ONE HAPPY GIRL

So guess what was on the radio today??? CHRISTMAS MUSIC!!! Usually I am a "not before Thanksgiving" kind of person, but this year I've been excited for Christmas for months now! So you bet I turned the volume up and sang real loud to those Christmas carols with the biggest grin on my face! After all, it's almost the most wonderful time of the year!!!! 

There are precisely 57 days, 7 hours, 26 minutes, and 46 seconds until Christmas! And by the time you finish reading this sentence that time will be even less!!! (by just a tad I know but still, can't a girl be excited?!) I can't believe that Christmas is 8 weeks away, but I sure am not complaining! 

Do you know what made my drive home from work even more enjoyable? The fact that fall has hit Alabama! I saw the first trees changing color and am super excited for it! It's crazy to think that in Utah, it always snows by Halloween....and in Birmingham, we are still enjoying 80 degree weather! I'm sure as heck not complaining though.  I love this climate. Although I am envious of all my Utah friends and family posting gorgeous pics of their fall leaves (for the last month).  But don't worry...Bham is following suit and I couldn't be more excited!!  The South sure is beautiful! 

^^ And don't worry...I pulled over and wasn't driving 

when I snapped these pictures. ^^

PACK TRIP / PART III

Well, sorry not sorry if you're sick of pack trip pictures because I have just a few more.  On the last day of the trip, we decided to ride around the mountain and do a little hike.  The family kept talking about this horrible hike that was straight up but the view was absolutely amazing once you got there. Let's just say they were absolutely right.  The hike was the worst thing ever! hahaha I don't know if I'll ever do that again, but I guess the others say that every time too and there they were hiking it again... I love hiking, but this was just crazy! I think flying in from 600 ft. elevation in Alabama and riding horses up to 12,000 ft. elevation in Utah definitely affected that.  I remember honestly feeling like I wasn't getting any oxygen in.  It was so strange! But they were right...they view was totally awesome. :) 

^^^ Aren't they such cuties?! I love this picture of them. ^^^

^^ The hike was almost literally straight up.  I'm the one in yellow! ^^

^^ One of the horses had a loose shoe that the men stopped and fixed. ^^

^^^ HI cutie!!!!!!! Also, how beautiful are these horses!?!

 Pictured: Bond and Rucker. ^^^

^^^ The boys.... ^^^

^^^ and the girls! ^^^

^^ and my honey.  Thank you family for such a fun trip! 

We love you guys!! ^^

SOME EXCITING NEWS...

After months of applying, preparing, and interviewing, we are so happy to share our news that G got an amazing job offer! We are so excited to move to Pennsylvania next summer! We can't wait to experience another part of the country and this next part of life together.  We feel so blessed.  

These past few days have been so surreal.  It's weird to think that our search for a great residency is over, but we are both truly excited for this opportunity.  Along with this exciting realization that we will be moving has come the sadness of leaving the friends and state that we call home.  We aren't quite sure how we feel about leaving all of our Bama friends, so...who's coming with us? ;) Alabama has been such a great place for us--which I think is evidenced by the fact that we are already sad about leaving.  But we have great hope that Pennsylvania will be wonderful also, and are looking forward to the growth and changes that will come.  Cheers to growing up! I'm so proud of you, Gord. 

And of course we had to celebrate with our favorite Southern BBQ, 

Saw's Juke Joint! 

(I have a feeling we will use the excuse of moving to come here even more often than we do...

no complaints about that!)