Fall in VA

Fall in Virginia is my absolute favorite.

All the millions of trees turn red/orange/yellow, it's perfect sweater weather,

there are pumpkin patches and apple-picking orchards all over, and Halloween is done right. 

Last fall, we had a blast exploring our new state and partying with new friends.

Date night to Charlottesville [home of three founding fathers and the University of Virginia]

Our Cougs were playing UVA the next day in Provo, 

so we had to stop by and pay our respects to our opponent.

Virginia is for lovers

This gorgeous girl has quickly become one of my best friends.

I am so grateful that she is out here in RVA too [her hubs is in med school].

We have way too much fun together. She's my soul sister. Love you Abs!!

Here we are on our adventure to Washington DC, which is only a 2-7 hour drive [aka traffic].

It was super hot and sunny this day, hence the squinty eyes.

We had the most ridiculously yummy garlic pizza for lunch in DC.

Here are some more of my amazing girlfriends. I love them all to pieces.

We went to our favorite [dessert] restaurant called Shyndigz for GNO.

Spencer and I love Mellow Mushroom! Amazing pizza in Cary Town.

This night was a riot. In October, we went with some of our fun ward friends 

to Kings Dominion theme park when it was "haunted"and set for Halloween. 

Best Halloween thing ever. Props to Kings Dominion.

"Meet the Mormons" played at a theater in RVA, so a bunch of our friends went for date night. 

It was amazing and truly inspiring. We loved every minute of it.

The hubs and I loooove the band Bastille, so we bought tickets to see them in concert in Northern VA.

Then we found out there was a Cafe Rio near by [to say these Utahns were excited is a 

huge understatement]. Talk about the best date night ever!

Ah, best concert ever.

Halloween 2014: Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad [Grandma] Wolf.

Highlight: Everyone asking, "Where the heck did that nightgown come from?"

And me getting to answer it belongs(ed) to my mother. HAHA

Also a hightlight: Watching Spencer prance around in the grocery store wearing this nightgown.

Spencer's MHA Halloween party {twinner couples}

Gayton Ward Halloween Trunk or Treat

[Abi, me, and this awesome guy in the jorts] ...getting ready to bust out our sweet 'Thriller' moves.

Gotta document my excitement for my new frames! Those 9th grade frames were ready for retirement.

This is my third pizza pic on this post. What? VA has bomb pizza.

Saved the best for last. This Cafe Rio is only ten minutes from our house!

It's like a ward party every time we go in there {aka Utahns living in VA}.

The BIG [VA] Move

Here's a throwback to last August and the start of our exciting East Coast adventure! Spencer was accepted into the Master of Health Administration program at Virginia Commonwealth University [2 year program with 3rd year residency]. So, we packed up the moving truck and moved to the gorgeous capital city of Richmond, VA! As a girl who had never lived out of the state of Utah and never more than 40 minutes from my parents, I was definitely nervous about the drastic change. I have missed Utah and my family and friends a ton, but, I can tell you, this has been the most fun and amazing experience!
I would never trade it.

Here are ten reasons why we have LOVED our RVA adventure:

1. Southern hospitality is a legit thing.

    a) A man at the grocery store came to my parked car in the pouring rain to lend me 

        his umbrella and walk me to the front doors to make sure I wouldn't get wet.

    b) An elderly man offered to carry my heavy luggage from baggage claim to my car and load it.

2. We have met the greatest friends who have become instant family.

3. All the best vacation spots are just a day trip away. [We are taking advantage!]

4. We get to enjoy all four seasons.

5. The food is fantastic [I'm talking meat pies, diners, and donuts galore].

6. We live close to BOTH the mountains and the beach.

7. There are festivals, concerts, and farmers markets every weekend.

8. This place is oozing with history.

9. Trees, trees, and more trees.

10. The Church is true everywhere you go, and our RVA church family rocks.

Bonus: My pup Kobe is our roommate.

[Not making this list: bugs too big to suck up with the vacuum, traffic, 99% humidity, 

and fried velveeta and bologna sandwiches from Burger King.]

Below are pictures from our first few weeks in VA. Spencer and his awesome dad drove the moving truck and cars across the country because Spencer had orientation week starting. Our townhouse wasn't available for a couple more weeks, so my mom and I flew out with the pup a couple weeks later. My dad then flew out to meet us in our new city and to help us move in! We still had a few days before we could move into our place, so the four of us [Dad, Mom, Spencer, and me] road tripped up the East Coast to cheer on our BYU Cougs at the football season opener against UConn! Our Cougs dominated and got the W! 35-10 baby. We also made stops at Yale (which is insanely beautiful), NYC, Mystic Seaport, and Fort McHenry. Then it was finally move-in day! We are so, so grateful for my wonderful parents and for all their help with the move. We couldn't have done it without them. We are so blessed to have such amazing love and support.

My darling mom and dad gave us the cutest farewell party.
It was so great to say "see you later" to our family and friends!

SLC >>> RVA

[Including this cute, drugged, puppy carry-on... he was a champ!]

Campus of Yale University

BYU vs. UCONN

Times Square in NYC

Mystic Seaport, Connecticut

[Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland] {Below}

Fort McHenry is a coastal, star-shaped fort best known for its role in the War of 1812, 

when it successfully defended the harbor from an attack by the British navy. 

A huge 30x42 foot flag/banner was raised over the fort to signal the American victory. 

This sight inspired Francis Scott Key to write 'The Star-Spangled Banner'.

...It was also the sight where Megan died of extreme heat and humidity.

Finally, MOVE-IN DAY!! We love our home!
{Also, the hottest day of the year in VA. Perfect.}

I bought these tin pieces at Home Depot and put up a temporary backsplash!

Kobe [AKA Mr. Budders] loved the new rug!

Our beautiful neighborhood

My parents and I met up with Spencer downtown for his lunch break.

This is the Grant House where Spencer has all of his classes. It was a post Civil War hospital.

Right across the street from the Grant House is the the White House of the Confederacy. 

It was the home of the only President of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis, during the spring of 1861.

It was neat to take a tour and see all the authentic furnishings and personal items of the Davis family. 

[I get my love of Civil War history from this handsome fella below.]

RVA is the perfect place for these antiquers.

Fredericksburg is only one hour north of RVA, so this was definitely on the list.

It was the sight of one of the most famous battles of the Civil War.

It was cool to walk with my dad on the "Sunken Road" next to the famous stone wall.

Here, the Union army launched a series of brave but futile attacks against

 Robert E. Lee and the Confederate army who were positioned on a hill above the town. 

Lee's men held a strong position behind this stone wall and succussfully defeated the Union attacks.

My dad flew back home and my cute mom stayed another week to help us get settled.

My mom and I drove to visit Virginia Beach, which is only two hours from RVA!

Poseidon. King Neptune. God of the Sea.

We also made the most gorgeous two-hour drive to the most quaint and adorable town of Middleburg.

My mom's a total babe.

Richmond has quickly become our home. We love it!

Many more pics of our adventures to come...