Thanksgiving Continued & Birthdays

Thanksgiving continues...we were truly blessed to have been able to celebrate Thanksgiving all week. We celebrated Monday and then twice on Thursday...it was perfect! On Thursday we had originally planned to go skiing but Targhee wasn't really ready for skiing yet so we decided not to go. Instead we started the day at Robbie's around 1:00. His parents were in town so we got to meet them and they were really nice and so much fun. We hung out there for a few hours...sampled their feast...played Bocci Ball...fried some turkeys...and drank some wine...it was really nice! We left there and went to Amy's (our boss ) house for dinner. She cooked everything and we enjoyed a great dinner there with some friends from work. We all ate soooo much that we were physically sick...so we left Amy's and went to the "Mansion" that Megan is house sitting for and got in the hot tub and just relaxed...a great ending to a fantastic day! Here are some pictures from Thanksgiving...again :)

This is everyone at Robbie's house...how about that view from his back porch?

The girls being silly!

Joesph getting the meat out of the geese for dinner...he hunted it that morning!

Me, Tori, and Jenny outside...how about those Teton's for a backyard?!?!

Amy and Mike in the kitchen finishing up dinner and cutting the turkey.

Cheersing Amy for a great meal!

Friday night was Megan's birthday so we decided to order chips and cheese dip from Merry Piglets (a fantastic mexican place in town) and make margarita's at the house. Some of our friends came over to the house to join us and then we went out to the bar for the rest of the evening! We had a blast...what I remember of it ;) And then on Sunday we had a combined dinner out to celebrate mine and Megan's birthday...we had sushi and it was fabulous!!! Here are some of the pictures from those nights...enjoy!

Megan's 26th Birthday was Friday and this is her banner we made for her!

Jenny having a great time getting ready to go out for the evening!

"Margarita Megan"...Megan getting down after some margarita's at the house.

Sunday night we went out for sushi to celebrate mine and Megan's birthdays...so much fun with these girls!!!

And they made us a cake too!!!

I think that is all for now! I hope you are enjoying the blog as much I am enjoying putting it together...it is a great way for me to reflect on everything we are doing here! I miss everyone at home more than you can ever imagine! Please know I am thinking about each of you often and that I love you very very very much! See ya :)

Thanksgiving in Jackson

So this was my first Thanksgiving away from home...it was tough but we really did a great job of putting everything together and making it feel like home. The meal was fantastic and the company was even better :) We decided to have an early Thanksgiving because a few people were going home for the holiday. We put our menu together on Sunday and had dinner on Monday...it went off without a hitch! Everyone brought something of their own and it was perfect...it was as close to home as I could have ever imagined! It's funny how over the years you pick-up little things your family does and ways to cook food...I didn't realize the things I have learned from Mom and everyone else over the years. I think we all surprised ourselves with what we knew. For most of us, this was our first Thanksgiving away from home. It was really fun to see everyone's different traditions...really a grand time! I loved it :)

Me, Jenny, Tori, and Megan getting things ready for dinner

A little cheese and wine for Jenny and Tori

This is the turkey I cooked...first time ever by myself! It turned out really good ( I think ) And, I am not sure what Robbie is doing the background :)

Justin cutting the turkey

Us girls cooking...so much fun!

Tori with her Mac n Cheese Casserole...very tasty!

Megan's gravy...first time ever...it was awesome!

This was our spread of food...how good does that look?!?!

All of us around the dinner table...we squeezed 10 people around a table that could probably seat 6 people...but it was so fun making it work :)

After dinner, we were so full all we could do was lay there :)

So, for our first Thanksgiving, it was perfect! We were all so proud of eachother!!! We are planning on spending Thanksgiving day on the slopes at Grand Targhee and then going to our friend Amy's house that evening for dinner...what a perfect day!!! I am going to miss spending Thanksgiving at home...terribly. But, I am trying not to think about it to much...it really helps to be surrounded by good friends out here to make things easier and so much fun! I miss you guys bunches and bunches...please know, in everything I do, I am thinking of you and loving you very very much! Love and miss you...see ya :)

First Week in Jackson

Hey everyone! I just wanted to put up some new pictures from the past week of my time in Jackson. I have been meeting so many new people and doing so many new things...I love it! It snowed a little but the snow in town is melted away but in the mountains there is tons of snow. They are expecting a lot of snow this weekend so we will see!!!


