Fairhope, AL

Ever since we found out we would be moving to Alabama, Mike has been talking about all the roadtrips we would take to see the sights of the South. For our first Saturday daytrip, we decided on Fairhope, AL--a small town across the Bay from Mobile. The weather was beautiful and we made the most of our first day of total freedom (no work, no school, no packing, no unpacking...just as much fun as we could handle)!

When we first arrived in Montgomery, I picked up a brochure at the Visitor's Center called "100 dishes to eat in Alabama before you die" that lists the best dishes of various restaurants all over Alabama. When I saw that, I knew what my mission would be for the next 18 months: to try as many of those dishes as I possibly can!

We left just after breakfast and made it to Fairhope just in time for lunch. We decided on a place called Big Daddy's Grill to have the Big Daddy Burger. We decided to split the burger and sample a couple of the other appetizers on the menu: seafood gumbo and fried pickles (a house specialty!).

Here Reese is enjoying the fried pickles. It sounds weird, but all three of us were surprised at how delicious they were!

I have made it my new missions to try every fried pickle on any menu that I see, but the bar was set pretty high at Big Daddy's. Totally worth the drive!

Another thing that surprised us was how much Reese loved the seafood gumbo! This girl must have a Southern palate. She couldn't get enough!
But because the gumbo had a bit of a kick, Reese had to have a drink of her water after every single bite....
...as soon as she had some water, she went right back for another bite of the gumbo! It was a crack up.
Big Daddy's Grill had a giant sandbox in the back with lots of shovels, buckets and other sand toys for the kiddies to play with. Reese seemed to like walking in the sand, but as she was playing, if any sand got on top of her feet, she had to stop what she was doing to get the sand off.

In this video I love when Reese almost loses her balance and doesn't want to put her hand in the sand to steady herself, and doesn't really want to move her feet in the sand either...that was a close one!

After lunch, we headed downtown and stumbled upon a huge Arts and Crafts festival. We had no idea, but when we saw the masses of people walking around all the tents, we got even more excited about being there!

the Baldwin County Belles

Reese loved these dresses! She could've stood right next to them all day long. I think I will look for a smaller version for Reese's Easter dress!!
When we had had enough of the festival, we headed down to the Pier on the Bay, where there were a zillion seagulls for us to feed. There was a man sitting on one of the benches feeding the birds with a big bag of Ruffles, and it wasn't long before Reese took over for him. She thought it was the greatest!

We rounded off the day with some swinging...what else could a 2-year-old ask for?

After leaving the pier, we stopped at Sandra's Place for a slice of Triple Chocolate Cake (another must on the list), which was the perfect ending to the perfect day in Fairhope. Can't wait for our next Saturday roadtrip!

just for funsies

Reese loves to play with and sing into her new microphone! Little Sterling wanted in on the action and started busting out his own tricks. They are such hams, aren't they?

sweet home alabama

We made it to Alabama! Reese was a champ (I had the Cinderella soundtrack--she LOVES the 'little dressmakers' song, I will try to get some video of her singing it--a portable DVD player with Little Einsteins and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and all the fruit snacks she could want...it was the best road trip ever!), the 26-foot truck made it in one piece, and it was 70 degrees when we got to Montgomery. Within 24 hours of arriving, and lots of apartment tours, we decided on a new apartment. We could not have done it without Michael's parents helping us to get down to Alabama, and without my mom helping us to get settled in. Here we are, waving from our new balcony.

Michael started his new job on Monday and so far he loves it! He works at the Courthouse, which is a really cool building downtown...with apparently awesome interiors--he says it is like working at the Ritz Carlton. My favorite part is that he is finished at 4:30pm! It is a far cry from the hours he has been keeping for the last few years, and we are eating up every minute with him!

It has been really fun to be back in the South and remember all of the pleasantries and Southern hospitality that is alive and well down here. For example, my mom and I were picking up a few things at TJ Maxx and when we were checking out, we told the clerk that I was new to town and asked what her favorite restaurants are in the area. She told us her favorites, but then this guy who was checking out next to us overheard our conversation and said, as he walked behind us to leave, "The Chop House in Cloverdale is my favorite." He was so nice and friendly and I said to my mom, "I love this place!" The next day at Costco, I could not believe how friendly the sample people were (as well as the other people waiting to get a sample!). The Costco that I am used to is probably the most unfriendly place I know of...no one is smiling, no one is nice, and every one is so cut-throat about samples!

More to come on our adventures in Alabama.

Good luck, Michael!

Michael is taking the Virginia Bar Exam today and tomorrow. I can't believe the journey we have been on for the last nearly four years is almost over! I am so proud of him for how hard he has worked these last few years and for all he has accomplished. He has been studying tirelessly for the last couple months for the Bar and I know he is going to "destroy that test", as he likes to say.

And, I guess it is finally time to make public on the blog that after the Bar exam, there will be about a week and a half for us to pack up and move to Alabama for Michael's new job! We have been so excited about this opportunity and new adventure, but I guess I have also been in denial about the actual leaving part. (We have known about this move for months, and with the move just two weeks away, I have packed exactly two boxes.) We are very sad to leave our friends and family in Virginia, despite our excitement about the next 18 months in Alabama.

Good luck, Michael! I know you are going to rock the Bar and Reese and I can't wait to go get pancakes on Thursday morning!!!!

conversation hearts

I was asked to do a baking demonstration for the Young Women in our ward at our weekly Tuesday night activity. I thought it would be really fun to teach the girls some tips about making and decorating sugar cookies. Since it was only a couple days after Valentine's Day, I thought these conversation heart cookies would be perfect! I was so pleased with the way they turned out.

I even got brave enough to finally work with fondant. I cut out a bunch of x's and o's for the girls, and when I got home, I made one with my name.