Some have all ready seen these.....

I know that some of you have all ready seen these pictures from previous emails but I wanted to put them on the blog for those of you that haven't.

During the fall of last year Joe and I went hiking in the Allegheny National Forest.

It was beautiful and relaxing.

It reminded me of an ancient enchanted forest....very neat.

Next we went hiking at Seven Springs which is a ski resort area kind of by where we live.

On the way home we found a farmers market just off the road-

and got some delicious fruits, vegetables and homemade cider right before they closed, it was a fun treat!

In October we went to the symphony - it was a wonderful performance and a fun night out.

We are so fancy:).

Ice storms ~

Last Tuesday we experienced our first ice storm. I have heard a lot about them since we moved here but we hadn't actually seen one. It just looks like a really heavy rain storm but when it stops everything is covered in a layer of ice. Don't be fooled by the picture, the ice covering after an ice storm is a solid sheet. Besides the fact that it's extremely dangerous it's totally amazing!

A Wonderful Christmas! ~

We are now home from three wonderful weeks in Utah were we spent Christmas and New Year's with our families. It was a whirlwind of laughing, playing and parties. Just a quick re-cap:

Making gingerbread houses at Mama Peck's.

Seeing

the lights

at Temple Square.

Making homemade tortillas for Christmas Eve dinner (thank you Mikey!).

I am taking the picture so Joe is holding my place, thanks babe!

Christmas Eve at Mama Sant's house.

Cutest couples ever!

Breakfast at Granger's on Christmas morning.

Christmas Day...

playing,

presents,

feasting,

toasting

and hanging out.

(Sigh)....what a wonderful day.

And finally the good bye breakfast on the morning we left (thanks Mama Sant, the quiche was amazing!).

Group photo (Joe is the chillest of us all!).

This trip was so fun and so special for me. It was wonderful to see all of you especially after being away for a while. The love you showed us was so overwhelming it was hard to take it all in. On our flight home Joe and I talked about how lucky we are to have such wonderful people in our families and how we were showered with gifts of love, time, money and genuine care during our visit (and all the time for that matter), "thank you" doesn't do it justice. My heart gets so full when I think of all of you, it aches to be closer but at the same time it is comforted knowing you are there and that you support me.

2008 was a wonderful year and I am looking forward to a wonderful 2009. I love you all - Marie

Health update

So it turns out I have strep throat - major bummer being sick. But I started antibiotics and I'm feeling so much better. Thank goodness for medicine when we need it! And even though Joe was so busy studying for finals he took time out to go to the pharmacy to pick up my pills and get me soup so I could rest at home - what a life saver:). As of right now Joe still has not gotten sick and we are both crossing our fingers he doesn't get it!

Fall Fun~

I asked Joe what he pictured doing for activities to celebrate the fall season, he laughed and said "I hadn't pictured doing anything, but it sounds like you have so what were you thinking". So on October 26th Joe and I bought and carved pumpkins as a fall fun kick off. I hadn't done it in years and it was SO fun. Joe is so good to do everything I want and then some. It's not that he necessarily doesn't want to do my games, activities and pictures he would just never ever think to do them on his own so he is so so so good to go along with everything I bring up with a smile:). Thank you baby, I love you!

Finding the perfect pumpkin.

"Joe, take my picture while I sit by these pretty gourds".

Action shot.

Mine.

His.

Ours:)

Happy Halloween!

Very scary.

On with fall and into winter!

The greatest news ever!!!!!!

We have decided that we are definitely going to settle in Utah when we are done with dental school!!! Is this the BEST news ever or what!!! We miss everyone way too much to not move home when we are done with the Burgh - so see you in four years suckas!

Halloween Re-cap

Joe and I were invited to a party on Halloween but I ended up having to working late at the pharmacy and Joe was studying that night so we ended up having our own party. We watched Clue and had a ghoulish feast consisting of Dracula's bones (apple slices), mummies (turkey dogs wrapped in Pillsbury dough) and twigs and dirt for desert (Oreos and Twix). Watching Clue took us back to our childhoods which was fun...."(smack) I had to stop her from screaming". I can't wait for the day when we can all be together over Halloween and have another killer costume party!!!

Mr. Green with the wrench in the ballroom.

"Mummies", can you tell I gave them little mustard eyes!

The candle lit spread.

I made Joe pose for this picture.

Can you tell I hate taking pictures:).

Love to you all.