Thanksgiving

This year was our first year hosting and cooking Thanksgiving dinner. Julie's parents, Aunt Mary, Uncle Bob, and Phil's sister Amy and her boyfriend Brent spent Thanksgiving with us.

We baked a turkey breast, which turned out to not be so difficult to do. We and our guests also made mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, glazed carrots, cranberry sauce, muffins, pumpkin pie, and coffee cake. Quite a feast!

Amy, Brent, Bob, Aunt Mary, Julie's Dad, Julie's Mom, Julie

Niagara Falls

On the way to a wedding for two of our friends in Toronto, we stopped at Niagara Falls on the Canadian side. Although it was misting rain outside and wasn't the clearest of days, the falls were absolutely gorgeous surrounded by the changing leaves of the fall.

A view of horseshoe falls from Canada

Horseshoe Falls

Julie in front of Niagara Falls

Phil in front of the falls

Julie & Phil in front of Horseshoe Falls

Panoramic view of American Falls

Julie & Phil in front of American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls

American Falls surrounded by beautifully changing leaves

We took the Maid of the Mist boat ride, which takes you right up close to the falls. They give everyone a blue poncho to wear. We sure needed them! We stood at the very front of the boat and would have gotten quite wet without our rain coats and ponchos.

The Maid of the Mist

Phil on The Maid of the Mist

Santa Fe, NM

Over Columbus Day weekend, we went on a trip with Julie's company, Light Management Consulting, to Santa Fe, NM. We stayed in the Hotel St. Francis, which was downtown and a short walk to the shops and scenic areas.

Mountains of Santa Fe

There were dried chilies hanging on most porches and balconies.

Dried Chilies

We visited Bandelier National Monument, where we saw Native American dwellings and hiked down the canyon to the Rio Grande River.

Foundations of Indian dwellings in Bandelier National Monument

Foundations of a town

Cave dwellings

Phil in the cave entrance

The cliff wall was filled with caves and the remains of buildings that were built up against the cliff

Turkey petroglyph

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There were lots of dried chilies in Santa Fe!

Frijoles Canyon - The Beans Canyon

A waterfall

Julie & Phil in front of the waterfall

Camel Rock

On the second day of our trip, we hiked part of an 11,000 ft mountain. We drove about 10,000 ft up the mountain and then hiked the last 1,000 ft. Some of us could definitely feel the decreased oxygen at the high altitude.

Santa Fe Baldy Mountain in the background

Deception Mountain in the background
This is where we aimed to hike to, but we didn't quite make it.

It was cold at the top of the mountain

Happy Anniversary!

I love you as much as the day I married you - and more!

Julie & Phil Shilane
August 13, 2006

Beth Shilane & Dan Kotkin's Wedding - The Reception

The Happy Couple
Dan & Beth Kotkin

The First Dance

Father-Daughter Dance
Beth & Uncle Bill

The Hora

The Conga Line

Julie Phil, Brent, Amy, Aunt Susan, Grandma, Dave, Dad, Mom

standing: Brent, Amy, Dave, Phil, Julie, Dad
seated: Aunt Susan, Grandma, Mom

Cutting the cake

Beth and Dan had an amazing Viennese dessert buffet that got rolled out onto the dance floor near the end of the reception. There were pastries, about a dozen cakes, bananas foster, and a chocolate fountain!

Dessert buffet

Amy was very sad that there were many more good desserts than what she could eat.

Sad Amy

Sadder Amy

Defeated Amy
Luckily, they had take home boxes!

Beth Shilane & Dan Kotkin's Wedding - The Ceremony

Phil's dad walking Grandma down the isle

Dan being escorted by his parents

Meredith, sister of the bride

Beth being escorted by her parents, Aunt Marsha and Uncle Bill

The Groom & Bride: Mr. & Mrs. Kotkin