Exciting Times

Liam,

If you've been reading these in chronological order (and not cheating), then you know that one of the big questions hanging over us to this point has been where we're going to be living.  I know that's probably a funny thought to you.  After all, you've been growing up for who knows how long in the place that we'll end up picking, but as natural as that place probably seems to you, it's a big question on the table for us.

At this point, it's really down to two big contenders.  Either one could end up being the place, though they're very different places.  Here is the basic rundown:

1. Florence, SC.  This is a fancy hospital in a small town in South Carolina, where the weather is beautiful.  If this is the place where you grew up, I imagine that you have lots and lots of great memories of lots of time spent at Myrtle Beach.  You might have even learned how to surf at some point in our adventures.
2. Laconia, NH.  This hospital is located in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire.  If this is the place where you grew up, then I bet you have lots of great memories of hiking all up and down the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

Like everything in life, there are positives and negatives to both decisions.  It's really high on my mind right now because we're going to New Hampshire tomorrow to interview for the job there.  I'm sure that you know this about me by now, but I grew up on the border of New Hampshire.  Even if we don't end up moving there, it is going to be really fun to show you and your mom all of the fun and incredible places that were a part of my childhood there.

I can't wait to find out where you're going to grow up!

Love,

Dad

The Falls of the Eternal Flame...

Liam,

Part of what your mom and I intend to share with you is that there is a lot of beauty in the world.  We have both had the opportunity to see so many amazing things in our lives.

For example, long before you were born, back in the dark ages when your mom couldn't imagine that we might ever have an awesome little weeble together, we took a hike in Arizona that led us to a natural hot spring.  It was like a hot tub built by nature just for us at the end of a long hike through the desert.

And here's us having fun at a real life Oasis at the bottom of the Grand Canyon:

I'll give you a couple minutes to stop laughing at how silly we must look to you...

There.  Got it out of your system?  Okay...

Well, this weekend, we took a little hike out to another one of these natural wonders that happens to be pretty close by where we live.  Even if we don't still live in Buffalo at some point later in life, I am pretty confident that we will end up taking you to this place because of how cool it is.

It's call the Falls of the Eternal Flame.  It gets its name because of the fact that behind the waterfall there is a natural gas deposit.  It just kind of leaks out of the spot behind the waterfall.  The area smells like gas because of it.  But the cool part is that you can light it and it creates a steady flame behind the water.

Pretty cool, huh?  It's just one of the many amazing natural wonders that the world has to offer if you're willing to go exploring a little.

And that's why we drag you to all of the places that we do... your mom and I are always on the lookout for the next little amazing thing that the world is hiding just around the next bend.