you Nick!

The job search is on- we appreciate your prayers during this time.  We know God has the perfect job for Nick and place for us and we are excited to see what that is!  We will keep you updated.

Congratulations to my sister Laurie as well- she graduated last week from UNCG with her RN-BSN.  I am so proud of all her hard work and awesome grades.  She has a job lined up and will start after she takes her state exam.   A special shout out to Pat as well for graduating from App!  Lots to celebrate in our family this year!

Biking in Blacksburg

Since meeting Nick, I have picked up several new hobbies.  One of our favorite things to do together is hop on our road bikes and ride.  Blacksburg is a great place for biking- although it is very hilly.  Saturday was finally warm enough (and we had the time) to get out for a long ride.  Our favorite place to ride around here is down in Ellet Valley.  There is always something beautiful to see!

Thank goodness for the warmer weather!

A Day Date

Saturday Nick and I decided to have a "day date."  It was supposed to be a beautiful day and we wanted to enjoy it.  We picked up treats (my new favorite drink- a fresh coconut latte- amazing!!) and headed out to the New River trail.

I am actually training for a half marathon (crazy, I know!) in April and Nick has been sweet enough to do the training with me!  I have never been much of a runner, but always kind of wanted to be.  My sister had already signed up for the race and talked me into joining her.  So far the training has been going well- and I am actually starting to enjoy it.  Saturday was a long run day, so to break things up a bit we decided to try running somewhere new.

The New River trail runs (obviously) along the New River.  The scenery was beautiful and definitely helped take my mind off running.  

We ran 6 miles, which is the longest I have ever run.  I am starting to think I may be able to do this!  Hooray for warm weather!

Catching Up...

So- its been a while!  I am not sure where February has gone- it's flying by.  Here is a little of what we have been up to-  

Nick took a field trip with one of his classes.  It's a studio class and they are making a neighborhood revitalization plan for Bristol, Va.  They will be able to save some beautiful Victorian style homes.  I am excited to see what they come up with.

We hiked Dragon's Tooth which has been on our list of hikes we wanted to try since we moved here.  It was a beautiful day but much cooler than anticipated-  especially at the top! 

We celebrated Valentine's Day together.  Nick surprised me that morning with a cappuccino and a chocolate croissant which was my favorite breakfast treat while we were in Europe.  I have been craving it recently, and he's a good listener!  Valentine's is a really fun day to spend with second graders.  We had a party and passed out their "Valentimes" which is what they called it all day despite many attempts from their teacher to correct them.  

This one definitely made me laugh the most, so I had to share.

Nick fixed a delicious dinner for us that night, but that was about the extent of our celebration because I was sick.  I wasn't the best Valentine, but I finally feel better.

 This past weekend we went to Greensboro to visit my family.  It was great to just relax and spend time with them.  Nick got in some fishing down at the pond behind my dad's house.  Check out my dad's handiwork-  the fire pit he built recently.  It's a great place to relax.  We also got to see my bff Stacey who is back in NC.  It was another great weekend!

Weekend with the Scheuer's

This weekend Nick's parents came up to Blacksburg for a visit.   Turns out they brought warmer weather with them as well.  This weekend was one of the nicest we have had in a long time.  It even got up to 60 degrees yesterday.  On Saturday we took full advantage of the nice weather and went for a hike at Buffalo Mountain, right past Floyd.  

When we got to the top we were rewarded with an amazing view and a wonderful picnic lunch.  

The rest of the day/ weekend was spent exploring Floyd, cooking delicious food (of course!) and just enjoying being together.  I have to include this-

At one point Saturday night I looked around and realized we were all engrossed in our various Mac products.  Pictured here we have an iPad, iPod touch, and a Macbook Pro- not to mention I was probably using the other Macbook as well.  This makes me laugh- I guess we are keep Steve Jobs in business....

Snowshoeing at Mountain Lake

Last weekend we decided to go up to Mountain Lake with some of our friends for some winter sports.  They cross country skied while we borrowed their snowshoes.  It was so nice to get outside and take in the view!

We enjoyed a picnic lunch with the Boleys once we got to the top-

This is the old clubhouse.  The roof and windows are long gone, but the beautiful stone remains.  These benches look like something out of Narnia to me...