Megan, Jenny, Me, and Tori hanging out at Dave's. Getting ready for a great dinner out! I love these girls. This is our home during the first snow...everyone made fun of us because we were so excited about 2 inches of snow!
These are some of my new friends...Justin, Brian, Chapman, me, Jenny, Tori, and Robbie. We are all hanging out at Chapman's before we head to the bar!

The Mansion that we stayed in our 3rd night here. Megan was house sitting and we came to visit. Lucky us! Chapman wearing my GA vest because he lost his bet against GA in the GA vs. Auburn game...he is a huge UT fan...haha...it was hilarious :)


Tori, Jenny, and I toasting to a great time in Jackson!!!


Us girls hanging out at Chapman and Robbie's

This is where Chapman took me for my first fly fishing adventure...it was so beautiful...but too cold to catch anything.

Well, that is all for now. I hope you enjoy the pictures and I will definitely be posting more very soon...Love and miss you all!!!

More Pictures from The Grand Canyon

This is one of my favorite views at the Grand Canyon! Jenny was having some camera problems so this very very nice guy, Jim, offered to take a picture for me and email it to me. Oh, by the way, he took this picture with one of those mack daddy, super nice, huge lens cameras. I absolutely love this picture!!!


I am down there on the rock looking out into the Grand Canyon

So, I have now been here 5 days and I think I am getting settled and familiar with everything. Today, it snowed for the first time since we got here...there is probably about 2 or so inches and they are expecting it to snow for the rest of the week. I am really looking forward to skiing...I got a pair of skiis for a fantastic deal!!! I have met so many wonderful people...everyone has been super welcoming and so nice! The town of Jackson is so nice and quaint too...I love it! I went for a bike ride yesterday to try and learn my way around...it was a nice work out and fun to see the town...everyone here rides bikes so I am hoping I will be able to do the same. I will try and post some new pictures from the house and of the people I have met. Love and miss everyone bunches and bunches...see ya :)

Finally in Jackson Hole...6 days and 3,000 miles later!

So we arrived last night into Jackson Hole...WOW, I can't believe I am actually here! We traveled 6 days and 3,000 miles...I visited and saw things I have never seen before! I did things I have never done before or ever imagined I could or would do! It is just fantastic and I could go on and on for hours about everything we did, but instead I am going to try and break it down for you day by day with a few pictures...

Day One: Nov. 1st, 2007

Departed from Atlanta and arrived in Dallas, TX - 830 miles - 14 1/2 hours

We stayed with one of our friends Miya...Mooch stop #1

Us heading out at 5 in the morning...the car was packed down!

Jenny, Miya, and me in Dallas...our first stop!

Day Two: Nov. 2nd, 2007

Departed from Dallas and stopped in Gallup, New Mexico - 800 miles 14 1/2 hours

We camped this night off a dirt road where there was suppose to be a lake...but we never found the lake :( We set up camp, had cold soup from the can, and we drank our home made wine...it was perfect. We ended up climbing into the car because it was so cold! A great first night of camping...for free :)

Our first night of camping.

In the tent drinking some of our wine :)
In the car...it was so cold!
Our cold soup from the can...yum!!!

Day Three: Nov. 3rd, 2007

Departed from Gallup, New Mexico and headed for the Grand Canyon!!! This was our first day of actual site seeing and fun stuff! We stopped first at the Petrified Forest in Arizona and then headed for the Grand Canyon. The Petrified Forest was amazingly beautiful and so different from anything I have ever seen. After the Petrified Forest we headed for the Grand Canyon...all I can say is WOW! There really are not any words that could accurately describe the Grand Canyon...it is truly breathtaking and magnificent! I couldn't believe I was standing there looking down into the grandest peace of Mother Nature I have ever seen...I really was in awe...there were no words...I just stood there taking it all in with wide open eyes! We only saw about 30 miles of the east rim so I can only imagine what the rest is like! The only thing I can say about it is...you must see it for yourself to understand and appreciate the beauty of the Grand Canyon!!! This night we camped just outside of Page, AZ at Lake Powell...which is absolutely beautiful! We slept in "Fiona" (my Xterra, that we named after Princess Fiona from Shrek because she is green!) we ate cold soup from a can again and drank more of our homemade wine...it was awesome!

