Alaksa

This summer 5 of my college friends and I got to spend a week in Alaska! The 6 of us are all petroleum engineers for different companies and since college have spread out across the US for our jobs. One of them has been working in Alaska for the last 3 years, and the other 5 of us FINALLY found a week that we could all go visit. We should have done it sooner- it was one of the best trips I have ever been on. It was 50% the company and 50% the amazing views and activities that we got to do. I don't think we left a single Alaskan adventure un-conquered.

Landing in Anchorage: it is already gorgeous (it is 9:30 PM here)

Hiking Flat Top! I was impressed that I survived this one.
Yay!
Eliot, the friend that lives in AK, has his pilot's license and took us up!
Eeee!
Of course we had to try on a coonskin cap... (Eliot, me, Chad)
We rode the Alaskan train to Seward... see the huge glacier? It's not fair that people get to live here.
We went white water rafting in a class V river... and didn't drown...
My favorite group shot (Derrick, Chris, me, Lindsey 2, Chad, Eliot) on our Fox Island dinner cruise.
Thanks for obliging me on all of my Kodak moment demands, boys.

Skipping rocks at sunset

We took a fishing charter... unfortunately, this was all I managed to lure in. Isn't it a beauty?
Luckily for me, the other 5 collectively caught 34 lbs. of halibut and salmon. We took a few filets straight to a restaurant where they cooked them for us. It was by far the best fish I've ever had- it doesn't get much fresher than that!
Then we crashed on the train ride back to Anchorage...
Lindsey, Derrick, and Chad
Eliot, me, and Chris
Panning for gold!
And, of course, we shopped. Here, Chris is modeling my new Fox earmuffs.
I came home ready to move Noah to Alaska! I would highly recommend a vacation there, especially if you are tired of Oklahoma's heat.

We are... MOVING!

This November, Noah, Zorba, Poppy and I will be packing our things and heading down south to Houston where I have a new assignment with Marathon. Noah, who works for his family's business here in OK, has opted for a change and is working to become a certified personal trainer. Maybe he can whip me into shape!

We are heartbroken to leave our family and friends, the house that we just finished remodeling, and the great state of Oklahoma where we met and fell in love, but we are also excited for a new chapter and the adventure that it holds. We will be sure to buy a place with a nice guest room for all of our OK loved ones if you ever get the urge to visit!

Love,

Lindsey

Italy

I have been a terrible blogger lately! Technically, since May. Not to make excuses, but it has been a fun and busy summer, starting with an incredible trip to Italy. Noah and I went with my sisters and dad to Rome, Pompeii, Venice, Florence, and Pisa and got to see a ton of once-in-a-lifetime things. Here are some highlights:

The Colosseum [Rome]

The whole gang inside the Colosseum:At the Vatican [Rome]:
Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius:
Pisa:
Venice:

Florence: