Virginia Beach here we come!!

Well... in October Nick and I had the Opportunity to go to Virginia Beach. It was pretty fun! We rented a side-by-side tandem bike and biked along the boardwalk. It was Nick's first time to the Atlantic Ocean, so we had to go get our feet wet!!!

It was super windy and the sand kept pelting us on our bare skin, but we enjoyed what we could!
Smiley

Do I dare?

Ooh!

The Atlantic

Our trip to Boston

For Columbus Day weekend we took a trip up to Boston to visit our friends, Derrick and Melinda. We had such a great time. Before we left to Boston, everyone kept telling us "You'll just love Boston", and it turns out that-- We absolutely loved it!!!

Want some Fried Dough? ......Yes Please!!

The Freedom trail

We stopped by a market and this was classic, so I had to take a picture!!

We went up to Salem to celebrate the Halloween spirit. It was pretty crazy. There were lots of people dressed up.... you might have thought it was Halloween!

Nick got into some trouble while we were there, but luckily he wasn't in it for very long!!

We walked home from church and this was such a pretty view!

Nick at Boston Common Gardens!

We drove up to Walden pond and on our way there, we stopped by the Boston Temple.

The fall colors were so beautiful!

For this trip I had an eye for finding little creatures, this little toad was just on his merry way at the side of the trail.

This is the outline of Henry David Thoreau's house.

We went to a bay the last morning we were there, and I spotted this little guy!

Nick and Derrick having a political conversation, I love their pants!!

Halloween 2009 Festivites

Happy Halloween

from Bakery Chef

Natalie Gottwald

This year I made our Halloween costumes... more out of necessity. Nick wanted me to make him an apron, and there was extra fabric left over, so I decided to make me one too!! Then I got the hat pattern off the Internet for free. So i just needed my mad sewing skills and we were ready for Halloween. Thanks to Nick for providing the smock!!

First we celebrated Halloween by going to a birthday/Halloween party for Matt's daughter, who just turned One, so cute!! Us with the teenagers (Ben and Tara Jean).

We carved pumpkins on the 30th with some friends, this is Nick's pumpkin. Turned out to be not so scary, more of a jolly little pumpkin.

I carved mine with the fall theme in mind, and then used it for our Halloween decor, since all of mine is in Utah. We also made pumpkin seeds- turns out I am not a big fan.

The Bakery chef slaved over these pumpkin cupcakes, they were delicious!!!

Then to finish off the evening we had a few friends over for dinner in a pumpkin!!! I make this recipe every year, but i think i will tweak the recipe more to my liking. We ended playing the card game Pit, and I only won once, so it was a little disappointing. Then we opened our Veranda and watched a million people walking to Georgetown, all decked out!! It was a very memorable Halloween.

Love, the Chef Gottwalds

4 G's

For General Conference we went to beautiful West Virginia for the weekend. It was so much fun thanks to Mandie for taking care of all the details and for Melanie for doing all the food!!! We really owe them a lot, because they did all of the work!! We Love them!!

General Conference +the Gochnours + the Gottwalds+ the Gochnours= 4G's

Nick and little Jack petting a neighbor dog!

We went on a short bike ride in between sessions of Conference, too bad the bikes were kinda rusty, because I was really looking forward to it.

Nick striking a pose!

I love this picture, I look hilarious! We found some vines on a hike that we went on and decided to be Tarzan and Jane!!

Nick with his walking stick, Jonathan and John Jacob leading the pack!

It was a super steep hill, I felt bad for little Jack because he kept on falling, but he was a trooper!

My cute little niece Makaya!!

Handsome Nick

My color- Yellow-but sadly I broke the mallet:(

The game of croquet, I think it might be Nick's favorite game!

We had so much fun, catching up with John Jacob and Melanie and to see Jonathan, Mandie, and Makaya again!!!

Gettysburg Excursion

On another rainy day, we ventured to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania!!

We learned all about the the 3 day battle, took a bus tour, ate at General Picketts all you can eat buffet, saw the famous Gettysburg Cyclorama, and went to Harper's Ferry!

Us starting our journey!

We are standing in front of a cannon used in the civil war.


Nick overlooking the battlefield

Me doing the same

The only statue of confederate soldiers in Gettysburg

Me on top of Little Round Top

Little Round Top

Harper's Ferry, where West Virginia,

Maryland and Virginia meet!

Us in the pouring rain at Harper's Ferry, trying to keep our spirits up!

Waiting for the bus, we had enough of the rain!!

Finished!!!!

Yep, that is right, I finished the Last Harry Potter book yesterday!!! It has been a long journey, but worth it!! For the record..... I read the books first and then I watch the movies after. So in August Nick and I went to the 6th movie, then I was able to read the last book. Love it!! But my question is.... should Harry have been able to fly (without a broom of course, like Snape and Voldemort) because she hinted that his mom could??? ..... Interesting???