Ahem, an important announcement.....

The city you see above is called Denver Colorado, aka topographical salvation, the best place on Earth, the mile high city, not Bluefield. In the middle of our vacation, G had an interview at a very impressive residency in downtown Denver.  There were so many applicants that it has been over a month since we applied but that didn't stop me from making it as frequent as "please bless the food" in my daily prayers.  The offered him the second year position at the conclusion of his two day interview!  Let me simplify this, WE ARE MOVING TO DENVER! Did you get that?  I am smiling as I type it.  I feel like I lost 120 pounds. We are returning to civilization.  Walmart will no longer be my only option for recreational activity and cultural refinement.  This is a blessing of extremely large proportions.  As soon as I picked up Garrett from the airport we got a strawberry milkshake to celebrate.

I also thought we should celebrate the fact that on the way to pick up Garrett I got a Florida warning instead of a $400 speeding ticket. Yes. Let's celebrate that too.  The conversation went a little something like this:

Policeman who looks like Gaston from Beauty and the Beast:  Mam do you know why I pulled you over?

Me: I would say speeding.

Police: Yes, that's correct. I need to see your license and registration.

Me: Ok, Here's all the things from the glove compartment (I hand him a large stack of papers, tickets, receipts and miscellaneous items)

Police: Um, mam if you'll hold out your hands I'll give you back everything I don't need.

Me: That sounds great. While you're sorting through everything I would like to apologize for speeding.  I'm really wishing I didn't do that. A lot.

Police: Silence. Cold stare. I feel like I'm trying to bond with a Gargoyle.  He then finishes handing me back my Disneyworld brochure, registration, McDonalds receipt and strength of youth pamplet. I really need to organize that for next time this sort of thing happens....

(After about 10 minutes of him looking up all my sins on his fancy car computer he finally returns with his hardcore flaslight. I've never understood what takes so long, I mean heck don't they just type in my name and it says if I'm wanted for murder or drunk driving and then either arrest me or give me my ticket.  I just think we could speed up the whole process.  I think they just sit in their cars for a few extra minutes playing "Words with friends" just to drag out the anticipation)

Police: Mam, you were going 20 miles over the speed limit and you didn't stop fully at the stop sign. I don't know what its like where you're from in West Virginia but here in Florida that is 7 points on your record and you're lookin at a 400 fine.

Me: I'm not from West Virginia. I actually hate that state and I'm trying to move which is why I'm trying to pick up my husband who is in Denver trying to get a job so we can leave that place.

Police: So I don't know West Virginia's policy but here in Florida you need to come to a complete stop.

Me: I don't know West Virgina's policy either because like I said, I'm really not from there. 

Police: I don't care where you're from. Why do you have that look on your face?

Me: Well, Officer I just think $400 is a lot of money. I mean a LOT of money and I don't think my husband is going to be thrilled and I really need to go pick him up.  He's very responsible.

Police: Is that why you were speeding?

Me: I didn't know I was speeding because I didn't know the speed limit but now I know I was speeding and I feel really sorry that I did that because I don't like to break the law, especially on vacation.

Police: Well slow down and it doesn't matter if you're here in Florida or when you go back to where you're from in West Virginia, you need to slow way down.

Me: I'm not from West Virginia.

It went on and on but I finally escaped unscathed with a warning.  The mercy definitely merited a strawberry shake.

I don't know why we are so blessed. I really don't. We are saturated in blessings and they just keep pouring in.  Denver feels like the perfect place for us. I could be a Broncos fan. I can be an anything fan pertaining to us moving.  It will be so amazing for G and for me.  We really are blessing hogs wallowing in our mire of tender mercies and blessings galore.

I am so excited I don't even know how to express my sentiments. More information to come....

Some things we learned on our vacation...

I learned a few things while at the Babich all inclusive resort of love.
1. How to braise lamb shanks. Rosemary is actually a plant, not just the flakes in the jar.
2. These two people would give Mother Teresa a run for her money.  I have never seen such generosity.  It was like hospitality on steroids.  I mentioned that I like the cocoa almonds they had downstairs and when I woke up the next morning, what did my eyes behold but a bowl of the cocoa almonds right next to my bed (next to the peanut m&ms that were already there).

