The Past Few Months

The last two months have been crazy and fun and full of adventures (as per usual)

Orlando:

For the annual Skeen girls' trip Meg went down to Orlando for a weekend full of sea life, roller coasters, and a half marathon. Swimming with dolphins has always been on Meg's life-list, as was running a half marathon. She was able to check two items off that list in one weekend. What a weekend!

Alaska :
The day before Meg got back from Orlando, Ryan flew out to Anchorage for the Alaska Law Review to spend a week meeting with attorneys and judges in Alaska. The high temperature for the week was around 30 degrees, four days in it snowed a foot and Ryan got to experience the snow removal services of Anchorage. It was an amazing experience. Ryan met a lot of amazing people and remembered yet again how much he loves Alaska.


Washington DC:

A week after Ryan got back from Alaska we took a trip to Washington D.C. We had some troubles with our hotel and had to switch last minute, but all in all the trip turned out great. The great deal we had found for out hotel, turned out to be oversold, and not available, so the website we booked through agreed to upgrade us to a nicer hotel and cut the cost of the hotel by 20%. So we called a cab, and rolled up to a 4+ star hotel with our TJ Maxx bag full of food and out big blue cooler. Classy. Addie loved all the Smithsonians. For weeks all she would talk about was the dinosaur poop and the skeletons. In addition, because of the hotel change we had to ride the metro, which turned out to be a close third to the dinosaur poop and skeletons. Also, as we left we came across a little farmers' market. One of the booths had a line that literally went around the block. We decided there was no way that we could leave without determining what the big deal was. The big deal was a local French bakery with amazing pastries and the best quiche we'd ever tasted.


Moving to Germany in September for a semester:

We received word from Germany confirming our stipend for the fall if we want it. We're going to go for it! Heidelberg from late September through mid January. We also think we have found a German preschool for Addie to attend, which would be amazing.

Met Elder Christofferson:

Elder Christofferson of the quorum of the 12 is a Duke Law Alum who clerked under Judge Sirica (sp?) who heard the initial Watergate trial. The law school invited him out to speak about his life in the law. It was a great interview, then later that evening all the LDS law students were invited for a fireside with him at the law school. We really enjoyed the opportunity to hear his advice and just to meet him. He is an amazing man and we could definitely feel the spirit associated with his calling as he spoke.

You'll note how pale Meg is. She had been throwing up all day (no, not pregnant) due to some nasty food poisoning.

Duke is in the national championship:

Go DUKE!

Addicted to cycling:

Meg has been working out like crazy. Initially to prepare for the half marathon, but now she has the itch. She's working out 6 days a week. She loves spinning classes. Ryan went along to one and has started running to try and keep up. Meg is in way better shape (says Ryan) and is so impressed by Meg's half marathon.

Easter:

Today was Easter. Addie went to an Easter egg hunt yesterday with her friends and we had another little Spiers family hunt this morning. Addie loves the "Easter Egg Bunny" and had a great Easter weekend.