Come to Blacksburg and play- there's a standing invitation!

Last First Day...

Tuesday was Nick's last ever first day of class.  It is so hard to believe, but he is almost finished with his masters! We have been loving Blacksburg; its hard to believe this life stage is almost over.  By far the most common question we are asked these days is "so, what next?"  Honestly, we don't know!  Nick is just now starting to look for jobs and we are excited to see what the Lord has in store for us.  We will keep you updated!

Christmas Tree Cutting

Another awesome benefit to living in the mountains is being able to drive 10 minutes and cut down your own Christmas tree.   We found a place last year on a whim and decided to revisit it this year.  

Step 1-  negotiate with the nice man by telling him you came here last year and that you are a poor college student/ teacher

Step 2-  take the hand saw he offers you and set off on your search for the perfect tree

Step 3-  have your big, strong husband saw down your perfect tree

Step 4-  take your beautiful, fresh tree home to decorate!

Oktoberfest

On Friday, some of our friends in Blacksburg hosted an "Oktoberfest" party.  We made authentic German food and tasted German beers. Nick's mom and dad both have a German heritage (clearly, with a last name like Scheuer!)  Nick's mom was a big help and provided authentic recipes for us. We feasted on brats, German potato salad, sauerkraut, spaetzle, and schnitzle.  Turns out German food is pretty delicious.

                    

For dessert we had apple kuchen and apple strudel- yum!

Our lovely hosts- Katherine and Bynum in their awesome costumes.   Thanks for having us guys!

My 26th Year & A Sweet Husband

Last week I celebrated my 26th birthday - crazy!  Nick helped to make it a very special day!  Here is the wonderful breakfast I woke up to- yummy "egg cups" and doughnuts from Carol Lee.

 This was on my card- one of the best parts about getting a card from Nick is this pig that he draws on the back.

 I had school that day and Nick had class that afternoon.  I hurried home from school so we could go pick out a pumpkin before Nick had to go to class.  When I got home, he told me to get ready for dinner and surprise- he wasn't going to class!  We went here to pick our pumpkin.  How fun!

Originally, I thought we were going to dinner somewhere around here, but after the pumpkin picking we got on the highway and started traveling south.  We ended up in the small town of Elkin, NC where Nick and I met a few times when we were engaged.  There is a really cute restaurant that we have been to before.  When we pulled up, I saw Laurie and Pat!  Nick surprised me and had them meet us for dinner!  We had a fabulous meal- if you ever end up near Elkin I highly recommend this place.  We had the best night enjoying dinner and catching up!  I kept telling Nick I was going to stay 25, but so far 26 seems pretty great.

   

Girls Weekend

A few weeks ago, a few of my best girlfriends came up to Blacksburg for our annual girls weekend.   I met Stacey and Taylor in 8th grade and I have known Emily since we were babies!  We have always made it a priority to stay in touch throughout college, moves and major life changes.  After college we decided that we would dedicate one weekend a year for a girls weekend.  This was our third annual weekend and we decided Blacksburg was the place since they have not all been here yet.   We are all going in different directions in life, but I am so thankful that whenever we are together we just pick right up where we left off.  We decided we could have done nothing but sit in our pajamas and talked all weekend and it would have been the best ever-  anything else we did was just an added bonus!

Friday night we had a bonfire and smores in our backyard.  Saturday we hiked at Cascades.  The weather was beautiful and because there was a VT home football game there were very few people there.

    
                                       

 Emily just accepted an OT job in Boston and is moving in just a few weeks!  Stacey is traveling across the US with one of her roommates and is going to be living in Oregon for the next few months.  Crazy!

  Taylor just got married this summer to Luke!

Saturday night we went to dinner at one of our favorite places around here-  The River Company.  It was delicious and so much fun to celebrate all that is going on in our lives right now.  

Sunday morning we woke up to fulfill a dream of Taylor's- tubing!  Nick and I have a few tubes and we borrowed a few more headed out to the New River.  We tubed for a few hours just enjoying the scenery and each others company!

I am so glad you girls made the trip!  It was a great weekend- one of our best yet!