Newport, Rhode Island

(Amy) This weekend we explored Newport, Rhode Island and had a great time. Friday afternoon we drove to Belmont, Massachusetts to do a session at the temple. Following the temple, we drove up to Newport and spent the night at a Travelodge there. This morning we woke up to a sunny but cold day. We drove along Ocean View Drive with its fantastic views and mansions, stopped at Fort Adams, walked around Newport Country Club, toured The Breaker's mansion (which was decorated so beautifully for the holidays, but they didn't allow photography inside), walked a portion of the Cliff Walk, and toured the grounds and museum at the International Tennis Hall of Fame. This was a really fun weekend getaway and we thoroughly enjoyed our little adventure!

Thanksgiving with the Stratfords

(Amy) Dave and I had a very happy Thanksgiving at Stake President Stratford's home. We know the Stratford's son, Sam, from our old BYU ward. Though our thoughts were with our family and friends back in Utah and Arizona, we were grateful to spend our first Thanksgiving together in such pleasant circumstances. We truly have been so abundantly blessed in our lives and especially during this year. I'm so grateful for my wonderful family (both Choules and Squires), my health, my job, the Gospel, and my wonderful husband.

The Game

(Amy) Today Dave and I experienced firsthand the excitement of Ivy League football! We went to "the game" with Yale playing its arch-rival Harvard. The expectations were high going into the game--both teams were undefeated in the league and the Yale-Harvard rivalry is as strong as ever. Hours before the game started this morning we began hearing tail-gaters, loud music, and LOTS of people in front of our home.

It was fun to be able to literally walk right across the street to the venue; however, the game wasn't all too great. Harvard was up 30 to 0 in the middle of the 3rd quarter when we decided to head home and get some other things done. In the end Harvard beat Yale 37 to 6, but we still had a great time experiencing the excitement of the local rivalry!

Old Friends

Ben, Jenn, and Henry came for a wonderful visit Sunday and Monday. It worked out that Ben, Dave, and I all had Veteran's Day off and it was fantastic to spend time together. I love how naturally Dave blends in with my old friends. Sunday night we had dinner and then talked and played a few rounds of Clue. We stayed up past midnight (something Dave and I haven't done much of since we've been married)!

Monday we went on a campus tour of Yale, it is such a beautiful campus and we all loved hearing the history of this great university and viewing the amazing architecture. We had lunch downtown at Clair's Corner Copia and then drove up to the Yale Divinity School to see where Dave goes to class. We then drove up to East Rock for its fantastic view of New Haven. There is a war monument at the top of East Rock that Henry excitedly called the "Statue of Liberty" in his cute way! He sure knows a lot for a not-quite-2-year-old!
We went home after East Rock for a much needed nap. We finished the night with some hymn singings and a round at Ashley's icecream.

It was so great to spend some time with our wonderful friends!