The Petrified Forest

The Grand Cayon...thats me over on the right...the view was spectacular from that rock!

The Grand Canyon...that is the Colorado River off in the distance!
Jenny and I at the Grand Canyon!

Day Four: Nov. 4th, 2007

We departed from Page, AZ and stopped in Cedar Breaks, UT

We woke up at Lake Powell to a stunning sun rise...absolutely beautiful...when the sun hit the water, it turned a blue like I have never seen water turn before. We then headed out for Zion National Park and The Kolob Canyons. I really didn't think I could ever see anything as beautiful as the Grand Canyon but Zion is serious competition!! Zion reminded me of "The Land Before Time"...absolutely phenomenal and even more breath taking than I ever imagined. Here we hiked Angels Landing, which was the most difficult hike yet for me. We ascended 1500 feet to the top of the narrowest piece of rock I have ever stood on...there were times when there was nothing but steep cliff on each side and maybe 2 feet wide...incredible! At the top I could do a 360 degree turn and see for miles...we were above the birds!!! I have never challenged myself like I did today and it was the best feeling and one of the best experiences of my life!!! Pictures don't show appreciation to the height or the beauty...but trust me, it was fantastic and life changing for me :) After leaving Zion, which I could have spent days there, we headed to the Kolob Canyons. We got there later than we hoped so we only did a very easy 1 mile hike and watched to sunset! We left Kolob and drove about an hour to somewhere between Cedar City and Cedar Breaks and camped there...well we slept in "Fiona" again! We had cold soup from a can which at this point was amazing...I craved it! The vegetables were so good!! This was probably our coldest night yet!

Lake Powell at sunrise!
"Fiona" all packed down!

Day 4!

Zion National Park...hiking Angels Landing...breath taking!

We hiked that...way up there, yeah that isn't even the top...AMAZING :)

On top of Angels Landing...BEAUTIFUL!

The view from the top..."The Land Before Time"

Jenny and I on top of the world :)

Heading down Angels Landing!

Day Five: Nov. 5th, 2007

We woke up early this morning....brrrrrr cold...and headed for Bryce Canyon driving through Cedar Breaks National Park first (elevation 10,000 feet). Bryce Canyon (elevation 8,000) was like nothing I had seen yet. It was like something from another world or country...a combination of the moon, South America, and Aladin (the movie)...the canyons looked like castles carved out over years and years from wind and snow. The colors here were spectacular. We did a 3 mile hike here that took us down into the canyons which was pretty amazing! After we finished the hike, we headed to Duschene, UT to stay with Jamie, a friend from high school. Jamie is a fire fighter for the Ashley National Forest and has been doing that for 2 years now...pretty amazing what they do! We arrived at Jamie's pretty late but they cooked us homemade spaghetti and salad...YUM! This was our first real meal in 4 days...and my first shower in 4 days! We had a great time with Jamie and his roommates!! This was also our first night in 3 nights of not sleeping in "Fiona"...so needless to say after a shower, warm meal, and comfy bed, I slept great :)

Jenny and I at Bryce Canyon.

Us at Bryce Canyon.

Down in the canyons!


Our friend Jamie!
Our new friends in Utah :)

Day Six: Nov 6th, 2007

Destination, Jackson Hole, WY!!! We drove most of the day...about 6 or so hours and finally arrived around 7:30. It was great...I couldn't believe I was actually here and it wasn't for vacation...this was my new home for a while and I was ecstatic :) Jenny's friends from the summer and Tori (our other roommate) planned a cook out and I got to meet lots of new people and they were all super nice and so welcoming! We ate dinner and then went out for a couple drinks, and then we went home and crashed!

My new friends in Jackson...cook out at Megans!

This morning we woke up early and started unpacking and settling in...our place is great! I am hoping to go for a run a little later...I need to get use to the elevation. And then tonight I think we are cooking out again and having a bon fire...can't wait! It is very cold but the weather is beautiful today. The weather was great for us the whole road trip and it is just carrying on so I couldn't ask for any better right now! I miss home and my family but I am looking forward to what lies ahead :)

I am hoping to blog once a week to keep everyone up on what is happening so I hope you enjoy...love and miss you all...see ya :)