 3. David is very funny to play games with and everyone should enjoy a round of golf with them both.
4. No one does laundry like Aunt Eveleen. No one.  I have never seen clothes folded so meticulously and smell so nice.  I never thought there was an art to laundry until I witnessed the master at work.

5. Think of the most gourmet deluxe tastebud tingling thing you have ever eaten and then times that by oh say by a gizillion and then you will be in the ballpark of how Uncle David cooks.  I should have taken a picture and documented every meal.
6. I am so grateful to be on the same family tree as these unselfish, fun, Christlike human beings forever.

Liv the lizard hunter...

We spent at least a little time each day by the pool doing exactly what all our fellow lizards were doing..soaking up sun.  While it was snowing in Bluefield, we were applying sunscreen in Orlando.  I was letting Liv crawl around and when she started squealing, I realized she had a new hobby....lizard hunting.  She was successful...twice.

I was laughing hard. Don't worry, G had her wash her hands.

Universally a fantastic time...

Thursday we went to visit Harry; as in Harry Potter.  We thought we would go see him at Hogwarts and we were not regretting our decision.  Even though G closed his eyes because he gets motion sickness like a woman in her first trimester times ten, it was still an unforgettable day.

 The pictures all talked. The castle itself was mind boggeling.  There is no way to describe the ride so I will not attempt to use words.

We ate at Jurassic Park and enjoyed the other Universal Studio attractions.

Cocoa Beach Day....

It was the kind of vacation that when someone says the word, "Vacation" you picture in your mind. Sand. Sun. Ocean. Nothing to do but do nothing.

Liv was a little hesitant about the sand but loved the water.  She also loved sucking on shells until her father intervened and saved her from shell bringing diseases...

We played frisbee on the beach, laid on the beach, laughed at Liv trying to crawl on sand and soaked up the sun.

The trips of all trips...

I loved looking in the review mirror and seeing the two humans I love most and are literally mirror images of each other.  We drove 8 hours to Orlando where we had no idea what was waiting.  We thought we were just going to hang out with Aunt Eveleen and Uncle David.  Instead we arrived at the most loving fun 5 star all inclusive Babich vacation of our lives...

We ate food like we were sultans, played golf, laughed, relaxed by the pool and enjoyed every milisecond.

Vacation brain.

We found a exceptional bagel shop and enjoyed breakfast with the Myrtle beach natives...

 The best part about vacation is having vacation brain. Vacation brain means if something sounds fun that is within the commandments, you do it. If something sounds good to eat, you eat it. I think somehow I believe that things eaten on vacation magically don't make you gain weight.  Evidence A: Krispy Kreme doughnuts.  How could we not stop? Duh.

I love doughnuts. Deeply. I love vacation even deeper.

Myrtle Beach

Last year I wanted to go on a romantic cruise for our first year anniversary.  Instead, we opted for a much more expensive room on the third floor of American Fork Hospital chewing on ice wearing a seductive hospital gown and had the ultimate anniversary present...Liv.  G had a week of vacation so we decided to call this our anniversary trip and met mom and dad in Myrtle Beach on our way to Orlando and ate the best shrimp that has ever entered my mouth in 28 years of seafood consumption.

It rained the entire weekend so we enjoyed eating out at delicious restaurants, playing games and talking.

Movie Late Night...

So On March 1, 2012 I basically felt like I went in a time machine and went back to singlehood hang out with friends and go to movie phase.  You know. The phase where you never go outside without mascara, take your phone with you into the bathroom in case the current boy you have a crush on sends a text and stay up all night with room mates analyzing and discussing everything which is actually nothing.  Tara and I made a plan and after putting the kids to bed we escaped.  Even though it started at 9:35 we felt like it was 2 am as we drove to the movie theater doing something completely atypical.  We were shocked at how much the movie cost and even more at how much a coke was.  We made sure to drink every swallow since it was average about .75 cents per sip. 

It felt so funny to leave her mini van parked in the driveway and have an empty carseat where Liv always sucks on her animal crackers and squawks like a parrot from the back seat. We brought strawberry ring pops and enjoyed the quintessential chick flick that came out oh so appropriately on Valentines Day.

I owe this woman my Bluefield sanity.  Although it felt fun to be child free and momentarily back in singlehood glory; it was much better to not just get to watch a chick flick with a good friend but come home to a real live husband who is much better than Channing Tatum any day.